British and World Marbles Championship

The British and World Marbles Championship is a marbles knock-out tournament that takes place annually on Good Friday and dates back to 1588. It is held at the Greyhound public house in Tinsley Green, West Sussex.[1] Teams of six players participate to win the title and a silver trophy. The event is open to anyone of any age or nationality. Over the years, players from Australia, Belgium, Canada, Estonia, Ireland, France, Germany, Japan, Netherlands, Wales and the United States have participated alongside English teams.[2][3][4]

British and World Marbles Championship
Marbles being played at the 2016 British and World Marbles Championship
Highest governing bodyBritish Marbles Board of Control (BMBC)
First played1588
Characteristics
ContactNo
TypePub games, Precision sports
Equipment49 marbles 12mm dia, tolley 18mm dia, concrete ring 6ft dia covered with sand

Both the 2020 and 2021 events were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[5][6] However, the championship successfully returned on 15 April 2022, after a three year lay-off.[7][8] The 2023 British and World Marbles Championship was held on Bank Holiday Good Friday April 7th, 2023.[9]

History
Knuckle Down - The game of marbles being played in 1857

The tournament dates back to 1588[10][11] during the reign of Elizabeth I, when marbles was chosen as the deciding game of a legendary sporting encounter between two young suitors, Giles and Hodge, over the hand of a Tinsley Green milk maiden named Joan.[11] Every popular sport of the day was played in an Olympic style contest lasting one week. Hodge had been victorious at singlestick, backsword, quarter staff, cudgel play, wrestling and cock throwing, while Giles had won at archery, cricket-a-wicket, tilting at quintain (jousting targets), Turk's head, stoolball and tipcat. With the score level at 6–6, Good Friday was the date chosen for the final event. Marbles was chosen by the girl to be the deciding game, and Giles defeated Hodge.[12]

Marble tournaments have purportedly been played at Tinsley Green since the late 1500s, until the launching of the current event in 1932.[10] Local historians have concluded that around that time, many individual county marble championships were amalgamated to create the British Marble Championships, which was only renamed as the British and World Marbles Championship for the first time in 1938.[13]

Rules, marble "jargon" and tactics
A competitor taking part in the 2016 tournament

The championships are organized by the British Marbles Board of Control (BMBC)[14] and the version of marbles played is Ring Taw, known in the United States as "Ringer" [15] and in Germany as "Englisches Ringspiel". Forty-nine target marbles are grouped closely together in 6-foot diameter (1.8-metre)[16] raised concrete ring covered with sand, each of the target marbles being a coloured glass or ceramic sphere having a diameter of approximately 12mm (half an inch).[15]

Two teams of six players of any age, gender or skill level,[17] take turns using the tip of the finger to aim and project the "tolley", a larger marble (commonly referred to as the "shooter" or "taw"), which is a glass or ceramic sphere of 18mm diameter (three-quarters of an inch), deploying top spin, back spin and side spin, to drive other marbles out of the ring.[16]

A player's knuckle must be touching the ground when shooting, known as "knuckling down". Moving the tolley closer to the target marbles, known as "cabbaging", is forbidden - as is any other advantageous movement of a players shooting hand during shooting. These would constitute a foul known as "fudging". Any intentional or persistent contact between a player's clothing and a marble or tolley while it is motion would be a foul called "blocking". No score results from a foul shot. A foul shot ends the turn of the offending player, though the score achieved in that turn stands. Any player who makes three foul shots during a game is eliminated from that game.[15] The first team to knock out 25 marbles from the ring is the winner.[15]

