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ST COLUMB MAJOR this is an ancient game with few rules played over a 25 square mile playing field on Shrove Tuesday. In mid afternoon a man climbs a ladder in town throws a silver covered applewood ball to the opposing teams of townsmen and countrymen below, shouting "Town and country do your best, for this parish I must rest". The teams scramble for the ball in order to pass it through their goal, one a mile into the country, the other a mile out of the other side of town.