Tambourelli

Tambourelli
First played1970 in Scotland
Characteristics
Contactnone
Team members1 and 2 players
Mixed-sexseparate competitions and mixed doubles
Typecourt game
Equipmenttambourines, shuttlecock and net
Venueoutdoor and indoor
Presence
Country or regionEurope, Asia, America

Tambourelli is a court game invented in Galloway in Scotland in the 1970s.[1][2] It has since spread all over the world, with small communities of players running active clubs in England, Scotland, Germany, Japan and Sweden. It shares many players, coaches and fans with Tamburello as well as Tambeach.

The fundamental aim is for players to stop the shuttlecock from landing within the court on their side of the net. Players hit the shuttlecock with a bat similar to a tambour (like a tambourine[3] without bells) or Irish bodhrán which has a strap along the outer edge and a section of moulded plastic on the inner edge, both for grip.

The game can be played either outdoors or indoors.

There is an annual World Tambourelli Championship, as well as numerous Open Tournaments throughout the year such as in Dresden every September or Hamburg every January.

Rules

The aim of the game is to have the shuttlecock land within the court on your opponent's side of the net, or to force them to make an error such as hitting the shuttlecock into the net or outside of the court.

Tournament matches are typically played in sets of three games. Each game is played until one player reaches 21 points and is 2 points clear, a point being scored for each shot that one's opponent fails to legally return, regardless of who served. Each player serves 5 times before switching, with the first player to serve being decided by playing a point before scoring begins.

Service is underarm (beneath the shoulder) and must be taken with one foot on the court's back line. If the first service is called "out" or fails to cross the net, a second service is awarded. In singles, a player may serve to anywhere on their opponent's side of the court. In doubles, service is to the player diagonally opposite and must fall within their half of the court. A "net service" (one which clips the net on the way over but still lands "in" or which the receiving player returns) is replayed without penalty.

When a player has served for 5 points, service changes to the opposing player or team. In doubles, service passes diagonally until all players have served for 5 scored points, at which point service resumes with the first player who served and the two opposing team members swap places, so that each server now serves to a new recipient.

If the shuttlecock hits any part of the player's body, that player loses the point. Players are only allowed to hit the shuttlecock once to get it onto the opponent's side. The exception to this is the "Point Save" rule, which applies only in Doubles games. This rule allows a team to hit the shuttlecock twice to return it; however if that team goes on to win the rally they do not gain a point (they merely "save" or rescue the point). Should the opposing team also double-hit in the same rally, the two "point saves" cancel each other out and whichever team prevails in the rally wins the point. Should one team double-hit a second time in the rally when they are already one "point save" down, they lose the point (i.e. they do not "save" it).

Different clubs use slightly different court sizes, with the hosts of any given tournament permitted to choose the court size for that event, but the standard court is 9.45m long by 4.1m wide. It is split in half lengthways by a line and widthways by a net, at a height of 1.75m, with each player (in singles) or team (in doubles) always remaining on their side of the net.[4]

World Tambourelli Championships

There is an annual World Tambourelli Championship, which originally took place exclusively in Dumfries and Galloway in Southwest Scotland. During the 1990s tournaments were relocated to Southwest England, near Totnes in Devon. Recently, the tournament moves between Sweden, Germany, and England. The event currently includes a Men's Singles tournament, a Women's Singles tournament, a Mixed Doubles tournament, and Junior Singles and Doubles tournaments.

Since 2002 separate Men's Singles and Women's Singles competitions have been held. From 1991 to 2001 only an 'open' category was held that anybody could enter. For the purposes of historical record, the champions of the 1991-2001 era are referred to here as Men's Singles champions, as no woman ever won the open category (although Indy Priestman came close, reaching the final in 2001). Before 1991 there was generally also separate Men's and Women's Singles though the main emphasis in the tournaments was on the Mixed Doubles competition.

The format of the tournament can vary depending on the number of participants and the availability of time and space, as well as the preferences of the hosts. Usually there is a round-robin group stage in which a single game to 21 is played, followed by a knockout stage of 4, 8 or 16 participants where each match is best-of-3.

The groups are usually decided upon by randomly allocating 1 of the highest ranked participants to each group, then randomly assigning the remainder of the participants among the groups evenly. However the seeding system has only existed since 2011, and the method by which rankings are calculated is still the source of much debate.

In the Mixed Doubles category pairings have traditionally been decided by drawing names out of a hat. Where seeded players are drawn together those names are placed back in and redrawn, the aim being to allow for no team to be excessively dominant and for the random pairing of experienced and inexperienced players or those of differing ability in the same competition. At some tournaments Doubles pairs are pre-chosen. This is generally the case in Germany where separate Men's Doubles, Women's Doubles and a Mixed Doubles competitions have been held.

