Geddington Boxing Day Squirt

Boxing Day is a popular date for sport of all kinds, but as far as I know the Squirt event at Geddington is unique. It involves a huge water fight between the local Geddington Volunteer Fire Brigade and their rivals from Kettering Fire Station, in which the teams take position at either side of the river and a beer barrel suspended over the ford must be squirted towards their opponents  at the opposite side using the force of their fire hoses. The day begins with a parade from the Eleanor Cross in the village in which you can expect to see vintage fire engine “Queen Eleanor” and the inspection of the teams by a special guest; the parade will then process to the ford beside the bridge for the contest. Balloons are popped on the display next to the water depth marker by the ford to show which side wins each heat, and coloured flares are set off, red or yellow depending on who wins. Best of 3 decides the winner and the local side are usually victorious!

Helpful Hints

Expect dense crowds as this is a very popular event; the Squirt usually lasts around half an hour. Get onto the bridge next to the ford early if you want a good view- but be prepared to get wet in the spray!

Click here for the Geddington Volunteer Fire Brigade: https://gvfb.org

Click here for the village website which will have details of the event: https://www.geddington.net/

Click here for the event Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/BoxingDaySquirt/

Thanks to Paul Shepherd for telling me about this event!

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