Benhall Quoit Club, C 1910 taken at the Old Vicarage, Benhall
The ancient game of tossing a metal ring at a target embedded in soft clay has been played in the UK since medieval times. Teams were often based in the village pub and competitions were held at fairs and festivals and were very competitive.
The game varies from one region to another. There is the Northern Game, played mainly in Yorkshire, Northumberland and Cumberland, with an 11 yard pitch and quoits weighing five-and-a-half pounds. In Scotland and Wales, the Long Game (also called the Old Game) is played. In Suffolk teams play a version of the Long Game.
Here, the pitch is 18 yards long, the bed is three feet in diameter and six inches high, the target pin, which is set flush with the clay, is no more than five-eighths of an inch in diameter. The pair of quoits weighs seven-and-a-quarter pounds, being seven-and-a-quarter inches in diameter. The game has its own vocabulary – the toe bed, the ringer, the cover, and much, much more. Traditionally matches are held from May to September.
Benhall Quoit Team, C 1910 taken at the Old Vicarage
From the Evening Star & Daily Herald, September 1912
BENHALL QUOIT TOURNAMENT AND PRESENTATION TO THE VICAR
The happy relations existing between the Vicar and his parishioners were demonstrated on Saturday last on the occasion of a quoit tournament played at the Vicarage by the members of the Benhall Club. The keen interest the displayed at all times by the Vicar in the doings of the club of which he is president, has tended to cement a strong friendship between him and the members, and a quoit tournament has been an annual event in the parish since his arrival some years ago. Notwithstanding the number of tournaments held, not once has bad weather been experienced.
Two pairs of quoit beds had been got ready for the competitors who were arranged in three divisions. The keen rivalry between the contestants produced play of an interesting character and some closely contested games resulted. The preliminary rounds completed the members adjourned to a tea provided by the Vicar under one of the find trees on the Vicarage lawn.
Though dusk intervened before the close of play, the pitching was decidedly good throughout. The winners were as follows: Division I, 1st Herbert Taylor, 2nd Job Edmunds, Division II, 1st William Saunders, 2nd Stanley Howard. Division III, 1st Neeme Saunders, 2nd Mark Howard. The prizes were kindly distributed by Mrs. Sugden. The Vicar at the time was Henry R. Sugden.
Harry Arthur Howard centre.
Benhall Quoits Team won the Rendlesham Cup (with handles shown) in 1924 & 1926
Back Row: Fred Fisher, Jack Foster, Chris Stannard, Fred Whatling, Leo Howard, John Cable, Albert Howard, Albert Howell.
Middle Row: Harry Howard, Herbert Taylor
Front Row: George Smith, Wac Burch, Sammy Newson, Frank Howard
Henry Burch known as Corky
Corky’s father known as Wac Burch was a keen Quoits player and a frequent winner locally so its not surprising that his sons also enjoyed quoits.
From a recording 2009 made at Benhall Club with Corky Burch:
I played football with my brother Arthur (also known as Wac) and Bob Smith. I also played quoits and we would play for the Lord Rendlesham Cup and we used to travel everywhere. We had a wonderful time. I can remember we went to Claydon one evening playing for a Cup, one Saturday, and it was rather a long day and it got dark. So they decided to put a light up but it was a little piece of paper on the clay bed and then they just put a candle on there!
The silver Lord Rendlesham Cup for Quoits was presented to winning teams from 1914 to present day. Only during WWI (1915-1921) has the cup not been presented or engraved. The game of quoits for the Cup continued during WWII. Benhall Club has won the cup on four occasions, 1924, 1926, 2008 & 2010.
From a conversation with Graham Smith 2021:
I have played quoits for Benhall. I had the Lord Rendlesham Cup for updating, to get the cup and plinth engraved but covid has put a stop to that. I have travelled far and wide to play Quoits even up to 112 miles. I have played for Benhall and Saxmundham, still do!
2008 Graham Smith far right, Quoits played at Benhall
Sadly, the clay beds, which lay beyond the car park at Benhall Club have been demolished though Suffolk teams continue to compete annually for the Lord Rendlesham Cup.