Typically there are children's tournaments that take place at the same place and time. However, these vary from year to year in several ways: sometimes (usually in Devon) there is simply an under-14s singles and doubles tournament, sometimes there are multiple age groups and separate boys/girls tournaments, and sometimes the Under 16s World Tambourelli Championships take place at a different date and entirely different venue to the World Tambourelli Championship, such as in 2008 when the main WTC took place on Riverford Farm in Devon but the Under 16s tournament took place in Newton Stewart in Scotland.[5]

Results

Men's singles world champions by year

[6]

Year Winner Runner-up Venue
2025 Alexander Christen Sebastian Rose Eslöv
2024 Alexander Christen Isak Lindstedt London
2023 Alexander Christen Dominic Hauke Kleinnaundorf
2022 Alexander Christen Isak Lindstedt Stehag
2021 No tournament held No tournament held N/A
2020 No tournament held No tournament held N/A
2019 Alexander Christen Rowan Appleton-Wickens Stehag
2018 Sebastian Rose Bazil Hughes Merrick Leisure Centre, Newton Stewart
2017 Bazil Hughes Marco Zink Riverford Farm, Devon
2016 Marco Zink Bazil Hughes Dresden
2015 Sebastian Rose Marco Zink Merrick Leisure Centre, Newton Stewart
2014 Bazil Hughes Finn Lennartsson Riverford Farm, Devon
2013 Bazil Hughes Malcolm Heyes Dresden
2012 Malcolm Heyes Seth Priestman Riverford Farm, Devon
2011 Bazil Hughes Malcolm Heyes Riverford Farm, Devon
2010 Liam Campbell Ezra Cohen Merrick Leisure Centre, Newton Stewart
2009 Daniel Francis-Bernson Ezra Cohen Riverford Farm, Devon
2008 Ezra Cohen Peter MacCarthy Riverford Farm, Devon
2007 Daniel Francis-Bernson Ezra Cohen Riverford Farm, Devon
2006 Malcolm Heyes Paddy Bos Coe Riverford Farm, Devon
2005 Malcolm Heyes Ezra Cohen Riverford Farm, Devon
2004 Richard Cohen Malcolm Heyes Riverford Farm, Devon
2003 Malcolm Heyes Ezra Cohen Riverford Farm, Devon
2002 Malcolm Heyes Riverford Farm, Devon
2001 Richard Cohen Indy Priestman Riverford Farm, Devon
2000 Malcolm Heyes Peter MacCarthy Riverford Farm, Devon
1999 Paddy Bos Coe Malcolm Heyes Riverford Farm, Devon
1998 Paddy Bos Coe Seth Priestman chez Finn & Ella, Garlieston
1997 Paddy Bos Coe Luke Feldman Minniwick, Galloway
1996 Seth Priestman Cyrus Colquhitt chez Rex Pyke, Garlieston
1995 Davey Mackenzie Seth Priestman Knowe Farm, Galloway
1994 Malcolm Heyes Andy Priestman Corriedoo, Galloway
1993 Guy Feldman Andy Priestman chez Rex Pyke, Garlieston
1992 Andy Priestman
1991 Andy Priestman Mochrum Park, Galloway
1990 Mike Sullivan Andy Priestman Loch Grannoch, Galloway
1989 Brendan Colvert Brishendra Dutt Euchanbank, Galloway
1988 Francis O'Dempsey Andy Priestman Mochrum Park, Galloway
1987 Castle Stewart, Galloway
1986 No Men's Singles Played No Men's Singles Played Balmaclellan, Galloway
1985 No Men's Singles Played No Men's Singles Played Minniwick, Galloway
1984 Andy Priestman Kim Middleton Castle Stewart, Galloway
1983
1982 Davey Mackenzie Andy Priestman Corriedoo, Galloway
1981
1980
1979
1978

Women's singles world champions by year

[7]

Year Winner Runner-up Venue
2025 Anja Lund Nadine Wolf Eslöv
2024 Lisa Zink Silke Bruns London
2023 Indy Lennartson* Anja Lund*

