The annual hurling match at St. Columb Major is a unique custom in the Cornish calendar that has survived unchanged and has taken place annually since before records began.

What Is Hurling?

Hurling or Hurling the Silver Ball (Cornish: Hyrlîan) is a ball-throwing and carrying team game of Celtic origin played only in Cornwall. Once played widely in Cornwall, Cornish Hurling has similarities to rugby and other traditional football games but certain attributes make this version unique to Cornwall. It is considered by many to be Cornwall's national game along with Cornish wrestling. An old saying in the Cornish language goes; "hyrlîan yw gen gwaré nyi" which translated into English means, "Hurling is our sport." 

Where Does It Take Place?

The traditional St. Columb Hurling takes place on Shrove Tuesday and the second Saturday following. The usually rough game is played on the streets and in the surrounding countryside, between the Townsmen and Countrymen of the parish. The shops in the town barricade their windows and doors to protect from accidental damage, which sometimes occurs.

How Do You Play?

The game starts with the throw-up of the silver ball in Market Square, usually followed by a large scrum. The objective of the game is to control its possession with deliberate passing, throwing, snatching and tackling. Game play in the town normally lasts no longer than one hour. During this period the two teams are irrelevant: townsmen 'deal' the ball to countrymen and vice versa. Play often stops for spectators to touch the ball, said to bring luck or fertility or slows to allow younger players to participate.

After about an hour the ball is hurled towards respective goals that are set about two miles (3 km) apart at either end of the town. Hurlers then carry the ball through the roads and fields that surround the town, with the aim of taking the ball across the Parish boundary. In this stage of the match the two sides strive for possession and the actual "Town against Country" hurling takes place. Sometimes hurls are won by a team effort but occasionally a single hurler may attain the ball in the town and manage to run all the way to the goal or boundary without being caught by any of the opposition.

The 'winner of the ball' (that is the hurler that goals the ball or carries it over the boundary) is carried on the shoulders of two team-mates back to Market Square to strains of the hurling song. Here he calls up the ball declaring "Town Ball" or "Country Ball" depending on the side to which he belongs.

Then What?

In the evening, the winner returns to Market Square to call up the ball again. This is followed by a visit to each of the public houses of the town where the ball is immersed in gallon jugs filled with beer. Each gallon will be called up and the 'silver beer' (as it is known) is shared amongst all those present.

* St Columb Major Hurling 2024 *

Make sure to head down to Fore Street from 4pm in St Columb Major on Tuesday 13th February for the 2024 Cornish Hurling event. Then again on Saturday 24th February 2024.