Short Mat Bowls is a generally indoor based bowls sport, played on a carpet. Whilst the game is heavily played throughout the United Kingdom, it is also played throughout Europe, and also places such as India,[1] Australia,[2] New Zealand[3] and Japan.[4] National, and international level events are generally held for all disciplines, including singles, pairs, triples and fours.
Notable National Competitions
editEngland
editSt Georges Cup
editThis article needs to be updated. (January 2019) |
The St Georges Cup began in 2011, with 32 players from the North of England against 32 players from the South of England in a Ryder Cup-style event.[5]
| Year | Venue | Winners | Final score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | Solihull Indoor Bowls Club | South of England | 33 - 35 |
| 2022-23 | Solihull Indoor Bowls Club | South of England | 29 - 39 |
| 2021-22 | Solihull Indoor Bowls Club | North of England | 36 - 32 |
| 2020-21 | Not Played - Covid | ||
| 2019-20 | Not Played - Covid | ||
| 2018-19 | Tamworth Indoor Bowls Club | South of England | 28.5 - 39.5 |
| 2017-18 | Bromsgrove Indoor Bowls Club | North of England | 37 - 31 |
| 2016-17 | Bromsgrove Indoor Bowls Club | North of England | 39 - 29 |
| 2015-16 | Solihull Indoor Bowls Club | South of England | 25 - 43 |
| 2014-15 | Bromsgrove Indoor Bowls Club | South of England | 20.5 - 43.5 |
| 2013-14 | Bromsgrove Indoor Bowls Club | Draw | 32 - 32 |
| 2012-13 | Tamworth Indoor Bowls Club | South of England | 26 - 38 |
| 2011-12 | Wey Valley Indoor Bowls Club, Guildford | South of England | 20.5 - 43.5 |
| 2010-11 | Erdington Indoor Bowls Club, Birmingham | South of England | 21 - 35 |
English Inter County Championship
editThis article needs to be updated. (January 2019) |
The ESMBA organise an inter-county championship for teams of 20 players from each county. Most counties will enter two teams, a first 'premier' team, and an 'A team'. Winners of the premier competition are invited to the Top County competition, where the winners of the English ICC play the Welsh & Irish winners. Teams are made up of two teams from each discipline (Singles, pairs, triples & fours).
| Year | Premier Championship | A Team Championship | Premier Consolation | A Team Consolation |
| 2019 | West Midlands | West Midlands | Somerset | Dorset |
| 2018 | West Midlands | Devon | Somerset | Dorset |
| 2017 | West Midlands | North Yorkshire | Dorset | Stockport |
| 2016 | Norfolk | Kent | Northamptonshire | Shropshire |
| 2015 | Hampshire | Devon | Dorset | Norfolk |
| 2014 | Cheshire | Kent | Northamptonshire | Hampshire |
| 2013 | Cheshire | Kent | Dorset | Hampshire |
| 2012 | Cheshire | Devon | Cornwall | Cornwall |
| 2011 | Cheshire | Kent | Hampshire | Cornwall |
| 2010 | Cheshire | West Midlands | West Sussex | Cheshire |
| 2009 | Cheshire | West Sussex | West Midlands | Cornwall |
| 2008 | Cheshire | West Sussex | West Midlands | Hampshire |
| 2007 | Cheshire | Kent | Shropshire | Cornwall |
| 2006 | Staffordshire | Kent | Cheshire | Hertfordshire |
| 2005 | Kent | West Sussex | Warwickshire | Gloucestershire |
| 2004 | West Midlands | Herefordshire | Cheshire | Gloucestershire |
| 2003 | Kent | West Sussex | West Sussex | Staffordshire |
| 2002 | Kent | Kent | Shropshire | London |
| 2001 | Kent | West Midlands | Norfolk | Northamptonshire |
| 2000 | West Midlands | Devon | Worcestershire | Northamptonshire |
| 1999 | Kent | Essex | Hampshire | Hampshire |
| 1998 | Kent | Essex | Shropshire | Lancashire |
| 1997 | Staffordshire | Somerset | Shropshire | Northamptonshire |
| 1996 | Norfolk | Staffordshire | Cornwall | Cheshire |
