Ashbourne's Shrove-tide Football Match The Football Match is held on Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday. It is started each day at 2pm (1400hrs) by a specially invited, well known national or local figure who "turns up" the ball from the stone and brick plinth on the Shawcroft car park. The game is contested by those born on the north side of the Henmore river (the Up'ards) and those from the opposite bank (the Down'ards). The goals are three miles apart at Sturston and Clifton and the object of the game is to move or "hug" the ball towards your own goal where a goal is scored by tapping the ball three times against the circular object on the stone goals which are o n the banks of the river.The person scoring is allowed to keep the ball and if no score is made by 10 pm(2200 hrs) the game is stopped. The ball, made of leather and filled with cork shavings, weighs around 3lbs. and is decorated with traditional designs together with some form of decoration associated with the person chosen to start the game. Balls scored by local people over the years become treasured family possessions. The origin of this ancient tradition is lost way back in centuries gone by but enthusiasm and love for the game is as strong as ever and it will continue for as long as Ashbourne and Ashburnians remain. Tissington Well Dressings Start with the Blessing of the Wells on Ascension Day each year and continues for one week.