The traditional game of bottle-kicking, a historical event believed to have inspired rugby, took place in Hallaton, Leicestershire, on Easter Monday 2024. This annual event, contested between the neighboring villages of Hallaton and Medbourne, involves battling for a 'bottle,' an old field barrel filled with beer. The objective is for participants to carry the barrel across a boundary stream to their respective village. The game, which features a parade and the ceremonial tying of ribbons on the bottles before commencement, saw one of the villages emerge victorious in this year's competition, under fabulous weather conditions.
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Leicestershire village celebrates victory after bottle kicking win https://t.co/qKcQ644nqt
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Leicestershire village celebrates victory after bottle kicking win https://t.co/zVkhmjvtJw
Two neighbouring villages in Leicestershire have competed against each other in an annual Easter sporting tradition known as “bottle kicking” ✍️: @SamLHall_ https://t.co/Y4yon0rCBU
Fabulous weather for the 2024 Hallaton Bottle Kicking - an honour to join the parade and tie the ribbons on the bottles (an old wooden field barrel holding about a gallon of beer which is then sealed with wax) before the game began with each village then competing to get the… https://t.co/ANXEGqUmEk
This 100-year-old woman is in total disbelief after realizing her age on her birthday! 🎉 “No, sir! I don’t feel 100,” she exclaimed to her surrounding family who brought her a platter of cupcakes in bed to mark the momentous occasion. https://t.co/ktdMIiiLHb https://t.co/EZy1fNGV8b
Neighbours celebrate 100th birthdays https://t.co/JElqmsyDQ6 #bbcsouthnews
Neighbours celebrate 100th birthdays https://t.co/b7ZaYiZe8g
Hallaton and Medbourne battle for the 'bottle', an old field barrel filled with beer, during the annual game of bottle-kicking in Leicestershire. Played between the neighbouring villages, the aim is to bring the 'bottle' across a boundary stream in their respective village https://t.co/RXDH887Cmk
Huge congratulations to 100-year-old neighbours Josie and Anne from #Oxford, who celebrated their centenary together! 🎂🎉 https://t.co/URaR5Hz1TA
The game which legend tells us inspired rugby, bottle kicking, takes place today in Hallaton. A piece of history that gets played Easter Monday every year. Quite the show. https://t.co/A9VGUj9IqH