Great Britain is the birthplace of football, tennis and other popular sports around the world. But the British know how to compete with each other in a way that is less familiar to us. It was in Great Britain that the largest number of unusual competitions and sports games arose, which from a fun tradition turned into new sports recognized far beyond the borders of this country. Competitions whose description makes us smile.

1. Egg all-around

It is unknown who first came up with the idea of ​​throwing eggs, but the tournaments, which have been held in the central counties of England for several decades, have become national, and have recently received international status.

These competitions are open to everyone, as long as they have eggs at hand. And you can come up with a lot of fun with eggs: you can throw them for accuracy, at a distance, you can put the egg in a spoon, take it in your mouth and run a race. But the most popular discipline is called Russian roulette for some reason. Six eggs are placed in the basket - five hard-boiled and one raw. This is what is considered a bat. Athletes sit opposite each other and take turns breaking eggs on their opponent’s forehead. The one whose face has egg slurry flows out of the game, and the winner advances to the next round - and so on until the final.

2. Lawn mower racing

Mowing the lawn is a sacred duty of any English homeowner, a tradition passed down from generation to generation. Lawn mowers were created to make this hard work easier. This was taken advantage of by a group of young people looking for new and cheap entertainment. As the official story goes, in 1972, several young Englishmen were sitting in a pub sipping beer when one Jim Gavin said: “We all have a lawnmower - let's race them.” This is how the British Lawn Mower Racing Association was born. Later, the initiative for cheap motorsports was taken up by the Americans. Officially, the first lawn mower race took place on April 1, 1992.

The main thing is to remove all blades from the machine. Thus, tractors turn into mini-cars, and their price after all modifications increases from $5 thousand to $200 thousand. Racers compete in four classes that differ from each other in the technical characteristics of the “cars”: stock (16 km/h), imow (32 km/h), prepared (80 km/h) and factory experimental (96.5 km/h). The prize for the winner may be a cup or certificate. “We turn weekend chores into a competitive sport!” - says the motto of lawn racers.

3. Man versus horse

One day in 1980, landowner Gordon Green from the town of Lanurtyd Wells heard two men arguing in a pub. One of them claimed that when running a long distance, a person can overtake a horse. The enterprising Green decided to test this statement, and at the same time attract the attention of potential investors to his lands. This is how the annual Man versus Horse marathon was organized in the smallest town in England.

The Welsh Marathon distance is 22 miles (42.195 km) and takes place in the countryside through fields, hills, streams and moors. One person or a group of people can take part. Horses perform in pairs with their riders. Everyone pays entrance fees, which then add up prize fund. For twenty-four years in a row, this money was won by a rider and a horse, however, to the joy of all mankind, revenge was taken in the twenty-fifth year of the marathon’s existence. In 2004, Briton Hugh Lobb completed the distance in 2 hours 5 minutes and 19 seconds, for which he received 25 thousand pounds in prize money. Recently, 40 horses compete against five hundred runners.

5. Snorkeling in the swamp

The restless Gordon Green wanted to glorify his town so much that he invented another strange sport. In the early 1980s, he invited the residents of Lanurtyd Wells to cast aside their inhibitions and splash around in the mud as best they could. They liked the idea, and the swamp diving championship became an annual event, which attracts enthusiasts from Europe, the USA and even Australia.

Anyone can participate, the main thing is that they have a swimming mask, a breathing tube, fins and 15 pounds down payment. Athletes need to swim 60 m in a ditch dug in the middle of a swamp and filled with mud. Participants can be dressed in any way they like - even a wedding dress, even a wetsuit. But there is an age limit: athletes must be at least 14 years old. But there is no upper limit: one of the participants celebrated her seventieth birthday during the competition. The old lady did not break the world record set by Miss Abigail James - 1 minute 57 seconds, but she received an unforgettable experience.

6. Underwater hockey

Underwater hockey was invented by the British in 1954, but now it is popular in many countries of the world, and in some places with the most complex interpretations. For example, an international ice hockey tournament was recently held in Austria: the players passed the puck to each other not along the bottom of the reservoir, but along the back side of the ice crust. It was possible to breathe only in the window of the ice hole located next to the “field”.

To play, you need a pool with an underwater gate. Two teams play, each with 6 people, equipped with swimming trunks, masks, ear plugs, fins and snorkels. The task of these brave guys is to use a 30-centimeter stick to score a plastic-lined metal puck into the opponent’s goal.

7. Rolling the cheese

Every year for 200 years, the picturesque Cotswold Hills have hosted a game in which a crowd of daredevils race down the hill in pursuit of a wheel of Double Gloucester Cheese. People from all over the world come to Cooper's Hill to watch and even take part in this dangerous, but very fun competition.

8. Shin Kick Championship

This rigorous competition is quite popular in the Cotswolds, where the Cotswold Cheese Race is held. The essence of the game is simple, like its name. You need to kick your opponent's shin until he falls. Victory is yours if you win two out of three rounds.

