Historic game left van with damage
A WADEBRIDGE businessman, whose van was reportedly damaged during the hurling in St Columb, has described the actions as "unnecessary".
Police in St Columb Major are investigating claims that a van parked in the centre of the town was damaged by men taking part in the ancient Cornish tradition.
The Volkswagen Transporter, belonging to Wadebridge shopfitting firm Detail Interiors, suffered damage to the passenger-side door and wing together with scratch marks on the roof during the opening hurling game of the season on Shrove Tuesday.
The boss of the company, Gary Franks, who lives at Wadebridge, called the Cornish Guardian to express his anger at what had happened.
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"One of my lads was staying with his mother at St Columb and parked his works van beside the road," he said.
Mr Franks said he received calls at around 5pm on his number, which was on the side of the van asking him to move the vehicle.
He called the driver but was not able to get hold of him, possibly because he was asleep after working all night.
"I've been told the ball was thrown up in the general direction of the van and that it landed on the roof.
"Apparently people then clambered all over it. One chap got on top of the van and others damaged the side.
"I've heard that people involved in the hurling make a beeline for any vehicles and cars have had their windscreens damaged in the past.
"It's needless vandalism. The man who had the van doesn't live in St Columb Major and was just there for a few nights. He didn't know there was hurling taking place. There should be signs to warn people.
"I'm very annoyed, as this damage is unnecessary. No one needed to be on top of my van, but I heard they were trying to tip it over."
Hurling involves two teams, Town and Country, who pursue a silver ball and try to score in goals at opposite ends of the town.
A St Columb man who did not want to be named but is closely involved in the sport said: "The problem was that the van was parked near where the ball was thrown up [to start the game] in Market Square.
"There's a two-hour parking limit, so it must have been parked there in the afternoon. Shop windows had wire netting shutters over them so it should have been obvious something was going on.
"Cars parked in the town during hurling do get damaged and I have seen windscreens smashed.
"Two years ago someone decided, against advice, to drive their car through the town during hurling.
"He said no hurling game would stop him, but his car disappeared under a pile of bodies and he couldn't go on."
Police said they are investigating and anyone with information should call 101, quoting crime reference GC/1352.
2 Comments
by StColumbMan
Thursday, February 28 2013, 12:01PM
“So the van was ilegally parked in the main square on the day of the most important tradition in St Columb's calendar. Every shop window was boarded up (bit of a clue!) and the company was phoned & asked to move it.
Had it been my van I think I woud have taken a trip to St Columb with the spare keys & parked it legally in one of the car parks where it would not have obstructed a very important tradition & would have been safe from harm.
Parking is limited in the space that he occupied because it is intended for use by people wanting to use the shops in St Columb, you would think that a shopfitting company would be more sympathetic towards this issue. St Columb's shops struggle financially as it is without visiting tradesmen selfishly occupying spaces that could have served local shoppers.
So I would suggest that the business owner reconsiders his stance on this issue & perhaps directs his anger toward his employee who illegally parked his van, obstructing a local traditon & preventing local shoppers from using the space.
Still at least he can put the money he saved from not being fined for parking illegally towards his van repairs.
On a more positive note, it was a great hurl this year & big congratulations to Marco on his win for Town!”
by StColumbMan
Thursday, February 28 2013, 11:57AM
“So the van was ilegally parked in the main square on the day of the most important tradition in St Columb's calendar. Every shop window was boarded up (bit of a clue!) and the company was phoned & asked to move it.
Had it been my van I think I woud have taken a trip to St Columb with the spare keys & parked it legally in one of the car parks where it would not have obstructed a very important tradition & would have been safe from harm.
Parking is limited in the space that he occupied because it is intended for use by people wanting to use the shops in St Columb, you would think that a shopfitting company would be more sympathetic towards this issue. St Columb's shops struggle financially as it is, without visiting tradesmen selfishly occupying spaces that could have served local shoppers.
So I would suggest that the business owner reconsiders his stance on this issue & perhaps directs his anger toward his employee who illegally parked his van, obstructing a local traditon & preventing local shoppers from using the space.
Still at least he can put the money he saved from not being fined for parking illegally towards his van repairs.
On a more positive note, it was a great hurl this year & big congratulations to Marco on his win for Town!”