Latest news with #Down'Ards
BBC News
05-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Down'Ards win Ashbourne Royal Shrovetide Football game
An ancient football game in Derbyshire has finished with a victory to the Down' of players turned out again for Royal Shrovetide Football in Ashbourne, which is held on Shrove Tuesday and Ash game has taken place nearly every year since 1667 and features rival players in teams called the Up'Ards and Down'Ards competing to move the ball to opposite ends of the Down'Ards "goaled" on day one, which ended up being the only goal during the two-day affair. Ashbourne farmer David Bott had the honour of "turning the ball up" to get play under way at 14:00 GMT on Wednesday, the honour had fallen to another local farmer, Brian the ball to be "goaled", the teams must attempt to manoeuvre the ball across their respective sides of the town, before tapping the ball three times against the goals at either end. On day one, after going missing for nearly two hours, the ball was goaled by Martyn Taylor at around 20:20 GMT. After scoring, Mr Taylor was lifted on to the shoulders of his teammates down to the Greenman pub as day one ended: Down'Ards 1-0 Up' spending most of the first day in the centre of Ashbourne, the game headed into the fields on day two - which included a mischievous "rogue ball" that entered the the Up'Ards best attempts for an equaliser, they were not able to "goal" the ball in time, and the Down'Ards came out as year of Shrovetide may be over, but it is now only 52 weeks until it happens all over again...
BBC News
04-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Royal Shrovetide Football: Ancient game to return to Ashbourne
A traditional ball game that dates back to the 12th Century is set to take over a town centre in Derbyshire once Royal Shrovetide Football has taken place throughout Ashbourne every Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday since at least game will see thousands of players - in teams called the Up'Ards and Down'Ards - compete to move the ball - to opposite ends of the Dave Bott and Brian Pegg have been given the honour of "turning the ball up" to get the game under way on each day. This year the ongoing Ashbourne Reborn project - a £15.2m regeneration of the town centre - will clash with the occasion after work started in February. In order for the game to take place, public realm works in Dig Street and Buxton Hill stopped on Friday to make way for thousands of players to descend on the game can take place throughout the town, including key areas of the scheme such as Shrovetide Walk, connecting Shawcroft and Dig Street, as well as the areas surrounding St John Street, Millennium Square and the Market game will start at 14:00 GMT, lasting until 22:00 in the evening on both one of the teams manages to "goal a ball" before 18:00, a new ball will be released and play will restart, otherwise the game will end for the year, the game ended with a victory to the Up'Ards after winning 2-0 over the two days.
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Shrovetide painter whose work is fit for a King
"All the nerves we had that day just melted away because he was such a great person to be with." Tim Baker recalls the moment that he presented the future King with the Royal Shrovetide football that he had painstakingly painted. It was 2003, and King Charles III, who was Prince of Wales at the time, was starting the game or "turning the ball up", and like all those who are given this honour, the ball had been carefully painted with images that represented his life. Mr Baker, 52, had been painting balls for the game since 1991 when he was asked by the game's secretary - who was also his milkman - to paint one for the future King. The Royal Shrovetide Football game in Ashbourne, Derbyshire, is traditionally played on Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday and has been held nearly every year since at least 1667. The game sees thousands of players - in teams called the Up'Ards and Down'Ards - compete to move the ball to opposite ends of the town. Normally, Mr Baker said he would meet up for a chat with the person due to "turn the ball up" - but this was not possible with a senior member of the Royal Family - so he submitted drawings that were given the go-ahead. "The current King is an accomplished artist, and one thing he asked was how we painted on a sphere," Mr Baker explained. To begin with, he starts by measuring the ball, which is bigger than a normal football and heavier because it is filled with cork chippings. Buildings are particularly tricky to paint on a round surface, and everything needs to line up because the balls are hung up on display. Royal Shrovetide is played over two days, and Mr Baker always paints the Wednesday ball - and this year it is for the farmer Brian Pegg and features a bull's head and a horse. He said that some of the fine detailing can cause a headache, and each ball involves at least 50 hours of work. Within two hours of play, all this paintwork is gone. "It's awful," he added. "People will grab me by the collar or give me a nudge to say 'your paint has come off quick this year'. "They'll tell you that, but there is nothing you can do." Mr Baker said that he was not "player material" and had never played, but he was a fan who loved the history of game. He works at the Historical Centre in Ashbourne, where Royal Shrovetide Football features heavily. One of the repainted balls on display is one that was scored, or "goaled", in 1902, the year King Edward VII was crowned. It is particularly special to Mr Baker because it was goaled by Joseph Burton his great-great-great-uncle. He is much more relaxed about it all compared to when he was first asked to take on this role. "I was extremely nervous to start with, because it is such an iconic item in Ashbourne," he added. "I was not very old, and I had never done anything like this before. I also knew what I was up against because being a fan of Shrovetide, it was important to get it right." Follow BBC Derby on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@ or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. Work to pause for ancient ball game to take place Clean-up begins after Royal Shrovetide Football Up'Ards claim Shrovetide football glory Watch: Ball 'goaled' at ancient Shrovetide football game BBC Royal Shrovetide Football
