GC1R01C Down'ards (Traditional Cache) in East Midlands, United Kingdom created by Sarah and Craig

This cache has been archived.

La Lunatica: As there's been no cache to find for months, I'm archiving it to keep it from continually showing up in search lists, and to prevent it from blocking other cache placements. If you wish to repair/replace the cache sometime in the future, just contact us (by email), and assuming it meets the guidelines, we'll be happy to unarchive it.

GC1R01C ▼

A cache by Sarah and Craig Message this owner

Hidden : 5/5/2009

Difficulty:

Terrain:

Size: Size: small (small)

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Geocache Description:

This is a cache hidden in the area of the Down'ards goal for Ashbourne Royal Shrovetide Football. It is easily accessed from the road and could be treated as a cache and dash.

Royal Shrovetide football is one of the last surviving examples of medieval football and is played in Ashbourne each Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday between 2pm and 10pm. The goals are three miles apart along the Henmore Brook. The ball is thrown up from a plinth in Shaw Croft car park Ashbourne and the two goals are the Up’ards goal at Sturston and the Down’ards goal at Clifton. You are Down’ard if you were born on the south side of the Brook and an Up’ard if you were born on the north side of the brook. Anyone can take part. Over the years a number of royalty, national personalities and local personalities have started the game. In 2003 The Prince of Wales started the game.
The aim of the game is to get the “football” a large decorated ball stuffed with cork, to your goal and knock it three times against the goal. The goal is a 6ft piece of local stone set on a plinth. This is not as easy as it sounds as hundreds of people take part in the game and often it might only move a few hundred feet in a couple of hours. Traditionally Shrovetide football is said to be a game without rules, although in fact the organising committee does ask for rules of common sense to prevail, urging care to be taken to avoid damage of any kind. Certain areas including the churchyard and cemetery are out of bounds and it is also forbidden to carry the ball other than on foot.
Once the ball is in play it is a free for all and anyone not taking part has to be on constant guard. It is advised that no one parks their car in Ashbourne town centre on these days, the shops windows are barricaded up and schools closed.
The people of Ashbourne are very proud of Shrovetide Football and in 2008 a memorial to this ancient game has been unveiled. "The Hug" is an abstract-style statue depicting three players in the game and is based opposite Ashbourne cemetery on Mayfield Road. Caches have also been placed near to the “Up’ards” goal and at “The Hug” memorial.

The cache is a small tupperware conatiner and contains the usual items.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Haqre fgbar

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)