A very warm welcome to Ebchester Carpet Bowls Club
We meet every Tuesday and Friday afternoon between 2pm and 4pm in the Ebchester Community Centre. The hall is full of great humour, good and bad bowls and excellent chat. Newcomers are made to feel really welcome and soon pick up on the ‘right bias’ and the good fun. There is always a break for a good cup of tea and a natter
Carpet Bowls is a game that can be played and enjoyed by young and old alike. It does not require the same effort as its better known versions although it is equally skilful. It is ideal for young and old alike, male or female, and for less able-bodied people. All have the ability to compete on an equal footing
As many of our members are getting on a bit – we have several over 80 and the rest of us are not as young as we were – it would be great if some younger residents came along to sample the enjoyment. However as you can see age is not an issue here!
Members pay £2.50 a session to cover the costs of hiring the hall and refreshments. We supply all of the equipment that is needed. You do not need special clothing or shoes.
Give it a try – you are sure to enjoy it. Just turn up on a Tuesday or Friday afternoon. You will be made very welcome.
Please telephone 01207 560 555 if you would like further details
The club was formed in 1998 and is affiliated to the Ebchester Community Association who provided a loan for the equipment and the use of the Community Centre for the venue.
A Brief Introduction to 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. It has flourished in many rural areas, particularly in north-east and eastern England, becoming an important part of the community activities of many villages around the country. It has also become the main factor in saving many village halls from closure, generating regular and much needed revenue.
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, but changes had to be made to suit the required equipment.
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; which prevents the game continually being killed by the firing shot and creates a more interesting and skilful game.
All bowlers use the same woods which removes the need for players to purchase equipment themselves, making it a relatively inexpensive sport to take up. The mats are manufactured so that they can be rolled up and stored easily.
The game is played at a number of different levels. Social bowling is played in many halls all around the country, by school children, by over-60s clubs, in village halls, sports centres and many other venues. All county associations run their own competitive leagues, with other organisations contributing other affiliated competitions.
At the higher level there are the inter-county competitions, that require a more sustained and consistent game, but are still played with the same respect and sportsmanship that is experienced in the social game.
Here in Ebchester we play at a social level and occasionally play friendly matches with other clubs, without the pressure of league matches