Latest news with #HallatonBottleKicking
RTÉ News
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Two UK villages compete in annual bottle kicking contest
Two villages in Britain have competed against each other in an annual sporting tradition known as 'bottle kicking'. The contest between the neighbouring Leicestershire villages of Hallaton and Medbourne happens every Easter Monday and participants compete to bring a wooden barrel of beer across a boundary stream in their respective village. The so-called 'bottles' - old wooden barrels holding about a gallon of beer - are sealed with wax before the annual contest. Two of the bottles are filled with beer and the third, known as the dummy, is made of solid wood and painted red and white. The Hallaton Bottle Kicking and Hare Pie Scrambling "has links that could well date back over 1,000 years to pagan times", according to the event's Facebook page. "The event carries many of the centuries old customs and practices to this day," it added. Alicia Kearns, the Conservative MP for Rutland and Stamford, said bottle kicking was "an Easter tradition like no other". In a post on X, she said "legend has it that bottle kicking is the game which inspired rugby". "The historic annual Hallaton Bottle Kicking is an Easter tradition like no other, as the villages of Hallaton and Medbourne battle it out to get three barrels, known as bottles, from the starting field to their own village by any means possible," she added. The contest was preceded by a parade led by the Nene Valley Pipe Band and the ceremonial slicing up and distribution of a hare pie. The winning team celebrates by being lifted onto Hallaton's historic stone Butter Cross and the opened bottle is passed up for players to drink from before being handed around the crowd.
BBC News
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Villages slug it out in Easter Monday Hallaton bottle kicking battle
Large crowds gathered to watch two villages in Leicestershire go head to head in the annual Hallaton bottle kicking from the village faced off against rivals from neighbouring Medbourne for the unusual and ancient Easter Monday efforts were made as the teams competed to try to move two of three barrels to the opposition's stream."It's been another really exciting one," Phil Allan, chairman of the bottle kicking organising committee, told the BBC, from deep in the field of play. Two of the "bottles" contain beer, while one is completely wooden - painted red and white - and is referred to as the dummy."Hallaton scored first, then looked like they would do it again quickly," Mr Allan said. "It's been really good."Organisers have said local legend suggested bottle kicking can trace its roots back 2,000 years. Alicia Kearns, MP for Rutland and Stamford, said bottle kicking was "an Easter tradition like no other".In a post on X, she said: "Legend has it that bottle kicking is the game which inspired rugby."The historic annual Hallaton Bottle Kicking is an Easter tradition like no other, as the villages of Hallaton and Medbourne battle it out to get three barrels, known as bottles, from the starting field to their own village by any means possible."The event on Monday afternoon was preceded by a parade led by the Nene Valley Pipe Band and the ceremonial slicing up and distribution of a hare winning team celebrates by being lifted on to Hallaton's historic stone Butter Cross, and the opened bottle is passed up for players to drink from before being handed around the reporting by PA Media
Powys County Times
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Powys County Times
Leicestershire villages battle it out at annual ‘bottle-kicking' contest
Two villages in Leicestershire have competed against each other in an annual sporting tradition known as 'bottle kicking'. The contest between neighbouring Hallaton and Medbourne happens every Easter Monday and participants compete to bring a wooden barrel of beer across a boundary stream in their respective village. The 'bottles' – old wooden barrels holding about a gallon of beer – are sealed with wax before the annual contest. Two of the bottles are filled with beer and the third, known as the dummy, is made of solid wood and painted red-and-white. A poster on the event's Facebook page reads: 'The history of the Hallaton Bottle Kicking and Hare Pie Scrambling has links that could well date back over 1,000 years to pagan times. 'The event carries many of the centuries-old customs and practices to this day.' Legend has it that bottle kicking is the game which inspired rugby…and it's taking place tomorrow in Hallaton! The historic annual Hallaton Bottle Kicking is an Easter tradition like no other, as the villages of Hallaton and Medbourne battle it out to get three barrels know as… — Alicia Kearns MP (@aliciakearns) April 20, 2025 Alicia Kearns, the Conservative MP for Rutland and Stamford, said bottle kicking was 'an Easter tradition like no other'. In a post on X on Sunday, she said: 'Legend has it that bottle kicking is the game which inspired rugby … and it's taking place tomorrow in Hallaton. 'The historic annual Hallaton Bottle Kicking is an Easter tradition like no other, as the villages of Hallaton and Medbourne battle it out to get three barrels, known as bottles, from the starting field to their own village by any means possible.' The event on Monday afternoon was preceded by a parade led by the Nene Valley Pipe Band and the ceremonial slicing up and distribution of a hare pie. The winning team celebrates by being lifted onto Hallaton's historic stone Butter Cross and the opened bottle is passed up for players to drink from before being handed around the crowd.
