IG07 Sports

Bowls has not been selected as one of the 14 sports featuring in the 2007 Rhodes Island Games.

History of the Game

It's claimed the sport of Bowls was developed by the Egyptians, with the pastime spreading across the world while taking on a variety of forms, such as Bocce (Italian), Bolla (Saxon), and Boules (French).

Bowls has been played in Britain since around 1300, including by some well known historical figures.

It is legend that Sir Francis Drake was playing lawn bowls when the news came through that the Spanish Armada were fast approaching. His immortalised response (apparently) was: "We still have time to finish the game and to thrash the Spaniards, too." He then went on to finished the match, but lost... then took on the Armada... and won.

King Henry VIII also played bowls but banned the game for those who were not wealthy because he thought that traders, like bow-makers, spent too much time on leisure activities instead of concentrating on their trade!

Guernsey's Men's and Women's Fours in 2005.

Indoor Bowls is the indoor incarnation of Lawn Bowls. Pioneered by William Macrae in the Drumdryan Drill Hall in 1888, with the first indoor club, Crystal Palace, formed in 1905.

Included in the original members' list was W.G. Grace, who is better known for his cricket exploit.

Shetland 2005

With seven Golds from eight events you couldn't ask much more from the Guernsey Bowlers in the last games.

They were denied the clean sweep by hosts Shetland who beat them in the Women's Doubles final leaving Guernsey with Silver.