9. Eton Wall

A traditional sports game played exclusively for students at Eton College in England. Some compare it to rugby or football, but this is wrong, since Eton wall is a very special game in which the playing field is the wall. Players move along the wall and lean on each other in the fight for the ball. If the player is close enough to the edge of the wall, he gets to kick the ball at a target, which can be a tree or a door. This game is not as simple as it seems, considering that the last time a goal was scored was back in 1909.

10. Royal Shrovetide Football

In the English town of Ashbourne, for more than 800 years, the most unusual football match, reminiscent of rugby, has been held annually during Shrovetide week for a crowd of thousands. In this football, the rules are completely different from the rules of regular football, since the ball can be picked up with your hands and thrown, no cards are issued for violations, and the main prohibitions are: violence, the use of various Vehicle to move the ball, it is also prohibited to hide the ball in bags or backpacks. The entire city serves as a football field, with the exception of the territory of cemeteries, church yards and memorial areas.

A Royal Shrovetide football match lasts about 8 hours. The match begins at lunchtime in the city center, where a local dignitary throws the ball into a crowd of people and the teams try to get the ball to the opponent's goal by any means. The gates themselves are about 3 miles apart and are old mills that are located in opposite parts of the city. A goal is scored when someone hits the opponent's mill post with the ball three times. The game lasts until ten o'clock in the evening, and if a goal is scored before five o'clock, then the townspeople return to the center of the field and continue to play.

The ball used to play unusual football is also unusual. It is larger than a standard soccer ball. Every year a new ball is used, which local craftsmen paint by hand, after the game the winner’s name is written on it and sent for storage to one of the local pubs. If the goal was never scored by either team, then the name of the referee is indicated on it, to whom it is given for safekeeping.

Royal Maslenitsa football can be played by an unlimited number of people, and not only residents, but also tourists can participate.

11. Worm Charming Competition

In the UK, worm charming is an official sport. It's so popular that Cheshire hosts the World Worm Charming Championships every year. The rules are quite simple. You are given a 3x3 meter plot of land and you must lure out of the ground and collect as many worms as possible in 30 minutes. I bet this sport is ideal for those who need cheap fish bait.

12. Game of conker

The World Conker Championship is held every October in the small British village of Ashton, located in Northamptonshire, where conker players, the number of whom exceeds three hundred, come from all over the world. The goal of the game is to break your opponent's conker. “What kind of conkers are these?” - you ask. These are horse chestnut fruits that are hung on a string.

Players take turns hitting their opponent's conker. The player whose conker will be hit first holds it with a string wrapped around his hand. He must raise or lower his hand to a position favorable to his opponent, and then hold his conker perfectly still, awaiting the blow. The batter takes his conker in one hand and holds the opposite end of the string with the other hand. Before hitting, he pulls the conker back and then releases it with a sharp twisting motion in the direction of the opponent's conker. If the striker misses the opponent's conker, he is allowed a maximum of two more attempts. If the players' strings are intertwined, the first player to shout "Strings!" may require an extra try. The game continues until one of the conkers is destroyed - that is, until there is not a piece of chestnut left on the string.

The British have always respected their traditions and stuck to them. And, despite the fact that these people are called homebodies, sports are an important tradition that is of great importance in their lives. Every year there are more and more people involved in sports in England. And this is due to the fact that they are concerned about their health. In this regard, the country is building a large number of sports centers, although most of the population prefer to play sports outdoors. Walking stands out among the popular sports. Men can also play football, billiards or swimming, and women can do aerobics.

Football is considered the national sport in England. This sport plays a huge role in the development of English culture. Here he appeared and the rules of the game were created. In addition, England has the largest number of football clubs. This sport is practiced by both professionals and amateurs. Games are constantly held in London and some teams even participate in competitions with other countries.

In addition to football, England is the founder of other sports. For example, rugby. This is a team game with a ball. It can be both amateur and professional. This is a competition between two teams, each with 15 players. The object of the game is to carry the ball into the end zone or hit the goal. This sport arose in the 19th century and completely by accident. One of the students at Rugby School (hence the name) mistakenly picked up the ball and ran. Currently, both rugby league competitions and tournaments are held, in which teams from other countries also participate. Once every 4 years the Rugby World Championship is held in England and this is one of the most important events for lovers of this sport.

Another sport that is no less popular in England is cricket. This is a team game consisting of 11 players. It uses a ball and a bat. The players take turns hitting the ball onto the field. In addition, you need to score as many points as possible and interfere with your opponent. The rules of this game were drawn up 300 years ago, but young people still play it with great pleasure. The Six Nations Cup is considered the unofficial European cricket championship.

The British are very fond of such a sport as tennis. It has French roots and its ancestors were monks. Currently, this type is most popular in England and it is here that the most famous tennis tournament in the world, the Wimbledon tournament, takes place. This sport can easily be called one of the most expensive sports, but at the same time, residents of England practice it from an early age. Some even manage to become champions this way.

Along with tennis there is such a sport as equestrian competitions. From time immemorial it was practiced only by aristocrats and members of the royal family. Every year, Ascot hosts the Royal Ascot race, which is always attended by the Queen. There is evidence that this sport originated in the 3rd century AD. and was arranged specifically to entertain the head of Rome. Therefore, it is not surprising that it was in England that the fastest horse was bred - the English thoroughbred, which all residents of this country are proud of. In addition to horse racing, another type of equestrian competition is popular in England - polo. This is a fairly young sport. It appeared in this country in the 19th century and is also considered a privilege of aristocrats, as it requires large financial investments.

