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Document Metadata

Publisher: English Tiddlywinks Association
Publication name: Winking World
Issue number: 1
Publication date: February 1961
Editor: Peter J. Downes
Page count: 4
Production: typewritten
Copyright status: no marking
Transcriber: Rick Tucker
Transcription date: 13 February 1991
Transcription source: page image photocopies by Charles Relle
Proofread date: 23 November 2019
HTML conversion date: 23 November 2019
Update date: 2 August 2022

Abbreviations Used in This Document

A.G.: Aunt Gertie
B.B.C.: British Broadcasting Company
c/o: care of
E.Tw.A.: English Tiddlywinks Association
G.S.: Grammar School
M/cr: Manchester
M.G.S.: Manchester Grammar School
N.J.Tw.C.: Northern Junior Tiddlywinks Championship
Sec. Gen: Secretary-General
T.V.: television
Tw.C.: Tiddlywinks Club
Tw.S.: Tiddlywinks Society
VIII: eight (person team)
Y.C.: (unknown, possibly Young Christians’)

Article List

Start of page 1

FEB 1961 · THE WINKING WORLD · No. 1

THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE ENGLISH TIDDLYWINKS ASSOCIATION

Just a brief word of introduction…….. “The Winking World” will, I hope, be published from time to time, inevitably in this very modest fashion owing to shortage of funds, for the purpose of keeping the growing number of winkers throughout the British Isles in touch with each other and with major events in winking circles. Though its main function is to report on what has happened, to announce what is expected to happen, and to provide information so that more may happen, it is to be hoped that “The Winking World” will be able to produce feature articles on Tiddlywinks, written by you and your club members. How about it??

Peter Downes, Sec. Gen. E.Tw.A.

INTER-UNIVERSITY COMPETITION FOR PRINCE PHILIP’S TROPHY—THE SILVER WINK

H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh has presented a very fine trophy, a mounted silver wink, to be competed for between all the winking Universities in Britain. For the preliminary stages of this competition, certainly the most large-scale and ambitious project ever attempted in the field of Tiddlywinks, Britain was divided into four regions, each of which held its own elimination contests. In the Edinburgh region, Edinburgh defeated Newcastle by 82 pts to 30, and then went on to beat Aberdeen by 90 pts to 22 in the Second Round. In the absence of any further response from Scottish Universities, Edinburgh move into the Semi-Final. Further South, Manchester University had even less opposition in reaching the Semi-Final. The only opponents they could find were the newly-formed Hull University team, whom they beat convincingly. This lack of winking activity in such important places as Sheffield, Leeds, Liverpool, & North Staffs is rather unsatisfactory, and rapid steps must be taken by those with friends at any of these Universities to see that the situation is promptly remedied. Much more encouraging was the response in the Oxford region, where eight Universities or University Colleges competed for the place in the Semi-Final. In the first round, Bristol beat Exeter “easily” (quote), Swansea and Cardiff had walk-overs because of “the incompetence of British Railways” (quote again!). Finally Oxford beat the very young club at Reading by 86 pts to 26. In the second round, Bristol beat Swansea by 58 pts to 33 in a match abandoned through lack of time, and Oxford overwhelmed Cardiff by 90 pts to 22. This left Oxford to play Bristol, and in a match again curtailed owing to shortage of time, Oxford won their place in the Semi-Final by a 56 – 35 victory. There is less detailed information from the remaining quarter, but it appears that Cambridge established their right to a place in the Semi-Final by victories over London, Southampton, Leicester and Nottingham. As a result of these preliminary rounds, Oxford were to meet Cambridge in one Semi-Final, and Manchester to play Edinburgh in the other Semi-Final. At the time of writing, only the first of these two matches has been played and a full report will be found later in this issue. It is planned to hold the Final in Manchester on in March.

REMINDER TO CLUBS AND THEIR TREASURERS

The affiliation fee for the year 1961 is now due and should be sent to the Sec. Gen. E.Tw.A. at 45, Offerton Lane, Stockport, as soon as possible. The affiliation fee is 3/6 for senior clubs and 2/6 for junior clubs (under 18). Please include the name and address of your present Secretary when writing, so that E.Tw.A. records can be kept up-to-date.

Start of page 2

INFORMATION BUREAU

The following clubs were either inadvertently omitted from the list of Tiddlywinks societies and clubs published in October last (copies of which are still available) or have changed their Secretary since last summer.

