This four-man dance was the creation of Flag Crackers and another team. They did tell me who the other team was, but I've forgotten. It is still performed by Flag Crackers. I have a good video of them performing this in Wales. It is an excellent dance. Flag Crackers make it all the better by their characteristic domination of space. This dance has many significant variations. Below is a simplified version of the dance, using half the steps that Flag Crackers do..
The great tune Trumpet Hornpipe, is the theme and ship of the 60's children's TV show Captain Pugwash, with such lovable characters as Master Bates, Seaman Staines and Roger the Cabin Boy.
The movement Black Pig describes half the skull and crossbones of the Jolly Roger flag.
Click
on this to see how Flag Crackers, co-inventors of the dance, do it in the
sunshine (10MBytes), or right-click and "Save Target As" to save it to your
machine
Click
on this to see how Clerical Error, who were taught it by Flag Crackers, do it in
the rain (11MBytes), or right-click and "Save Target As" to save it to your
machine
Read more about Captain Pugwash
and hear the tune
Set : 4 people in a set,
single stepping. One short stick.
Music :
Trumpet Hornpipe (Captain Pugwash Hornpipe) - (A) AB AB etc
Calls 
- DANCE IN
- STRAIGHT CLASHING
- BLACK PIG
- DIAGONAL CLASHING
- RIGHT/LEFT STAR
- STRAIGHT CLASHING
- BLACK PIG
- DIAGONAL CLASHING
- HEY
- STRAIGHT CLASHING
- BLACK PIG
- DIAGONAL CLASHING
- CROSSOVER
- STRAIGHT CLASHING
- BLACK PIG
- DIAGONAL CLASHING
- Dance In
Dancers 1 - 4 come in one at a time at 4-step intervals, dancing wherever they like yelling and waving their sticks. On the sixteenth step, they should be close together in a set of four, 1 facing 2, and 3 facing 4.
- Straight Clashing
- Whilst stepping, 1 & 2 clash, 3 & 4 clash :- two clashes right and left, and quick right naps.
- All turn QUICKLY to left - face up and down set. 1 & 3 clash, 2 & 4 clash.
- All turn QUICKLY to left - face up and down set. 1 & 2 clash, 3 & 4 clash.
- All turn QUICKLY to left - face up and down set. 1 & 3 clash, 2 & 4 clash.
- Black Pig
All turn right to dance 2 steps diagonally out, turn right and dance 4 steps along the side of the square, turn right again and dance two steps diagonally into centre. Turn right 180deg and repeat. The dancers should return to their diagonally opposite positions.
- Diagonal Clashing
- Whilst stepping, 1 & 3 clash, 3 & 4 clash
- 1 & 4 clash once high, once low, and three quick right naps high, whilst 2 & 3 clash once low, once high, and three quick right naps low.
- 1 & 4 clash once low, once high, and three quick right naps low, whilst 2 & 3 clash once high, once low, and three quick right naps high.
- 1 & 4 clash once high, once low, and three quick right naps high, whilst 2 & 3 clash once low, once high, and three quick right naps low.
- 1 & 4 clash once low, once high, and three quick right naps low, whilst 2 & 3 clash once high, once low, and three quick right naps high.
- Star
- Eight steps in left-hand star - sticks out. Turn. 8 steps in right-hand star - sticks out.
- Straight Clashing
- Whilst stepping, 1 & 2 clash, 3 & 4 clash :- two clashes right and left, and quick right naps.
- All turn QUICKLY to left - face up and down set. 1 & 3 clash, 2 & 4 clash.
- All turn QUICKLY to left - face up and down set. 1 & 2 clash, 3 & 4 clash.
- All turn QUICKLY to left - face up and down set. 1 & 3 clash, 2 & 4 clash.
- Black Pig
- Diagonal Clashing
- Whilst stepping, 1 & 3 clash, 3 & 4 clash
- 1 & 4 clash once high, once low, and three quick right naps high, whilst 2 & 3 clash once low, once high, and three quick right naps low.
- 1 & 4 clash once low, once high, and three quick right naps low, whilst 2 & 3 clash once high, once low, and three quick right naps high.
- 1 & 4 clash once high, once low, and three quick right naps high, whilst 2 & 3 clash once low, once high, and three quick right naps low.
- 1 & 4 clash once low, once high, and three quick right naps low, whilst 2 & 3 clash once high, once low, and three quick right naps high.
- Hey
- 1 & 4 start the hey by crossing right shoulder. All hey for 16 steps to be back in place.
- Straight Clashing
- Whilst stepping, 1 & 2 clash, 3 & 4 clash :- two clashes right and left, and quick right naps.
- All turn QUICKLY to left - face up and down set. 1 & 3 clash, 2 & 4 clash.
- All turn QUICKLY to left - face up and down set. 1 & 2 clash, 3 & 4 clash.
- All turn QUICKLY to left - face up and down set. 1 & 3 clash, 2 & 4 clash.
- Black Pig
- Diagonal Clashing
- Whilst stepping, 1 & 3 clash, 3 & 4 clash
- 1 & 4 clash once high, once low, and three quick right naps high, whilst 2 & 3 clash once low, once high, and three quick right naps low.
- 1 & 4 clash once low, once high, and three quick right naps low, whilst 2 & 3 clash once high, once low, and three quick right naps high.
- 1 & 4 clash once high, once low, and three quick right naps high, whilst 2 & 3 clash once low, once high, and three quick right naps low.
- 1 & 4 clash once low, once high, and three quick right naps low, whilst 2 & 3 clash once high, once low, and three quick right naps high.
- Crossover
- All dancers take two steps back then two steps fast diagonally across the centre of the set to their opposite position; as they pass rights-shoulders they yell and poke their sticks vertically above their head. They dance twice round to right for four steps.
- REPEAT
- Straight Clashing
- Whilst stepping, 1 & 2 clash, 3 & 4 clash :- two clashes right and left, and quick right naps.
- All turn QUICKLY to left - face up and down set. 1 & 3 clash, 2 & 4 clash.
- All turn QUICKLY to left - face up and down set. 1 & 2 clash, 3 & 4 clash.
- All turn QUICKLY to left - face up and down set. 1 & 3 clash, 2 & 4 clash.
- Black Pig
- Diagonal Clashing
- Whilst stepping, 1 & 3 clash, 3 & 4 clash
- 1 & 4 clash once high, once low, and three quick right naps high, whilst 2 & 3 clash once low, once high, and three quick right naps low.
- 1 turns to right and dances diagonally off, whilst no-one & 4 clash once low, once high, and three quick right naps low, whilst 2 & 3 clash once high, once low, and three quick right naps high.
- 4 turns to right and dances diagonally off, whilst 2 & 3 clash once low, once high, and three quick right naps low.
- 2 turns to right and dances diagonally off, whilst no-one & 3 clash once high, once low, and three quick right naps high.
- The music stops, 3 looks around and slopes off in silence.
All turn right to dance 2 steps diagonally out, turn right and dance 4 steps along the side of the square, turn right again and dance two steps diagonally into centre. Turn right 180deg and repeat. The dancers should return to their diagonally opposite positions.
All turn right to dance 2 steps diagonally out, turn right and dance 4 steps along the side of the square, turn right again and dance two steps diagonally into centre. Turn right 180deg and repeat. The dancers should return to their diagonally opposite positions.
All turn right to dance 2 steps diagonally out, turn right and dance 4 steps along the side of the square, turn right again and dance two steps diagonally into centre. Turn right 180deg and repeat. The dancers should return to their diagonally opposite positions.
