Leicestershire village celebrates victory after bottle kicking win

Two neighbouring villages have competed against each other in an ancient annual bottle kicking event.

On Easter Monday, two teams from the Leicestershire villages of Hallaton and Medbourne competed to move two of three barrels to the opposition's stream.

Hallaton were victorious in this year's contest, winning the best-of-three event 2-0.

The event preceded with a parade and the ceremonial slicing up and distribution of a hare pie.

This year's contest marked 50 years since its chairman, Phil Allan, joined the event's organising committee.

Mr Allan told the BBC that he believed the Hallaton Bottle Kicking game was the "oldest continuing sporting event in Britain".

The barrels that are used in the game, nicknamed "bottles", hold around a gallon of beer and are sealed with wax ahead of the game.

Two of the "bottles" contain beer while one is completely wooden, painted red and white, and is referred to as the dummy.

This year's winners, Hallaton, receive bragging rights for the next 12 months and the two barrels filled with beer, while the losing village, Medbourne, get the dummy.

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