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Shin-kicking

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Jun 18 2007

Shin-kicking is the slightly bizarre highlight of the Robert Dover’s Cotswold Olimpics (Olympics) held on the first Friday in June. Started by a local barrister Captain Robert Dover in 1612 at Dover’s Hill, above Chipping Campden, the annual event features some well known countryside games such as tug-of-war, obstacle races and a five mile run, but it’s the shin-kicking competition that draws the crowds. Contestants first fill their trouser legs with as much straw as possible to help soften the blow. Two contestants in turn then play a best of three, to hold arms and kick each other using steel […]

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About this blog

The vast majority of posts in this blog are about quirky & eccentric competitions & festivals. I started it in 2006 in France with a competition I’ll never forget. Where contestants battle it out to become the World Champion Pig Squeeler, or ‘Cri du Cochon’. I had little knowledge back then of quite how far my pursuit of these kind of events would lead me. I’ve travelled all over Britain (and occasionally further afield) to capture our curiosities and quirks. There’s nothing uniquely eccentric about the British, you’ll find people all over the world up to all sorts of weird and wonderful activities, but we do have a remarkable capacity to embrace the madness. ‘A Brit Different’ is the book that was born from it, my labour of love! So what next? There’s always something interesting going on, so watch this space, only time will tell!

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