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, Canada, 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
England
St Georges Cup
This article needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(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]
This article needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(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).
This article is missing information about Previous championship results prior to 2004 are required.. Please expand the article to include this information. Further details may exist on the talk page.(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]
The 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]
Ben Pay, Alastair McCrea (ENG)Gary McNabb, Martin McNicholl (NIR)
Gary McNabb, Martin McNicholl (NIR)
Ireland (NIR)
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
The 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.
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
Each 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 to compete in the British Isles Championships. The Isle of Man competed with a full team from 2005 - 2011. 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. 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 *
2024/25
Auchinleck, Scotland
Colum McHugh (IRE)
Steve Stanton, Jack Knight, Ben Riley & Emily Thomas (ENG)
Gary Best & Matty Worden (ENG)
David Crawford, Eddie Curran & John Quinn (IRE)
Ireland (IRE)
2023/24
Prestatyn, Wales
Alex Kley (ENG)
Adam Easthope, John Pitcher, Craig Strong & Ross Dunkley (ENG)
Saul Featherstone & Ryan Knight (ENG)
Gordon Stubbs, Ronni Stubbs & Raymond Stubbs (IRE)
Ireland (IRE)
2022/23
Belfast, Northern Ireland
Alex Kley (ENG)
Gerard McCloskey, Nathan Haire, Nick Haire & Terry Crawford (IRE)
Gordon Stubbs & Raymond Stubbs (IRE)
Craig Strong, Jon Pitcher & Ross Dunkley (ENG)
Ireland (IRE)
2021/22
Not Played - Covid
2020/21
Scarborough, England (Held in Jan 2022)
Jac Edwards (WAL)
Stuart Hiddlestone, Kevin Peacock, Murray Masson & Sandy McDonald (SCO)
Jonathan Gladstone & Andrew Hudson (WAL)
Lawrence Moffat, Bronagh Toleman & Lee Toleman (ENG)
Ireland (IRE)
2019/20
Aberdeen, Scotland
Andrew Steele (IRE)
Lisa Richardson, Gary Culbert, Jal Richardson & Andrew Leckey (IRE)
Andrew Cloghlin & Stephen Willams (WAL)
John Murnaghan, Kieran Trainor & Gerry McCabe (IRE)
Ireland (IRE)
2018/19
Camarthen, Wales
James Trott (ENG)
Liam McHugh, Keith McCullagh, Paddy Hanlon & Colum McHugh (IRE)
Andrew Evans & Sean Hughes (WAL)
Ronnie Stubbs, Gordon Stubbs & Raymond Stubbs (IRE)
Ireland (IRE)
2017/18
Belfast, Northern Ireland
Andrew Leckey (IRE)
Ben Jackson, Chris McWhinnie, Andrew Jones & Nick Evans (WAL)
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