52 Bonkers

An Irish hide and seek/ tag like game played with usually 5+ players. Usually played by teenagers/kids. Other names include “40 40” and “Tip The Can”

A spot is picked to be the home base, usually a Pole or a landmark similar.
The game has 1 “catcher” or “hunter” or “it”. The catcher puts his arms on the pole and closes his eyes and counts to 52, while they’re counting the other players run and find somewhere to hide. When the Hunter is done counting they shout “52 bonkers here I come” and then they try and find the hiders.

If a hunter sees/finds a hider they must run back to the home base, put their hand on it and shout “52 bonkers I see (insert name of person found here)”. That person is now eliminated. The first person eliminated is usually the Hunter for the next round. This continues until everybody is found by the hunter.

A hider can win by running to the pole/home base, putting their hand on it and shouting “52 bonkers save my soul” before the hunter gets there. That means they’re safe and have “won” that round. If all hiders “save their souls” then the hiders have won and the hunter must remain the hunter for the next round.

If everybody has been caught but there’s one more hider left, they can win the game for everyone by getting to the home base and shouting “52 bonkers save all souls” this means the hiders have won and the seeker remains for the next round.

Common rules are

“Well lads who’s up for a game of 52 bonkers?”
“What are we doing at lunchtime?, let’s have a game of 52 bonkers”

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