In one of the more unusual events in the Manx cultural calendar, two teams from North and South met on Tynwald green on Boxing Day to do battle in the traditional annual game of Cammag.

The ancient Manx sport, which was once the national game of choice across the island, consists of the two sides fighting it out by swinging sticks at a tiny ball in a game that represents an old form of hurling (or shinty).

Both of these are older forms of hockey, but the use of actual hockey sticks by Cammag players is highly frowned upon.

Instead, participants showed up with all manner of equipment (or ’weapons’) ranging from sweeping brushes, conventional hurling sticks, and sticks extracted from hedgerows.

Played in cold and windy conditions on St Stephen’s Day, it was a very hard and closely fought game.

The North won the coin toss and elected to play with the wind, towards Douglas.

This meant that for the three ’halves’, the North had the wind advantage twice.

Referee Chris Caley also had to adapt by using his watch for timekeeping, as the traditional means of St John’s Church clock was out of service.

Another difference to this year’s game was the fact that no blood was seen during, or after the match.

The game was declared a win for the Northern side, and though scores can often be disputed in the chaos - it was reported to be 4-2.

It was also acknowledged that the North may have had a slight advantage in terms of numbers.

The North could be satisfied with having exacted revenge this year, after last year’s loss of 4-3 to the South.

One long-time player said that there was ’as many players and people watching as I can remember’.