The medieval game has been held every January 6 in the village near Doncaster since the 14th century, when a group of farmhands chased a lady’s silk riding hood across fields.
Nowadays local pubs in Haxey and Westwoodside field teams who compete to return the hood to their home pub in a scrum known as the ‘sway’.
The Hood is traditionally started by the Fool with a chant, and this year former Lord of the Hood Stan Bloor, now 95, was honoured for his 20 years’ service in the role.
James Chatwin played the Fool for only the second time following the Hood's three-year hiatus.
1. The annual Haxey Hood game, which dates back to the 14th Century, takes place between the North Lincolnshire villages of Haxey and Westwoodside. It involves large crowds of people pushing a leather tube - known as the Hood - each year on 6 January 6 January 2023. Picture Bruce Rollinson
The sway Photo: Bruce Rollinson
2. James Chatwin the Haxey Hood ceremonial Fool speaks to the crowd. The annual Haxey Hood game, which dates back to the 14th Century, takes place between the North Lincolnshire villages of Haxey and Westwoodside. It involves large crowds of people pushing a leather tube - known as the Hood - each year on 6 January 6 January 2023. Picture Bruce Rollinson
James Chatwin the Haxey Hood ceremonial Fool speaks to the crowd. Photo: Bruce Rollinson
3. The scrum. The annual Haxey Hood game, which dates back to the 14th Century, takes place between the North Lincolnshire villages of Haxey and Westwoodside. It involves large crowds of people pushing a leather tube - known as the Hood - each year on 6 January 6 January 2023. Picture Bruce Rollinson
The sway Photo: Bruce Rollinson
4. The annual Haxey Hood game, which dates back to the 14th Century, takes place between the North Lincolnshire villages of Haxey and Westwoodside. It involves large crowds of people pushing a leather tube - known as the Hood - each year on 6 January 6 January 2023. Picture Bruce Rollinson
The sway Photo: Bruce Rollinson