The writing prompts invite postcrossers to write about a different topic on their postcards’ messages every month. These are just suggestions though — if you already know what you want to write about, or the recipient gives you some pointers, that’s great too!
When choosing this month’s writing prompt, I’d just happened across some news articles about a pretty weird… sporting(?)… event in the UK. So it seemed like the perfect time to ask you all about unusual and conventional sports you have in your country. Or maybe even really, really local events!
The item in the news that I happened across today was… cheese-rolling. To be accurate, the Cooper’s Hill Cheese-Rolling event, held at Cooper’s Hill near Gloucester. Apparently there’s a cheese-rolling event in Chester, too, but the one at Cooper’s Hill has been running longer, and gets in the news each year because. Well. It consists of rolling a cheese down a really steep hill, then having people chase after it, and inevitably people get themselves hurt!
Apparently the event hasn’t been run officially in a while because of the safety concerns, but rogue cheese-rollers go ahead and organise it anyway. If you catch the cheese, it’s yours, which admittedly is some slight temptation to me because I do love cheese—except I know that I’d be well behind the competition, and also, I could just get cheese that hasn’t been rolled down a hill on a warm day.
Are there any weird sporting events local to you? Something famous from your country? As ever, we’d love to hear about it in your comments, but also on your postcards this month if you don’t know what to write!
10 comments so far
Fingerhakeln to draw the opponent by a finger over a table, mostly played in Bavaria.
Fingerhakeln literally translates as to hook fingers (which is what you do).
Kapsle! bottle cap racing! We used to play is as a kids, now there is tournament called Kapsel Cross, with live commentary, lights, show, special decorations, etc. etc.
The most unusual "sports" I have participated in would be Teapot Racing and Tea Dueling; both developed as part of the steampunk community.
Teapot racers are built using a remote controlled car, and decorated with a teapot and other tea- or steampunk- related items.
They are raced over obstacles, usually in the ballroom of a hotel, during a steampunk convention.
Tea dueling pits two people, each with an identical type of biscuit (the British cookie-style biscuit) and cup of tea. It is timed and has detailed rules. The biscuit must be dipped to a certain depth, then the competitors strive to be the last to put their biscuit fully in their mouth without it crumbling.
Nail pooping is a super fun game and the rules are easy. You need a nail that hangs on a string. You attach this string to the back of your pants. Then, without using your hands, you try to get the nail into the opening of an empty bottle. You have to balance well and move slowly to lower the nail just right. Everyone gets the chance to try it and whoever succeeds wins. It's a funny game that requires patience and good concentration. And the best thing is, if it doesn't work out right away, it causes a lot of laughter and fun.
There’s an event held at some rodeos here in the USA called Mutton Bustin’. Basically, children sit on top of a sheep and hang on as long as they can as if they were a grownup riding a bull. It’s so cute, haha!
I would probably end up in last place in the cheese-rolling event, because I wouldn't dare running down the hill and risk a trip to the emergency room!
Guess it's safer buying the cheese in the store!
Duplicate bridge is considered a mind sport. There was a serious effort to have it included in the Olympics, unfortunately that didn't happen.
Dragon boat racing in Guangdong Province is spectacular in China, and the participants are wealthy landlords who are not professional athletes and do not come for money, but they are all training to protect their family tree. If they're happy to win, they might get three months of rent free🤣
When I was a child, we used to tie a sugar cube in a sewing thread and fasten the thread in our mouth. Without any help from hands, the first one to get the cube in the mouth won the race.
Guangdong'Dragon Boa Races are absolutely top-notch in China!The crews paddle insanely fast ,as if they're terrified they won't save Qu Yuan in time-haha!(For contest:Qu Yuan was an ancient Chinese patriotic poet who drowned himself in the Miluo Rive after being framed .The Dragon Boat Festival honors his memory.)