Historical timeline
  • 1588 – Giles defeated Hodge at marbles to claim the hand of a local young maiden of Tinsley Green.[11]
  • 1888 – Sam Spooner wins the title on the 300th year of the event (as British Pathé video 1938).[18][19]
  • 1932 – The Black Horse from Hookwood, were the first winners of the modern event.[20][10]
  • 1935 – 6-foot concrete ring used for the first time [10]
  • 1938 - British Marbles Championship renamed as the "British and World Marbles Championship".[13]
  • 1942–1945 – No tournaments took place due to World War II.
  • March 1951 – The coldest recorded conditions for tournament when the Tinsley Green Tigers beat the Arundel Mullets in the final.
  • April 1962 – Glass marbles were used for the first time in place of older clay marbles.
  • March 1970 – Controversially the BMBC banned women from the main tournament because of the wearing of mini-skirts.[21]
  • April 1973 – Len Smith of the Toucon Terribles wins a record (and still unbeaten) 12th individual title.[3]
  • April 1973 - Len Smith Interview for BBC Nationwide Sport - Originally broadcast 12 April, 1973
  • March 1975 – Snow had to be swept from the ring in temperatures of −2 °C.[22] The "Terribles" win a record 19th title.[3]
  • April 1977 – The tournament was moved to the Crawley Leisure Centre for one single time.[3]
  • April 1987 – A Trophy was introduced for "the women's best individual player" and won by Jackie Hodge.[23]
  • 14 Sept 1987 - Black Dog boozers enter Guinness World Records for ring clearance (2 mins 56 seconds) for BBC's Record Breakers.[24]
  • 1989 and 1991 – Highest number of teams ever entered, 28 teams of six totalling 168 players competing.
  • March 1992 – The TennKy Sharpshooters from Tennessee and Kentucky are the first overseas team to win the trophy.[25]
  • March 1994 – Blue target marbles were used for the first and only time.[26]
  • April 2000 – Team USA won the international Fen Cup with a team made up almost entirely of shooters under the age of 18.
  • April 2002 – Saxonia Globe Snippers become the first German team to win the tournament.[27]
  • September 2008 - the Greyhound Pub, in Tinsley Green closed, only re-opening shortly before the next tournament.
  • April 2010 – Jen McGowan (formerly Jen LeBon) sets the standard for the ladies with a twelfth individual title.[23]
  • March 2013 – Crawley-based Black Dog Boozers win the tournament for a 13th time,[28] just 6 off the record of 19 set in 1975.[3]
  • March 2018 – The Johnson Jets set the record for being runners up 11 times, having won the tournament just twice.[29]
  • April 2019 – 1st MC Erzgebirge's victory means German teams have won the tournament on eleven occasions.
  • 2020 and 2021 – Events cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic.[5][6]
  • July 2021 - Sad loss of Sam McCarthy-Fox, long time organiser of the event and ambassador of the game of marbles for over forty years.[30]
  • 15 April 2022 - The event returned to The Greyhound after three years, organised by Julia McCarthy-Fox.[14]
  • 7 April 2023 - Black Dog Boozers reach the final for a record breaking 22nd time (and win).[9]
  • 7 April 2023 - The longest streak of different winning teams in history, with 5 different teams having won the last five tournaments.[9]

