Quoits

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Quoits

Newcastle pit men playing Quoits

Quoits (koits, kwoits) is a traditional game which involves the throwing of metal, rope or rubber rings over a set distance, usually to land over or near a spike (sometimes called a hob, mott or pin). The sport of Quoits encompasses several distinct variations.

Contents 1 The history of Quoits 2 Variations 2.1 Traditional Quoits 2.1.1 United Kingdom 2.1.2 United States 2.1.3 Other countries 2.2 Indoor or Table Quoits 2.3 Deck Quoits 2.4 Slate-Board Quoits 2.5 Garden Quoits or Hoopla 3 Current Leagues 3.1 Traditional Quoits 3.1.1 United Kingdom 3.1.2 United States 3.1.3 Other countries 3.2 Indoor Quoits 3.2.1 United Kingdom 3.3 Slate-Board Quoits 3.3.1 United States 4 See Also 5 References 6 External links

[edit] The history of Quoits

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The history of Quoits is disputed. One theory often expressed is that the sport evolved as a formalised version of the Horseshoes, which involves pitching a horseshoe at a spike in the ground. A more likely explanation, however, is that Horseshoes evolved from the sport of Quoits, which in turn has its origins in ancient Greece. On its website, the United States Quoiting Associationexplains that poorer citizens in ancient Greece, who could not afford to buy a real discus, made their own by bending horseshoes - which in those days weighed as much as 4 pounds each. The practice was adopted by the Roman army and spread across mainland Europe to Britain. The aim of the sport remained as a competition to see who could throw the object the furthest, until

at some later, undocumented point in history, perhaps around a few centuries A.D., the idea of using a wooden stake or metal pin driven into the ground, to use specifically as a target to throw at, totally redefined the pastime from a game of distance to a game of accuracy.^[1]

On first sight this explanation can be confusing,^{[original research?]} since the first Quoits were apparently made from horseshoes. In the context of the game's evolution, however, the significant point is that they were closed to form a ring and only after the object of the sport changed to be that of pitching at a spike, were horseshoes used in their original shape.

In England, Quoits became so popular that is was prohibited by Edward III and Richard II to encourage archery.^{[2][unreliable source?]} Despite this setback, by the 15th century, there is evidence to show that it had become a well organised sport, not least because of the numerous attempts to eradicate it from the pubs and taverns of England due to its apparently seedy character.^{[citation needed]}

It is not until the nineteenth century, however, that the game is documented in any detailed way. The official rules first appeared in the April 1881 edition of 'The Field' having been defined by a body formed from pubs in Northern England.^[3]

The popularity of the game during the 19th and early 20th century^{[citation needed]} also gave rise to several variants, usually with the aim of allowing the game (or a version of it) to be played indoors, or with the aim of making it accessible to women and children. Games such as Ringtoss or Hoopla became popular as parlour games, whilst versions such as Indoor Quoits allowed pubs and taverns to maintain their Quoits teams through the winter months. Deck Quoits began life sometime in the early 1930s as a pastime to occupy passengers on long cruises.

[edit] Variations

[edit] Traditional Quoits

A game played with metal discs, traditionally made of steel, and thrown across a set distance at a metal spike (called a pin, hob or mott). The spike is centrally, and vertically, positioned in a square of 'moist' clay measuring 3 feet across.

[edit] United Kingdom

• The Northern Game

This version uses the 15 rules published in 'The Field' in 1881 and has remained largely unchanged since that time. Played under the auspices of The National Quoits Association, formed in 1986.

In this game, the 'pins' are eleven yards apart, with their tops protruding 3 to 4 inches above the clay. Quoits measure about 5 1/2 inches in diameter and weigh around 5 1/2 pounds.^[4]

• The Long Game

Sometimes called the Old Game, this version is played in Wales and Scotland; Scotland has around a dozen clubs, under the control of the Scottish Quoiting Association, whilst Wales has only a few clubs, based around Dyfed and Powys.

In this game, the top of the spike is flush with the clay, so encircling the pin is not a significant part of the game. The Long Game has similarities to the game of bowls, in that a player scores a point for each quoit nearer to the pin than his opponent. The hobs are 18 yards apart, while the quoits are typically around 9 inches in diameter and weigh up to 11 pounds, almost double that of the Northern game.^[3]

• East Anglian Quoits

An English version of the Long Game, played using quoits of reduced size and weight. As with the Long Game, the hobs are 18 yards apart, but their tops are raised above the level of the clay. Quoits that land cleanly over the hob score 2 points, regardless of the opponent's efforts, and are removed immediately, prior to the next throw. Quoits which land on their back, or inclined in a backwards direction, are also removed immediately

[edit] United States

This section requires expansion with: USA versions of Traditional Quoits.

[edit] Other countries

This section requires expansion with: Other versions of Traditional Quoits.

[edit] Indoor or Table Quoits

Exclusively a pub game, this variant is predominantly played in mid and south Wales, and in England, along its border with Wales.

