Sadly, I won't be in the area this week but #Ashbourne #RoyalShrovetide2024 kicks off in a couple of minutes...
Shrovetide football: England's ancient and chaotic ball game https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20240205-shrovetide-football-englands-ancient-and-chaotic-ball-game @bbc_travel
I'll be trying to gather some socials to keep up with it, but if you fancy following the action, try https://www.shrovetide.tv/
#Ashbourne #Shrovetide #RoyalShrovetide2024 #Upards #Downards
Well just for a change it looks like the #Downards have the early advantage from the turn-up. The hug seems to be by the Co-op heading to Dig Street.
We've (I say we, I'm 150 miles away!) taken a right-turn now into the back of the Green Man. Looks like 2000 people are heading to the pub.
The balls popped out above the crowd, absolute limbs, people climbing over people heads, steam is rising. A lively start 15 minutes in.
We've broke out and are on Dig Street now outside the Coach and Horses. Might actually be going into the pub this time.
Moving fast; there's people out the back of the pub and charging down Henmore Brook (i.e. actually in the river). Can't see the ball coming out of there yet though
#Ashbourne #RoyalShrovetide2024
Yep, the ball is in the Henmore Brook now. Hard to see from the https://www.shrovetide.tv/ angle if we are moving but there's possibly 50 people in the river now.
Approximate route of the ball so far. Currently in the brook at the back of the Coach and Horses.
RT: https://twitter.com/ShrovetideLive/status/1757415219972669928/photo/1
Stalemate 😁 #shrovetidelive #shrovetide2024 #Ashbourne #Shrovetide #RoyalShrovetide2024
Finally a change. The ball breaks from the hug in the river, heads "Up" the brook back to Dig Street, then thrown vertically up to the bridge to street level.
Momentum swings to the #Upards
#Ashbourne #Shrovetide #shrovetide2024 #RoyalShrovetide2024
And it's back in the river, under the bridge. It is possible that the hug could take the ball all the way up the river, under the tunnel and out into the park. If that happens, it's advantage #Upards
Blue line shows possible route into the park along the underground section of the Henmore Brook... it does happen.
Ball is still under the bridge on Dig Street though.
#Ashbourne #Shrovetide #shrovetide2024 #RoyalShrovetide2024 #RoyalShrovetide2024
Repost https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/news/local-news/ashbourne-royal-shrovetide-live-updates-9095884
The ball is still missing...
It seems it is still under the culvert - this is a view from the Dig Street end.
The shout of "heave" keeps emantating from the culvert every now and again.
We're in the pond now, open water swimming and heading to #Sturston. #Upards are in charge here... the crowds are heading to the top of the pond in the park. It's going to be tricky for #Downards to turn this one around
#Ashbourne #Shrovetide #shrovetide2024 #RoyalShrovetide2024 #Upards
Repost: https://twitter.com/ShrovetideLive/status/1757479295885132007
"This is where the hug has ended up."
So, North of the Henmore Brook, just east of the playing fields but into actual countryside. Still #Upards with the upper hand
#Ashbourne #Shrovetide #shrovetide2024 #RoyalShrovetide2024
#Upards about halfway to #Sturston now, and it's proper dark. It'll only take one break away to get it to the goal...
But #Downards could still snatch it!
Green on the left shows the turn-up starting point, red is where we are now. Sturston goal is the heart on the right.
Repost: https://twitter.com/ShrovetideLive/status/1757493050907992344
Up'Ards can sense victory. We are in Sturston #Shrovetide2024 #Shrovetidelive
Repost of an earlier post by Chris Clarke, just because the photo is really atmospheric:
The hug by the river. Feel free to reuse.
https://twitter.com/listerthrawn/status/1757476996576162229/photo/1
#Ashbourne #Shrovetide #shrovetide2024 #RoyalShrovetide2024
2 fields to go... #Upards
Repost: Up'Ards have scored! Will Nash!!!
https://twitter.com/i/status/1757518635428401247
Phil Parker Critchley