BRISTOL UNIVERSITY Tw. C. – R. J. Newman, Wills Hall, Stoke Bishop, Bristol 9.
CARDIFF UNIVERSITY Tw. C. – R. P. Hepworth, Students’ Union, Dumfries Place, Cardiff.
NOTTINGHAM UNIVERSITY Tw. C. – P. J. Owen, The Union, The University, Nottingham.
OXFORD UNIVERSITY T. S. – Q. L. Gray, University College, Oxford.
MANCHESTER UNIVERSITY Tw. C. – B. King, c/o Societies Room, The Union, The University, Manchester.
MARPLE CONG. Y. C. Tw. C. – Philip Smith, 18, Rushton Drive, Marple, Cheshire.
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, LONDON – T. P. Cook, U. C. L. Union, Gower Street, London W.C.1.

The following clubs have come into existence, or have been officially recognised, during the present season. In giving their addresses, we greet them and hope they will soon have plenty of fixtures.

HULL UNIVERSITY Tw. C. – F. Higgins, The Union, The University, Hull.
READING UNIVERSITY Tw. C. – Miss S. Clifford, Students’ Union, The University, Reading.
ABERYSTWYTH UNIVERSITY Tw. C. – K. Rowbotham, Plynlymon Hall, Victoria Terrace, Aberystwyth.
LEICESTER UNIVERSITY Tw. C. – R. J. Clayton, Students’ Union, University Road, Leicester.

There is now a flicker of tiddle-interest in Ireland, and fortunately a very experienced winker is over there to fan the present flicker into a prairie fire. He is Robin Glasscock, an English international and former member of the London University club. Robin tells us that he is hoping to make Tiddlywinks stand alongside Rugby as the only game in which all Irishmen can participate in the same organisation, whether they come from Northern Ireland or Eire. His address for those interested in arranging a Tiddlywinks tour of Ireland is:— c/o Dept. of Geography, Queens University, Belfast.

A TIDDLYWINKS EXPERIMENT—WILL YOU PLEASE HELP?

The present international Rules of Tiddlywinks, as recognised by E.Tw.A., were drawn up in June 1958, at a Congress in Cambridge which was attended by all those who were keen on promoting the game. Since that time, experience has shown that, though the rules are basically satisfactory and have given much pleasure and amusement, there are one or two points which may need to be reconsidered. One of the most disappointing developments in the last year or so has been the tendency for teams to concentrate on suopping squopping to such an extent as to turn the game into a farce. Over-concentration on squopping, while tactically successful as far as sheer results are concerned, makes the game tedious for the vast majority of players, incomprehensible to the spectator, and generallylikely to “bring the game into disrepute”. Added to this, there is some uncertainty as to what exactly constitutes a fair desquopping shot. Accordingly, a proposal has been made, with a view to amending the rule regarding squopping. Here is the suggested alteration:—

When a player squops a wink (whether an opponent’s, his partner’s or his own) the covered wink is immediately returned to its baseline, and the player has another turn, in which he can play any of his winks.

All the other rules to remain as at present except that a player should not miss a turn when his wink goes off the mat; and that when a time-limit has been applied, each wink in the pot should count three marks instead of the present two. Preliminary trials on the above suggestion reveal that it makes a big difference to the game, and one which comes as something of a shock and disappointment to those now used to the E.Tw.A. version. But after this initial reaction, players have found that the new game retains the basic skills of the old (i.e. potting and squopping), in fact it even demands greater accuracy in the performance of these skills since one missed shot can lose the game, that this game is cleaner, easier to follow, particularly for the uninitiated, and avoids all the complications previously encountered with the desquopping shot, playing of free turns etc. TRY IT FOR YOURSELF. Please note that this is only a suggestion and would need a very wide measure of support before the rules could be altered. Please give the idea a fair try, over a period of, say two months, and then let the Sec. Gen. of E.Tw.A. have your reactions, opinions and proposals on the possibility of a change in the rules, along the lines suggested.