Patricia Poch*

Not decided Kleinnaundorf
2022 Anja Lund Carmen Ketelhut Stehag
2021 No tournament held No tournament held N/A
2020 No tournament held No tournament held N/A
2019 Indy Lennartsson (née Priestman) Katrin Ueberfuhr Stehag
2018 Jasmine Bosenick Katrin Ueberfuhr Merrick Leisure Centre, Newton Stewart
2017 Katrin Ueberfuhr Chloe Bruce Riverford Farm, Devon
2016 Amke de Buhr Inga Höben Dresden
2015 Jasmine Bosenick Gabriele Rose Merrick Leisure Centre, Newton Stewart
2014 Jasmine Bosenick Indy Lennartsson (née Priestman) Riverford Farm, Devon
2013 Indy Priestman Anne Larisch Dresden
2012 Indy Priestman Jasmine Bosenick Riverford Farm, Devon
2011 Stacey Duff Dilushi Jayasingha Riverford Farm, Devon
2010 Indy Priestman Stacey Duff Merrick Leisure Centre, Newton Stewart
2009 Indy Priestman Chloe Bruce Riverford Farm, Devon
2008 Indy Priestman Isla Craik Riverford Farm, Devon
2007 Elizabeth Tindal Isla Craik Riverford Farm, Devon
2006 Indy Priestman Isla Craik Riverford Farm, Devon
2005 Indy Priestman Isla Craik Riverford Farm, Devon
2004 Indy Priestman Isla Craik Riverford Farm, Devon
2003 Indy Priestman Rachel Chelka Riverford Farm, Devon
2002 Indy Priestman Riverford Farm, Devon
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
1994
1993
1992
1991
No Women's Singles Played No Women's Singles Played
1990 Rosey Priestman Mandi McInnes Loch Grannoch, Galloway
1989 Rosey Priestman Euchanbank, Galloway
1988 Rosey Priestman Mochrum Park, Galloway
1987 Rosey Priestman Castle Stewart, Galloway
1986 Rosey Priestman Sarah Feldman Balmaclellan, Galloway
1985 No Women's Singles Played No Women's Singles Played Minniwick, Galloway
1984 Rosey Priestman Castle Stewart, Galloway
1983 Rosey Priestman
1982 No Women's Singles Played No Women's Singles Played Corriedoo, Galloway
1981
1980
1979
1978

Shown is the champion and runner up from the over-18 age category. In 2023 there were strict age limits such that players over 40, including the defending champion Anja Lund, were not permitted to enter the over-18 category.

*Indy Lennartson won the over-40 category, and Anja Lund won the over-50 category and Patricia Poch won the 18+ category, controversially all three have a claim to being the Women's Singles champion of 2023.

Mixed doubles world champions by year

[8]

Year Winner Runner-up Venue
2025 Sebastian Rose & Jerome Dietrich Tim Leib & Ludwig Grabinsky Eslöv
2024 Rowan Appleton-Wickens & Silke Bruns Malcolm Heyes & Ralph Teichert London
2023 Not decided Not decided Kleinnaundorf
2022 Alexander Christen & Kyou Colquitt Eric Lo & Bazil Hughes Stehag
2021 No tournament held No tournament held N/A
2020 No tournament held No tournament held N/A
2019 Sebastian Rose & Hugh Wallis Finn Lennartsson & Hannah Franz Stehag
2018 Graham Moffat & Jason Littlefield Indy Lennartsson & Lutz Reiter Merrick Leisure Centre, Newton Stewart
2017 Chloe Bruce & Ringo Sobiella Nik Clark & Taliesin Appleton-Wickens Riverford Farm, Devon
2016† Dominic Hauke & Nadine Harmatschek Bazil Hughes & Chloe Bruce Dresden
2015 Bazil Hughes & Taliesin Appleton-Wickens Marco Zink & Kevin Witt Merrick Leisure Centre, Newton Stewart
2014 Silver Levy-So & Tom Amey Daniel Francis-Bernson & Finlay Porter Riverford Farm, Devon
2013 No Mixed Doubles No Mixed Doubles Dresden
2012 Malcolm Heyes & Tom Amey Evan Barretxeguren-Priestman & Seth Priestman Riverford Farm, Devon
2011 Ezra Cohen & Seth Priestman Johnny Tillbrook & Malcolm Heyes Riverford Farm, Devon
2010 Jack Higginson & Saul Woollacott Andy Priestman & Bazil Hughes Merrick Leisure Centre, Newton Stewart
2009 Andy Priestman & Phillipp Bahner Indy Priestman & Jack Butcher Riverford Farm, Devon
2008 Aaron Priestman & Jacob Edwards Peter McCarthy & Mark Elliott Riverford Farm, Devon
2007 Aaron Priestman & Richard Cohen Corin Liddle & Peter McCarthy Riverford Farm, Devon
2006 Riverford Farm, Devon
2005 Riverford Farm, Devon
2004 Indy Priestman & Mark Elliott Malcolm Heyes & Yukiko Mori Riverford Farm, Devon
2003 Malcolm Heyes & Tomoko Hori Ben Lockwood & Ezra Cohen Riverford Farm, Devon
2002 Riverford Farm, Devon
2001 Indy Priestman & Seth Priestman Aaron Priestman & Malcolm Heyes Riverford Farm, Devon
2000 Riverford Farm, Devon
1999 Adam Cohen & Oliver Tringham Malcolm Heyes & Rachel Chelka Riverford Farm, Devon
1998 Malcolm Heyes & Rosey Priestman Oliver Tringham & Thomas Turnbull chez Finn & Ella, Garlieston
1997 Minniwick, Galloway
1996 Davey Mackenzie & Peter MacCarthy Malcolm Heyes & Thomas Turnbull chez Rex Pyke, Garlieston
1995 Davey Mackenzie & George Howard Alan Thompson & Dave Knowe Farm, Galloway
1994 Davey Mackenzie & Seth Priestman Corriedoo, Galloway
1993 Davey Mackenzie & Guy Feldman Andy Priestman & Dominic Kennedy chez Rex Pyke, Garlieston
1992
1991
1990 Francis O'Dempsey & Karen Haggis Vince Thurkettle & Mark Loch Grannoch, Galloway
1989 Davey Mackenzie & Seth Priestman Euchanbank, Galloway
1988 Kenneth Dalbrae & Brendan Colvert Indy Priestman & Clare Melinsky Mochrum Park, Galloway
1987 Davey Mackenzie & Chris Heughan Castle Stewart, Galloway
1986 Mike Sullivan & David Smith Andy Priestman & Mr. Sullivan Balmaclellan, Galloway
1985 Kenneth Dalbrae & Tom Jones Minniwick, Galloway
1984 Andy Priestman & Rosey Priestman Castle Stewart, Galloway
1983 Kenneth Dalbrae & Tom Jones
1982 Corriedoo, Galloway
1981
1980
1979
1978

