The game was traditionally played in British pubs and fairgrounds. An Aunt Sally was originally a figurine head of an old woman with a clay pipe in her mouth, or subsequently a ball on a stick. There are also other theories on how the game started, one such theory is that in Port Meadow in Oxfordshire at the time of the English Civil War, the Cavaliers (soldiers loyal to King Charles I) were bored and formed a game with sticks and makeshift materials similar to the game as understood today. The object was for players to throw sticks at the head in order to break the pipe. The game bears some resemblance to a coconut shy or skittles.
Today, the game of Aunt Sally is still played as a pub game in Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Warwickshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire. The ball is on a short plinth about 10 cm high, and is known as a 'dolly'. The dolly is placed on a dog-legged metal spike a metre high and players throw sticks or short battens at the dolly, trying to knock it off without hitting the spike. Successfully hitting the dolly off is known as a "doll", however if the spike is hit first then the score does not count and is called an "iron".
Today, the game of Aunt Sally is still played as a pub game in Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Warwickshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire. The ball is on a short plinth about 10 cm high, and is known as a 'dolly'. The dolly is placed on a dog-legged metal spike a metre high and players throw sticks or short battens at the dolly, trying to knock it off without hitting the spike. Successfully hitting the dolly off is known as a "doll", however if the spike is hit first then the score does not count and is called an "iron".
Again this years Aunt Sally competition was hotly contested by 8 members. On a sunny Saturday afternoon in the beer garden of the Black House PH Gozzards Ford, Abingdon. The competition started at 2.00pm with the final scores's follows:
Leo: 6 Dolly's
Val: 5 Dolly's
Simon: 3 Dolly's
Mark: 2 Dolly's
Nicky: 1 Dolly
Sue: 1 Dolly
Sandra: 0 Dolly
Kath: 0 Dolly
Nicky Rolfe presents Leo Glover with the Aunt Sally trophy. Nicky said " It was a great afternoon of friendly but competitive fun". The Black Horse P.H. is a great venue to hold the event which was made more enjoyable with a bbq later in of the day. Thank you Simon and Kath for the bbq. I was also please to welcome a new prospective member who join in and thank everyone for such an enjoyable day
Leo: 6 Dolly's
Val: 5 Dolly's
Simon: 3 Dolly's
Mark: 2 Dolly's
Nicky: 1 Dolly
Sue: 1 Dolly
Sandra: 0 Dolly
Kath: 0 Dolly
Nicky Rolfe presents Leo Glover with the Aunt Sally trophy. Nicky said " It was a great afternoon of friendly but competitive fun". The Black Horse P.H. is a great venue to hold the event which was made more enjoyable with a bbq later in of the day. Thank you Simon and Kath for the bbq. I was also please to welcome a new prospective member who join in and thank everyone for such an enjoyable day