THIS year’s Ashbourne Royal Shrovetide balls have been blessed at a ceremony attended by players followers and committee members.
In what has now become a regular annual pre-game tradition, the Shrovetide-themed church service, at St Oswald’s Church in Mayfield Road, took place on Sunday, ahead of this year’s game on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Among the attendees at the public service were Shrove Tuesday turner-up John Tomkinson, Ash Wednesday turner-up Nigel Brown, committee chairman Brell Ewart committee secretary Mick Betteridge and ball painters Tim Baker and Simon Hellaby.
