Welcome to the Yorkshire Meds Marbles Team Web Site
WELCOME to the Web home of the Yorkshire Meds Marbles team. This is about becoming a big kid again. We enjoy playing marbles as an indoor & outdoor activity. Yes, I hear you say, playing marbles - children & adults? eccentric, unusual, vintage, typical British tradition?
There are hundreds of teams across Europe and the USA playing marbles and many of them are centred on leagues and tournaments.
Our main logo pictures a marble as background, the White Rose from Yorkshire and the Hibiscus flower from the Mediterranean bay.
The Yorkshire Meds logo
Playing marbles is (for me) the perfect antidote to modern life. It takes me back to my childhood and an age before we were all sat in front of computer screens. It's especially rewarding to encourage children to play; it's fantastic for them to have an interest away from today's playstations and x-boxes. Perhaps it is also a way to go towards vintage passtime renaissance. There is nothing like being a big kid at heart.
Yorkshire Meds record of achievements in the Annual British & World marbles championships
Yorkshire Meds is a team made up of players young and old and spans across three generations (grand parents to grand-children), friends and neighbours!
Yorkshire Meds is short for Yorkshire Mediterranean since the team is made up of people from Yorkshire, and people originally from the Mediterranean bay living in Yorkshire.
For further information on each annual event and some photos to provide a flavour of the tournament, please scroll further down.
- 2010: Semi-finalists
- 2009: Winners (World Champion) + Individual champion winner
- 2008: Winners (World Champion) + Individual champion + Best lady champion winners
- 2007: 1st round
- 2006: Quarter-finalists
- 2005: Quarter-finalists
- 2004: 1st round (1st participation)
How Yorkshire Meds started?
In 2003, a friend and neighbour (Jackie), knowing my passion for marbles, gave me as a birthday present the 1991 book edited by House of Marbles, called "Marbles, the pocket book of marble collecting, history & games" . At the very end, this book had two pages on an international marble tournament in Tinsley Green that has been running since 1932. So researching the Internet, I found that the marbles championship has been running ever since. I just could not believe it. I contacted the organiser (Sam McCarthy-Fox) and Sam suggested that if I could put together a team of six players, I could register for the 2004 tournament. And this is how we got involved in the marble championships.
The team from left to right: Akil Tata, Leila Kara, Bob Croft, Aziz Kara, Mourad Kara (c) and Halim Tata.
World Marbles Championship in Tinsley Green (UK)
There are between 20 and 32 teams competing spanning from UK, Germany, Australia, USA and other countries too. On the day, the teams are competitive. However, it is all in a friendly atmosphere. Germany is well represented by at least four or five teams (and their fans); and for the past five to six years, German teams have been dominating the game, having at least two or three teams present in the semi-finals, and winning very frequently the cup. The tournament starts to be very competitive and heats up from the Quarter-finals onwards, this is where you start to see more or less the same teams year on year.
The Annual championships take place every Good Friday and they are a great fun day out for all, children and adults. There are outdoor activities for all as well as the main tournament events. It is free to attend. You can see some photos from the annual events below to give you an idea of what its like. In an age where children spend a lot of time in front of screens, it is always healthy to preserve some of the old outdoor traditions.
Photo on the left, this is the central ring at the 2005 Marble Championship. I took the photo from the Greyhounds pub (balcony). We can see the tournament main referee on central stage; Mol.
The 2010 Annual World Championship in Tinsley Green
The World marbles championship took place as usual on Good Friday, this year being 2nd of April 2010. The weather played its part to challenge the tournament and the forecast was accurate with heavy rain between 11am and 3pm. So it was the gazebo had made a few trips back and forth on the main marbles ring. As usual, all the teams got there by 10am to get ready for the big day. It was really pleasing to see a number of children interested and playing in the ring. It also helped to have the mayor of Crawley showing a keen interest in playing and practising shooting. Photo on the right is one of the morning games that escaped the heavy rain.
