The Atherstone Ball Game

I've heard of the "Gloucester Cheese Rolling Contest" and the "Tetbury Woolsack Races" but before today I'd never heard of the "Atherstone Ball Game". Apparently the ancient "game" is over 800 years old and is "practised" in the Warwickshire town of Atherstone annually. Atherstone - Wikipedia

It would seem that who ever thought up this "game" didn't really give too much thought about rules.

I would point out that I am not condoning or encouraging any sort of violence but I would suggest that the "contestants" to this "game" do have a good idea of what they are letting themselves in for before taking part.

Brutal Atherstone Ball Game 2020 takes place in the UK - YouTube

Atherstone Ball Game 2018 - YouTube

Nice way to let off some steam if you can't play ice hockey.

Bit of a rip that the ball doesn't have any gold in it anymore.

Reminds one of the prizes at Bisley: in 1860 you could buy a house with the top prize, now you can buy a few dinners.

Looks like total chaos!

Sounds like the Kirkwall Ba game in Orkney..!

It is surprising how many towns and villages in England have "quirky" traditions that have been going on for years. Like the Gloucester Cheese Rolling contest at Cooper's Hill, near Gloucester, England; whoever thought of that-one??? When "Cheese Rolling" isn't taking place, the course is normally fenced off and one has to take the footpath to one side, if memory serves me correctly.

For health and safety reasons I do not promote the notion of running down a hill after an "out of control" lump of cheese.

Watch a Downhill Cheese-Chasing Competition in Britain | National Geographic - YouTube

Reminds me of the game "Stool Ball" played at Oflag IV-C, Colditz Castle, a prison for incoragable during WWII. British officers played this game in the cobbled prison courtyard. Two goalies sat on stools at opposite ends of the courtyard. Two teams attempted to gain possession of the ball, advance it across the courtyard, and touch the opponent's stool. The opponents were allowed to do anything to prevent you from accomplishing your goal. Well, they couldn't kill you. But this game was extremely good for the mental health of the prisoners because for the duration of the game, the walls of the prison weren't prison walls, they were the borders of their game. The German guards were bemused at the violence of the game.

https://www.milsurps.com/attachment....75&cid=1&stc=1

Bob

Looks like a good way to break your neck, still with the price of a good cheese these days it might be worth a try.

Some folks prefer the woolsack at Tetbury, Gloucestershire.
Made in The Cotswolds Woolsack Race - YouTube

This chap prefers to let the Unicycle take the strain.
Woolsack Day 2007 - The Right Herbert - YouTube