One cannot fail to mention such a sport as golf. Many countries claim that this species originated from them. This includes Holland, China, France, and even Russia. But the first mention of this sport dates back to Scotland in the 15th century. The point of the game is to hit the ball into the holes with a stick. As a rule, large courses contain 18 holes. This game is popular all over the world and even children play it. There is mini golf or crazy golf for them. Many families go to Disneyland to play.

Another interesting game in England is shuffleboard. This national sport has roots from distant old England. It is played with cues and pucks. It is necessary to send the puck with a cue strike to the desired zone. The playing field is divided into sectors, each of which has its own point. It is necessary to collect as many of them as possible. What is important here is not physical preparation, but a good eye. For this reason, shuffleboard can be played by people of any age group. In addition, the game does not require special platforms, and equipment for this sport is affordable, for this reason the passion for shuffleboard is widespread.

Currently, there is such a little-known sport as squash. But its popularity is growing every year and it is going to be included in the Olympic program. The essence of the game is to hit the ball with a racket, which bounces off the wall and floor, while observing certain rules. This game requires great physical preparation, endurance and excellent reaction.

In addition to the listed sports, baseball and field hockey are also played in England. Swimming, boxing, jumping and running are also very popular. Many Englishmen are also interested in fishing and hunting. Sport is an integral and important part of the life of every Englishman.

Unusual Sports in Great Britain

Football, tennis, and other famous sports, came to us from the UK. But the British have become famous for unusual competitions, which at first caused joy and fun, and afterwards they were recognized as sports games in many countries of the world, which can not help a smile.

1. Competitions with eggs.

In England, there are whole tournaments on throwing eggs. All interested persons can take part in this games. Eggs throw at the accuracy, at a distance, run with them race in the mouth or in a spoon. There is also an egg English roulette: 6 stone eggs and 1 fresh egg are put in a basket, let in a circle, and start to beat them to each other on the forehead. On whom the liquid egg is broken, he is eliminated from the game.

1. Race Lawn Mowers

The appearance of the lawn is the face of any English landlord. Cutting gnazons became a tradition in all houses. In 1972, a group of young neighbor's children decided to organize a competition who would swiftly mow the lawn in front of their house. Everyone was sitting on his mini-car and the real races began. The very first race on lawn mowers was officially opened in 1992.

1. Hockey in the water

Such an entertainment the British invented in 1954, now this kind of entertainment is popular in many countries. The main condition is to install a gate at the bottom of the pool, carry an underwater mask, fins, a plug of the ears, and a tube to breathe. Stick - 40 centimeters, allows you to score goals in the direction of the opponent.

1. Skating cheese.

This fun competition is arranged in Gloucester meeting the first day of spring. The huge heads of cheese start rolling down a steep hill, and a group of daredevils runs after cheese to be the first to catch it. In this competition, both men and women participate. The winner takes home a big head of the most delicious cheese in the neighborhood. Of course, it does not do without injuries and injured limbs, but the joy of victory and general fun outweigh these unpleasant moments.

Translation

Football, tennis, and other famous sports came to us from Great Britain. But the British also became famous for their unusual competitions, which at first caused joy and fun, and later were recognized as sports games in many countries of the world that cannot but bring a smile.

In England, entire egg throwing tournaments are held. Everyone is welcome to take part. Eggs are thrown for accuracy, at a distance, and they run a race with them in their mouth or in a spoon. There is also English egg roulette: 6 stone eggs and 1 fresh one are placed in a basket, passed around in a circle, and they begin to hit each other on the forehead. The one on whom the liquid egg breaks is eliminated from the game.

The appearance of the lawn is the face of any English homeowner. Mowing lawns has become a tradition in all homes. In 1972, a group of young neighborhood kids decided to organize a competition to see who could mow the lawn in front of their house the fastest. Everyone got into their own mini car and the real racing began. The very first lawn mower race was officially opened in 1992.

The British invented this kind of fun in 1954, and now this type of entertainment is popular in many countries. The main condition is to install a gate at the bottom of the pool, have an underwater mask, fins, ear plugs, and a snorkel for breathing. The stick is 40 centimeters, allows you to shoot pucks towards the opponent.

Content

Introduction 2 Main part

Basic facts 2

The role of sport in Great Britain 3-

From the history of professional sports 7-1

Other interesting sports 11-1

Scottish national sports 14-

Conclusion 17

References 17

Introduction

We have been studying the beautiful spoken language English for several years now.

We learn a lot of new and interesting things from the history and culture of this amazing country - Great Britain. But we are especially interested in sports. Many sports are said to have originated in Great Britain. And the rules of the games were invented by the British. In our work we would like to talk about the national sports of the United Kingdom of Great Britain.

Here are the basic facts:

Many sports originated from England.

Golf is Scotland's main contribution to British sport.

Football is a working class sport like boxing, wrestling, snooker, arrow throwing, greyhound racing.

Aerobics and yoga, squash and cycling are among the sports where participation has been increasing in recent years.