Championship results (1932 onwards)
YearDateTeamsTeam winnerRunners upIndividual winnerBest LadyWeather
1932 24 March 5 Black Horse – – – –[23][10]
1933 14 April – – – – – –
1934 29 March 7 – – Jack Arnold [10] – –
1935 19 April 4 Tinsley Green – Big Bert Botting [13] – –
1936 10 April 4 Crawley Busmen [13] Southern Railways F.S.'Champ' Harding [10] – –
1937 26 April 6 Tinsley Green [13] Rustington Rambles George Burberry [13] – –
1938 15 April 5 Copthorne Sharpshooters [18] Crawley Busmen [18] Tom Weekes [18] – –
1939 7 April 8 Old Comrades [31] Crawley Busmen [31] Fred Rowe (Copthorne Sharpshooters)[12] Sunny / Note: 4000 spectators [31]
1940 (A) 25 March 10 Copthorne Sharpshooters Old Comrades Fred Rowe (Copthorne Sharpshooters) –
1940 (B) 22 March 2 Crawley Busmen The Army F.S.'Champ'Harding – –
1941 11 April 7 Copthorne Spitfires Crawley Busmen Jack Carman – –
1942–1945 No games (WW II)
1946 19 April 7 Copthorne Sharpshooters Copthorne Spitfires Harry Langridge – –
1947 4 April 4 Copthorne Sharpshooters Crawley Tools Harry Langridge – Rain
1948 26 March 5 Copthorne Spitfires Copthorne Sharpshooters Harry Langridge – Fine
1949 15 April 6 Tinsley Green Tigers[32] Arundel Mullets[32] Harry Langridge – Sunny
1950 7 April 8 Arundel Mullets[32] Tinsley Green Tigers[32] Wee Willie Wright (TG Tigers) – Sunny
1951 23 March 4 Tinsley Green Tigers[32] Arundel Mullets[32] Big Bernard Wilcock – Very cold
1952 11 April 6 Tinsley Green Tigers Handcross Bulldogs Cyril Wilcock – Best weather for years
1953 3 April 6 Tinsley Green Tigers Copthorne Spitfires Cyril Wilcock – –
1954 16 April 5 Tinsley Green Tigers Arundel Mullets Aurthur Chamberlain – Sunny and cold
1955 8 April 8 Tinsley Green Tigers Rebels Wee Willie Wright – Fine
1956 30 March 6 The Casuals Tinsley Green Tigers Wee Willie Wright – Cold and dry
1957 19 April 7 Telcon Terribles Rebels Wee Willie Wright – Dry
1958 4 April 6 Telcon Terribles Tinsley Tigers Len Smith (T-Terribles)[3] – Sunny and cold
1959 27 March 5 Telcon Terribles Tinsley Tigers Wee Willie Wright – Drizzley
1960 15 April 9 Telcon Terribles Tinsley Tigers Len Smith – –
1961 31 March 5 Telcon Terribles Tinsley Tigers Len Smith – –
1962 20 April 6 Telcon Terribles Rulslip Rat Pack Len Smith – Cold and windy
1963 12 April 7 Telcon Terribles Tolley Flickers Alan Smith (T-Terribles)[3] – Dull and cold
1964 27 March 6 Toucon Terribles Tolley Flickers Len Smith – –
1965 16 April 4 Toucon Terribles Johnson Jets Len Smith – –
1966 8 April 8 Toucon Terribles Us Alan Smith – –
1967 24 March 8 Toucon Terribles Boys of County Armagh Alan Smith – –
1968 12 April 6 Toucon Terribles Johnson Jets Len Smith – –
1969 4 April 8 Toucon Terribles Johnson Jets Len Smith – –
1970 27 March 10 Toucon Terribles Johnson Jets Len Smith – –
1971 9 April 7 Toucon Terribles Johnson Jets Len Smith – –
1972 31 March 9 Toucon Terribles Johnson Jets Len Smith – –
1973 20 April 12 Toucon Terribles Pernod Rams Len Smith – –
1974 12 April 12 Toucon Terribles Pernod Rams Alan Smith – Rained off
1975 28 March 16+ Toucon Terribles Johnson Jets Alan Smith – Cold/snow[22]
1976 16 April – Pernod Rams Toucon Terribles – – –
1977 8 April 9 Handcross Rebels Wessex Wottsits Jim Lay (W-Wottsits)[3] – Fine
1978 24 March 12 Brewery Shades Ifield Musketeers Bob Watts – Fine
1979 13 April 9 Handcross Rebels Talbots Tolleys Barry Ray (H-Rebels)[33] – Fine
1980 4 April 12 Black Dog Boozers Bow Street Fudgers Barry Ray – Sunny
1981 17 April 16 Black Dog Boozers Bow Street Fudgers Paddy Graham – Fine
1982 9 April 13 Bow Street Fudgers Addington Alcos Barry Ray – Sunny
1983 9 April 13 Bow Street Fudgers Handcross Rebels Barry Ray – Cold and wet
1984 17 April 19 Bow Street Fudgers Black Dog Boozers Paddy Graham – Fine
