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Luke Graham

Luke Graham's column appears Mondays in the Steamboat Today. Contact him at 970-871-4229 or e-mail lgraham@SteamboatToday.com.

In the American gaming spirit of horseshoes, washers, washeroos, bocce ball, ladder golf and corn hole, David Powell and Larry Handing would like to introduce you to Irish road bowling.

The two guys don't know each other well. Powell said he recalled Handing from the Morgan County Fair in Berkeley Springs, W.Va., in late July.

But Powell, who has been Irish road bowling since 1995, and Handing, a CPA in Steamboat, have one thing in common: a love for hurling cannonballs down empty roadways.

Handing had never heard of the sport until July. While visiting his sister in West Virginia, he gave it a try and won the three-person Irish road bowling event at a county fair.

Powell helped popularize the sport in West Virginia and has been the president of the West Virginia Road Bowling Association in the past.

The essentials of Irish road bowling consist of individuals, or teams of three to four people, taking a 28-ounce cannonball - about the size of a baseball - finding a winding road that's not too hilly, picking a distance to cover and then seeing what team takes the least amount of rolls to cover that distance.

It's not a sport - if you would like to call it that - known to the masses.

Only three official clubs exist in the United States - in Boston, New York and West Virginia.

Still, it's rich in history. The sport was started in Ireland. The year it began is debated, but the game picked up popularity in 1928, when County Armagh in Northern Ireland and County Cork in Southern Ireland played the first documented match before (gasp) 10,000 spectators.

Now, Irish road bowling features international and national competitions. The national competition started Saturday in Boston.

In West Virginia, there is a full-on league of Irish road bowlers who travel the state and compete against each other.

With many state parks and open roads, West Virginia lends itself to Irish road bowling.

But Handing, who isn't sure of the interest, would like to start it up in Steamboat. He says it's like Frisbee golf without the Frisbee or like golf without the clubs. He has some ideas for roads where it could be played and is willing to teach anyone.

The rules aren't too complicated, he said.

So if you've ever enjoyed horseshoes, washers, washeroos, bocce ball, ladder golf, corn hole - or none of the above - give Irish road bowling a try.

Those interested can call Handing at 879-2102.

- To reach Luke Graham, call 871-4229

or e-mail lgraham@steamboatpilot.com