There are several places in Britain associated with a specific sport.

Wimbledon is a suburb in south London where all English lawn tennis championships have been held in July (since 1877).

Wembley is a stadium in north London where international football matches and the Football Cup have been held since 1923.

Football is a game that is played in almost all countries.

A football game usually lasts one and a half hours.

The football final takes place every May at the famous Wembley Stadium in London.

Today, a variety of sports are popular in the UK, involving a huge number of participants and spectators. Some sports appeal to a minority or only certain classes of society, while others appeal to the vast majority of Britons. The number of people participating in sports has increased in recent years, as have sports centers in both the private and public sectors. This has coincided with greater concern for health and exercise among the majority of Britons. Around a third of UK adults regularly exercise outdoors, and a quarter in gyms. Spending on sports, attending sports competitions and purchasing sports equipment takes up a significant part of the budget of British families.

The principle of British education for a long time was "A healthy mind in a healthy body." All schools must take care of the physical fitness of students and provide them with a choice of several sports. Schools play football, rugby or hockey in the winter and cricket, tennis, swimming and athletics in the summer. Some schools may be better stocked with sports equipment than others and offer a greater variety of sports games and activities.

The most popular sports in Great Britain are: football, cricket, rugby, golf, athletics, badminton, squash, curling, etc.

Football

In England and Scotland, football is the national sport and it is the passion of many Britons. The level of teams in the Scottish Premier League is high, and the English Premier League is considered the best in the world. There are fans all over the world of famous English clubs such as Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea, and broadcasts of matches with these teams sometimes attract an audience of over a billion people.

Cricket

Cricket - basic summer look sport in the UK. Athletes play it different levels training - from small town teams to the England national team. The rules of the game of cricket appeared in the 18th century and the game is still very popular among young people. Cricket is played wherever there is green lawn in a village or city, from April to August. Cricket competitions between teams from Commonwealth countries are very popular. England play tournament games at home, one-day internationals, play the Twenty20 form of cricket (the game is named after each team's number of overs) each summer, and travel overseas for matches in the winter. The main event is, of course, the biennial Ashes Cup competition between the teams of England and Australia.

Rugby

The Rugby Union and the Rugby League parted ways in 1895 when some of the northern English league clubs decided to allow their players to become professional rugby players. There are certain differences between amateur and professional rugby, the most obvious of which is the number of players on teams. Rugby Union games are played in teams of 15 players, while Rugby League games are played in teams of 13. Rugby in the UK and countries Northern Hemisphere now on the rise. British clubs compete successfully in the Heineken Cup, also known as the European Cup. The English Guinness Cup and Celtic League matches are very popular - all tickets are sold out every week. The Six Nations Cup, held annually in January–February, is another peak of interest for the sports audience. But the biggest event is the World Cup, the games of which are held every four years. In 2007, the South African team became the Rugby World Champion.

Rugby League matches are mainly played in the north of England, but the Premier League also includes a team from Perpignan (France), as well as London team Harlequins. English, Scottish and Irish teams are expected to compete in the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.

Golf

Great Britain is the birthplace of golf. There are hundreds of beautiful courses to play in, hosting world-class competitions. Wentworth, Belfrey and Carnaustie and the course at St Andrews are some of the best golf courses in the world.

The British Open, held annually in July, is the oldest and most famous of the four golf championships. Competitions are held on various fields throughout the UK.

The European Professional Golfers' Association Tournament is held in different time years in different fields of the country. There is a schedule of competitions on the Association's website.

Athletics

The UK hosts many international athletics events each year, including the London Marathon and the annual London Grand Prix.

Athletics will form a significant part of the London 2012 Olympic Games programme.

Tennis, badminton, squash

Tennis, badminton and squash are very popular in the UK. Tennis is perhaps the most famous sport among them, because most of the summer season in the UK is occupied by tennis championships: Wimbledon and Stella Artois Championships, Queens Club tournaments. More details can be found on the website of the Lawn Tennis Association.

British badminton players have achieved great success in recent years. The biggest achievement was the silver medal won by Gail Emms and Nathan Robertson in the mixed doubles competition at Olympic Games 2004 The main badminton competition of the year - the open tournament "The Yonex All England Open" - is held in March in Birmingham.

Squash is another extremely popular sport in the UK. Some of the world's best squash players include James Willstrop and Nick Matthew.

Curling

From the history of professional sports

Football

Each of the four countries that make up the United Kingdom has its own national football association, which governs football matters within its territory. These are the Football Association of England, founded in 1863, the Scottish Football Association, founded in 1873, the Football Association of Wales, founded in 1876, and the Irish Football Association, founded in 1880. They are the four oldest football associations in the world and hold four of the eight seats on the International Football Association Board (IFAB), which determines the rules of the game (the remaining four seats on the board are held by FIFA). England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have different football league systems. Wales did not have a national league until 1992 (previously there were only regional leagues), which is why some leading Welsh clubs compete in the English league system. The English football league system includes hundreds of different leagues and is made up of thousands of different divisions. The elite division is the Premier League, followed by the FA Football League and the Football Conference. Northern Ireland's football league system includes the Premier League. One Northern Irish club, Derry City, plays outside the UK in the Irish Championship. Scotland's football league system consists of two national leagues, the Premier League and the Football League, as well as several regional leagues. The Welsh football league system includes the Welsh Premier League and several regional leagues.