1985 5 April 17 Black Dog Boozers Bow Street Fudgers Terry Gant – Wet
1986 28 March 22 Black Dog Boozers Bow Street Fudgers Ian Gardner – Fine
1987 17 April 25 Black Dog Boozers Punters Paddy Graham Jackie Hodge Sunny
1988 1 April 26 Black Dog Boozers Bow Street Fudgers Colin Gardner(BD-Boozers)[4] Jen LeBon Fine
1989 24 March 28 Black Dog Boozers Handcross Rebels Paddy Graham Eve Vine Fine
1990 13 April 22 Black Dog Boozers Moonshiners Tony Jones Jackie Staples Wet
1991 29 March 28 Moonshiners Black Dog Boozers Darren Ray Jen LeBon Fine
1992 17 April 22 TennKy Sharpshooters United States Lions De Lyon France Darren Ray Eve Vine Wet
1993 9 April 17 Moonshiners Handcross Rebels Darren Ray Jen LeBon Wet
1994 1 April 20 Black Dog Boozers[34] Handcross Rebels Paddy Graham[34] Alison Ray[34] Wet [26]
1995 14 April 15 Barrel Scrapers Black Dog Boozers Paul Smith Jen LeBon Sunny
1996 5 April 20 Black Dog Boozers Moonshiners Darren Ray Alison Ray Dry
1997 28 March 21 Handcross 49ers Black Dog Boozers Colin Gardner(BD-Boozers)[4] Jen LeBon Sunny but windy
1998 10 April 17 Black Dog Boozers Barrel Scrapers Simon Monahan Jen LeBon Wet
1999 2 April 21 Black Dog Boozers Handcross Rebels Simon Monahan Jen LeBon Fine/sunny
2000 21 April 20 Black Dog Boozers Barrel Scrapers Simon Monahan Jen LeBon Fine/sunny
2001 13 April 19 Johnson Jets England Handcross 49ers England Mark Parsons (J Jets)[35] Alison Reimer (H-49ers)[35] Fine/sunny
2002 29 March 22 Saxonia Globe Snippers Germany [27] Black Dog Boozers England [27] Benny Mehnert Jen McGowan Fine/sunny
2003 18 April 20 Saxonia Globe Snippers Germany 1st MC Erzgebirge Germany Chris Pampel Jen McGowan Fine/sunny
2004 9 April 27 Saxonia Globe Snippers Germany 1st MC Erzgebirge Germany Chris Pampel Jen McGowan Fine/sunny
2005 25 March 23 Barrel Scrapers England Handcross 49ers England Simon Monahan Susi Joswich Fine/sunny
2006 14 April 23 1st MC Erzgebirge Germany Handcross 49ers England Darren Ray Gabi Mühlisch Rain then fine/sunny
2007 6 April 23 1st MC Erzgebirge Germany 1st MC Erzgebirge II Germany Darren Ray Alison Reimer Warm and sunny
2008 21 March 21 Yorkshire Meds England 1st MC Erzgebirge Germany Halim Tata (Y-Meds)[36] Leila Kara Sunny but cold, rain later
2009 10 April 16 Yorkshire Meds England [36] Handcross 49ers England Halim Tata (Y-Meds)[36] Alison Reimer Wet
2010 2 April 19 1st MC Erzgebirge Germany Handcross 49ers England Ian Gardner Jen McGowan Wet
2011 22 April 19 Yorkshire Meds England Handcross 49ers England Chris Pampel Leila Kara Sunny
2012 6 April 16 1st MC Erzgebirge Germany[37] Handcross 49ers England[37] Chris Pampel[37] Alison Reimer[37] Cold
2013 29 March 13 Black Dog Boozers England [28] Johnson Jets England [28] Chris Pampel [28] Alison Reimer [28] Very cold
2014 18 April 14 [38] 1st MC Erzgebirge Germany [38] Handcross 49ers England [38] Paul Smith [38] Leila Kara [38] Sunny
2015 3 April 19 1st MC Erzgebirge Germany Johnson Jets England Colin Gardner(BD-Boozers)[4] Alison Reimer Cold and rainy
2016 25 March 18 Yorkshire Meds England[16] Johnson Jets England Paul Smith Leila Kara Warm and sunny
2017 14 April 15 Johnson Jets England[39] Yorkshire Meds England[39] Chris Pampel[39] Alison Reimer[39] Dry but cold at times
2018 30 March 18 Saxonia Globe Snippers Germany[29] Johnson Jets England[29] Chris Pampel Alison Reimer[40] Heavy rain all day [29]
2019 19 April – 1st MC Erzgebirge Germany[41] Black Dog Boozers England[14] Paul Smith [14] Whitney Lapic [14] Hot and sunny
2020 & 2021 Cancelled (COVID-19) [5][6]
2022 15 April [7] 12 [8] Yorkshire Meds England[42] Black Dog Boozers England[8] Colin Gardner [8] Leila Kara [8] Hot and sunny [43]
2023 7 April Black Dog Boozers England[9] 1st MC Erzgebirge Germany [44] Alison Reimer Hot and sunny

