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Atherstone, Warwickshire, UK. 28th February 2017. Pictured: / Hundreds of people of all ages flood into the Warwickshire town of Atherstone to either participate or watch the infamous Atherstone Ball Game. The event is being held for the 818th time opening when this year's celebrity, Eastenders star Annette Badland, throws the ball into the crowd of people. The Atherstone Ball Game is an ancient Shrove Tuesday tradition in which the people of this rural North Warwickshire town awaken and literally brawl over a large ball up and down the town's small ancient streets. Shops are boarded up, local schools are closed and towns people of Atherstone gather in the main street at 3pm with only one rule in mind, the ball cannot be taken outside the town. Anything and everything else goes. The winner in this no holds barred contest is the person holding onto the ball at 5pm. This traditional Shrove Tuesday Ball Game has been held annually since the early 12th Century and is one of Atherstone's claims to fame. The origin of the game, in the reign of King John, is thought to have been a "Match of Gold that was played between the Warwickshire Lads and the Leicestershire Lads on Shrove Tuesday". // Lee Thomas, Tel. 07784142973. Email: leepthomas@gmail.com www.leept.co.uk (0000635435)
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Atherstone, Warwickshire, UK. 28th February 2017. Pictured: / Hundreds of people of all ages flood into the Warwickshire town of Atherstone to either participate or watch the infamous Atherstone Ball Game. The event is being held for the 818th time opening when this year's celebrity, Eastenders star Annette Badland, throws the ball into the crowd of people. The Atherstone Ball Game is an ancient Shrove Tuesday tradition in which the people of this rural North Warwickshire town awaken and literally brawl over a large ball up and down the town's small ancient streets. Shops are boarded up, local schools are closed and towns people of Atherstone gather in the main street at 3pm with only one rule in mind, the ball cannot be taken outside the town. Anything and everything else goes. The winner in this no holds barred contest is the person holding onto the ball at 5pm. This traditional Shrove Tuesday Ball Game has been held annually since the early 12th Century and is one of Atherstone's claims to fame. The origin of the game, in the reign of King John, is thought to have been a "Match of Gold that was played between the Warwickshire Lads and the Leicestershire Lads on Shrove Tuesday". // Lee Thomas, Tel. 07784142973. Email: leepthomas@gmail.com www.leept.co.uk (0000635435)