Cricket

Cricket was invented in England and is very popular throughout the country and former colonies. Wales does not have its own national team and plays together with England, as do representatives of Scotland and Ireland, whose cricket teams have only recently begun to develop. Rugby league is popular in some areas of the UK. It originated in Huddersfield and is mainly played in Northern England. The British Lions team previously competed in the World Cup and Test matches, but since 2008 England, Scotland and Ireland have competed as separate nations. In Rugby 15, the teams of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland are very strong themselves. The Six Nations Cup, played between the above-mentioned teams, as well as Italy and France, is considered an unofficial European Championship.

Tennis

The game of tennis appeared in the city of Birmingham sometime between 1859 and 1865. The Wimbledon Tournament is an international tournament held in Wimbledon in south London every summer and is considered one of the most prestigious tournaments in the world.

Rugby

It is believed that rugby appeared in 1823, when William Webb Ellis was playing one of the versions of football (it should be understood that in those days in each village and school the rules could differ significantly from each other), and today they are popular, according to at least 7 varieties of rules of the game of football, and handball is prohibited only in association football) at Rugby school (there is also a more correct version of the transliteration Rugby from the point of view of the rules), took the ball in his hands and ran with it to the goal. However, for a long time there were no clearly established rules (as in “regular” football), the teams agreed on them each time before the match. When the English Football Association was created in 1863, it prohibited picking up the ball and trying to take it away from an opponent. Thus, football and rugby, which are familiar to us, became separate sports (which is why football is sometimes called association football). In 1871, the Rugby Football Union (RFU) was created, which still governs rugby in England, and in 1886, the International Rugby Board (IRB). The first international match was played on 27 March 1871 in Edinburgh between England and Scotland. Rugby soon spread to other countries, in particular, to many British possessions: Australia, New Zealand (1870), South Africa (1875). In North America, American and Canadian football developed from rugby. TO end of the 19th century century, a gap emerged between the north of England, where rugby became very popular among workers and townspeople, and the south, where the game remained mainly the privilege of gentlemen. The main issue was the opportunity to become professionals, that is, to receive money for playing rugby. As a result, the Northern Rugby Football Union (NRFU) was formed in Huddersfield on 29 August 1895. Teams that joined the Northern Union were allowed to have professionals on their roster. The rules of the game itself were also changed somewhat, and in 1901 the Northern Rugby League was formed. At the beginning of the 20th century, similar splits occurred in Australia and New Zealand. The new game was called rugby league (sometimes called rugby-13 in Russia, based on the number of players on the team). To avoid confusion, the “old” rugby began to be called rugby union (since its rules were originally drawn up by the RFU). Rugby union remained strong in the south of England, as well as in Scotland and Wales (where it was also popular among workers, especially miners from the valleys in the south).

Motorsport

Great Britain is also represented in motorsport. Many Formula One teams and drivers are based here, and British drivers have won more titles than any other country. The very first Grand Prix was held in Great Britain in 1950 at Silverstone,

Badminton

In the 19th century, English officers serving in India became interested in the ancient Indian game puna, which can be considered the prototype of modern badminton. The British brought their passion for the game with them to their homeland. The modern tradition of the game originates in England, in the ancient estate of Badminton House, whose owner, the famous sports enthusiast and publisher of a series of books about sports, the Duke of Beaufort, built the first badminton court in 1873. In 1893, the Badminton Association of England published the first regulations on the official rules of the game. The Badminton World Federation (BWF) was created in 1934. Since 1947, the largest men's team competition has been held, the Thomas Cup. Among women, the main team competition - the Uber Cup - has been held since 1955. Since 1992, badminton has been included in the program of the Summer Olympic Games.

Golf

It is believed that the game of golf originated in Scotland and was invented by shepherds who used staves (future clubs) to drive stones into rabbit holes. Presumably the game existed already in the 14th century, and in the 15th century several laws were passed in Scotland prohibiting the game of goof. In the 17th century, balls were played with sticks in the Netherlands. The game in its modern form took shape in the 19th century in Scotland.

Snooker

It is believed that snooker was invented by Colonel Neville Chamberlain of the British colonial forces in Jabalpur (India) in 1875. There were initially only four colored balls, but by 1890 there were 6. In 1919, the rules of snooker were officially laid down by the BA&CC and the first World Championship took place in Birmingham in late 1926/early 1927. Before the war, the game was dominated by the British and Australians. Snooker is very popular in the UK, with the annual World Championships held in Sheffield. Team sports such as Gaelic football and Hurling are also popular in Northern Ireland and attract large crowds to their matches. The game Shinty is popular in the Scottish Highlands.

