PDA

View Full Version : Sports in Middle Earth


Jon S.
05-06-2008, 11:17 AM
I did a word search for sports in titles and, interestingly, found nothing in the Tokien section so I'm guessing this may actually be a first-time question: What sports were popular in ME?

The only reference I'm aware of is to golf which, interestingly, was invented by the Scottish in our world and the Hobbits in ME!

If you have ever seen a dragon in a pinch, you will realize that this was only a poetical exageration applied to any hobbit, even to Old Took's great-grand-uncle Bullroarer, who was so huge (for a hobbit) that he could ride a horse. He charged the ranks of the goblins of Mount Gram in the Battle of The Green Fields, and knocked their king Golfimbul's head clean off with a wooden club. It sailed a hundred yards through the air and went down a rabbit hole, and in this way the battle was won, and the game of Golf invented at the same moment.

Can anyone ID other sports references in Tolkien's works?

Valandil
05-06-2008, 09:19 PM
Numenoreans from the southern part of the island excelled in water sports: swimming, sailing, etc. I believe there's mention of it in UT.

Some have rumored that the Dunedain of Arthedain played a game called rochdol... sort of a cross between rugby and 'capture-the-flag'! :p

Gordis
05-07-2008, 01:05 AM
I think ALL Numenoreans excelled in water-sports, wherever they lived: north or south.;)

As for rochdol - are you sure there is even a slightest mention of it apart from "Wraiths-Kings" thread?:p

Earniel
05-07-2008, 05:28 AM
I'm pretty sure he has it from the FĂ*riel letters. :D

I seem to remember a quote of Galadriel putting her hair up to take part in running competitions back in Valinor. I'll have a look to see if I can track it down.

Coffeehouse
05-07-2008, 11:19 AM
Greenwood United:) I'm sure it exists, Tolkien just forgot to mention it;):rolleyes: That silly man!

Gordis
05-07-2008, 04:30 PM
Greenwood United - a team consisting of Thranduil's Elves, Beornings and Dol Guldur orcs... :eek::D

Coffeehouse
05-07-2008, 05:05 PM
Greenwood United - a team consisting of Thranduil's Elves, Beornings and Dol Guldur orcs... :eek::D

Dol Guldur orcs:eek: You must be thinking of the Dol Guldur Devils?:rolleyes:

Gordis
05-07-2008, 05:37 PM
Dol Guldur orcs:eek: You must be thinking of the Dol Guldur Devils?:rolleyes:

Devils?:confused:

Coffeehouse
05-07-2008, 05:39 PM
Yeah.. the team?:rolleyes: