Event: United Kingdom

British and World Marbles Championship

When:	Apr 2009 (various dates)
Where:	Greyhound Public House
Costs:	Free
Opening Hours:	10.30am-5pm

Every year the Greyhound pub in Tinsley Green takes a popular playground game to its most competitive level, as it stages the British and World Marbles Championship.

The tournament in its current guise has been played since 1932, although evidence suggests that the game has been played here for more than 200 years. In West Sussex the marble season traditionally takes place between Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, with this competition marking the climax. It was once considered bad luck to play past midday on the Friday, but now with over 100 competitors every year there simply wouldn't be enough time to play all the ties.

The tournament is played in a knockout format between around 20 teams, with team and individual titles up for grabs. An over-50s competition has also been recently introduced. It is free to watch and to participate but, if you'd like to enter, it is advisable to do so in advance.

For more details about the rules of the tournament and the history of the game, please visit the Marble Museum website.