• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Go to Expat Living Hong Kong
Join our Mailing List

Expat Living Singapore HomepageExpat Living Singapore

Moving to Singapore and not sure where to start? Expat Living is the essential lifestyle guide to living in Singapore.

Menu
  • Living in Singapore
      • Living here
      • Neighbourhood Guides
      • Schools
      • Property
      • Work And Business
      • Finance
      • For Guys
      • Environment
        • Abu Ahmad refugeLife as a refugee: One father’s story
        • Family at home power services electrical providersLooking to change your electricity provider?
        • Where to live in singaporeThinking of moving to Singapore?
        • Swim School Singapore10 exciting enrichment activities for kids
      • View all
    Close
  • What’s On
    • Things To Do
    • EL Events
    • Family
    • Concerts & Shows
    • Wine, Dine & Party
    • Network & Shop
    • Sports & Wellness
    • Exhibitions & Workshops
    • Close
  • Kids
      • Enrichment
      • Kids Things To Do
      • Mums & Babies
      • Schools
      • Tots & Toddlers
      • Tweens & Teens
        • Gautier JulianaKids rooms from all over the world
        • Swim School Singapore10 exciting enrichment activities for kids
        • Pacific Prime babymoon travel insurance woman in poolPlanning a babymoon?
        • AIS IBWant to ace the IB exam? Here’s how one girl did
      • View all
    Close
  • Homes
      • Accessories
      • Decorating Ideas
      • Homes Outdoor
      • Readers’ Homes
      • Shopping For Home
        • Gautier JulianaKids rooms from all over the world
        • Justinas siglap homeInside a colourful 1950s Siglap home
        • Courts Sofa10 sofa styles to suit you and your space
        • image-2019-02-18Where to buy cushions, curtains & upholstery
      • View all
    Close
  • Travel
      • Asia
      • Australia And New Zealand
      • Rest Of World
      • Travel News
      • Travel Tips
        • Niyama Private Islands Maldives Chill and Play IslandsEscape to this gorgeous Maldivian resort
        • Central Harbourfont Hong KongThings to Do with Kids in Hong Kong
        • Pacific Prime babymoon travel insurance woman in poolPlanning a babymoon?
        • Europe trip MelindaMelinda’s adventure in Italy and Germany
      • View all
    Close
  • Wine & Dine
      • Asian Cuisine
      • Western Cuisine
      • Bars & Clubs
      • Groceries & Speciality Services
      • Recipes & Classes
        • The Monarchy teamWe check out a cool British-inspired bar
        • Banana cake recipeTea time recipe: Banana cake
        • welsh lamb premium meat delivery onlineWelsh lamb: Where to find and how to cook it
        • Authors of Table TalesAuthor spotlight: Table Tales
      • View all
    Close
  • Style & Beauty
      • Fashion
      • Hair & Beauty
      • Horoscopes
        • BTL Vanquish Me slimming treatment cutis fire and iceHow to target specific problem areas
        • composite facelift dr wong w aesthetic plastic surgeryHow to get a natural looking facelift
        • MAH Collection Resort wearLooking for stylish resort wear?
        • engagement rings singapore gioia fine jewelleryWhere to buy or customise engagement rings
      • View all
    Close
  • Health & Fitness
      • Dental
      • Fitness
      • Medical
      • Wellness
        • composite facelift dr wong w aesthetic plastic surgeryHow to get a natural looking facelift
        • UP fitnessThe benefits of getting in shape with your partner
        • Pacific Prime babymoon travel insurance woman in poolPlanning a babymoon?
        • benefits of drinking water natural springs water deliveryThe natural remedy everyone needs
      • View all
    Close
  • Shop
    • PRINT MAGAZINE
    • DIGITAL MAGAZINE
    • BOOKS
    • Close
Home » Living in Singapore » For Guys » World’s weirdest competitions

World’s weirdest competitions

Updated on 19th December 2017 by Expat Living |

The Haxey Hood 

A roundup of the world’s odd, weird and wonderful competitions, including the Haxey Hood, Beer Pong World Series, Camel Wrestling and Cockroach Racing

Boys in the Hood
In a far-flung corner of the north of England, a 700-year-old lady is still worth fighting for…

By Richard Lenton

For 364 days a year, Visit Britain, the UK tourist board, would be hard pressed to persuade anyone to visit the sleepy northern village of Haxey. However, on the 12th day after Christmas, this unassuming farming community is transformed into the setting for England’s oldest traditional sporting tussle – an annual re-enactment of a 14th century act of chivalry known as The Haxey Hood.

 

Legend has it that Lady de Mowbray, the wife of wealthy landowner John de Mowbray, was riding through the village one blustery, medieval day, when her silk riding hood was blown from her head and across a field. Thirteen farm workers rushed to her aid, chasing the hood until it was finally caught. So amused was Lady de Mowbray by the gentlemanly efforts of the farmhands that she donated 13 acres of land to the village on condition that the battle for the hood would be re-enacted every year. Resembling a giant, slow-moving rugby scrum, The Haxey Hood has been played annually for over seven centuries.

