Founded in 1897
Latest News
Thursday 30 October - looks good enough to play on
Remembering what the green surfaces looked like at the very end of the outdoor season, we have a transformation already and that is down to our greens team led by Damian (with a bit of help from the weather), but also credit to Jo and her gardeners who have been cutting back and doing other winter tasks.
Both groups would welcome more help on their Monday morning sessions. Could you lend a hand?
Wednesday 29 October - short mat competition draws
The draws have now been made and you can find them here.
Wednesday 22 October - Bells and Choughs
Our two teams in the East Kent Short Mat Bowls League are on their way. Canterbury Bells yesterday got their first points on the board beating Chislet Cavaliers 25-21 overall with Karen Owen, Bob Moore and Peter Fawcett making the difference. The up to date table is here.
Tomorrow at 7.30pm our other team, Canterbury Choughs, are at home against Boughton Courtenays. You can go and watch.
Tuesday 21 October - a bowling tour opportunity
The Kent County Past Presidents Bowling Association have an annual bowls tour and when, in 2026, Bob Baldwin becomes Chairman he is arranging a tour to Devon. It will be a half-board arrangement for a week at the Anchorage Hotel in Babbacombe, but playing bowls at 6 different clubs in the area (free coach transport).
Travel there will be on Friday 4 September and a return on Friday 11 September. You make your own travel arrangements to get there and back. You do not need to be a member of the KCPPBA in order to take part.
The format of play will be mixed rinks. The overall cost per person will be £470, which will include a non-refundable deposit of £60 per person which will be payable very shortly (1 November).
More details of the clubs to be visited and who to contact will shortly be posted on our Club notice board.
Sunday 19 October - a night of celebration
Saturday evening saw the formal presentation of many trophies in respect of the outdoors competitions for the 2025 season. It also had a fine meal followed by music and dancing.
With so many winners and nearly winners receiving trophies it is invidious to pick out only a few of the many photos taken that evening, but that is what we are going to do; apologies to the very many not featured.
Firstly, although he was part of a team winning a trophy, he was also the chair of the social committee, responsible for organising the many social events that are held by the club so successfully throughout the year, including this evening's presentation dinner. Thanks Dave (and your team).
Dave Anderson
We then have the two winners of our club's most prestigious trophies, the ladies and men's singles championships. Lin Riches who overcame a serious injury in her first year with the club and Tom Attaway who won through to claim his Badge in the County Unbadged competition.
Tom and Lin
Then we have Andy Ferguson who won more trophies on Final's Day than anyone else and will have to buy more silver polish. He did that with the background of having to take on, unexpectedly, the onerous duties of Men's Captain early in the season and coped wonderfully.
Andy
Similarly, we had another new Captain, this time of the Ladies team (Jenny Anderson), winners of the Dover League; Jenny is also the driving force behind our charity support for the Friends of Kent & Canterbury Hospital. She is pictured with Mandy Catt, a winner of trophies on Final's Day, but who also claimed her County Badge and represented Kent in the National Championships at Leamington.
Jenny and Mandy
Well done to all trophy winners. The website is in possession of many more pictures and if you would like to have a copy forwarded to you then drop a line to the webmaster via the Contact page and he will forward it to you.
A further photo has come forward showing President Sue and some of the trophy winners before they were distributed.
Saturday 18 October - outdoors not quite over
An intrepid band of Canterbury bowlers set out under doubtful skies to New Romney earlier this week to meet the challenge of their all-weather green. A jolly time was had by all, even if it was a tad on the chilly side. Many who had never experienced an all-weather green before made a pretty good fist of it.
Wednesday 15 October - quiz answers
For those who entered and want to check how they did, and for those who didn't as they were too modest to enter, here are the results.
1a, 2b, 3b, 4c, 5c, 6c, 7a, 8c, 9c, 10b, 11a, 12c, 13c, 14c, 15c
None of the entries were perfect, but the closest to perfection was received from Cedric Harding. Well done Cedric.
