Health and safety fears are threatening the future of an ancient beach game dating dating back to the 16th century.
Cornish hurling is a key tradition of the St Ives Feast and began as an ancient form of rugby where two teams of men scramble to keep possession of the cricket-ball sized ball made of apple wood coated in silver.
Over the years it has evolved to now involve children, and begins with the mayor throwing the silver ball over the wall at St Ia’s parish church onto the beach below at Lambeth Walk while shouting ‘guare wheg ya guare teg’ – which translates to ‘fair play is good play’ in Cornish.
After several hours of ‘rough and tumble’, players return to the guildhall in the Royal Square where councillors drop pennies from the balcony and wait for the clock to strike noon.
A health and safety review by Cornwall Council has been scoffed at by town councillors after it suggested wrapping a tangerine in foil, replacing silver coins for chocolate coins, and moving the location with the high tide meaning children will have to start the game on ‘dangerous’ jagged rocks, reported The Times.
St Ives Town Council refused to back down to move the location with one councillor describing it as ‘health and safety gone made’.
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Cornish hurling is a key tradition of the St Ives Feast and began as an ancient form of rugby where two teams of men scramble to keep possession of the cricket-ball sized ball made of apple wood coated in silver
Over the years it has evolved to now involve children. After a few hours of ‘rough and tumble’ the players return to the guildhall
Councillors did agree to a rolling road closure, the presence of St John Ambulance first aid and an event management plan, but the Mayor of St Ives, Johnnie Wells, said the event in February could be thrown into doubt if they can’t get insurance cover.
Mr Wells backed the location change as the shin height rocks ‘are the most dangerous size of stone’.
He told The Times: ”It’s a bit of a nightmare. We are now waiting to see if the insurance companies will let it happen. We have ended up in a bit of a hole because the people who voted to defend the tradition may cause it to be stopped.’
Town councillors chuckled during a meeting in December when it was suggested chocolate coins should be used instead of pennies after reports of children being hit in the eye, reported Cornwall Live.
It sparked a heated debate among members with Andrew Mitchell left baffled by the recommendations, saying ‘those who are no longer with us would be turning in their graves’.
Steve Hynes hit back and told ‘certain councillors’ to ‘get a grasp on reality’ and to argue against the changes was ‘absolute nonsens’.
‘It is not safe to chuck a ball off a cliff onto rocks with young teenagers chasing it. I’ve never seen anything like it in my life,’ he said.
The ‘queen of the hurling’ sets off in a handcart in a procession before the Shrove Tuesday hurling match in St Columb, Cornwall in March 1925
The game begins with the mayor throwing the silver ball over the wall at St Ia’s parish church onto the beach below at Lambeth Walk while shouting ‘guare wheg ya guare teg’ – which translates to ‘fair play is good play’ in Cornish
A health and safety review has recommended moving the location with the high tide meaning children will have to start the game on ‘dangerous’ jagged rocks
A health and safety review by Cornwall Council has been scoffed at by town councillors after it suggested wrapping a tangerine in foil and replacing silver coins for chocolate coins
the Mayor of St Ives, Johnnie Wells, said the event in February could be thrown into doubt if they can’t get insurance cover (Pictured: Locals take part in the Shrove Tuesday tradition in 2011)
‘When we had two teams of men on the beach it was safe.’
Changes to the traditional event were first mooted in the 1980s, but nothing had been suggested since, the meeting was told, and man had broken his leg on the rocks.
Speaking after the meeting, councillor Luke Rogers said he was left upset by those who were trying to vote through any changes to the event.
‘Luckily there was just enough of us to stop this attempted erosion of our culture and nip this in the bud for now,’ he said.
‘They’ll be wearing crash helmets and holding their mothers’ hands next.’
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