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Shrovetide painter whose work is fit for a King
"All the nerves we had that day just melted away because he was such a great person to be with." Tim Baker recalls the moment that he presented the future King with the Royal Shrovetide football that he had painstakingly painted. It was 2003, and King Charles III, who was Prince of Wales at the time, was starting the game or "turning the ball up", and like all those who are given this honour, the ball had been carefully painted with images that represented his life. Mr Baker, 52, had been painting balls for the game since 1991 when he was asked by the game's secretary - who was also his milkman - to paint one for the future King. The Royal Shrovetide Football game in Ashbourne, Derbyshire, is traditionally played on Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday and has been held nearly every year since at least 1667. The game sees thousands of players - in teams called the Up'Ards and Down'Ards - compete to move the ball to opposite ends of the town. Normally, Mr Baker said he would meet up for a chat with the person due to "turn the ball up" - but this was not possible with a senior member of the Royal Family - so he submitted drawings that were given the go-ahead. "The current King is an accomplished artist, and one thing he asked was how we painted on a sphere," Mr Baker explained. To begin with, he starts by measuring the ball, which is bigger than a normal football and heavier because it is filled with cork chippings. Buildings are particularly tricky to paint on a round surface, and everything needs to line up because the balls are hung up on display. Royal Shrovetide is played over two days, and Mr Baker always paints the Wednesday ball - and this year it is for the farmer Brian Pegg and features a bull's head and a horse. He said that some of the fine detailing can cause a headache, and each ball involves at least 50 hours of work. Within two hours of play, all this paintwork is gone. "It's awful," he added. "People will grab me by the collar or give me a nudge to say 'your paint has come off quick this year'. "They'll tell you that, but there is nothing you can do." Mr Baker said that he was not "player material" and had never played, but he was a fan who loved the history of game. He works at the Historical Centre in Ashbourne, where Royal Shrovetide Football features heavily. One of the repainted balls on display is one that was scored, or "goaled", in 1902, the year King Edward VII was crowned. It is particularly special to Mr Baker because it was goaled by Joseph Burton his great-great-great-uncle. He is much more relaxed about it all compared to when he was first asked to take on this role. "I was extremely nervous to start with, because it is such an iconic item in Ashbourne," he added. "I was not very old, and I had never done anything like this before. I also knew what I was up against because being a fan of Shrovetide, it was important to get it right." Follow BBC Derby on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@ or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. Work to pause for ancient ball game to take place Clean-up begins after Royal Shrovetide Football Up'Ards claim Shrovetide football glory Watch: Ball 'goaled' at ancient Shrovetide football game BBC Royal Shrovetide Football
BBC News
03-03-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Ashbourne artist who painted a Shrovetide football for King Charles III
"All the nerves we had that day just melted away because he was such a great person to be with."Tim Baker recalls the moment that he presented the future King with the Royal Shrovetide football that he had painstakingly was 2003, and King Charles III, who was Prince of Wales at the time, was starting the game or "turning the ball up", and like all those who are given this honour, the ball had been carefully painted with images that represented his Baker, 52, had been painting balls for the game since 1991 when he was asked by the game's secretary - who was also his milkman - to paint one for the future King. The Royal Shrovetide Football game in Ashbourne, Derbyshire, is traditionally played on Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday and has been held nearly every year since at least game sees thousands of players - in teams called the Up'Ards and Down'Ards - compete to move the ball to opposite ends of the Mr Baker said he would meet up for a chat with the person due to "turn the ball up" - but this was not possible with a senior member of the Royal Family - so he submitted drawings that were given the go-ahead."The current King is an accomplished artist, and one thing he asked was how we painted on a sphere," Mr Baker explained. To begin with, he starts by measuring the ball, which is bigger than a normal football and heavier because it is filled with cork are particularly tricky to paint on a round surface, and everything needs to line up because the balls are hung up on Shrovetide is played over two days, and Mr Baker always paints the Wednesday ball - and this year it is for the farmer Brian Pegg and features a bull's head and a said that some of the fine detailing can cause a headache, and each ball involves at least 50 hours of work. Within two hours of play, all this paintwork is gone."It's awful," he added. "People will grab me by the collar or give me a nudge to say 'your paint has come off quick this year'."They'll tell you that, but there is nothing you can do." Mr Baker said that he was not "player material" and had never played, but he was a fan who loved the history of works at the Historical Centre in Ashbourne, where Royal Shrovetide Football features heavily. One of the repainted balls on display is one that was scored, or "goaled", in 1902, the year King Edward VII was is particularly special to Mr Baker because it was goaled by Joseph Burton his is much more relaxed about it all compared to when he was first asked to take on this role."I was extremely nervous to start with, because it is such an iconic item in Ashbourne," he added."I was not very old, and I had never done anything like this before. I also knew what I was up against because being a fan of Shrovetide, it was important to get it right."
