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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Germans lose their marbles crown | Germans lose their marbles crown |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Competitors at the annual World Marble Championships celebrated long into the evening after a British team beat the Germans for the first time in years. | Competitors at the annual World Marble Championships celebrated long into the evening after a British team beat the Germans for the first time in years. |
| The Yorkshire Meds took the silver trophy from reigning champions, 1st MC Erzgebirge II at the tournament in Tinsley Green, West Sussex. | The Yorkshire Meds took the silver trophy from reigning champions, 1st MC Erzgebirge II at the tournament in Tinsley Green, West Sussex. |
| German teams had won for several years, with a break of one year in 2005. | German teams had won for several years, with a break of one year in 2005. |
| "It was very good to see the Germans beaten for once," said landlord of the Greyhound Inn, Dennis Baxindale. | "It was very good to see the Germans beaten for once," said landlord of the Greyhound Inn, Dennis Baxindale. |
| The village, near Crawley, is reputed to be the scene of an epic marbles battle in Elizabethan times over the hand of a local maiden. | The village, near Crawley, is reputed to be the scene of an epic marbles battle in Elizabethan times over the hand of a local maiden. |
| The competition, which has been held at the pub since 1932, attracts competitors from as far afield as Australia and hundreds of spectators. | The competition, which has been held at the pub since 1932, attracts competitors from as far afield as Australia and hundreds of spectators. |
| Mr Baxindale said an Australian team flew in this year only the night before the traditional Good Friday event. | Mr Baxindale said an Australian team flew in this year only the night before the traditional Good Friday event. |
| 'Big drinkers' | 'Big drinkers' |
| A total of 21 teams, ranging in age from 11 to 70 took part, including three from Germany. | A total of 21 teams, ranging in age from 11 to 70 took part, including three from Germany. |
| Teams, each made up of six people, take to the marble ring in a series of knock-out rounds. | Teams, each made up of six people, take to the marble ring in a series of knock-out rounds. |
| Sam McCarthy-Fox, secretary of the British Marbles Board of Control, said many of the competitors took the game very seriously, with some teams practising several times a week. | Sam McCarthy-Fox, secretary of the British Marbles Board of Control, said many of the competitors took the game very seriously, with some teams practising several times a week. |
| He said contestants must abide by a strict set of rules, so must know their fudging from their cabbaging. | He said contestants must abide by a strict set of rules, so must know their fudging from their cabbaging. |
| Apart from that, "a strong thumb and a good hand-eye coordination are the most important skills to have", he said. | Apart from that, "a strong thumb and a good hand-eye coordination are the most important skills to have", he said. |