Proud Yorkshire residents took their hats off to the first ever International Ilkley Moor Baht ’at Day on Saturday.

Bradford poet Glyn Watkins put on a hat throwing competition and other events inspired by Ilkley’s much-loved anthem on Saturday as part of his Ilkley Uncut Fringe festival.

Headline event of the day was first UK Hat Throwing Championships, held at Ilkley Moor landmark White Wells.

The outdoor pole event attracted the most entries, with whole families trying to lob their hat onto the top of a 15- foot pole, a former weather vane.

The winner of the first hat of pole award and ladies champion was Horsforth’s Kathryn Laycock.

Her friend, Pamela Sowden, from Baildon, won the 007 indoor hat event, named in honour of James Bond villain Oddjob, whose metal-rimmed hat put paid to his hapless victims in the film Goldfinger.

Pamela’s dog, Bertie, also won the title of Cutest Hat Hound.

Ilkley resident David Wardlem was crowned supreme hat thrower 2009, as he poled two hats out of three.

His wife, Amanda, however, was said to be responsible for an off-course hat which almost led to disaster for a television camera belonging to a local station which had turned up to interview the new champ.

In the afternoon, Glyn gave a short talk about the history of Ilkley Moor Baht ‘At and Grace ‘Tis a Charming Sound.

After a debate on how to pronounce the words, the Rev Stuart Jenkins ran through the song and the older hymn.

The whole audience walked to the bandstand on The Grove to sing both songs, with a small but enthusiastic crowd joining in.

Glyn is already hatching plans for a Yorkshire ’At Throwing Day on Yorkshire Day, August 1, next year, and hopes to repeat the celebration next October.