Denotes years in which doubles pairs were not randomly assigned

Men's singles world champions by number of titles

[6]

Player Total Years
Malcolm Heyes 7 1994, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2012
Alexander Christen 5 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
Bazil Hughes 4 2011, 2013, 2014, 2017
Paddy Bos Coe 3 1997, 1998, 1999
Andy Priestman 1984, 1991, 1992
Sebastian Rose 2 2015, 2018
Daniel Francis-Bernson 2007, 2009
Richard Cohen 2001, 2004
Davey Mackenzie 1982, 1995
Marco Zink 1 2016
Liam Campbell 2010
Ezra Cohen 2008
Seth Priestman 1996
Guy Feldman 1993
Mike Sullivan 1990
Brendan Colvert 1989
Francis O'Dempsey 1988

Women's singles world champions by number of titles

[7]

Player Total Years
Indy Lennartsson (née Priestman) 11 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2019
Rosey Priestman 7 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990
Jasmine Bosenick 3 2014, 2015, 2018
Anja Lund 2 2022, 2025
Patricia Poch 1 2023
Lisa Zink 2024
Katrin Ueberfuhr 2017
Amke de Buhr 2016
Stacey Duff 2011
Elizabeth Tindal 2007

Multiple-time doubles world champions by number of titles

[8]

Player Total Years
Davey Mackenzie 6 1987, 1989, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996
Seth Priestman 5 1989, 1994, 2000, 2001, 2011
Malcolm Heyes 4 1997, 1998, 2003, 2012
Kenneth Dalbrae 3 1983, 1985, 1988
Tom Amey 2 2012, 2014
Sebastian Rose 2019, 2025
Andy Priestman 1984, 2009
Aaron Priestman 2007, 2008
Indy Lennartsson (née Priestman) 2001, 2004
Rosey Priestman 1984, 1998
Tom Jones 1983, 1985

Full results by year

2022

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

Other tournaments

The German Open - Dresden

2018

2017

References

  1. ^ "Video on history of Tambourelli". Retrieved 2017-08-11.
  2. ^ "Galloway Gazette 2015 pre-WTC article". Retrieved 2017-09-07.
  3. ^ "BBC News - The Sport Played With A Tambourine". BBC News. Retrieved 2017-08-09.
  4. ^ "Devon Tambourelli Association Rules". Retrieved 2017-08-09.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  5. ^ "Daily Record 2008 Under 16s article". 26 June 2008. Retrieved 2017-09-07.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Men's Singles World Tambourelli Championship Winners". Retrieved 2017-08-16.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Women's Singles World Tambourelli Championship Winners". Retrieved 2017-08-16.
  8. ^ a b c d e f "Mixed Doubles World Tambourelli Championship Winners". Retrieved 2017-08-31.
  9. ^ "WTC 2017 Event Page". TamSports. Retrieved 2017-08-09.
  10. ^ a b c d e "Totnes Times 2017 WTC article". Retrieved 2017-09-05.
  11. ^ a b c d e f "Galloway Gazette 2013 WTC article". Retrieved 2017-09-05.
  12. ^ "DTA WTC 2011 Men's Singles Results". Archived from the original on 2012-04-21. Retrieved 2017-09-08.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  13. ^ "DTA WTC 2011 Women's Singles Results". Archived from the original on 2012-04-24. Retrieved 2017-09-08.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  14. ^ "DTA WTC 2011 Mixed Doubles Results". Archived from the original on 2012-04-21. Retrieved 2017-09-08.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  15. ^ a b c "Galloway Gazette 2010 WTC article". Retrieved 2017-09-05.