Roll of honour
Multiple Winners  : Telcon/Toucon Terribles 19, Black Dog Boozers 14, Tinsley Green/ Tigers 8, 1st MC Erzgebirge 7, Yorkshire Meds 5, Saxonia Globe Snippers 4, Copthorne Sharpshooters 3, Bow Street Fudgers 3, Crawley Busmen 2, Copthorne Spitfires 2, Handcross Rebels 2, Moonshiners 2, Johnson Jets 2.[23][42]
Multiple Finalists  : Black Dog Boozers 22, Telcon/Toucon Terribles 20, Tinsley Green/ Tigers 14, Johnson Jets 13, 1st MC Erzgebirge 11, Handcross 49ers 9, Bow Street Fudgers 8, Handcross Rebels 7, Yorkshire Meds 6, Crawley Busmen 5, Arundel Mullets 4, Barrel Scrapers 4, Copthorne Sharpshooters 4, Copthorne Spitfires 4, Moonshiners 4, Saxonia Globe Snippers 4, Pernod Rams 3, Old Comrades 2.[23][8]
Individual multiple Champions : Len Smith 12, Chris Pampel[37] 7, Darren Ray 6, Wee Willie Wright 5, Alan Smith 5, Paddy Graham 5, Harry Langridge 4, Barry Ray 4, Simon Monahan 4, Paul Smith 4, Colin Gardner 4, Ian Gardner[39] 2, Halim Tata 2, Cyril Wilcock 2, F.S.'Champ' Harding 2, Fred Rowe 2.[23][8]
Individual Lady Champions : Jen McGowan(LeBon) 12, Alison Reimer(Ray)[37] 11, Leila Kara 5, Eve Vine 2, Jackie Staples(Hodge) 2, Susi Joswich 1, Gabi Mühlisch 1, Whitney Lapic 1.[23][14][8]

