Tuesday 8 March 2011

Just this once, it's not about craft ....

It's Shrove Tuesday, and to most people it means that it's pancake day. Here in Ashbourne Derbyshire it means something else entirely ... it's an event that is bigger than Christmas it's Shrovetide Football. Take a couple of thousand people, 1 Leather ball filled woth cork & hand painted, 2 goals 3 miles apart & in the river & your almost there ...Your born either side of the river which means you are an uppard or a downard ..(Uppards are best :D ) and that's your two teams. Everyone turns out for it, it starts at 2pm and carries on through until 10 pm or until the ball is scored. (If it's scored before 5pm another ball is turned up)
So rather than crafting today, I've been busy checking camera battery is charged..check ...new camera memory card purchased..check, charge mobile phone ..check
New thermal socks lol ..check, and I'm just about ready to go. Of course there will be pancakes before we go, what a perfect day & then if that wasn't enough we go & do the same again tomorrow :D So to give you just a hint of what is to come here are a few pictures .. & if it captures your imagination you can listen anywhere in the world online to Ashbourne Radio's commentary. www.ashbourneradio.co.uk
This is the goal being scored at Sturston for the Uppards :D
This is a picture as the ball heads across the fields ...
And here you can see players trying to get the ball out of the river ... mmm nice steam !
Hope you enjoyed this not so crafty post, thanks for stopping by :o) x

2 comments:

  1. I love 'not so crafty' posts...as you might guess from my blog ... lets me know the whole person and their life, a little bit any way.Hope you have an amazing day ...take loads of photos and enjoy pancakes too lol
    That first shot is AMAZING..... what atmosphere

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  2. And great fun was had by all, isn't England great? Love the steam coming off the players:D, just brilliant! I hope you had a fun time:0) xxx

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