"The bowler bounded forward and unleashed a blur of motion: 737 grams (26oz) of solid iron hurtled past the spectators, hit the tarmac with a sharp clack and sailed on up the road. A perfect shot. A cheer erupted, startling crows from trees. Welcome to the King and Queen of the Roads, an annual tournament in the Irish village of Ballincurrig that is the equivalent of Wimbledon for the ancient sport of road bowling."
"It is no longer played with cannon balls, but the rules have remained largely unchanged for centuries: players take turns throwing a bowl along a 2km stretch of rural road and whoever reaches the finish line with the fewest throws usually about 17 wins. The three-day tournament that concluded on Sunday, however, showcased some radical innovations that have underpinned a revival. It featured players and TV crews from Germany, Italy and the Netherlands and was livestreamed to a global audience that has turned the sport into a viral sensation that attracts podcasters and celebrities."
A bowler hurls a 737-gram iron ball along narrow country lanes toward a marked finish in the King and Queen of the Roads tournament in Ballincurrig. Players take turns throwing along a roughly 2km stretch, and whoever reaches the end with the fewest throws — usually about 17 — wins. Spectators line ditches and watch each shot, with rural details like tarmac, bends, clumps of grass and nearby ponies forming the setting. Traditional rules remain largely unchanged, but recent innovations such as livestreaming, drone aerial footage and social media have driven a revival. The event attracted international competitors and media, and pandemic conditions plus platforms like TikTok and Instagram boosted youth engagement and global viewership.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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