BOWLING NOTES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 225, 14 October 1940, Page 8

BOWLING NOTES

THE ORIGIN OF THE GAME The origin of the game of Bowls is not'directly traceable by authentic records yet Ave know that it is the oldest of British games with the exception of archery.

Records can be traeed back to the thirteenth ccnturj'. At this stage a small cone-shaped - objiect was used a.> a jack, Avhile the bowls Ave re rounded stone.;. These were superceded by iron bowls which in turn were followed by wooden bow>'s. Both the iron and wooden bowls were not biased, but were spherical. Bias Avas not given to boAvls until the early 'part; of the sixteenth century, either bv a Aveight attaches! Externally or by boring holes into one side. It is a new procedure to impart bias by shaping, and is . now reduced to the finest mathematical formula so that a set of bowls can be turned to an exact degree of draw. The First' Club. The first organised club Avas established in i Southampton in 1299 and is still in existence. The present 'Master? or President is the 628 th holder of the office. This game of bpAvls ay as hot always the respectable pastime that it is noivy It degenerated into one of the loAvest forms of sport, attracting tipsters, tipplers, bettors and crooks. Eventually it Avas banned as a public game and only very privileged people were permitted to play. In these times the game has made rapid strides. It has the distinction of engaging more actual participants than any other British sport, and attracts young and old, rich and poor. In this game social levels are forgotten. The man Av r ho stands highest in the estimation of his felloAV boAvlers is the man Avho is the best sport in the true meaning of the Avord. Democracj r of boAvls is its chief attraction.