The usual teams were present and a few additions with marbles champions from the USA and the mayor of Crawley also playing. After a long wait due to the weather and poor conditions on the side rings, the games one by one made their way to the quarter-finals around 4pm. The four semi-finalists were the same as last year "1st MC Erzgebirge I", "HandCross 49ers", "Johnson Jets" and "Yorkshire Meds". It seems that these are the regulars that make it to the semi-finals year on year. We (Yorkshire Meds) faced the German team "1st MC Erzgebirge I" and lost. So after winning the trophy two years in a row, we let the Cup slip to the German team who also won the final against the "HandCross 49ers" to claim the 2010 trophy back to Germany. As usual, it was very good to see so many familiar faces and teams. Image on the right is a painting by Lydia Kara (May 2009).
Click here or above for photo album
The 2009 Annual World Championship in Tinsley Green
Defending Champions Retain Their Title: Yorkshire Meds are British & World marbles Champions in 2009
On Friday 10th of April 2009, Yorkshire Meds went to the World Marbles Championship in Crawley (United Kingdom) as defending and reigning champions. They successfully defended and retained their title. The tournament has witnessed some thrilling quarter-finals, semi-finals and final games. This year, the tournament had seen an all British final for the first time in years, given previous German domination. In addition, Halim (one of our star player) has won and retained his titlle as the individual champion second year running.
Click here or above for the 2009 photo album
When we won it in 2008, it was a surprise for many (since our previous best were two quarter-finals in 2005 and 2006). So there was an element of surprise in 2008. However, this year, every team we played tried to be at their best with us. So we practised and prepared accordingly. As usual, once you get to the quarter-finals it gets very competitive and serious. Two strong German teams (including last year runner-up and 2006 & 2007 winners) were there.
It featured in a number of newspapers, TV programmes, radio programmes, various forums and live radio shows, including:
- "Top Stories" on the BBC News Web site on 11/04/2009
- Crawley Observer and Crawley Times on 11/04/2009
- BBC Leeds Web site on 15/04/2009
- Leeds Metropolitan University latest news on 14/04/2009
- Yorkshire Evening Post newspaper, website (and video online) 16/04/2009
- BBC Look North TV 21/04/2009
Photos from top right are Yorkshire meds team after trophy ceremony; next down is HandCross 49ers team and Yorkshire Meds team photo after the final. The one at the bottom-right is Mol addressing (singing to) the crowd. The middle photo shows how spectators crowd (gather) around a marbles ring when raining. Finally right-side photo includes some of Yorkshire Meds supporters.
The four semi-finalists were "HandCross 49ers", "1st MC Erzgebirge I", "Johnson Jets" and "Yorkshire Meds". The final was between HandCross 49ers and Yorkshire Meds. There were some great games from quarter-finals onwards, including some scores of 24-24 going for the last marble in the semis. The weather forecast was quite depressing (heavy rain) but the organisers were well prepared as usual with gazebos on the main and side rings. In the end, the weather was not as bad and hence the focus was on the games and less on the impact of the weather. It was a really enjoyable day with plenty of family atmosphere and catching up with players and spectators we have not seen for a year. The tournament also witnessed a great individual final between Halim (Yorkshire Meds), Darren (HandCross 49ers) and Chris (1st MC Erzgebirge I). Image on the right is a painting by Lydia Kara (March 2009)
Click here or above for photo album
The 2008 Annual World Championship in Tinsley Green
Yorkshire Meds are the new British & World marbles Champions in 2008
On Friday 21st of March 2008, having gone all the way to the final at the Annual British & World Marbles championship in Tinsley Green, Crawley (UK) and defeating the reigning champion, 1st MC Erzgebirge from Germany.
The Yorkshire Meds won two other trophies adding to the main championship trophy; the best lady player trophy (Leila Kara) and the best individual player trophy (Halim Tata). All Trophies are staying in the British Isles this year and for the first time in the history of the tournament (since 1932) the main trophy is coming to Yorkshire.
