All you've ever wanted to know (and more) about Bowls
BasicsThe Game Today
Origins16th Century
FactsAbout Bowls in Manitoba
HistoryRules of Bowls
HonouredLife Members in Manitoba
PhotosSnapshots of previous years' events
ArchivesNotices, Results, previous events recalled
The Game Today

  1. It's a lot like curling on grass, only MUCH WARMER
    (and, some would say, more challenging)
  2. Games can be played with 1-4 players per team
    • in singles and pairs, each player plays 4 bowls,
    • in triples each player plays 3 bowls, and
    • in fours, each player plays 2 bowls
  3. Standing on a rubber mat, the first player (lead) - of the team determined by a coin toss - rolls a 3" white ball (called a “jack” or “kitty”) towards the opposite end of the green to become the target
  4. The first bowler can choose the position of the mat on the centreline of the green
  5. Provided the jack is bowled far enough (23 meters) and remains in play, it is centred on the green and the same player then rolls a bowl from the mat, trying to stop it as near as possible to the jack
  6. Bowls are heavier on one side than on the other, so they “curl” or “bend” towards that side, called the “bias”
  7. The amount of “curl” depends largely on the speed of the green, and can range from as little as a foot (on a very soft green), to as much as 20 feet on a hard, fast green
  8. Players take turns, by position, delivering their bowls until all bowls have been played
  9. A bowl is permitted to strike and move the jack, or to knock it out of play causing the end to be replayed
  10. A bowl is permitted to strike and move other bowls, or to knock them out of play
  11. Only a struck jack, or bowls that have touched the jack on the green - “touchers”, remain in play if they go into the end ditch, and only if they remain in bounds
  12. The team whose bowl is nearest the jack counts one point for each bowl they have nearer to the jack than their opponents’ best bowl
  13. The team who last scored may opt to deliver the jack, and bowl first, in the next “end”
  14. A normal club game consists of 14 ends, lasts less than 2 hours and it’s GREAT FUN!
TRY IT, YOU’LL LOVE IT!

Facts about Bowls in Manitoba

BOWLS is...

  1. one of the least expensive forms of leisure activity:
    • club membership fees of less than $75 for an entire summertime of bowling
      (up to 3 or more times per week)
    • a special introductory price for NEW MEMBERS at most clubs
    • a VERY LOW price for JUNIORS at ALL clubs
    • loaner or rental bowls are available at most clubs until you choose to buy your own.
  2. one of the easiest sports to become involved in due to the fact that:
    • clubs are conveniently located throughout the city and province,
    • most clubs will welcome newcomers to have a FREE TRIAL, either during scheduled OPEN HOUSE events, or during regular club bowling times
    • no special clothing or equipment (other than flat-soled shoes) are required
  3. one of the friendliest sports, with plenty of help and instruction for newcomers, and lots of opportunities to make friends, meet new people and socialize
    *SPECTATORS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME*
  4. perhaps the best opportunity for families and friends to enjoy an affordable sporting activity together, with grandparents, spouses, children, grandchildren and friends able to spend quality time in a relaxed, wholesome, natural environment
  5. one of the least physically demanding athletic activities available (at the club or social level), requiring only the ability to lift and roll a bowl weighing 4 lbs or less for a distance of 70-100 feet on a smooth grass surface, with minimal walking and ample rest breaks;
    * competitive bowlers, on the other hand, might deliver as many as 5-600 bowls - and walk over 3 miles - in a weekend tournament;
  6. one of the most flexible team sports, as most clubs draw up teams from members who are available on a given afternoon or evening, so you’re not letting anyone down if you can’t be there every time;
  7. one of the easiest sports to learn to play well enough to enjoy yourself, but demanding enough to offer a continuing challenge to learn and improve;
  8. less time-consuming than activities like golf, fishing, tennis, slowpitch or other summer sports, requiring less than 2 hours per game on average
    (a typical club game might start at 7:00 pm on a weekday evening and end before 9:00.)
  9. one of the few sports where you can choose your level of competition, from purely social and recreational play to championship playoffs at the:
    • club
    • interclub
    • association
    • open
    • provincial
    • national and
    • international levels
  10. suitable for participants of ALL AGES!
    (although it is popularly believed to be suitable only for senior citizens, primarily because it can be played long after age and health may restrict other sporting activities.)
  11. LIVELY, COLOURFUL and EXCITING!

HONORARY LIFE MEMBERS:
BOLD = CURRENT; * = deceased
YEAR INDIVIDUAL YEAR INDIVIDUAL
2006 MATTHEW CHAN
2003 CLARICE FITZPATRICK 2002 GLEN MONK
1995 Marlene Cleutinx
(Moved Out-of-Province) 		1994 GORD LAW
1994 Bea Tully * 1994 MARJORIE DEWAR
1993 ELAINE JONES 1990 Luella Robertson
(Moved Out-of-Province)
1989 Flo Sims * 1988 Kay Minions *
1987 Alf Horsman * 1988 Fred K Tully *
1987 Anne Watson * 1987 Stan Townsend *
1987 Molly Brew * 1979 George Cordell *
1978 Percy C Wankling * 1977 Clinton E Bingham *
1975 Walter C Marat 1976 Rod Pennycook *
1974 Cec W Pratt * 1973 Vince Leah *
1972 Harold Jenkins * 1971 M J Black *
1970 Ed B Brown * 1969 Dr. O Brewer *
1968 W Buchanan * 1967 George P Fairbairn *
1966 S G Miller * 1965 H H Tackaberry *
1964 G MacKintosh * 1963 J McLuckie *
1962 D L Blyth * 1961 S A Henderson *
1960 J J Polson * 1959 T Kells Moore *
1958 I Edmonson * 1957 A Cameron *
1956 Tom L Barton * 1955 T E Canfield *
1954 J L S Stevens * 1953 T Baxter *
1952 Rev. J F Douglas * 1951 G W Swan *
1950 Jimmy Gibson * 1949 A Mills *
1948 A E Partridge * 1947 R W Brown *
1946 T J Porter * 1945 A M Dobbs *
1944 James Robertson * 1943 A J Christie *
1942 W Menzies * 1941 John Shaw *
1940 A Lamont * 1939 James Ferries *
1938 George Poulton * 1937 W J Martin *
1936 W R Edmand * 1936 W Mann *
1935 A C Campbell * 1934 S S Forrest *
1933 E Stevenson * 1932 R Bolton *
1932 A H Coppen * 1931 J C Porter *
1930 A Lawson *
1929 W J Creelman * 1928 W Wylie *
1927 F Hand * 1926 George W Barrett *
1925 J W Rutherford * 1924 M Rodgers *
1923 J Buchanan * 1923 W B Florence *
1922 John Swanston * 1921 David Pollack *
1920 John T Speirs * 1919 W H Sparling *
1918 J P Robertson * 1918 John Matheson *

