April 14, 2003
Bottle-kicking and hare pie scramble
An ancient custom of "bottle-kicking" in a Leicestershire village is to go ahead this year despite a reduction in police cover. Organisers of the Hallaton bottle-kicking and hare pie scramble threatened to cancel the event after there was no one to marshal it. . .From the BBC.The centuries-old tradition has only been cancelled once in its history - in 2001 because of foot-and-mouth restrictions. It begins with a parade through Hallaton with local people carrying a large hare pie and the three "bottles".
Parts of the pie are thrown to the crowd for the "scramble" before the bottle-kicking begins. That involves two teams, one from Hallaton and one from Medworth, trying to carry three separate "bottles" - which are similar to small beer barrels - to their respective villages. Each game can last more than an hour and at times resembles a huge rugby scrum.
Posted by David on April 14, 2003 8:53 PM
Ah! Customs of old... wonderful stuff. How I miss those septic shores.
Posted by: Alexandra on April 15, 2003 10:37 AM
I joined in this somewhat risky but exhilerating custom for the first time this year. Ok , I ached like hell at the end but what a way to spend Easter Monday. Many thanks to all those who made ir possible.
Posted by: Ian on April 22, 2003 12:26 PM
my family is from MEDBOURNE not MEDWORTH. and they are barrels not bottles despite the name. not a bad analysation though.
Posted by: BRETT BURROWS on September 23, 2003 6:54 AM
An excellent fun day out. We need to keep these traditions alive and thriving. Check out my report from a couple of years ago: http://www.philpreen.co.uk/silliness/bottlekicking.htm.
Posted by: Phil Preen on October 13, 2003 5:55 AM
Well said Brett- the Medworth thing bugs me too (though i am from Hallaton). Yes, people- look at Phil Preen's article- it is a very good description, although I have a small niggling point- I have never seen my brother wear a football shirt!
Posted by: Holly Potter on March 1, 2006 9:17 PM
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