Snow proves no rivalto historic competition

Martin Slack

TRADITIONAL rivalries weren’t stopped by the snow yesterday as teams from two rural communities took to the fields to battle for a leather tube in a centuries old competition.

Men from the neighbouring villages of Haxey and Westwoodside, between Scunthorpe and Doncaster, have been engaging in the fight for the Haxey Hood for more than seven centuries.

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The event always takes place on January 6, and is said to have its roots in an event which saw a local noblewoman, Lady de Mowbray, lose her hat while out horse riding.

Local legend says that farm labourers then attempted to grab the hat, or hood, and return it – with a fierce scramble among men who wanted to make their mark with the lady of the manor.

Last night, a massive rugby scrum known as The Sway was well under way with men representing four pubs, attempting to grab the hood and take it back to their chosen hostelry.

The pubs involved are always the Carpenter's Arms, in Westwoodside, and three Haxey pubs, The Duke William Hotel, The Loco and The King's Arms, which won the prize last year.

In 2009, one man was taken to hospital after being injured when The Sway fell on top of him, but for most participants the risk of injury appears to be part of the fun.

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