Heartfelt thanks to MARJORIE DEWAR for preserving and providing this valuable and irreplaceable record of individuals who have been recognized for their extraordinary contributions to our great sport as athletes, officials, administrators and volunteers.

BOWLS MANITOBA PHOTOS

Here are some prior years' photos that may be of interest to you:
If a new window is opened, close it when viewed.
If (for older pics) they appear with framed page,
click on the "Back" button on your browser to see more pictures.

2009
 Fundraiser Blind Bowlers Corn Roast Tuxedo
Pasta Event 1212 Dakota
Women's Senior Triples Kitchener, ON
Women's Majors Victoria, BC
Prov Boys' Qualifier 1212 Dakota
Prov Mixed Pairs 1212 Dakota
Prov Seniors' Triples 1212 Dakota
Prov Fours Norwood and St Johns
Prov Pairs St James
Prov Singles Tuxedo
Tom Moore Trophy St Johns

2008
 Spaghetti & Bowl-Out 1212 Dakota
Women's Senior Triples Maple Ridge, BC
Women's Majors Halifax, NS
Junior Provincial Qualifier for 2009 Tuxedo
President's Day St.John's
Prov Men's Fours 1212 Dakota
Prov Women's Singles 1212 Dakota
Prov Men's Pairs 1212 Dakota
Prov Women's Fours 1212 Dakota
Prov Women's Pairs 1212 Dakota
Prov Mixed Pairs 1212 Dakota
Prov Senior Triples 1212 Dakota

2007
 Cdn Nationals Montreal
Provincial Juniors Winnipeg
Provincial Women's Pairs Winnipeg
Corn Roast Tuxedo
Canada Day Tuxedo
Send-Off Dakota
Norwood's 80th Anniversary Norwood

2006
 Regina - Cdn Nationals - Singles, Pairs, Fours Regina 1
Winnipeg - Cdn National Senior Triples Norwood Tuxedo
Ottawa - Sr Mixed Pairs Ottawa
Gimli - Association Mixed Fours Gimli
Tuxedo/St.James - Man-Sask Challenge Winnipeg

2005
Tuxedo - Wheat City Challenge at Brandon Snapshot 1 Snapshot 2

2004 Association Mixed Pairs at Sargent Park
Snapshot 1 Snapshot 2 Snapshot 3 Snapshot 4 Snapshot 5 Snapshot 6
Snapshot 7 Snapshot 8 Snapshot 9 Snapshot 10 Snapshot 11 Snapshot 12
Snapshot 13 Snapshot 14 Snapshot 15 Snapshot 16 Snapshot 17

2004 Provincial Mixed Pairs at Wheat City LBC, Brandon
Snapshot 1 Snapshot 2 Snapshot 3 Snapshot 4 Snapshot 5 Snapshot 6
Snapshot 7 Snapshot 8 Snapshot 9 Snapshot 10 Snapshot 11

2001 MIXED CHAMPIONSHIPS, Winnipeg
ARCHIVES

Year 2009
Norwood Reno Thank-you party
Corn Roast
President's Day Pasta Event
National Senior Triples
Canadian National Junior Boys' Results
Updated Moving Plans
Manitoba Blind Bowlers Medal!
Send Off Pictures, Manitoba Team
Results So Far
Henselite Singles League
April Communique
October Communique

Year 2008
Manitoba's Bowl Out & Spaghetti Dinner
Mixed Pairs Championships underway
Women's Senior Triples in BC
Junior Provincial Qualifier for 2009
2008 Results so far
Junior Nationals at St James
Bowls Canada Newsletter for July
Provincial Junior Boys Singles
Pictures from St.John's President's Day, June 7
InterClub Schedule & Standings
Bowls Canada Newsletter for May
Communiqué April 2008
Bowls Wanted or For Sale

Year 2007
8 ender at PAN AM Jan 26/08
INDOOR 2007 CHAMPIONSHIPS
PAN AM Indoor Bowls - new schedule
Photos from Montreal Nationals
Manitoba Medals in 2007
Event Results 2007
Used Bowls Buy/Sell
Corn Roast/Spaghetti Dinner
InterClub
Send Off for our Champions
Bowls Canada Newsletter for July
Bowls Canada Newsletter for June
Tuesday Pairs League
Article in The Prime Times
Sorry, No Assoc Juniors tournament
Highbury School Clinic May 4
April 2007 Club Communiqué
Open Houses Planned for 2007
Respect in Sport for Coaches

Year 2006
WINTER INDOOR BOWLS
Healthy Living Symposium
MTS Centre Booth 2007
Event Results
Flea Market Fundraiser
Send off for Manitoba players
St James' August cornroast
Sept President's Triples
October Club Communique