When: 30th May 2014 from 7.30pm
Where: Dover’s Hill, to the north of Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire
£: Admission costs £6 for adults and £3 for children
What is it?
On Friday 30th May the Cotswolds hosts a series of quirky rural games. Robert Dover’s Olimpik Games were first held in the 1600s as a combination of country and folk events. Robert Dover was an attorney and author who founded the games and presided over the event for the next forty years. Today there is a Robert Dover monument at Dover’s Hill, where the games are held.
Robert Dover thought that exercise was necessary for the defence of the kingdom. Some believe that Dover introduced the games as a way of bringing rich and poor together to increase social harmony.
This year’s Olimpik Games begin with the official opening, complete with the entrance of ‘Robert Dover’, the ‘Scuttlebrook Queen’ and cannon fire. This is followed by a parade of the competitors.
The first of the games is the obstacle race, followed by games such as Shin Kicking, Tug O’ War and even a wheelbarrow race.
There are several arenas with sports and entertainment taking place throughout the evening. Entertainment includes the Coventry Corps of Drums, Campden Morris Men and the Cheltenham Pipe Band. Other activities will include birds of prey, face-painting, a fairground, virtual paintball and bungee jumping.
The finale sees ‘Robert Dover’ and the ‘Scuttlebrook Queen’ light a beacon which begins a firework display. Finally, a torchlit procession takes place which everyone is welcome to take part in.
For those who are looking to carry on the quirky fun, a fancy dress parade will be taking place the following day. The parade will include decorated vehicles, fancy dress and morris dancers. Dancing by local children and morris dancers will also take place in the square. The new ‘Scuttlebrook Queen’ will be crowned and the street fair opened. This local custom is known as the ‘Scuttlebrook Wake’ and takes place every year. The term ‘Scuttlebrook’ comes from the name of a brook which used to flow through the area.
More info: www.olimpickgames.com