The rule book for short mat bowls can be found if you scroll down here.
Thursday 9 October - short mat bowls quiz
As the short mat season gets seriously underway we have produced a light-hearted quiz to test your knowledge of the sport.
1.What is the maximum length of the short mat?
a. 45 feet
b. 40 feet
c. 30 feet
2. What is the purpose of the block in the middle of the mat?
a. to mark the half-way point
b. to prevent direct shots to the head
c. to allow advertising on the block
3. When a bowl is delivered from the mat one foot must be:
a. touching the mat
b. wholly on or over the mat
c. touching the fender
4. When a bowl with a previous toucher mark is bowled it should be:
a. regarded as dead and removed from the rink
b. given back to the deliverer for redelivering
c. cleaned as soon as it has come to rest
5. The width of a rink mat should be:
a. 4 foot 9 inches
b. 5 foot 6 inches
c. 6 foot
6. How many bowls does each player play with in a singles game?
a. 2
b. 3
c. 4
7. If a bowl hits the block after delivery it is:
a. regarded as dead and removed from the mat
b. returned to the deliverer for only one more try
c. regarded as dead and the playing team are deducted one point
8. The governing body in short mat bowls in England is:
a. Bowls England
b. Short Mat Players Authority
c. English Short Mat Bowling Association
9. The delivery area is defined by two white lines and a player who steps over either of those lines in delivering:
a. shall be warned and if repeated will be penalised one shot
b. must replay that shot
c. has that bowl declared dead
10. A player in a singles game may visit the head having bowled:
a. one bowl
b. two bowls
c. three bowls
11. What is the term for a bowl that touches the jack during delivery:
a. a toucher
b. a marker
c. a skip's bowl
12. Should a jack be driven into the ditch and rebounds back into a live area it shall be:
a. placed on the jack line closest to the ditch
b. placed in the ditch closest to the point that it had entered the ditch
c. left where it ended up and the game continues
13. In a competitive fours game the skip winning the toss and bowling first shall:
a. place the jack at the furthest end of the jack line
b. offer the jack to the opposition skip to place it where they wish on the jack line
c. place the jack anywhere they choose on the jack line
14. If a bowl enters the ditch and touches a jack already there:
a. it shall be marked as a toucher where it has come to rest
b. it shall be placed in the live area at the point of entry into the ditch
c. it shall be removed as a dead wood
15. If a player delivering a wood has any part of a foot in the ditch area:
a. the player should be warned not to do it again
b. the player should have their bowl returned before it reaches the head
c. a foot fault should be declared and the wood bowled regarded as dead
So there you have it. The correct answers will be published in a week's time. Anyone who believes that they have answered them all correctly should send them to the webmaster (via the contact us page) who will announce the name of this star when publishing the results.
Friday 3 October - short mat taster sessions
Club members who have never tried the skilful game of short mat bowls can turn up on two dates and give it a go.
The first date is tomorrow (Saturday) starting at 10am. The next date with be Sunday, 12 October at 10am.
Give it a try, over 60 club members play it regularly.
Thursday 2 October - more help needed
The gardens may not look as good as that now, but they will do next year if the cutting-back and other preparatory work necessary at this time of the year is carried out. Can you spare a little time on a Monday morning to help Jo Rigby and her small band of helpers keep on top of the tasks that need doing? Pop along and see what you can do.
Wednesday 1 October - recent changes
The following changes have now been made to sections on the website to reflect winter activity:
Competitions - here you will find the short mat diary and fixtures for the winter months
Club 2025/26 - here are the short mat tables and the competition sheets which will be updated weekly
Leagues 2025/26 - here are the two divisions of the external league in which our short mat teams participate
Events - here are details of the many events going on across the club this winter, short mat, bridge, line dancing, snooker and numerous socials and AGMs etc.
Wednesday 24 September - memories of summer
Click on images to expand
A credit to our gardening volunteers
Some also support us in other ways
