WILD CAME OF BALL

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 26, 30 July 1927, Page 20

WILD CAME OF BALL

> JWHOLE TOWN IN ANNUAL MOT,

A human chain was fonnod to extrifeate two men who sank up to the armpits in the mud of Workington Harbour recently during the fierce struggle of the Tippies and the Bownies in Workington's famous centuries-old ball game (relates the London "Daily News"). One of the men, a Downie, sunk up to the neck before he was rescued. During the go-as-you-please scrimmage, ■which was the fiercest for years, and lasted four hours, three men were knocked unconscious. The Downies are mostly seamen, and the Tippies miners. The former play towards the harbour with the object of reaching the Capstan with the ball and the Downies' "Y*'goal" is Workington Hall. Thousands of people joined in the game, including women, policemen, an alderman, and a councilor. The opposing streams surged through tho town, the police with difficulty, keeping the contestants from reaching tho chief --"chopping streets. An inn and a butcher's shop were invaded, and at ono -;~ißtage road and rail traffic were delayed. ' .^The fight went on until after dark, the ©ppenents struggling in the river Der•iwent and in a flooded beck, and pouring dishevelled through the streets. It •Was 9.30 p.m. before the Downies, picking their way through the lanes of plime in the harbour, delivered the ball jto a sailor, who rowed to the capstan ■nd won the game for the Downies. u t T^S t>all this y eßr contained a list of ■ : |the Workington soldiers who fell in the r :j?r- Tl»e game has been played at v iWorJdngton from the time of the feudal ■•. .detainers at Workington Hall, tho seat ; 5 f *■•, Cniwen family, who made a '•--ii a a plum Pnading that was too -, iard to eafc. Tho game is regulated "' X no,. Tules' The opponents go where -':-W "s*. and the whole town is the :, paying area.