Wallrace

At dawn on midsummer's day (the first day of the month of Mummer) all many of the younger adults of Morton will take part in the Wallrace - a combination foot race and swim which starts from Duke's Square and sees the competitors run to the river at Duke's Ferry, swim down river to the town wall, exiting the river and ascending to the walkway along the parapet and run the length of the wall before diving back into the river to complete the swim back to the ferry. The winner is the first to emerge from the river, run back to Dukes Square and shake the hand of the presiding officer (normally the Berman but occasionally the Duke).
The prize to the winner is a single Duke - far more important is the inscription of the winners name on the plaque outside the Town Hall. This details the winner and the numbers who completed inside the elimination time - a moderately challenging feat, made slightly easier by the swimming leg being downstream. The guilds and wards of the town, and a number of other groups, run their own competitions within the greater race which end with the shaking, not of the Berman's hand but of the Alderman, Guild master or other group leader (or their deputy if they choose to take part in the race).

History

The race was initiated in 795MD, during the Covrin Wars, when concern over the physical condition of the towns people and their fitness to be able to take part in the wars resulted in a number of attempts to increase peoples interest in taking exercise and improving their condition. Many of these fell by the way side over the years, but the Wallrace has grown in popularity over the years and, with the side contests that have been incorporated in it has become one of the most eagerly anticipated parts of the midsummer celebrations - indeed as early as Leafspring some intrepid athletes can be seen practising on the course at dawn (about the only time when it is safe to be swimming in the Durran on account of the number of boats moving around in the pool and coming upstream.

Execution

The race begins with the competitors lined up on the west side of Dukes Square. At a signal from the Berman, on the steps of the Townhall (on the eastern side of the square) the race begins. This gives a starting line some 80 strides long with a small advantage to being on the southern end of the line. The most serious competitors will complete the event barefoot though many will wear light shoes and accept that this may slow them down. As a safety measure the boom at the east end of the walls will be raised but those who are caught on this are disqualified - still it saves several dozen a year who's enthusiasm for the event exceeded their skill at swimming.
The end point of the shaking of the hand is an attempt to avoid dead heats but has resulted in a few raced being decided by an impromptu wrestling match on the town hall steps (which often saw the third place competitor win while the leaders were wrapped up in what they thought was a tie break). There was also the notable race of 1013 when the Berman disappeared (caught short by the after effects of too many celebrations the night before) and 27 competitors were massed on the steps before he returned.
In addition to the memorialisation of their triumph the winner gains a number of duties to be performed through the day as part of the celebrations.

Components and tools

All that a competitor needs is such clothing as they feel appropriate to the event - loin cloths or short trousers and a shirt are the most common array. They should also be townsmen of Morton - not essential for taking part but the winner may be challenged to prove their right to compete by the runner up. For the guild and other sub-competitions, clearly, membership of the relevant guild or other group is a requirement.