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, Australia, New Zealand and Japan. National, and international level events are generally held for all disciplines, including singles, pairs, triples and fours.
International Championships World Short Mat Bowls Championships
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.
Year Venue Singles Champion Fours Champions Pairs Champions Triples Champions2026Skien, Norway2024Belfast, Northern Ireland2022 (Played in 2023)Aberdeen, ScotlandAlex Kley (ENG)Eddie Curran, Daniel O Kane, Michael Gallagher, John Quinn (IRE)Jonathon Gladstone, Andrew Hudson (WAL)Llian Llewelyn, Jamie Stiles, Andrew Jones (WAL) 2020 (Played in 2022 due to Covid) Herentals, Belgium 2018 Stromstad, Sweden 2016 Leigh, England 2014 Cardiff, Wales 2012 Ballymoney, Northern Ireland 2010 Dumfries, Scotland 2008 Herentals, Belgium 2006 Hoptond-on-Sea, England
Short Mat Players Tour
The Short Mat Players Tour (SMPT), is a company responsible of events set up by Craig Burgess and Simon Pridham in 2011. The SMPT are responsible for running events throughout Europe, the first to establish a world ranking system.
Current Ranking Singles Events
Year UK Open Irish Open Norwegian Open British Open English Masters World Masters 2026-272025-262024-25Cancelled2023-242022-232021-22 Not Played - Covid2020-21 Not Played - Covid2019-20 Not Played - Covid2018-192017-182016-17 Not Played 2015-16 Not Played 2014-15 2013-14 2012-13 Not Played 2011-12 Not Played Not Played
Past Ranking Singles Events
Year Swedish Masters2016-17 2015-16 2014-15 2013-14 2012-13
Year European Masters 2015-16 2014-15 2013-14 2012-13
Current Team Events
Year World Fours Masters World Pairs Masters SMPT World Cup2026-272025-26 2024-25 2023-242022-23 2021-22 Not Played - Covid2020-21 Not Played - Covid2019-202018-192017-182016-172015-162014-15 Not Played2013-14 Not Played Not Played
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 *2024/25Auchinleck, ScotlandColum McHugh (IRE)David Crawford, Eddie Curran & John Quinn (IRE)Ireland (IRE)2023/24Prestatyn, WalesGordon Stubbs, Ronni Stubbs & Raymond Stubbs (IRE)Ireland (IRE)2022/23Belfast, Northern IrelandGerard McCloskey, Nathan Haire, Nick Haire & Terry Crawford (IRE)Gordon Stubbs & Raymond Stubbs (IRE)Ireland (IRE)2021/22 Not Played - Covid2020/21Scarborough, England (Held in Jan 2022)Ireland (IRE)2019/20Aberdeen, ScotlandAndrew Steele (IRE)Lisa Richardson, Gary Culbert, Jal Richardson & Andrew Leckey (IRE)John Murnaghan, Kieran Trainor & Gerry McCabe (IRE)Ireland (IRE)2018/19Camarthen, WalesLiam McHugh, Keith McCullagh, Paddy Hanlon & Colum McHugh (IRE)Ronnie Stubbs, Gordon Stubbs & Raymond Stubbs (IRE)Ireland (IRE)2017/18Belfast, Northern IrelandAndrew Leckey (IRE)Sean Conroy & Kevin Conroy (IRE)Gary Moore, Mark Beattie & PJ McCrossan (IRE)Ireland (IRE) 2016/17 Bromsgrove, England Paul Reid, Gordon Stubbs & Raymond Stubbs (IRE) Ireland (IRE)2015/16Aberdeen, ScotlandBrendan McCabe, John Murnaghan, Gerry McCabe & Paddy Hanlon (IRE)Sean Conroy & Kevin Conroy (IRE)David Crawford, Nixon Alexander & Eddie Curran (IRE)Ireland (IRE)2014/15Llanelli, WalesRyan O'Neill (IRE)Ireland (IRE)2013/14Coleraine, Northern IrelandSamuel McMath, Tommy Mullan, Barry Kane & Uel McKeeman (IRE)David Crawford, Eddie Curran & John Quinn (IRE)Ireland (IRE)2012/13Hopton-on-Sea, EnglandColin Hogg, Glen Smith, Alan Paul & Mark Wilson (IRE)Leigh Harrison & Ryan O'Neill (IRE)Ireland (IRE)2011/12Dumfries, ScotlandTom Morrison, William Morrison, Andrew Morrison & David Morrison (IRE)2010/11Douglas, Isle of ManAlan Paul (IRE)Karen O'Neill, Leigh Harrison & Ryan O'Neill (IRE)Ireland (IRE)
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.
Year Venue John Burgess Trophy David Hedges Trophy 2013 Havering Indoor Bowls Club, Essex 2012 Havering Indoor Bowls Club, Essex 2011 Havering Indoor Bowls Club, Essex 2010 Kempston Indoor Bowls Club, Bedford Notable National Competitions England St Georges Cup
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.
Year Venue Winners Final score2025-26Solihull Indoor Bowls ClubNorth of England48 - 242024-25Solihull Indoor Bowls ClubSouth of England30 - 382023-24Solihull Indoor Bowls ClubSouth of England33 - 352022-23Solihull Indoor Bowls ClubSouth of England29 - 39 2021-22 Solihull Indoor Bowls Club North of England 36 - 32 2020-21 Not Played - Covid 2019-20 Not Played - Covid 2018-19 Tamworth Indoor Bowls Club South of England 28.5 - 39.5 2017-18 Bromsgrove Indoor Bowls Club North of England 37 - 31 2016-17 Bromsgrove Indoor Bowls Club North of England 39 - 29 2015-16 Solihull Indoor Bowls Club South of England 25 - 43 2014-15 Bromsgrove Indoor Bowls Club South of England 20.5 - 43.5 2013-14 Bromsgrove Indoor Bowls Club Draw 32 - 32 2012-13 Tamworth Indoor Bowls Club South of England 26 - 38 2011-12 Wey Valley Indoor Bowls Club, Guildford South of England 20.5 - 43.5 2010-11 Erdington Indoor Bowls Club, Birmingham South of England 21 - 35
English Inter County Championship
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). YearPremier ChampionshipA Team ChampionshipPremier ConsolationA Team Consolation2019West MidlandsWest MidlandsSomersetDorset2018West MidlandsDevonSomersetDorset2017West MidlandsNorth YorkshireDorsetStockport2016NorfolkKentNorthamptonshireShropshire2015HampshireDevonDorsetNorfolk2014CheshireKentNorthamptonshireHampshire2013CheshireKentDorsetHampshire2012CheshireDevon CornwallCornwall 2011CheshireKentHampshireCornwall 2010CheshireWest Midlands West SussexCheshire 2009CheshireWest Sussex West MidlandsCornwall 2008CheshireWest Sussex West MidlandsHampshire 2007CheshireKent ShropshireCornwall 2006StaffordshireKent CheshireHertfordshire 2005KentWest Sussex WarwickshireGloucestershire 2004West MidlandsHerefordshire CheshireGloucestershire 2003KentWest Sussex West SussexStaffordshire 2002KentKent ShropshireLondon 2001KentWest Midlands NorfolkNorthamptonshire 2000West MidlandsDevon WorcestershireNorthamptonshire 1999KentEssex HampshireHampshire 1998KentEssex ShropshireLancashire 1997StaffordshireSomersetShropshireNorthamptonshire 1996NorfolkStaffordshire CornwallCheshire 1995KentCheshire West Midlands1994West MidlandsWest Midlands 1993Staffordshire
References
External links Short mat bowls rules and equipment