Once in decline, the King and Queen of the Roads – the sport’s ‘Wimbledon’ – draws competitors and crowds from across Europe
The bowler clutched the metal ball and eyed his mark, a clump of grass, and studied the surface of the tarmac and the bend in the road ahead.
The crowd lining the ditch went silent, some praying for a good shot, others betting on a misfire. In an adjacent field, ponies munched on grass, oblivious to the tension.
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.