Start of page 3

CAMBRIDGE OXFORD

It was in the Masonic Hall, Cambridge, before a crowd of about 50 and under the gaze of cameras from B.B.C. Television and Anglia T.V. that Oxford and Cambridge met on the tiddle-mat for the third time. With two previous Inter-Varsity victories behind them and tha the advantage of playing on home ground, Cambridge started as slight favourites to win, although Oxford’s impressive record this season left no Cambridge man in doubt that it would be a very hard struggle. Both teams had an added incentive, in that the winning team was to pass into the Final of the Prince Philip Trophy Competition. As was expected, Cambridge got into their stride first and at the end of the first quarter were leading by 16 pts to 12. As Oxford gradually became accustomed to the playing-surface and the unusually high tension in this match, their play improved and they had much more success in the next set of games. Indeed, only a masterly 6 – 1 win by Cambridge’s First Pair, Furlonger and Bardsley, prevented Oxford taking the lead. At half-time, Cambridge led by 29 pts to 27. The third quarter proved decisive—Oxford won convincingly on three of the four mats and even though the fourth mat resulted in another 6 – 1 for Furlonger and Bardsley, Oxford now went ahead by 44 1/2 pts to 39 1/2. The last quarter was a tense struggle, with the emphasis inevitably on squopping as Oxford hung on to their valuable 5 point lead. Nearly all these games went the full 35 minutes allowed, and Oxford held firm to win by 59 1/2 pts to 52 1/2. This was Cambridge’s first defeat since the official rules were drawn up in 1958; to them our congratulations on having held an unbeaten record for so long. To Oxford go the Marchant trophy for the All-England Championship (presented to Peter Freeman, the Oxford captain, by the Rev. E. A. Willis, who also ably assisted the Sec. Gen. of E.Tw.A. in the umpiring of the match), a place in the Final of the Prince Philip Trophy Competition and our congratulations on this notable and hard-fought victory. Teams and scores (numbers in brackets indicate points scored by each pair, maximum 24)

	Cambridge University                          52 1/2

	1. F. J. Furlonger & J. N. Bardsley          (20)
	2. L. J. Woodhead & V. L. Clarke             (12 1/2)
	3. F. G. Kershaw (Captain) & M. A. C. Relle  (11)
	4. S. G. C. Kidd & G. Wilsher                 (9)

	Oxford University                             59 1/2

	1. P. J. Freeman (Capt.) & T. G. Nicholson   (17)
	2. Q. L. Gray & Miss K. M. Otto              (11)
	3. Miss C. A. Mills & Miss E. A. King        (16)
	4. G. W. Stevenson & S. J. G. Agate          (15 1/2)

In a Second team match held at the same time, the Cambridge Kippers, captained by D. Wallage, beat the Oxford 2nd VIII, led by R. J. Sutton, by 62 pts to 50.

STANDARD PLAYING-SURFACE NOW OFFICIALLY APPROVED

For a long time there has been discussion on what makes an ideal winking surface. Ever since Cambridge University, in the course of writing their thesis on Tiddlywinks, infuriated salesmen in a large Cambridge store by trying out every carpet and rug in the place, people have been searching for the ideal surface. Needleloom carpeting was for a long time thought to be the best, but as the standard of play has improved and tiddle-touch has become more sensitive, needleloom has been found to be too irregular, and either too hard when worn or too hairy when new. After much research and enquiry, a surface has been found which is widely acclaimed as combining all the required characteristics—regularity, firmness without hardness, softness without sloppiness, and (by comparison with needleloom mats)—cheapness! This surface, a felt in two colours (grey on one side, white on the other), should be fixed on a hard board or table-top, preferably grey side down (for no other reason than that the colored winks stand out better on a white background!). It will shortly be available from the Official Manufacturer of E.Tw.A. Tiddlywinks, – The Marchant Games Ltd., Goldings Hill, Loughton, Essex, from whom further details can be obtained.

A MESSAGE FROM CAPTAIN ROY HARRY OF THE NATIONAL PLAYING FIELDS ASSOCIATION

Captain Roy Harry, the Appeals Secretary of the National Playing Fields Association, has asked me to express his gratitude to all Winkers for their support of the N.P.F.A. Tiddlywinks has raised bordering on £1000 pounds for the N.P.F.A. and though much of this has been the profit from large public matches, there have also been many useful contributions from smaller events. Now that you have your ideal playing conditions (see above) why not help others to have theirs!?!

Start of page 4

NEW RECORDS

New records have been set up in each of the three recognised record performances.

ACCURACY 12 winks from 3 feet. 24 shots by Peter Kershaw, (Manchester G. S.)
SPEED 24 winks from 18 inches. 35 seconds – by Robert Goodsman (Flying Disc Tw. C.)
4-POT RELAY 39 winks through 4 pots in three minutes, by the Flying Disc Tw. C., B’ham.

