Just Three Easy Steps
A quick measurement of your available space will tell you which carpet is best suited for your facility. You should count on leaving at least 3 - 4' on either side of each carpet and at least 6' at each end.
In a nutshell, if it's the 30' Carpet Bowling games you're looking at setting up you should have a space (per carpet) of between 40' - 42' long and 12' - 15' wide. It can be set up in smaller spaces but we think you'd be better with the dimensions we recommend above.
- 30' carpet bowls carpet
- 45' short mat carpet
- Custom size carpets
Once you've chosen your carpet your choice will be easy for the playing equipment. You'll need some bowls, a few jacks a couple of delivery mats, all of which you can get from us, and as you'll see in Step 3 there will be a few items a handy club member will be able to make for you!
- Carpet bowls for the 30' game
- Outdoor bowls for the 45' game
- Regulation jacks for both
- Delivery mats
- Ubi_Launcher® (recommended)
- Spinner or centre block
- End fenders
Some extras are desirable but are not necessary. Every club has a handy person who, with a few lengths of wood, some screws and a little paint can make most of the items below. (Skill level indicated below) If you don't have a handyman or handywoman in your midst then we recommend taking your build needs to a local school and seeing if someone in their co-op, wood shop or community service program might be able to assist!
- Fenders (easy)
- Spinner (easy)
- Storage cart (moderate)
- Scoreboards can come later
Need More Info? Here are some FAQ's
This game has been popular long before people even knew it was popular! Say what!?!?
- It's true. Carpet Bowling has been played in church basements for close to 100 years. They had the space; they had the people; and most importantly they apparently were savvy enough to find out more information about the game... and of course get started!
- Gradually, service clubs and more recently community and senior centres are understanding what a wonderful game this is. They are realizing how easy it is to keep their clientele active by taking part in a game of bowls.
- They are also coming to understand that the game is quite easy to play, the rules are easy to learn and most of all the fun and fellowship that the players enjoy during a game are a given!
- Most Carpet Bowlers enjoy the fact that the bowls themselves, at a diameter of just under 4", can be handled by anyone who wants to take part.
This game has not been around as long as the 30' Short Mat Game. It was reportedly developed by outdoor bowlers who wanted to more closely emulate their outdoor game of Lawn Bowls. It was also borne out of a desire by the outdoor bowlers to use their own outdoor bowls.
- Another reason that the 45' Short Mat game is not as well known or as broadly played is because it really does require more space. Whereas the Carpet Bowls game needs a space of perhaps only 42' x 12' to put down a single carpet, the Short Mat game requires at least 55' x 12' to play. Many facilities just do not have that extra 10' - 15' to spare for the Short Mat carpets.
- Another reason is because the cost of the carpets, whether it be the Carpet Bowls or Short Mat carpet, are relatively expensive. We import our Verdemat carpets directly from Dales Sports Surfaces, the world's top Portable and Permanent Artificial Bowls Surface manufacturer. Shipping costs in recent years along with our devalued dollar have made setup a more expensive proposition.
- Would it be less expensive to find a North American, or better yet, Made In Canada bowls surface? You bet! But it just hasn't happened as no carpet manufacturer seems interested in producing the same quality that you deserve.
There is also the possibility of custom installations.
- Verdemat sports surfaces can be made to measure so you can set up anything from a full 8 rink indoor to even a smaller two rink green using, as some centres have done, their full basement to set up a more permanent facility.
- One error that many clubs hoping to build a permanent Indoor Bowls Facility have made in the past was to go too large. Say what?!?
- It's true! A few years ago, in conversation with Richard White of Dales Sports Surfaces, England (our supplier of the world famous Verdemat bowls surface) he noted that while it might be noble to plan on putting in a full 8 green indoor it would be more sagent to build 3 or 4 rink indoor facilities.
- The next tab explains some of the reasons for planning smaller indoor centres
- Please call or email us if you wish to have a custom quote provided.
Here are several reasons are (and these are only the major ones!)
• Each rink can accomodate a membership quota of 100 members, based on play throughout the week.
• A three or four rink facility has less of a span crossing the building, bringing down costs exponentially.
• It is less expensive to elongate the building, extending it sufficient to provide locker storage for bowlers and facility equipment. The additional length may also be (wisely) used to include a food and beverage area which will generate more revenues than an additional rink, especially if the beverage area includes a bar.
• Revenues from bars in facilities like bowls clubs or curling clubs bring in net profits of between 46 and 52% of sales.
• Advertisers will be more willing to support a vibrant full 3 rink club of 300 members than a half empty 6 rink club of 300 members
Of course, we are talking original, genuine Verdemat carpets here!
- Verdemat has long been the carpet of choice for UK bowlers - a very discerning lot!
- The most popular surface in Canada has been the Verdemat Rollup, Fast Pace. This model comes with an attached underlay.
- Markings for the 45' Short Mat are prelaid (white tape)
- Markings for the 30' Carpet Bowls mat are now drawn with a permamnet black marker. They are spartan, allowing clubs and associations to add additional markings as their Rules of Play suggest.
- Cleaning & care instructions come with every mat purchased.
We currently don't stock our carpets.
- Instead we take orders as they arrive and schedule them in with the manufacturer in England. Once we reach a minimum of 6 mats arrangements are made for dispatch. Shipping in bulk allows us to keep our prices as quoted in the calendar year they are ordered.
- Generally we are looking at between 6 and 8 weeks from the time of our last ordered mat as an ETA here in Canada.
- Of course, like everything else, when it comes to importing goods we are the mercy of the shipping process.
- Over 35 years in the business has taught us a lot about patience in International Trade.
© All Rights Reserved,
MVP Sports
1985 – 2022
MVP Sports
The Sole Canadian Distributor for
Taylor Bowls, Scotland, and
Verdemat Portable Carpets, England
Serving the Canadian Bowls Community since 1985!
Although the first concept of Whole Body Vibration (WBV) was originally introduced by the Greeks a millenia ago, it wasn't until the early 1960's when modern studies in Germany began developing it in earnest. Shortly after, the Russians used WBV to help rehabilitate their cosmonauts after returning from space. WBV was used to help repair muscle tissue and loss of bone density from the effects of weightlessness in space. At the time, Russian cosmonauts were able to stay in space over twice as long as their American counterparts!
Ok – maybe not after a party or a night out on the town. That wouldn't be sage! – but perhaps the night out on the town wasn't such a good idea either?
Although we don't really need two, we actually have two T-Zone WBVMs. Our main T-Zone is the VT-40, complete with an assortment of diverse programs that enable us to change up our fitness routine daily if we wish. We have our VT-40 in our bowls showroom in our home. Even though it's the largest of the T-Zone machines it takes up so little space it doesn't seem like it gets in the way of any of the coaching sessions I provide for customers. Take a look at the photo on the right to see what I mean
If after having read about T-Zone here, and checked out some of the links we've provided, if you're still not sure about whether T-Zone will help you improve your health we invite you to try one out!
The list of types of T-Zone users is limitless. Some use it for weight loss. In a recent National T-Zone contest a local resident lost a whopping 61.5 inches – yes you read that correctly – 61.5 inches! Others have noticed appreciable relief from Osteoperosis, elderly who are concerend about loss of bone density as they age, sports folk who swear by it for both warmups and warmdowns, those wishing to build strength while doing an aerobic activity, Chiropractors and Physiotherapists who use it both as a pre-appointment patient routine and as an intergral part of their therapy programs.
I use it every morning after waking up – every morning! I play a lot of golf, used to curl a lot and do a yeoman's share of demonstrating and coaching bowls. I can't imagine what it would be like to do any of these activities without first using my T-Zone.