Hallaton Bottle gamesHallaton Bottle games

By Jemma Dutton!! By Jemma Dutton!!

- Takes place on April 1- Takes place on April 1stst every year in every year in Hallaton Leicestershire, started around Hallaton Leicestershire, started around

230 years ago230 years ago • The legend of why this The legend of why this

competition started is competition started is that in 1770, the Lady of that in 1770, the Lady of the Manor was being the Manor was being chased by a bull, and chased by a bull, and hares ran across her path, hares ran across her path, the bull started to chase the bull started to chase the hares instead. To the hares instead. To show her gratitude she show her gratitude she gave the rector some of gave the rector some of her land, and told him her land, and told him that every Easter Monday, that every Easter Monday, he should give two hare he should give two hare pies, two dozen penny pies, two dozen penny loaves and a generous loaves and a generous supply of ale to the needy supply of ale to the needy parishioners. parishioners. --

• - Hare pie (made from beef!) is blessed at St - Hare pie (made from beef!) is blessed at St Michael’s church, carried around the village Michael’s church, carried around the village and then back to the church. The rector then and then back to the church. The rector then divides the pies and throws them into the divides the pies and throws them into the crowds outside of the church.crowds outside of the church.

• - Once the pie is ate, then the contest - Once the pie is ate, then the contest between Hallaton and neighboring village between Hallaton and neighboring village Medbourne. There are 3 bottles (wooden Medbourne. There are 3 bottles (wooden barrels), two are filled with ale the third is barrels), two are filled with ale the third is empty. The competitors start at the top of a empty. The competitors start at the top of a bank, and the chairman throws the bottles up bank, and the chairman throws the bottles up into the air, once all three bottles are on the into the air, once all three bottles are on the ground the competitors can start. ground the competitors can start.

St Michael's church

Hallaton vs MedbourneHallaton vs Medbourne

• - There are no rules and - There are no rules and anybody can play, the anybody can play, the winners are the village winners are the village which gets two of the which gets two of the three barrels over their three barrels over their touchline which is touchline which is between two separate between two separate streams.streams.

• - After the contest has - After the contest has been won, the winners been won, the winners drink the ale from the drink the ale from the barrel and celebrations barrel and celebrations continue at the villages continue at the villages two pubs. two pubs.