marbles are coming home

the annual British and World Marbles Championships is played at its spiritual home, The Greyhound Inn, in Tinsley Green, Sussex. the village is reputed to be the scene of an epic marbles battle in Elizabethan times over the hand of a local maiden. In this competition, players have to be aged 50 or over to battle it out for a trophy, a coveted golden marble donated by the sponsors, a brewing company but for all its grand title, it does seem to be an all-British event.

perhaps it is time for younger players to be allowed to play and there are some American standardised rules which could be adopted.

some of the sensible rules include: that the standard size of a marble be 5/8 inch in diameter although the judge may allow slight variations for manufacturing faults. a player must allow any target marble or taw set in motion during a shot to continue until it comes to a full stop. The target marble or taw is "dead" once it comes to a complete stop. if a target marble moves thereafter, the judge will put the target marble back. players are cautioned not to walk on the court during a shot. the judge will tell the players when to toss or shoot their taw. players must lag at the same time (whatever that is).

no spitting or swearing please.

perhaps we can come up with a few alternative rules to enhance the game.

on an historical note - in ‘The Sports and Pastimes of the People of England’ published in 1898, Joseph Strutt wrote, "It is said of Augustus when young that by the way of amusement he spent many hours in playing with little Moorish boys cum nucibus [with nuts]. <enough said>