AUNTIE GERTIE’s PROBLEM CORNER

Have you a problem on your mind? Why not write to Auntie Gertie and let her solve it for you. Here is a selection from her postbag:— Question:— “I have succeeded in balancing a wink on the rim of the pot. Is this unique and what do you advise me to do about it?”—Worried Teenager, Birmingham. Advice:— “This is nothing to worry about, my dear, as it happens to nearly everybody at some time or other. It has happened to me once and on that occasion I counted the wink as potted, so I recommend you to do likewise.”—A. G. Question:— “I have today balanced 32 winks on the bottom of an upturned pot. Is this a record?”—Topsy-Turvy, Cheshire. Advice:— “I think you might seek psychiatric advice as soon as possible. You seem to me to have an inverted personality. Console yourself in the knowledge that many people suffer from this delusion, and among them, yours is the best achievement. It is not an E.Tw.A. recognised record.”—A. G. Question:— “I have recently squidged a wink the distance of 21 feet, 1½ inches. Can you please tell me whether this is a record?”—Mighty Mouse, Yorkshore Yorkshire Advice:— “The aim of Tiddlywinks is to encourage sensitivity and control, rather than brute force, so I’m afraid your magnificent achievement will not count as an official record. You must have remarkably powerful thumbs, an asset which could be of use to somebody. If you will send me a stamped addressed envelope, I will send you details of an organisation which may be able to help you.”—A. G.

JUNIOR WINKS

Northern Junior Tiddlywinks Championship, 1961.

The Third Annual N.J.Tw.C. held in Lewus’s Lewis’s Exhibition Hall, Manchester, on January 2nd and 3rd, 1961, attracted a record entry of 66 pairs. There were several early shocks in the competition. The first was a victory of an all-girls pair over a boys pair, all the more surprising as “girls do not normally make very good winkers”. Then came the defeat of the winner for the past two
years, Neil Sunderland, who with a new and promising partner, Peter Kershaw, in place of the now-retired Andrew Smith, was knocked out in the First Round by Edward and Stephen Buckley from Altrincham G. S. Manchester G. S. gained a prompt revenge w[hen] Paul Robinson and Graham Walker knocked out last year’s runners-up, Ken Veitch and Nigel Shepherd, from Altrincham.

By the time the first three rounds had been completed on the first day, there were eight pairs left in:— 5 from Manchester G. S., 2 from Stockport School, and a pair of unknown outsiders from the Flying Disc Tw. C., Birmingham. The Stockport School pairs were eliminated in the Quarter-Final, leaving Tom Ballantyne and Martin Durrell (M.G.S.) to play David Needham and Geoffrey Tattersall (M.G.S.) in the first Semi-Final. This match resulted in a narrow win (11-10) for Ballantyne and Durrell. In the other Semi-Final, David Walton and Andrew Whittaker (M.G.S.) met Colin Flood and Michael Halsey (Birmingham). This was a very exciting match, perhaps the best of the whole Tournament, and only a wink bouncing out of the pot at a crucial moment prevented Walton and Whittaker winning. As it was, however, Flood and Halsey won 11-10, and went on into the Final, where they showed themselves to be much superior to Ballantyne and Durrell and won by 11 pts to 3. The winners, who now hold the “Evening Chronicle” Trophy for a year, are to be congratulated on their keenness in coming up to Manchester for the event, and for winning through against so much competition from local players.

Through entry fees and sideshows, the event raised 10 guineas for the National Playing Fields Association. In the Speed and Accuracy competitions held during the Championship, Allen Astles (Altrincham G. S.) won the Speed and Eric Sykes (Manchester G. S.) won the Accuracy.

Other Results:—

The Oldham Youth Tiddlywinks Championship, the first of its kind in the country, was won by David Gartside and Fred Lees, of Hulme Grammar School, Oldham.

Manchester G. S. beat M/cr University 58-54. Altrincham G. S. beat M/cr University 59-53.

Marple Cong. beat M.G.S. 69-57; Altrincham G. S. beat Marple Cong. 152-72; Manchester G. S. beat Altrincham G. S. 59-53. Marple Cong. beat Offerton Tw.
C. 49-35.

North American Tiddlywinks Association