Hallaton Hare Pie Scramble & Bottle Kicking - This is probably the bloodiest event in England. It’s contested between the neighbouring villages of Medbourne and Hallaton. The object is to get a barrel - or “bottle” - over the other village’s boundary. The person who does that gets to drink the beer it contains and share it around.
There are about eight pints in each, and it’s the best of three barrels. You can kick them, roll them, run with them - there are no clear rules. People have had their heads split open from a barrel coming down on them. I once photographed a guy with blood pouring out of his mouth and bits of his teeth flying out.
The day begins with a parade through the streets with the three barrels, accompanied by a band and a large hare pie, which the local vicar blesses. Then it’s chopped up in front of the church and thrown to the crowd. I know people who keep that bit of pie - green and mouldy - on their mantelpiece for the whole year, for luck.
On Hare Pie Bank, the barrel is thrown up three times, then it’s anybody's. People get severely damaged. I remember one lovely sunny day when there were 19 ambulances called to come and pick up the bodies.
The locals know the objectives of the game. For visitors, the following summary may help them to understand what goes on:
The contestants aim to take the bottle from Hare Pie Bank to get it across a boundary stream for their own village.
In Hallaton's case the home boundary is a brook running just south of the village.
Medbourne's brook is much further to the south and is a stream running from Slawston to Medbourne.
By convention the bottle may be carried, rolled, kicked, or thrown. In practice, wrestling, carrying, and pushing are deployed.
No forms of transport or weapons are allowed!
Contestants must wear suitable clothing - hard hats, crash helmets, and studded boots are barred!
There is no limit on the number of participants; spectators who get too close may find themselves involved!
The contest is the best of three bottles. For reasons of tradition, the second bottle is a dummy and is much lighter than the real ones containing ale. Thus, there is scope for "tactics", like holding back the fast runners until bottle two.
There is no referee and no time limit.
Not surprisingly, there are casualties, so first-aid staff are on standby throughout the event.