| 1995 | Kent | Cheshire | West Midlands | |
| 1994 | West Midlands | West Midlands | ||
| 1993 | Staffordshire |
International Championships
editWorld Short Mat Bowls Championships
editThis article is missing information about Previous championship results prior to 2004 are required.. (January 2019) |
The Short Mat World Championships is held every two years in one of its member states. Whilst this may usually be inside the United Kingdom, teams such as India and Italy also compete; and thus could host the championships. Unlike the British Isles championships above, the world championships allows nations to enter up to two teams to each discipline; as there is no team event. There is also a knockout system in place after the first round-robin round. These tournaments are run by a group known as the World Short Mat Bowls Council.[6]
| Year | Venue | Singles Champion[7] | Fours Champions[8] | Pairs Champions[9] | Triples Champions[10] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Belfast, Northern Ireland |  Gary McNabb (IRL)
|
 Aled Edwards, Alan Evans, Andrew Evans, Michael John (WAL)
|
 Saul Featherstone, Ryan Knight (ENG)
|
Jack Pye, AJ Brown, Adam Smith (ENG)
|
| 2022 | Aberdeen, Scotland |  |
 |
 |
.svg) |
| 2020 (Played in 2022 due to Covid) | Herentals, Belgium |  Jonathan Payne (BEL)
|
Stephen Buckett, Mitchell Young, Alastair Mccrea, Ben Pay (ENG)
|
Jonathan Gladstone, Andrew Hudson (WAL)
|
Mark Thorpe, Alan Evans, Andrew Evans (WAL)
|
| 2018 | Stromstad, Sweden | Jonathan Payne (BEL)
|
Gareth Davies, Alan Jones, Dom Reed, Chris Willies (ENG)
|
 Jonas Häger, Joel Häger (SWE)
|
Danny Langdon, Ryan Knight, Adam Smith (ENG)
|
| 2016 | Leigh, England | Raymond Stubbs (IRE)
|
Derick Wilson, Jonny Wilson, Eddie Campbell, Andrew Leckey (IRE)
|
Peter Hore, Christopher Willies (ENG)
|
Derek McCallion, Mark Sproule, Aiden Corrigan (IRE)
|
| 2014 | Cardiff, Wales | Kevin Conroy (IRE)
|
Chris Mcwinnie, Jack Edwards, Andrew Jones, Nick Evans (WAL)
|
Pauline Beattie, Joe Beatie (IRE)
|
C. Hill, W. Lennox, A. Paul (IRE)
|
| 2012 | Ballymoney, Northern Ireland | Stephen Williams (WAL)
|
Kevin Conroy, Fra Dillon, Michael Hand, Billy Taffe (IRE)
|
Dave Newsome, Ben Render (ENG)
|
Paddy Hanlon, Gerry McCabe, John Murnahan (IRE)
|
| 2010 | Dumfries, Scotland | Stephen Williams (WAL)
|
Ronnie Stubbs, Gordon Stubbs, Keith Morrison, Raymond Stubbs (IRE)
|
DJ Wilson, J Wilson (IRE)
|
Glen Smith, Damian McElroy, Colum McHugh (IRE)
|
| 2008 | Herentals, Belgium | Colum McHugh (IRE)
|
Leigh Hall, Trevor Brown, Craig Burgess, Stephen McAllister (ENG)
|
Babs Morokutti, Jody Frampton (ENG)
|
Simon Pridham, James Smith, Lee Toleman (ENG)
|
| 2006 | Hopton-on-Sea, England | Chris Grocott (ENG)
|
Paul Hudson, D Hudson, Ben Haddon, Richard Hinkin (WAL)
|
James Trott, Mark White (ENG)
|
James Smith, Simon Pridham, Lee Toleman (ENG)
|
Short Mat Players Tour
editThe Short Mat Players Tour (SMPT),[11] is a company responsible of events set up by Craig Burgess and Simon Pridham in 2011.[12] The SMPT are responsible for running events throughout Europe, the first to establish a world ranking system.[13]
Current Ranking Singles Events
edit| Year | UK Open | Irish Open | Norwegian Open | British Open | English Masters | World Masters |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | Alastair McCrea (ENG)
|
 Joseph Beattie (NIR)
|
Sibe Laureys (BEL)
|
|||
| 2023-24 | Alastair McCrea (ENG)
|
Gary McNabb (NIR)
|
Peter Roberts (ENG)
|
Matty Worden (ENG)
|
Mark Beattie (NIR)
|
Alex Kley (ENG)
|
| 2022-23 | Pauline Beattie (NIR)
|
Joseph Beattie (NIR)