Celebrity involvement

References
  1. Vishnuprasad, S. (6 April 2012). "Stage Set For World Marbles Championship". International Business Times. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  2. Ronay, Barney (26 March 2008). "Have we lost our marbles?". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  3. "1970s". Greyhound Marbles. 2015. Archived from the original on 25 July 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  4. "World Marbles Championships held in Crawley". crawleynews.co.uk. 4 July 2015. Archived from the original on 14 April 2015.
  5. "British and World Marbles Championship". Facebook. 12 March 2020. Retrieved 25 July 2021. Due to the current worldwide situation regarding COVID19 it has been decided that the British and World Marbles Championship 2020 will not be taking place.
  6. "British and World Marbles Championship". Facebook. 8 February 2021. Retrieved 25 July 2021. We are sorry to confirm that the 2021 British and World Marbles Championship will not be taking place due to the current worldwide COVID19 pandemic.
  7. "British and World Marbles Championship will finally take place again on Good Friday, 15th April 2022". facebook. 3 March 2022.
  8. "2022 Results". facebook.com. 20 April 2022.
  9. "Black Dog Boozers 2023 World Champions". facebook.com. 7 April 2023.
  10. "1930s". Greyhound Marbles. 2015. Archived from the original on 25 July 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  11. "Traditional Pub Games". telegraph.co.uk. 4 February 2014.
  12. "1940s". Greyhound Marbles. 2016. Archived from the original on 25 July 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  13. "The Greyhound Public House, Tinsley Green, West Sussex - home to 'marbles'". sussexhistoryforum.co.uk. 22 January 2019.
  14. "The British and World Marbles Championship: When and where is held? When did it start? Who takes part? Who are the current champions?". sussexexpress.co.uk. 3 April 2022.
  15. "Marble Rules as Played at Tinsley Green". The National Marble Museum. Museum of American Glass in West Virginia. 2001. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  16. "British team defeats Germans to win World Marble Championship". Reuters. 28 March 2016. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  17. "Germans Crowned World Champs as Brits Lose Their Marbles". Deutsche Welle. 17 April 2006. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  18. "Meet the beer-swilling competitors at the world marbles championship". britishpathe.com. 1938.
  19. "Marbles As Usual 1941". British Pathé. 1941.
  20. "Marble Massacre". tonsleyevents.co.uk.
  21. "Mini Skirts banned from Marble Championships 30th March 1970". The Day. 30 March 1970.
  22. "Easter Holiday Weather Summaries: 1958–1989". Martin Rowley for booty.org.uk. 2014. Archived from the original on 26 April 2016. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  23. "All the Winners". Greyhound Marbles. 2016. Archived from the original on 25 July 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  24. "Black dog boozers in the Guinness book of records". Crawley marbles appreciation (facebook)]. 6 September 2022.
  25. "The Marble Super-dome of Monroe county, Kentucky". GoNOMAD. 1992.
  26. "Report 1994". Greyhound Marbles. 1994. Archived from the original on 25 July 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  27. "English team lose their marbles". Funny Old Game (BBC). 3 April 2002.
  28. "Black Dog Boozers win a record 13th Title". This is Sussex. April 2013. Archived from the original on 5 July 2013.
  29. "German team wins marbles world title". Euronews. Archived from the original on 31 March 2018.
  30. "Worthing Theatres: Tributes paid to long-standing team member who was part of its 'fabric and heart'". worthingherald.co.uk. 15 July 2021.
  31. "Sport: At Tinsley Green Monday, Apr. 17, 1939". Time. 17 April 1939.
  32. "Arundel Mullets". Greyhound Marbles. 2015. Archived from the original on 25 July 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  33. Nelson, George (8 April 2015). "Meet the beer-swilling competitors at the world marbles championship". Vice News. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  34. Macdonald, Marianne (1 April 1994). "Tolley throwers in quest for glory". The Independent. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  35. "Tinsley Green Championships 2001". Museum of American Glass. 2008.
  36. "Leeds family on a roll...world marbles champs again". joesmarbles.com. 16 April 2009.
  37. "Report 2012". Greyhound Marbles. 2012. Archived from the original on 25 July 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  38. "Germans victorious as a marble-ous time was had by all". crawleyobserver.co.uk. 23 April 2014. Archived from the original on 26 April 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  39. "Results 2017". Greyhound Marbles. 2017. Archived from the original on 22 July 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  40. "The full results from The 2018 British and World Marbles Championship". Facebook. 2 April 2018.
  41. "The 2019 British and World Marbles Championship". Britclip. 19 April 2019.
  42. "Yorkshire Meds - Winners 2022". facebook. 19 April 2022.
  43. "Good Friday weather: UK basks on hottest day of year so far". bbc.co.uk. 15 April 2022.
  44. "ICYMI: England beats Germany in World Marbles Championships final". newsflare.com. 7 April 2023.
  45. "1960s". Greyhound Marbles. 2016. Archived from the original on 25 July 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  46. "Inside Out - Losing your Marbles". bbc.co.uk. 9 June 2003. It's England v Germany - but not as we know it! It's the World Marbles Championship 2003 - a contest which can easily reduce grown-ups to tears. Inside Out's Chris Packham flexes his fingers and finds out more
  47. "Top comedians stop for a pint at the Greyhound". Crawley Observer. 29 September 2009. Archived from the original on 15 September 2016.
  48. "Essential guide to all the Squid Game rounds". radiotimes.com. 11 October 2021.
  49. "Henry Smith MP and the Mayor of Crawley". facebook.com. 7 April 2023.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.