Before we go any further, I have to confess that I was brought up in a neighbouring village to Haxey, and despite being a local boy, nothing could have prepared me for my first Haxey Hood experience. On 6 January 1989, my friends and I arranged to meet at the King’s Arms at 9am, which seemed an ungodly hour for anyone to be entering a public house, let alone a group of 14-year-old boys. I approached the front of the pub with some trepidation, but as the door swung open it appeared as if the entire population of the village was already inside, singing and swigging with the enthusiasm of a gang of London looters.

Before I knew it, I’d been handed a pint of bitter and a bacon buttie and as I surveyed the scene, I noticed my school friend’s dad in a passionate embrace with a young lady who was only a few years older than me. He later claimed that he was merely administering some much-needed mouth-to-mouth resuscitation after she complained of feeling faint… This prelude to The Hood set the scene perfectly for the carnage to follow.

At noon the pomp and ceremony begins, as various characters based on the original 13 farm workers – and dressed in bizarre ancient attire – begin The Hood procession through the village singing traditional folk songs and occasionally popping into one of the local hostelries for a drop of light relief; on the house, of course.

At 2.30pm, the Fool – named after the medieval farm worker who caught Lady de Mowbray’s hood but who was too shy to personally hand it back to her – makes a pre-battle speech from outside the local church, as a fire is lit behind him using damp straw; an act known as “smoking the Fool”. He ends with the traditional words: “Hoose agen hoose, toon agen toon, if a man meets a man nok ’im doon, but doant ’ot ’im”, which roughly translates as: House against house, town against town, if a man meets a man, knock him down but don’t hurt him. A “sway hood” wrapped in a leather tube is then thrown into the middle of the village field, and the fight to transport Lady De Mowbray’s pride and joy to one of the four pubs in Haxey begins.

The actual hood, which can’t be thrown or run with, is moved slowly among the 200 or so scrummagers by “swaying” in the direction of their chosen pub. It tends to snake around, stopping occasionally as bodies are pulled out of the mud, and, despite the efforts of the Lord and the Boggins who act as referee and stewards, broken bones and other injuries are a regular occurrence. In the battle of 1989, an ambulance rushed to the scene to cart off a young chap whose leg was so badly mangled it looked as though he’d been wrestling a combine harvester. As he was stretchered from the scrum, he defiantly yelled, “I’ll see you in the King’s tonight!” It epitomised what the event is all about. 

For hours on end the hood is manoeuvred back and forth, until finally it arrives at one of the pubs. Once it is touched by the landlord on his front step, the contest is over, and that pub takes ownership of the hood for the year. In an unremarkable village in the north of England, the spirit of Lady de Mowbray and the art of chivalry are very much alive.

ATHLETICISM: 4/5
CREATIVITY: 2/5
TACTICS: 2/5

If you’re looking for thrills and spills of a different kind this January, why not try these instead…

Beer Pong World Series
Las Vegas, 1-5 January

The most prestigious event on the calendar for the genius drinking game in which players lob a ping-pong  ball across a table and attempt to land it in a cup of beer at the other end. Does it get any better than knocking back beer while competing? First prize last year was a whopping US$65,000.

ATHLETICISM: 1/5 
CREATIVITY: 1/5
TACTICS: 2/5 

Camel Wrestling Championship
Selcuk, Turkey, 20 January

The men do the fighting, but it’s the women who have the power. An alluring female camel is brought into the arena to persuade over a hundred disgruntled males to go head-to-head. Next thing you know, the head-butts are flying in as the fellas do battle for the girl. The wrestling ends when one of the camels falls or flees.

ATHLETICISM: 4/5
CREATIVITY: 1/5
TACTICS: 2/5

Australia Day Cockroach Racing
Brisbane, 26 January

They say Singaporeans will bet on anything, but surely the line would be drawn at racing cockroaches? Not so our Australian brothers. The Australia Day races began back in 1981, and by 2004 over 7,000 people were turning up to watch. You couldn’t make it up.

ATHLETICISM: 3/5
CREATIVITY: 1/5
TACTICS: 1/5

Categories: For Guys Tags: Funny Stuff Weird Competitions

About Expat Living

Expat Living is your trusted guide if you are moving to or living in Singapore! Our team will help you find out about shopping, dining, entertainment, schools, travel, fashion, finance, health and beauty.

You May Also Like

Earrings

Jewellery – where and what to buy

Netflix

Watch the TV content you miss from home

SCAD hallway

Want to go to art and design school?

Like what you've seen?

Enter your email address to stay in touch!

By subscribing, you'll receive our monthly newsletters and offers, which you can unsubscribe to anytime.

Primary Sidebar

Editor's Picks

Best short breaks from Singapore

Where to live in Singapore expat guide

The expat’s guide to where to live in Singapore

my cozy room

Best Facials Singapore: We review 7 facial treatments!