Curling

It is known that Curling originated in Scotland at the beginning of the 16th century; factual confirmation of the existence of this sports game is a curling sports equipment (stone), on the surface of which the date of manufacture (“1511”) is stamped, found at the bottom of the dry Lake Dunban. The first chronicle mentions of curling are found in medieval monastic books dating back to 1541, preserved in the Scottish Abbey of Paisley. Approximately from the same time (1565) are two paintings by Pieter Bruegel, which depict Dutch peasants playing icestock, a game close to curling, on the ice of a frozen lake. It is curious that Scotland and the Netherlands in the 16th century had very strong trade and cultural ties, as evidenced by the wide spread of not only curling, but also golf in continental Europe.

Other interesting sports

Polo in England

Polo is in every way an elite and English sport. Moreover, polo puts high demands not only on the athlete’s bank account. Among the indispensable attributes of polo is the aristocratic origin and upbringing of the players. Polo starts at Eton and Millfield and continues at Oxford. In the United Kingdom, representatives of many generations of the royal family were passionate fans of this sport, and the grandson of the seventh Duke of Marlborough, Sir Winston Churchill, was among the truly talented players: his personal handicap was six points on a scale of ten.

Boxing in England

Riddick Bowe and Evander Holyfield fought in another fight for the championship title in 1993. In the seventh round, Holyfield suddenly backed away from his opponent and pressed himself against the ropes. Behind Bowie and the referee, he saw the fearless extreme skydiver James Miller rushing into the ring from the air. The fight was interrupted, the guards, along with the spectators, attacked the new arrival and beat him until he lost consciousness. Subsequently, Miller joked that he was the only one who happened to be knocked out that memorable evening. The expulsion of the extreme skydiver and the removal of the paraglider took about half an hour.

Rugby in England

Rugby shoemaker William Gilbert and his son John Gilbert are considered to be the first manufacturers of rugby balls. The ball was a pig's bladder lined with cowhide, which explains its oval shape. Another famous ball maker was another Rugby shoemaker, Richard Lyndon. His wife inflated the bladders. When Mrs. Lyndon died from an infection caused by inflating another bubble, leaving Richard with 17 children, Richard decided to use the rubber. New material provided the opportunity to produce round balls, but at the insistence of Rugby students, the balls for their favorite game retained their oval shape, which distinguished them from soccer balls.

Golf in England

The origin of the game of golf is associated with a legend about how an ordinary shepherd, wandering along the coastal dunes, out of nothing to do, hit a round stone with a stick and accidentally rolled it into a rabbit hole. Then he was joined by friends who liked the new fun. Later, rocks were replaced by balls, rabbit holes were replaced by holes, and clubs were used instead of sticks. As often happens, many countries lay claim to the title of the birthplace of golf. Nevertheless, the small Scottish town of St. Andrews, named after the city's patron saint, St. Andrew, whose tomb is located in a dilapidated cathedral built about six centuries ago, is considered the birthplace of classic golf.

Croquet in England

Games using a wooden mallet and balls are believed to have come to England from Europe in the Middle Ages. Initially, these games were simple: you had to score a single ball into a fairly wide goal. One of the prototypes of modern croquet was popular in France in the 13th century: by hitting the balls with wooden hammers, French peasants sent them through the willow gates. There were no uniform rules at that time, and over the course of several centuries many variations of the game arose. For example, in the 15th century it began to be played on tables in enclosed spaces; It is believed that this is how billiard games appeared.

Squash in Britain

Squash is a competitive game using rackets and a ball on a special court. The squash court is a rectangular hall. The players' task is to alternately hit the ball with a racket, bouncing off the walls and floor, without violating the established rules. Squash places quite high demands on the physical training of athletes: the speed of the ball can exceed 200 km/h, moving around the court requires good reaction, speed and endurance. The popularity of the game is growing: the inclusion of squash in the 2016 Olympics is being considered. The games that became the predecessors of squash were practically forgotten, while squash itself became widely known in Great Britain and abroad.

Snooker in England

Snooker appeared in the second half of the 19th century. It is believed that the idea of ​​this game belongs to Sir Neville Chamberlain, a colonel of the British colonial corps who served in Jabalpur. In 1875, Chamberlain created the Garrison Officers' Club new game: he took life pool as a basis, added colored balls and came up with new rules. It is also believed that the name of the game became the nickname of recruits at the Royal Military Academy - Chamberlain once called snooker an incompetent player. Colonel Chamberlain demonstrated the new game in those Indian cities where his regiment was stationed, and in 1882 the rules of the game were first formulated in Ootacamund.

Tennis in England

The history of the development of tennis does not have English roots, as it might initially seem, but French ones. It was in France eight hundred years ago that a game appeared in which the ball was thrown from one player to another with palm strikes. In principle, this can be considered the beginning of the history of ping pong. The first amateur players were clergy, and not only young seminarians, but also priests of higher ranks - archbishops and cardinals. The game developed so rapidly that by the end of the 16th century, more than 250 special courts were equipped in Paris, and the number of experienced players exceeded seven thousand nobles, merchants and wealthy artisans.

Badminton in England

In 1872, the Duke of Beaufort returned from India to his Badminton estate in Gloucestershire. From his overseas travels he brought rackets and shuttlecocks: the Indian game was one of the common leisure activities of the officers of the British contingent. Soon the name “badminton” was assigned to the game, and the first requirements for the uniform of badminton players appeared: gentlemen were supposed to play in top hats, frock coats, ties and boots. high heels; ladies were required to wear wide-brimmed hats with veils and long skirts. In 1887, the Bath Badminton Club formulated rules that corresponded to English realities.

