Silver cup to set barrel rolling at championships
Taken from: http://www.burtonmail.co.uk/News/Silver-cup-to-set-barrel-rolling-at-championships-20130819145431.htm
Burtonians taking part in this year’s barrel rolling championships will get their hands on a trophy that has not been presented for more than 65 years.
The championships form part of a wider celebration of brewing heritage taking place on Saturday, October 5 culminating in the Independent Brewers Beer Festival.
Organised by the National Heritage Brewery Trust, the competition will see teams from across the country compete for the prestigious title of barrel rolling champions.
The winners will be presented with the coveted original silver trophy, an ornate trophy that was donated by the Burton Chamber of Trade for the first barrel rolling race which was originally held on May 5 1933.
Twelve men from local breweries competed in the race which went down Station Street and High Street from the Town Hall to the centre of Burton.
The first winner was employed by James Eadie and the trophy was last used in 1945.
The barrel rolling championships were reintroduced at the National Brewery Centre in 2012 and have since gone from strength to strength.
In 2013, competitors will compete in men’s singles, ladies singles and mixed doubles categories and the circuit will run around the National Brewery Centre, in Horninglow Street.
Mayor of East Staffordshire Michael Rodgers said: “It’s fantastic to see the original trophy being used again as this is a great piece of brewing heritage.”
The competition coincides with a special Brewery Worker’s reunion lunch which will take place at the National Brewery Centre on Friday, October 4.
Keith Norris, chairman of the trust and current men’s champion, said: “I am really pleased that we have been able to re-establish the championships. I would like to thank the borough council for allowing us to use the original silver trophy.”
More information is available by visiting www.siba.co.uk/nbf or www.nationalbrewerycentre.co.uk
