St Columb Hurling 2017, Part 1
Date: Tuesday 28 Feb 2017. Starts: 4PM. Ends: 10PM.
Location: Market Place, St Columb Major, TR9 6AN, St Columb Major, United Kingdom
Details of Event:
Each year on Shrove Tuesday Hurling of a Silver Ball can be found on the streets of St Columb Major, just a few miles out of Newquay. This is an ancient Cornish custom and there are two events, the first is on Shrove Tuesday and the second is held 2½ weeks later on the Saturday.
The shops barricade their windows and doors against accidents and there’s a huge crowd watching as the two opposing teams chase all over the town and into the fields, to gain control of the silver ball. This is a mad event, with people all over the place chasing the ball, so you need your wits about you if you’re watching.
Each of the two teams have a “goal” – and the object of the game is for them to get the ball into the goal by any means possible. With the goals about 2 miles apart, that’s no mean feat – but there’s another option – they can, instead, just get the ball over the parish boundary. The first hour is mostly chasing around the town, before they make a break for their goal and start to head out of town.
The winner, the person who gets the ball into the goal or over the parish boundary, gets carried into town on the shoulders of others – while traditional songs are played. The winner gets to keep the sterling silver ball – a new silver ball is produced each year.
Start time: 4.30pm – but arrive in plenty of time to get parked and find a good/safe spot.
Later in the evening, at 8pm, they all meet back in the town market place again and the ball and teams all go on a massive pub crawl!
Location/Sat Nav: Fore Street, St Columb Major Cornwall TR9 6RH.
The Two Hurling Dates 2017:
- Shrove Tuesday, 28 February.
- Saturday 11 March.
St Columb Website: StColumb.org.uk
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