Sweden 1979 - Bandy

First played in 1813 in Cambridgeshire, England, the game of bandy is a form of hockey, which shares traits with ice hockey, field hockey, and soccer. The game is played on ice, and skates and protective gear are essential equipment, similar to ice hockey. But a bowed stick and a small ball is used, similar to field hockey. Each bandy team comprises 11 players. However, a variant of the game, called rink bandy, comprises 6 players a side, or 5 a side in US competition. 

There is some debate as to the origins of bandy. The Russians believe the game originated in their homeland. And England and Holland both played games now considered forerunners to bandy.

The English version of bandy was initially played in winter on the iced-over fens of East Anglia. The Bury Fen Bandy Club rulebook was first published in 1882, and in 1891 the first international match was played under these rules. 

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On 25 January 1979 Sweden issued a stamp  set featuring the game of bandy. The set consists of one design printed in two different values: 1,05kr; and 2,50kr. The design was engraved by Martin Mörck and depicts two bandy players battling it out on the ice. In the background we can see a beautifully engraved bandy ball.

As for the history of bandy in Sweden, the first national bandy league was started in 1902. And according to Wikipedia: 

"Bandy was played at the Nordic Games in Stockholm and Kristiania (present day Oslo) in 1901, 1903, and 1905 and between Swedish, Finnish and Russian teams at similar games in Helsinki in 1907. A European championship was held in 1913 with eight countries participating."

These days the sport is dominated by the Russians, who regularly field a dominating team in world championship competitions. Indeed, it was the Russians who founded the International Federation in 1955.

Until next time...