|
Peter Roberts (ENG)
|
Gary McNabb (NIR)
|
Mark Beattie (NIR)
|
Alex Kley (ENG)
|
| 2021-22 | Not Played - Covid | |||||
| 2020-21 | Not Played - Covid | |||||
| 2019-20 | Mark Beattie (NIR)
|
Gary McNabb (NIR)
|
Benny Sjögren (SWE)
|
Gary McNabb (NIR)
|
Alex Kley (ENG)
|
Not Played - Covid |
| 2018-19 | Alex Kley (ENG)
|
Raymond Stubbs (IRE)
|
Benny Sjögren (SWE)
|
Stephen Williams (WAL)
|
Stephen Williams (WAL)
|
Alan Paul (NIR)
|
| 2017-18 | Sam Harvey (WAL)
|
Alan Paul (NIR)
|
Stephen Proctor (ENG)[14]
|
Nigel Nicholls (ENG)[15]
|
Jack Pye (ENG)[16]
|
Gary McNabb (NIR)
|
| 2016-17 |  Lawrence Moffat (SCO)
|
Alan Paul (NIR)
|
Mark Beattie (NIR)
|
Not Played | Joseph Beattie (NIR)
|
Joseph Beattie (NIR)
|
| 2015-16 | Gary McNabb (NIR)
|
Dimitri Payne (BEL)[17]
|
Not Played | James Bucknall (ENG)
|
Gary Burke (NIR)
| |
| 2014-15 | Robert Martin (ENG)[18]
|
PJ McCrossan (NIR)
|
Stephen Williams (WAL)
|
Mark Beattie (NIR)
| ||
| 2013-14 | Joseph Beattie (NIR)[19][20]
|
Andrew Leckey (NIR)[21]
|
Cecil Dillon (NIR)
|
Gerry McCabe (IRE)
| ||
| 2012-13 | Mark Beattie (NIR)
|
Not Played | Joseph Beattie (NIR)
|
Alan Paul (NIR)
| ||
| 2011-12 | Not Played | Jonathan Payne (BEL)
|
Not Played | |||
Past Ranking Singles Events
edit| Year | Swedish Masters |
|---|---|
| 2016-17 | P.J. Gallagher (IRE)
|
| 2015-16 | Marcus Almén (SWE)
|
| 2014-15 | Cecil Dillon (NIR)
|
| 2013-14 | Joseph Beattie (NIR)
|
| 2012-13 |  Morten-Andre Coll (NOR)
|
| Year | European Masters |
|---|---|
| 2015-16 | Joel Häger (SWE)
|
| 2014-15 | Mark Beattie (NIR)
|
| 2013-14 | Chris Mann (ENG)
|
| 2012-13 | Jonathan Payne (BEL)
|
Current Team Events
edit| Year | World Fours Masters | World Pairs Masters | SMPT World Cup |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | Pauline Beattie, Joe Beattie, Gary Moore, Mark Beattie (NIR)
|
James Shaw, Ian Hobson (NIR)
|
Ireland (NIR)
|
| 2022-23 | Dick Almen, Eroll Morina (SWE) John Lax, James Trott (ENG)
|
Stephen Buckett, Ben Pay (ENG)
|
Ireland (NIR)
|
| 2021-22 | Not Played - Covid | ||
| 2020-21 | Not Played - Covid | ||
| 2019-20 | Ben Pay, Stephen Buckett, Alastair McCrea, Matty Worden (ENG)
|
James Shaw, Ian Hobson (NIR)
|
Ireland (NIR)
|
| 2018-19 | Simon Pidham, Mikey Ivings, Craig Burgess, James Trott (ENG)
|
Alex Kley, Thomas Perris (ENG)
|
Ireland (NIR)
|
| 2017-18 | Gethin Edwards, Aled Edwards, Cennydd Howell, Dafydd Howell (WAL)
|
Pauline Beattie, Joe Beattie (NIR)
|
Ireland (NIR)
|
| 2016-17 | Ollie Hipkiss, Stephen Holdsworth, Danny Langdon, Ryan Knight (ENG)
|
Liam Smith, Peter Roberts (ENG)
|
Ireland (NIR)
|
| 2015-16 | Michael Ivings, Paul Pomeroy, James Trott, James Smith (ENG)
|
Lisa Douglas, Jal Richardson (NIR)
|
Sweden (SWE)
|
| 2014-15 | Andy Morrison, Jal Richardson, William Morrison, Lisa Douglas (NIR)
|
Michael Ivings, James Smith (ENG)
|
Not Played |
| 2013-14 | Not Played | William Morrison, Jal Richardson (NIR)
|
Not Played |
International Short Mat Open
editThe International Open was the biggest open competition in Short Mat Bowls when it first started in 2010. The competition was organised by Craig Burgess and Barry Hedges of Essex; both of the trophies awarded are in memory of their fathers, John Burgess and David Hedges. The inaugural event was held at Kempston Indoor Bowls Club, Bedford, England, and had the biggest gathering of short mat bowls talent from all over Europe including England, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Belgium and Sweden. In subsequent years, the John Burgess Trophy became a pairs event instead of the original triples format. The event finished in 2013.