Cricket in England

It is believed that cricket was originally a child's game; adults began to take an interest in cricket in the early 17th century. Over the next century, cricket rapidly grew in popularity in the south-east of England. From those times, reports have been preserved of meetings between teams consisting of eleven players. Apparently, the first professional cricketers appeared at this time. In the 18th century, cricket became national English sport. A large role in this rapid growth in popularity was played by the fact that the amount of bets on the results of meetings was not strictly limited. Wealthy citizens formed their own teams. The games attracted crowds of spectators to the sports fields.

Curling in Scotland

There is no definitively reliable information about the place where curling originated: this region could have been Scotland or the north of continental Europe. The first mention of the game dates back to the 16th century. The Smith Institute, located in Stirling, displays a stone with the date 1511 engraved on its surface. The first information about curling, dated February 1541, is found in the chronicles of Paisley Abbey. The earliest use of the word "curling" dates back to the beginning of the next century. Curling makes certain demands not only on the physical fitness of athletes, but also on analytical abilities and the ability to build a successful game strategy. It is often called chess on ice.

Shuffleboard in England

Shuffleboard - several national varieties of the game in which wooden or metal discs are thrown, pushed or pushed by hand (rarely with a cue) in such a way that they stop within certain lines or compartments marked on the table or on the floor. This game originates in the Middle Ages and was very popular in England, where it was most likely brought from the East. Unfortunately, history has not preserved exact information about the place and time of the appearance of shuffleboard. In terms of goals, strategy, and playing equipment, shuffleboard is similar to many other games, including curling, croquet, and billiards. It is possible that during the course of its history it was influenced by these sports several times.

Scottish national sports

Scotland is an amazing country. And there is a reverent attitude towards sports here.

There are types of rivalries that appeared here many years ago and are now popular in various countries around the world. These are, for example, football, rugby, cricket, golf, athletics... And there are the so-called purely Scottish Highland Sports Games, the history of which began many centuries ago. These are what we will be talking about first of all.

In 1057, King Malcolm Sinmore ascended the throne of Scotland. As a determined man, he demanded reckless courage from his soldiers to cultivate “strength of spirit, will and body,” and organized competitions between them, during which they had to show strength, dexterity and skill. The soldiers took part in such “military reviews” with pleasure. Over the years, these military tournaments also captivated “civilians” and turned into holidays with the participation of bards, musicians, and dancers.

The atmosphere, both then many centuries ago and now during the modern Highland Games, is full of friendliness and fun. Bagpipes sound. Representatives of different clans are dressed in national costumes. Moreover, the color of the kilt or checkered skirt indicates belonging to a strictly defined clan. Anyone can take part in the competition. In what? These are mainly exercises for lifting and throwing various weights. Let's talk about some:

Pushing a stone.

There is no standard size for the cobblestones, which are pushed with one hand from behind the neck. Two types are especially popular. The first is Open Stone, where the total weight of the stone leaves 16 to 22 pounds for men and 8 to 12 pounds for women. Throw as you want and as far as possible. And this is available to many people. But the second type - Braemar Stone - is more complicated. The stone weighs between 20 and 26 pounds for men and 13 to 18 pounds for women. The condition is strict - the legs must remain motionless.

Throwing weights over a distance.

“Shells” are made of metal. They are of various shapes in the form of a sphere, hemisphere or cube. A handle in the form of a ring, triangle or the letter “D” is attached to them with a chain. Weight -56 pounds for men and 28 pounds for women. Overall length does not exceed 18 inches.

Hammer throwing.

The hammer head is spherical and made of metal, and the handle is made of wood, bamboo, rattan or plastic. Rattan and bamboo are more popular than wood or plastic. The total weight of the hammer is: 16 to 20 pounds for men and 12 to 16 pounds for women. During the throw, the athlete's legs must be strictly motionless. You can only change the position of your legs immediately after the throw.

Tossing a pillar.

The pillar is made of wood and is a log, thicker on one side and, accordingly, thinner on the other. There are no exact dimensions and weight of the barrel, the only thing is that they must be such that at least half of the participants in the competition can turn it over (in a throw, of course). Although its normal size ranges from 15 to 19 feet in length and weighs between 65 and 130 pounds.

The competition begins with the participant taking the light end of the pole in a vertical position (if after this the athlete cannot withstand the weight of the pole and drops it, this will still count as an attempt). After this, the throw itself begins. The athlete runs up and throws the pole up and forward so that the heavy end touches the ground, and the light end, accordingly, falls to the ground in the direction of the player’s run.

Tossing a sheaf.

A sheaf is a bag or plastic bag filled with suitable material such as straw, hay or rope. It is thrown over the crossbar using a pitchfork. The total weight of the sheaf is: 20 pounds for men and 12 pounds for women. The throw can be made in any way, but with the help of a pitchfork with at least two tips.

A game of brushes and stones.

