Bunnock

Bunnock, also known as Glockenspiel and the Game of Bones, is a game that is thought to have been created by Russian soldiers to pass the time while stationed in northern Siberia during the early nineteenth century (although a 16th-century painting exists which may or may not show bunnock being played).

The game involves what the soldiers had a surplus of; namely, horse anklebones. It has been compared to a cross between bowling and curling, in which the two teams stand on opposite ends of the field and take turns trying to knock down each other's row of bones. This is done by throwing more bones at the standing bones, and must be done in a specific order.

Bunnock was brought to Canada sometime in the early 20th century by Russian and German immigrants, many of whom settled in Saskatchewan. It has become highly popular in the small near-border town of Macklin, where the World Bunnock Championships are held annually; Macklin's tourist information booth is a convert|32|ft|m|sing=on-high fibre-glass horse anklebone. The "bone" is hard to miss when driving past Macklin on Highway 14.

ee also

* Kubb, the Swedish equivalent.
* Kyykkä, a similar Finnish game

External links

* [http://www.macklin.ca/bunnock.htm "Town of Macklin Bunnock Page"] Shows the famous sculpture and provides more information on the sport and the tournament.
* [http://www.macklin.ca/rulesofbunnock.htm "Official Rules of Bunnock"] As played in the Macklin World Championship Bunnock Tournament.
* [http://www.TossingGames.com Tossing Games] A great Bunnock resource forum.