It featured in a number of newspapers, TV programmes, radio programmes and live radio shows, including:
- "Top Stories" on the BBC News Web site on 22/03/08
- BBC Look North TV on 25/03/2008 and
- Yorkshire Evening Post Web site and the daily newspaper (26/03/2008)
- The Leeds University Alumni Magazine Spring 2008 Edition
-
The Yorkshire Ridings Magazine in the
September 2008 issue
- SKY News (download) on 24 March 2008
- ITN News (download) on 25 March 2008
- Asia Brief News (download) on 26 March 2008
- HUTC (Hot Under The Colar) News (download) on 25 March 2008
Other interesting things to mention in 2008: The mayor of Crawley unveiled a new plaque to mark the historical significance of the Greyhounds and Tinsley Green for the British & World marbles tournaments. There was also participation of the BBC Sportsround in the first round and they got knocked out by the Australian champions (The Bevers). The weather forecast was not promising at all, but it turned out much better than anticipated.
Please click here for more photos on the 2008 tournament.
The 2007 Annual World Championship in Tinsley Green
It was a thoroughly enjoyable day like all previous tournaments but we suffered a dent in our confidence. We got a "bye" in the first round (the other team did not turn up) and in the second round we met with the team that beat us the previous year and reigning champion (1st MC Erzgebirge). We lost in our first game played and although we practiced before coming, it was not enough and lost 25-17. The 2007 tournament saw an all German final.
During the tournament, Sam McCarthy-Fox received a well-deserved present for his long-standing contributions to the marbles game and this tournament. Other long standing contributors worth mentioning are Julia McCarthy-Fox and Mol the main referee.
Click here or above for photo album
The 2006 Annual World Championship in Tinsley Green
Like in 2005, we made it to the quarter-final by beating the "Principality of Sealand" and "Simply Marbellous" but we lost to the German team who went on to win it (1st MC Erzgebirge). During the 2006 tournament it started to rain. Fortunately, it did not stay long and the organisers were well equipped to cover the main ring. Another great day.
Click here or above for photo album
The 2005 Annual World Championship in Tinsley Green
The 2005 tournament was our second participation and by now we had a better understanding of the game and what to expect - we also practiced a bit in Leeds prior to turning up to the big day. Surprisingly, we went to the quarter-finals beating Royal Oak and Handcross Rebels but losing to the "Turners Hill Tollymen".
Click here or above for photo album
The 2004 Annual World Championship in Tinsley Green
The 2004 tournament was our first participation. We lost in the first round against a German team (Saxonia II) but thoroughly enjoyed the day. When we arrived, we were not sure what to expect. Although we read a lot about the tournament, the way the game is played, we had never seen a marble ring before. We were used to the Mediterranean games (single hole). Since understanding the rules a bit better, we built an official ring in our back garden in Yorkshire (Leeds).
Click here or above for photo album
Yorkshire Meds Team Activities
- We participate in the Annual British & World Marbles Championship, held every year on Easter Friday since 1932 in Tinsley Green (Crawley) in Surrey (south of London).
- At home, we use marbles games as a good excuse to invite friends and relatives around for a "marbles & barbecue" - of course Yorkshire weather permitting!
- We run marbles demonstrations, and team games in Leeds for Scouts, beavers & cubs
- We play and train in our back garden, since we have a full size - official marbles ring (see photo on the left) - and of course serious training takes place before going to tournaments (Yorkshire weather permitting).
- We have been looking at other potential tournaments in the USA, France or Czech republic.
Photo on the left - our marbles ring in Leeds
Above three photos: Our visit and marbles demonstration to the Scouts (Cubs and Beavers) in North Leeds in November and December 2008. It was great to initiate scouts to marbles and they thoroughly enjoyed it. As well as a brief history of marbles, the Tinsley Green tournament (and Cups) and our team, we set them to play games, with five scouts and a member of the Yorkshire Meds in each team, and Mourad being the referee.
If you would like to get in touch with us, please email Mourad Kara (founder & captain) mourad@yorkshiremeds.co.uk
Last Update April 04th 2010: Webmaster