Matches are played by 2 teams (usually the host pub verses another pub) and typically consist of 4 games of singles, followed by 3 games of doubles. Players take it in turns to pitch 4 rubber rings across a distance of around 8.5 feet onto a raised Quoits board. The board consists of a central 'pin' or 'spike' and 2 recessed sections; an inner circular section called the 'dish' and a circular outer section.

5 points are awarded for a quoit landing cleanly over the pin, 2 points for a quoit landing cleanly in the dish, and one point for a quoit landing cleanly on the outer circular section of the board. The scoreboard consists of numbers running from 1 to 10, 11 or 12, and the object of the game is separately score each of these numbers using 4 or less quoits - the first side to achieve this being the winner.

[edit] Deck Quoits

A variant which is popular on cruise ships. The quoits are invariably made of rope, so as to avoid damaging the ship’s deck, but there are no universally agreed standards or rules - partly because of the game’s informal nature and partly because the game has to adapt to the shape and area of each particular ship it is played upon.

Players take it in turn to throw 3 or 4 hoops at a target which usually, though not always, consists of concentric circles marked on the deck. The centre point is called the jack. Occasionally this may take the form of a raised wooden peg, but more usually it is marked on the surface in the same way that the concentric circles are.

[edit] Slate-Board Quoits

A popular outdoor variation played principally in and around Pennsylvania, USA. This game uses 1 pound rubber quoits which are pitched at short metal pins mounted on heavy 24x24x1 inch slabs of Slate.

RULES: 1. Distance between hubs (pins) is 18 feet.

2. Choose who will throw first. All following first pitches are made by the player who scores on the previous pitch.

3. All pitching is alternated. At no time shall a player make two successive pitches.

4. Players forward foot must not extend beyond the board.

5. As soon as a quoit touches the ground it is considered dead and does not count.

6. Should a quoit hit the ground and then go onto the board and disturb other quoits, that quoit ring should be removed and the disturbed quoits replaced to their original position.

7. The quoit nearest the hub (pin) counts as one point in scoring. In the event a player has two quoits nearer the hub than either quoit ring of his opponent, he scores two points. (1 for each quoit)

8. If a "leaner" is made it counts as only one point. (a leaner is a quoit which rests on top or against the hub). You can count the "leaner" as two points depending on your own home rules.

9. A properly thrown quoit landing on the slate board or plastic board that bounces and turns upside down does not keep its scoring value.

10. Should a player make a ringer and also have thrown a quoit ring nearer the hub (pin) than his opponent, he shall receive four points. (three points for the ringer and one point for the closest quoit)

11. Optional: If a quoit is half on the board and half off it is a dead quoit. They call this "daylight" because you will be able to see the ground through the quoit. Optional to count it or disqualify the point. Each ringer pitched counts as three points, except:

· When some player pitches two ringers, one directly on top of the other, six points are counted.

· When first player pitches a ringer, which is topped by opponent, the opponent receives 3 points.

· When first player pitches a ringer, which is topped by opponent, and then again topped by first player, the last ringer made counts as 3 points for the first player.

· When 4 ringers are made, the player pitching the last ringer wins the game.

12. 21 points wins the game.

[edit] Garden Quoits or Hoopla

This version of the game exists largely as a form of recreation, or as a game of skill found typically at fairgrounds and village fetes.

There are no leagues or universally accepted standards of play and players normally agree upon the rules before play commences.

Garden Quoit and Hoopla sets can be easily purchased in shops and usually involve players taking it in turns to throw rope or wooden hoops over one or more spikes.

The fairground version typically involves a person paying the stallholder for the opportunity to throw one or more wooden hoops over a prize – which if done successfully, they can keep. Generally speaking, the odds of winning are normally heavily weighted in favour of the stallholder.

[edit] Current Leagues

This section requires expansion.

[edit] Traditional Quoits

[edit] United Kingdom

• Allen Valley Quoits League, Northumberland.^[5]
• Montgomeryshire County Quoits League, Montgomeryshire.^[6]

[edit] United States

• Mercer County Church Steel Quoit League, New Jersey.^[7]

[edit] Other countries

[edit] Indoor Quoits

[edit] United Kingdom

• Forest of Dean Quoits League, Gloucestershire.^[8]
• The Builth Wells and District League, Powys.^[9]
• Kington League, Herefordshire.^[10]
• Aymestry League, Herefordshire.^[11]
• Presteigne League, Powys.^[12]

[edit] Slate-Board Quoits

[edit] United States

• Bushkill Valley Quoit League, Pennsylvania.^[13]
• Easton City Quoit League, New Jersey.^[14]
• Slate Belt Quoit League, Pennsylvania.^[15]

[edit] See Also

Horseshoes

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article Quoits.

• The Online Guide to Traditional Games: Quoits
• The American Version of Traditional Iron Quoits: quoits.info
• The United States Quoiting Association: usqa.org
• Historic Richmond Foundation [1]