Page 25 - july 2023

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At the beginning of May 2023, the first Dutch Championship Short
mat Pairs was organised in Oldenzaal. 14 teams participated. Four
teams stood out above the rest and played each other in the semi=fi-
nals. In the final the team Maus van Tol / Esther de Groot defeated
the team Frans Roberts / Robbie Roberts. In the Netherlands it is
difficult to get young people as members because most clubs have
to play during the day (Monday to Friday). In addition, bowls is often
unknown and does not yet appeal to young people.
Frans Roberts

Editor - My thanks to Frans who responded very quickly and for an
article, in both Flemish and English, If only others would take note.
The Netherlands is at the very early stages of development and has not reached take-off point but
this is the story of how many or all of us started. I remember a Single Canadian entering the World
Championships in Belgium. He was not actually a short mat player but here we are just a few years
later and the World Championships are to be staged in Canada.
In the UK we have faced falling numbers, Frans alluded to the age of players. In England this
has hit us badly with Old Timers passing on or simply getting too old to play or drive to various
venues, especially after dark. Whilst this has had a serious affect on numbers, the sport is well es-
tablished so the numbers will have no affect on the long term of an established sport and this goes
for all UK bodies and Belgium, whilst the rest of the World is still growing.
Frans also raises the subject of younger people not coming into the sport and whilst some do
but not in the numbers we all want. If we could make it a school sport across any country, it would
make an enormous difference but sadly this is not going to happen. Not everyone wants younger
people in the sport. Some years ago one gentleman in a club somewhere wanted younger players
banned as they were winning all the trophies! I alluded to this in an article and he threatened to sue
me, so I invited him to go ahead but I never heard from him again. The answer was simple. make
some of the events in his club age related so that us “old farts” can win something occasionally.
When I was the England manager, one year I got the average age of the team to well under thirty.
No-one said anything but I know that some of the ESMBA Committee were not happy. Thankfully,
no such attitude prevails today.
What about other countries? Cyprus has about 6 clubs, including one in the Turkish Zone.
News from Cyprus has been promised but never materialised. An attempt was made to form an As-
sociation in France with several Ex-pat clubs but despite the efforts made there was no enthusiasm
and the attempt sadly failed. Short arms and deep pockets didn’t help. There is one active club in
the Philippines and I understand at some time they may enter the World Championship. Another sin-
gle outpost is Stanley Leisure Centre on the Falklands. I have seen a video of play but no news for
the magazine as yet but I always live in hope.
In Singapore they use Short Mats to market the sport of bowls to get people outdoors and a
few years ago I did a big article on Singapore and on their website there is a Short Mat page but it
is still under development but has been for a long time. Many years ago some Short Mat carpets
went to Japan, with rule books in japanese but nothing came of it.
As to Carpet Bowls, another very skilful and underrated sport not given the coverage it de-
serves. Only Paul Daniels of Suffolk seems to write reports, although the Suffolk County Captain
Tom Runnacles has a report in this extra issue, with a good team photo. The sport is big in Norway
and I believe there is some development in Sweden. It is big in New Zealand who plays a very similar
game to the UK but with differences and they started in 1948. It is played in Canada but again with
some large differences. I think a World Championships would help and it would establish the English
rules as the right rules for the sport, which I understand that Norway has adopted. But this is up to
those who run the sport. A world event has considerably helped Short Mat and may do the same for
Carpet Bowls but I am only commenting not suggesting, otherwise I might get my toenails cut off at
the kneecaps! There are differences in Short Mat countries rules as well but basically minor ones
and there is an agreed set of rules for the World Championships so that everything is clear. As least
it is supposed to be?