St Columb Hurling

What to expect

The game begins at 4.30pm with the throw-up of the silver ball, a small wooden ball cased in silver. From there it is Town against Country, with play surging through the main streets in scrums and quick passes, while shops protect their windows. The ball can be won by carrying it to your side's goal or out over the parish boundary, which can mean a long run through lanes and woodland. In 2026's second match, the winning Townsman ran from the Recreation Ground to the parish boundary at Carnanton Woods. Play often pauses so onlookers, young and old, can touch the ball, which is said to bring good luck.

The story behind it

Hurling was once played across Cornwall, often between whole parishes, and was a famously rough sport. St Columb is where it has survived most strongly, kept going by generations of local families and the town's Old Cornwall Society. Winners keep the silver ball until the next Shrove Tuesday, and it is traditionally carried around the town's pubs, where it is dipped in beer. Being a winner is a lifelong honour; some players have won for both Town and Country over the years, depending on where they lived at the time.

Getting there and home

St Columb Road station, about two miles from the town on the Newquay branch line, has a limited service, so check the timetable carefully, especially for an evening return. Newquay, around six miles away, has more frequent trains, plenty of accommodation and taxis. If you drive, the town centre becomes crowded and roads may be busy; park early and walk in to the Market Square for the throw-up.

Watching, taking part and tips

The teams are the town's own Townsmen and Countrymen, so visitors come to watch rather than play. Gather in the Market Square for the throw-up, then follow the crowd at a safe distance: the scrum can move quickly and suddenly through narrow streets. Wear sturdy footwear and warm, waterproof clothing, as February evenings are dark and damp. Children love the chance to touch the silver ball when play pauses. Bring a torch if you plan to follow the game out of town.

Taking part

St Columb gets two matches a year, not one. Calendar Customs describes Shrove Tuesday followed by the second Saturday afterwards, which gives 9 and 20 February as the expected dates for 2027 — confirm them locally before choosing. The Saturday is handy if you can’t travel midweek, but it’s a separate match, not the second half of an unfinished Tuesday game.

The report on the second 2026 match describes a full new throw-up and a fresh contest between Town and Country. It also mentions better weather than on that year’s Shrove Tuesday, a reminder that conditions can make the two days feel very different. Pick the date that fits a solid travel plan rather than banking on a particular result or length of game. If you want to see both, plan separate journeys and evening arrangements. There’s no two-date ticket package with confirmed facilities, so ask about public viewing and the current local programme for the day you’re going.

Accessibility and families

The 2026 match report shows how the game can change shape, from a crowded town affair to one player breaking away. It describes passing and scrumming in the streets before a player escaped towards the parish boundary. That’s how one year played out, not a walking route to copy. Stay in the centre and you may see the communal stage but miss the winning run — that’s simply part of watching a game like this.

Decide beforehand how far you’re happy to follow. Your visit won’t be any less worthwhile if you skip chasing a runner into unfamiliar lanes or woodland after dark. If you lose your companions, head for an agreed meeting place rather than hunting for each other in the moving crowd. If you can’t follow on foot, ask about step-free approaches or a fixed viewing spot. Nothing we found mentions a reserved accessible area, an official spectator shuttle or transport back from a goal, so don’t build any of those into your plans.

Where to watch

Holding the silver ball is one of the gentler moments in a forceful game. The 2026 local report says play paused so spectators of different ages could hold it, and Calendar Customs explains its association with good luck. Wait to be invited and for the ball to be deliberately offered — a pause is never a cue to reach into live play or get in a runner’s way.

For children, this can be far more memorable than peering through a wall of adults. Tell them the chance might come, but don’t promise it: neither source says every spectator gets to hold the ball every year. Have your camera ready without crowding the person holding it or slowing the handover. The moment belongs to the local custom and the people taking part. If it doesn’t happen while you’re there, the throw-up and the opening passages of play still show you why the ball matters to Town and Country.

Make a day of it nearby

Screech Owl Sanctuary and Animal Park at Goss Moor is one to bear in mind for a warmer-season trip. Its official site describes rescue and rehabilitation work with wild owls as well as its resident birds and animals. But its published 2026 season ends in early November, so don’t expect general admission on a February hurling visit; ask about the new season or any bookable winter activity first.

The Japanese Garden at St Mawgan also opens from spring to autumn, with the season currently starting in March. Its garden and plant areas are separate from St Columb’s event and need their own journey and admission checks. Think of both as reasons to come back to the area rather than ways to fill the hours before a winter throw-up. For the hurling trip itself, pin down the local event details and somewhere warm to wait before planning a day around attractions whose gates may be shut.

Questions people ask

Where it is

Map pin shows the approximate area where the event happens. Open in OpenStreetMap ↗

Go straight to the source

Independent research. The organiser’s own information always wins — we have not visited or tested the journeys.

• Voice Newspapers: 2026 hurling match ↗
• Calendar Customs: St Columb hurling ↗
• Calendar Customs: two-match pattern ↗
• Voice Newspapers: second 2026 match ↗
• Screech Owl Sanctuary: seasonal visiting ↗
• The Japanese Garden: season and visits ↗