Many of us now know about the sport of curling, which is included in the program of the Olympic Games. It turns out that it originates in Scotland. Derived from English word curl – “spiral, curl”. The first mention of curling dates back to the distant sixteenth century. A piece of stone with a date engraved on it was found in the Scottish Highlands. Therefore, Scotland is now considered the birthplace of curling.

In winter, on frozen lakes between wars, Scottish Highlanders trained and played this game. At first, ordinary rock fragments were used, but in the eighteenth century, English soldiers “optimized” the stones, giving them the appearance they have now. Over time, the game transformed, the rules changed and developed.

Rugby

It is impossible not to mention this sport, which has now spread throughout the planet. It all started on April 7, 1823 in the town of Rugby, where a match was held to mark the anniversary of the victory at Waterloo. Sixteen-year-old William Webb Ellis, in the midst of a battle for the ball, grabbed it with both hands and ran. This was a violation of the rules of the game at the time, but it was this action that led to the creation of a new sport. And it was named the same as the city in which this famous match took place - rugby. On the walls of the college where William Webb Ellis studied, there still hangs a memorial plaque with the following text: “Let this plaque remind you of the glorious deed of William Webb Ellis, the first who dared to break the rules, grabbed the ball with his hands and ran with it. This is how the game of rugby originated in 1823. Among the Scots it received the greatest popularity and appreciation.

Conclusion.

We were very interested in the topic “National Sports in Great Britain and Scotland” and had fun working with the encyclopedia materials and Internet resources. We have created a presentation on this topic.

It should be noted that such research work maintains interest in studying foreign language and awakens curiosity to explore other areas of regional studies. And most importantly: I had a dream to travel to England and see the international tennis tournament in Wimbledon and watch games of cricket, snooker, rugby, croquet and, of course, watch the unique and fascinating sports in Scotland.

List of used literature

Soviet Encyclopedia

Internet resources:

Encyclopedia of sports in Great Britain

adelanta.info/encyclopedia/sport

Englishkindssports. adelanta.info/encyclopedia/sport

Sport in Great Britain. en.wikipedia. org>wiki/ Sport in Great Britain

CoolReverat.com> UK _ sports

http://www.uk.ru

Langinfo.ru>indexphp?sekt_id=2419

ru. wikipedia.org/wiki/McKeever_ Ed

It is common knowledge that sport plays an important role in the UK. The results of the Olympic Games eloquently confirmed this. But it turns out that the British are not only a sporty, but also a very inventive nation. This becomes clear when you look at the extreme competitions in which the residents of Foggy Albion participate.

Racing against a horse

Once upon a time in 1980 landowner Gordon Green from the town Llanurthyd V Wales I heard a debate in a pub about whether a man could outrun a horse when running a long distance. The enterprising Green decided to check this out, and at the same time attract the attention of potential investors to his lands. This is how the annual marathon was organized "Man vs Horse", the distance of which is 22 miles (42.195 km).

Horses perform in pairs with their riders. For twenty-four years the competition was won by the rider and the horse, however, to the joy of all mankind, revenge was taken in the twenty-fifth year of the marathon’s existence. IN 2004 British Hugh Lobb covered the distance in 2 hours 5 minutes and 19 seconds what I got it for 25,000 pounds prize money

Extreme ironing

This unusual look sport originated in 1997 year in an English city Leicester. It was founded by a Briton Phil Shaw nicknamed Par. Phil worked at a local textile factory and ironed new clothes there, and in his free time he conquered local rocks. One day he had the idea to combine everyday routine with thrills. Extreme ironers know how to iron clothes with high quality in the most unfavorable conditions: in the mountains, under water, in the forest, in the snow and even on a bicycle.

Zorbing

A Zorb is a transparent plastic ball with a diameter of 3 meters, with a camera for the passenger inside. Zorb is designed for rolling down hills, mountains and other heights. The speed at which zorbonauts go down, reaches 36 km/h. Entertainment for true extreme sports enthusiasts!

Running with your wife on your shoulders

On Alternative Olympic Games, which this year took place in Wales simultaneously with the London Olympics, running with your wife on your shoulders was one of the most important competitions.

Participants in this competition, which came to Great Britain from Finland, you need to run the distance as quickly as possible 253.5 meters with his wife on his shoulders, while overcoming various obstacles. The wife must weigh at least 49 kg, otherwise the contestant will be given a backpack with additional cargo.

Reade set Go! Just be careful with your wife :)

Unicycle hockey

In the UK there is national league unicycle hockey ( unicycles), which consists of 10 teams.

Competitions are held on a hard plastic surface and not on an ice rink. The main similarity with regular hockey is the goal and sticks. Masterfully controlling unicycles, extreme hockey players manage to maneuver across the field and score goals without colliding with each other.

Cheese races

The most popular cheese races take place annually at the end of May on the slope of Cooper Hill in the English city. Gloucester. For the competition, a wheel of cheese weighing 100 pounds is rolled down from the top of a hill. 8 lbs (3.5 kg), and the race participants roll down after her. The first person to cross the finish line at the foot of the mountain receives cheese, which was used as a sports equipment, as a prize. In theory, competitors should run rather than roll for the cheese, but due to the very steep slope and high speed, this is almost impossible.