Belfast Telegraph
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Belfast Telegraph
Leicestershire villages battle it out at annual ‘bottle-kicking' contest
The contest between neighbouring Hallaton and Medbourne happens every Easter Monday and participants compete to bring a wooden barrel of beer across a boundary stream in their respective village. The 'bottles' – old wooden barrels holding about a gallon of beer – are sealed with wax before the annual contest. Two of the bottles are filled with beer and the third, known as the dummy, is made of solid wood and painted red-and-white. A poster on the event's Facebook page reads: 'The history of the Hallaton Bottle Kicking and Hare Pie Scrambling has links that could well date back over 1,000 years to pagan times. 'The event carries many of the centuries-old customs and practices to this day.' We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Alicia Kearns, the Conservative MP for Rutland and Stamford, said bottle kicking was 'an Easter tradition like no other'. In a post on X on Sunday, she said: 'Legend has it that bottle kicking is the game which inspired rugby … and it's taking place tomorrow in Hallaton. 'The historic annual Hallaton Bottle Kicking is an Easter tradition like no other, as the villages of Hallaton and Medbourne battle it out to get three barrels, known as bottles, from the starting field to their own village by any means possible.' The event on Monday afternoon was preceded by a parade led by the Nene Valley Pipe Band and the ceremonial slicing up and distribution of a hare pie. The winning team celebrates by being lifted onto Hallaton's historic stone Butter Cross and the opened bottle is passed up for players to drink from before being handed around the crowd.
The Independent
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Leicestershire villages battle it out at annual ‘bottle-kicking' contest
Two villages in Leicestershire have competed against each other in an annual sporting tradition known as 'bottle kicking'. The contest between neighbouring Hallaton and Medbourne happens every Easter Monday and participants compete to bring a wooden barrel of beer across a boundary stream in their respective village. The 'bottles' – old wooden barrels holding about a gallon of beer – are sealed with wax before the annual contest. Two of the bottles are filled with beer and the third, known as the dummy, is made of solid wood and painted red-and-white. A poster on the event's Facebook page reads: 'The history of the Hallaton Bottle Kicking and Hare Pie Scrambling has links that could well date back over 1,000 years to pagan times. 'The event carries many of the centuries-old customs and practices to this day.' Alicia Kearns, the Conservative MP for Rutland and Stamford, said bottle kicking was 'an Easter tradition like no other'. In a post on X on Sunday, she said: 'Legend has it that bottle kicking is the game which inspired rugby … and it's taking place tomorrow in Hallaton. 'The historic annual Hallaton Bottle Kicking is an Easter tradition like no other, as the villages of Hallaton and Medbourne battle it out to get three barrels, known as bottles, from the starting field to their own village by any means possible.' The event on Monday afternoon was preceded by a parade led by the Nene Valley Pipe Band and the ceremonial slicing up and distribution of a hare pie. The winning team celebrates by being lifted onto Hallaton's historic stone Butter Cross and the opened bottle is passed up for players to drink from before being handed around the crowd.