Journey East Element Sofa

Best furniture shops in Singapore

35 Cool & Fun Things To Do In Singapore

best champagne brunches in Singapore - hilton

Best Brunch Places In Singapore: Champagne Sunday Brunches

What's On

Image of stamp collection at You've Got Mail Exhibition

You’ve Got Mail! Exhibition

The Little Prince_Behind The Exhibition (1). Image courtesy of Singapore Philatelic Museum

The Little Prince: Behind the Story Exhibition

Selling Dreams: Early Advertising in Singapore

Lim Cheng Hoe: Painting Singapore (Singapore River)

Lim Cheng Hoe: Painting Singapore

Five Oxen Wu Guanzhong

Wu Guanzhong: Expressions of Pen & Palette

Passion@KampongGlam

Passion@KampongGlam

Follow us @expatlivingsg

Glamorous Giving is on tonight so get ready to shop! See you there!
#expatliving #shopping #shopforacause #singaporeshopping
Oven roasted French Chicken with ‘forty garlic’ and oven baked Atlantic Seabass with Fennel salad and Sicilian tomatoes at the lovely Atout Restaurant Dempsey - Bon Appetit - Jacqui @atout_restaurant #atout_restaurant #expatlivingsg
If you have no plans for the weekend, bring the fambam to #prudentialmarinabaycarnival for a blast! Happening till 24 March, the carnival features over 40 exciting rides and games. We had such a fun time last night 🎠🎡🎢 - Anthia
Head online to read our new round up on online stores for furniture like this one from @soulandtables! We're loving this contemporary piece!
Retail therapy that gives back?! We’re on board! We chatted to Leah Lambert in our February issue about @glamorousgiving. Pencil it in for the 20-21st of February. More details online ✨
Celebrate Valentine's with an exquisite five course meal for two at Café Melba for just $88++ PER COUPLE!
That fresh 🍓 tart (and everything else) looks YUM!
#ValentinesDaySG #CelebrateLove #CafeMelbaSingapore #expatliving #expatlivingsg
Wow! I love the look of this underwater restaurant in the Maldives. Lindsay Yap checked it out for us on page 130 of our Feb issue 🌊
Have you made plans for Valentine’s Day? If not don’t sweat it! We have plenty of ideas online or in our February issue 🥰❤️
Drinks tonight? Try Jigger and Pony’s signature creation, Donkey Kong - a banana-infused Monkey Shoulder Scotch!
We're giving away FREE copies of our latest Home & Property Guide for a limited time only! Grab your copy here: expatliving.sg/HPG_IG
Want to look professional and put-together, yet stylish at the same time? @rougesingapore has some of the most comfortable and flattering officewear that'll take you from day to night, office to bar. Digging the fun colours I wore in this mini shoot for our January workwear fashion spread 💃 - Anthia // #expatlivingsg #expatlivingsingapore #expatliving
Discover romantic bars and restaurants, Japan journeys and kid-friendly holidays in our latest issue! Grab your copy here: expatliving.sg/el-shop/
Have you ever been to Japan? Our editor headed to Kyushu and loved it! Her full story online now 🇯🇵
Where’s your favourite spot on the East Coast? This month we chatted to Rachel House and Sam Chapman about the ins and outs of living on Telok Kurau. See page 64 🍃
Gorgeous diamonds don't always have to be crazy expensive - @diamantipertutti is a designed-in-Belgium jewellery label offering modern and well-priced designs that incorporate ethically sourced diamonds 💍 They've just opened their first Singapore store in Raffles City! - Anthia
I’m sure by now you have all seen our cover, but where is this stunning view?! It’s in Italy 🇮🇹 In an area called Puglia which is located in the heel of Italy. More details on page 139 @borgoegnazia
We are loving The Monarchy’s new Quintessentially British Cocktail bar and Ultra lounge, open from 5pm till late Tuesday’s to Saturday’s check them out on the trendy Tras Street #expatlivingsg #themonarchysg #cocktailbar #ultralounge #singapore #hermajesty #trasstreet #peakyblinders #kevinseah
It’s my favourite round up of the year *drumroll* It’s our vegetarian and vegan round up!! Check out the 30 restaurants we chose in our January issue or online 🥰- Michaela
Brilliant weekend at the @SingOpenGolf! Well done @jazzjanegolf on becoming the third Thai champion to conquer the green!
We had a peak inside a Siglap 1950s home this January. We love the colours! 🥰
Early morning prayers. Piercings. Pots of milk. A long procession. To those who aren’t familiar with the Hindu ritual of Thaipusam, it may all seem a strange combination. Learn more about this festival in our things to do section online and head down to see it on Monday (21st Jan)
Throwback to our Christmas fashion shoot for the December issue! We had such a blast at @thesummerhousesg and @wildseedsg 💃
Recently went to South Africa for the holidays and loved it! If you guys haven’t gone you need to. Table Mountain is incredible. Would also recommend a game drive, we loved @amakhala - Michaela
Results are out! Check out some of the best in business based on your votes 👉 expatliving.sg/readerschoice
  • Competitions
  • Noticeboard
  • Subscribe
  • About
  • advertise
  • Contact
  • Privacy

© 2019 Expat Living Singapore, All Rights Reserved.

Near me
40 km