View source for Short Mat Bowls Club

This club is listed in [[Social Snapshots 2001-2022 inc]]

'''Letter from Leigh Axe on August 1st 2025''' in reply to a request for more details about this club at the [[Thursday Coffee Morning]]

"Peter Pilkington asked me several times to set up a Short Mat Bowls Club, the game of which was probably designed to cope with limited space.

I looked into it mainly to be sure the VH was large enough but I also found new mats are over £1k

Coffee Morning was as ever a useful place to seek information and I got a couple more names and called a meeting via [[Hallmark]] I think.

There were about six of us there and one of them knew of some second hand mats for sale - this was just the info we needed to get started.

We all threw in £20 and I borrowed Clive's van to go and collect them.

Les Hazell made us some large boxes on wheels to make easy manouvering of what are very heavy mats.   click [[Les & Marion Hazell]] for more about Les

He also made our wooden frames for stopping overshooting bowls.

We down loaded the rules and booked the hall.  Our first game was in July 2009.

We shortly had over 20 members who have then and thereafter all contributed £20 to join and £2 (£3 from 2024) to play.

We've played almost every Monday afternoon since.

We have spare bowls for people to try it and first couple of sessions are free so no cost if is nt for you" 

'''Hallmark August 2021.   Short Mat Bowls'''   report by Leigh Axe[[File:Short Mat Bowls.jpg|thumb|Short Mat Bowls|link=https://laceygreenhistory.com/w/index.php/File:Short_Mat_Bowls.jpg]]Short-Mat Bowls - 2pm prompt every Monday at the [[Village Hall]].

We re-started in the Village Hall at the beginning of July. The standard is terrible due to lack of practice but this is more than just competition. We frequently stand up, sit down, bend to pickup a bowl, launch it and then walk 15 metres to the other end of the mat. So it is exercise without getting too exhausted or breathless. In fact you don't realise you are so active until you go home. Need it more strenuous - just help roll and unroll the mats.

We tend to be retired people especially as it’s a weekday afternoon but anyone is welcome. We are very sociable and in fact this is another of the reasons we do it. Talkers often need reminding it’s their turn. One drawback of this age group is our continued mobility and as a consequence membership is down, so room for several new members. You need some indoor shoes to change into to protect the mats and you can come for free for a couple of sessions to see if you like it – just turn up.

When we started the club everyone put in £20 to buy two second hand mats so membership is set at this but it’s for life and gives an equal say to everyone as to how the club is run. Thereafter it’s just £2 per session and you only pay when you come. We also throw in a cuppa and a biscuit at half time.

You can borrow some bowls to try it and then you can buy your own or the club will loan you a set for £40 and give you £30 back when you return them.

Virus: Our age group tend to be careful in our activities and associations so the risk is small. We all have had both jabs and there is a hand disinfectant in the entrance. Also plenty of room to maintain distance if desired. We have chosen not to wear masks.

'''July 2025.'''  Leigh is still the one running this club.