| Year | Venue | John Burgess Trophy | David Hedges Trophy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Havering Indoor Bowls Club, Essex | Allan Williams & James Trott (ENG)
|
Peter Fautley, Tony Elham, Steve Killington & Anthony Fautley (ENG)
|
| 2012 | Havering Indoor Bowls Club, Essex | Joseph Newsome & Ben Render (ENG)
|
Sarah Beynon, Arwel Morgan, Tom Jones & Luke Haddon (WAL)
|
| 2011 | Havering Indoor Bowls Club, Essex | Jack Shepherd & Chris Willies (ENG)
|
Steve Proctor, Andrew Beard, Gareth Stanway & Grant Soller (ENG)
|
| 2010 | Kempston Indoor Bowls Club, Bedford | Marty Trainor, Alan Paul & Kevin Conroy (IRE)
|
Liam McHugh, Keith McCullagh, Damian McElroy & Colum McHugh (IRE)
|
British Isles Championships
editEach year, winners of the national championships of each of the home nations (Although Ireland are usually represented as one country), along with a team selected by their governing body compete in the British Isles Championships. Despite being open to entry to all competition, the Isle of Man generally only competes in the singles competition. The winner is traditionally decided in a round-robin format, with the winner being the team with the most points, and shot difference.
The team competition for the British Isles championship is sixteen against sixteen; known as rinks. Each team deploys four teams of four over four mats, and the winning team is the one with the most combined shots over every mat. Although traditionally frowned upon, it is possible for players in the 'individual' disciplines, to also play in the team event. In this way, it is possible for players to win two British Isles titles in one season.
Current Champions:
| Year | Venue | Singles Champion | Fours Champions * | Pairs Champions * | Triples Champions * | Premier Team Champion * |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016/17 | Bromsgrove, England | Michael John (WAL)
|
Simon White, Keith Lackford, Stephen Proctor & Martin Walker (ENG)
|
Ben Render, Danny Langdon (ENG)
|
Raymond Stubbs, Jonny Wilson, Eddie Campbell (IRE)
|
Ireland (IRE)[22]
|
References
edit- ^ Wiggins, Roy (2008). Short Mat Bowling (2nd Edition) - An illustrated guide to this challenging sport. New Generation Publishing. ISBN 9780755204489.
- ^ Colleridge, Roy. Short Mat Bowling Book by Ron Collingridge. Equipment, technique, etiquette, shots, rules.
- ^ "New Zealand Indoor Bowls - BowlsChat". bowlschat.com. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
- ^ "Taylor Bowls Catalogue 2017/18" (PDF). taylorbowls.com. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
- ^ "Hall of fame". St Georges Cup.
- ^ Weaver, Bob. "Short Mat Bowls". Retrieved 10 October 2017.
- ^ "Singles - worldshortmatbowls". worldshortmatbowls.org. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
- ^ "Rinks - worldshortmatbowls". worldshortmatbowls.org. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
- ^ "Pairs - worldshortmatbowls". worldshortmatbowls.org. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
- ^ "Triples - worldshortmatbowls". worldshortmatbowls.org. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
- ^ "Short Mat Players Tour". Short Mat Players Tour. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
- ^ "Short mat Players Tour LTD". Companies House. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
- ^ "Short Mat Players Tour - Bowls Chat". Bowls Chat. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
- ^ "Bowls: Stephen Proctor is top of the new world order". Crewe Chronicle. 15 November 2017. Archived from the original on 16 January 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
- ^ "Nigel Nicholls wins Short Mat Players Tour title in York". Falmouth Packet. 15 January 2018. Archived from the original on 16 January 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
- ^ "Jack Pye wins the 2018 English Masters". shortmatplayerstour.com. 10 February 2018. Archived from the original on 12 February 2018. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
- ^ "Battling Andrew Morrison is edged out by Dimitri Payne at Short Mat Players' Tour Irish Open". Belfast Telegraph. 21 September 2015. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
- ^ "Short-mat bowls: Martin earns national title". Dorset Echo. 2 September 2014. Archived from the original on 16 January 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
- ^ "Beattie and Leckey lift Irish and United Kingdom prizes across championship final meetings". Portadown Times. Archived from the original on 16 January 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
- ^ "Beatie returns to top of world rankings after win in Europe". Strabane Chronicle. Archived from the original on 16 January 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
- ^ "Bowls: Andrew Leckey faces stiff task in bid to retain SMPT crown". News Letter Online. Johnstone Publishing Ltd. 18 September 2014. Archived from the original on 21 October 2017. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
- ^ "The English Short Mat Bowling Association (ESMBA) - Premier Page". www.esmba.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2017-10-10.