Sport Around & About: Carpet Bowls

Carpet Bowls was devised as a scaled down version of indoor bowls and was designed to be suitable for playing in small halls.

The principle aim of the game is the same as all other bowls disciplines, to deliver your wood closer to the jack than your opponent. However changes had to be made with carpet bowls to suit the equipment and venue.

The game is played on a mat approximately 30 feet in length and 6 feet wide, using biased bowls of 4 inches in diameter. On the centre of the mat there is an 18 inch block and the delivery of the woods takes place from a designated area, this prevents the game continually being killed by the firing shot and creates a more interesting and skilful game.

All bowlers use the same woods, this removes the need for players to purchase equipment themselves, making it a relatively inexpensive sport to take up. The mats are manufactured so they can be rolled up, and stored easily.

Another important aspect of the game is that it is a sport that is played with no discrimination. Both male and female, children of all ages, as well as less able-bodied people have the ability to compete on an equal footing, at all levels of the game.

You can play Carpet Bowls at Barkway & Fowlmere . Here are the club details:

Barkway Carpet Bowls Club
A friendly mini version of the outdoor Green Bowls. All equipment supplied. No previous experience needed. Visitors welcome.
Barkway Village Hall
Mondays 7.30 – 9.30pm 01763 230046
Fowlmere Senior Bowls
Friendly group – no experience necessary! New members welcome. Fowlmere Village Hall Tuesdays
Dorothy Woods 01763 208778
Another form of the game – Short Mat Bowls – can be played at:
Royston Short Mat Bowls Club
Informal friendly group. New members are always welcome Coombes Community Centre, Burns Road, Royston SG8 5PT
Mon & Wednesdays 1.30 – 3.30pm
October to April
Pat Leggett 01763 220794
Steeple Morden Bowls Club
The Club is open to any resident of Steeple Morden and the surrounding villages to join the Club.
01763 853101