It’s really tempting these days to say the world’s lost its marbles. Metaphorically, this may be dead on. But in reality they’re right there, at the hallowed Greyhound pub in the town of Tinsley Green, West Sussex, UK.
Folklore has it that there’s been a marbles tourney since 1588, when Elizabeth was queen – the first Elizabeth. Since 1932 the British and World Marbles Championship has been played out each Good Friday at the Greyhound.
This year’s no different.
Professionals and amateurs the world over are having a go at it on an elevated concrete ring six feet in diameter. That ring is slathered in sharpish sand at the onset of each contest. Teams take turns trying to oust marbles from that ring by firing a larger sphere, a “shooter,” at smaller marbles. This is the essence of the action.
There are lots of niceties about the age-old game of marbles. One of them is that your knuckle has to touch the ground when you shoot. Move the shooting marble closer to the target and that’s considered cheating.
We won’t get into the rest of marbles’ intricacies just now, other than to say it’s a somewhat esoteric sport. That said, it’s got it aficionados – and they tend to be passionate. The Germans seem to be particularly good at marbles, so much so that they’ve managed to hoist the World Championship Trophy a half-dozen times over the years.
You don’t have to be a marbles’ maven to enjoy what’s happening at Tinsley Green. The ambience of the place and the competitive camaraderie (boosted, perhaps, by a couple of rounds at the bar after it’s all over) are ample reasons to be here. Just be sure to pack your patience, and a good sense of humor.
Story by Jerry Chandler
(Image: Andrew Morrell Photography)
