KNOW YOUR BOWLS
Try our fun quiz to see how much knowledge you have of the game of Bowls. Answers can be found on next page.
How far back have you to go to discover the origin of bowls?
ANSWERS
How did you do? Check your answers below.
How far back have you to go to discover the origins of bowls?
5,000 year or more. Bowls in one form or another has been played for many, many years. We know the Egyptians played their own version with skittles and round stones. Artefacts were found in tombs dating back to 5000BC.
Bowls is played in how many countries across the world?
45 countries or more. It is played right across the Commonwealth and even in the USA!
How many people play bowls in the UK?
Well in excess of 300,000. It is popular with both women and men, young and old, and people with disabilities. Bowls prides itself in being one of the most inclusive sports.
What is the small white or yellow object that players aim for called?
The jack (sometimes called the kitty). Some say it means something which is cast or thrown because of the Latin word ‘jactus’. Others claim it refers to something small or inferior.
Bowls are shaped so that they travel in an arc rather than a straight line. What is this called?
Bias. The bias means you can play shots either backhand or forehand which allows you to get around shorter bowls which would otherwise be in your way.
The Aviva National Finals are played each August where?
This 18 day festival of Bowls takes place at the home of lawn bowls at Victoria Park in Leamington Spa and is watched by thousands of spectators plus large television audiences. Several Ottery St Mary players have graced the lawns at Leamington.
Lawn bowls is competed for in which international games?
The Commonwealth Games has included lawn bowls since 1930 (then called the Empire Games). There was an exception in 1966 when the games were held in Jamaica due to insufficient greens being available. It is also one of the sports of the EAD (Elite Athletes with a Disability) sports.
Why is a bowl marked when it touches the small target bowl?
To indicate it remains live even if it ends up in the ditch. As bowls are often the same colour the mark, or chalk, indicates which bowls touched the target bowl and therefore must be counted on completion of the end.
How many rinks are there on a green?
A green can accommodate 6 or 7 rinks. It is normally square and not less than 31 metres and no more than 40 metres in the direction of play. At Ottery St Mary we pride ourselves in having one of the best kept greens in Devon thanks to the hard work and skills of our greenkeeping team of volunteers.
Which of the following were fans of bowling?
All of them! The most famous bowler was probably Sir Francis Drake who insisted on finishing his game of bowls on Plymouth Hoe before turning his attention to defeating the Spanish Armada. Incidentally, he lost that game! William Shakespeare was a member of a bowling club and his plays are littered with references. Cymbeline contains one of the first references to the jack – “Was there ever man had such luck! When I kissed the jack, upon an up-cast to be hit away.” We share his frustration!
Try our fun quiz to see how much knowledge you have of the game of Bowls. Answers can be found on next page.
How far back have you to go to discover the origin of bowls?
- 100 years or more
- 300 years or more
- 5,000 years or more
- 45 countries
- 10 countries
- 31 countries
- 50,000 +
- 300,000 +
- 1,000,000 +
- Jim
- Jill
- Jack
- Skewer
- Bias
- Slant
- London
- Plymouth
- Leamington Spa
- Olympics
- European Games
- Commonwealth Games
- To indicate it is not to be included in the count up
- To indicate it remains live even if it ends up in the ditch
- To remind the bowler that their bowl has hit the target
- 1-3
- 6-7
- 9-10
- William Shakespeare
- Henry VIII
- Sir Francis Drake
ANSWERS
How did you do? Check your answers below.
How far back have you to go to discover the origins of bowls?
5,000 year or more. Bowls in one form or another has been played for many, many years. We know the Egyptians played their own version with skittles and round stones. Artefacts were found in tombs dating back to 5000BC.
Bowls is played in how many countries across the world?
45 countries or more. It is played right across the Commonwealth and even in the USA!
How many people play bowls in the UK?
Well in excess of 300,000. It is popular with both women and men, young and old, and people with disabilities. Bowls prides itself in being one of the most inclusive sports.
What is the small white or yellow object that players aim for called?
The jack (sometimes called the kitty). Some say it means something which is cast or thrown because of the Latin word ‘jactus’. Others claim it refers to something small or inferior.
Bowls are shaped so that they travel in an arc rather than a straight line. What is this called?
Bias. The bias means you can play shots either backhand or forehand which allows you to get around shorter bowls which would otherwise be in your way.
The Aviva National Finals are played each August where?
This 18 day festival of Bowls takes place at the home of lawn bowls at Victoria Park in Leamington Spa and is watched by thousands of spectators plus large television audiences. Several Ottery St Mary players have graced the lawns at Leamington.
Lawn bowls is competed for in which international games?
The Commonwealth Games has included lawn bowls since 1930 (then called the Empire Games). There was an exception in 1966 when the games were held in Jamaica due to insufficient greens being available. It is also one of the sports of the EAD (Elite Athletes with a Disability) sports.
Why is a bowl marked when it touches the small target bowl?
To indicate it remains live even if it ends up in the ditch. As bowls are often the same colour the mark, or chalk, indicates which bowls touched the target bowl and therefore must be counted on completion of the end.
How many rinks are there on a green?
A green can accommodate 6 or 7 rinks. It is normally square and not less than 31 metres and no more than 40 metres in the direction of play. At Ottery St Mary we pride ourselves in having one of the best kept greens in Devon thanks to the hard work and skills of our greenkeeping team of volunteers.
Which of the following were fans of bowling?
All of them! The most famous bowler was probably Sir Francis Drake who insisted on finishing his game of bowls on Plymouth Hoe before turning his attention to defeating the Spanish Armada. Incidentally, he lost that game! William Shakespeare was a member of a bowling club and his plays are littered with references. Cymbeline contains one of the first references to the jack – “Was there ever man had such luck! When I kissed the jack, upon an up-cast to be hit away.” We share his frustration!
