It took our team four throws to get to the next sign, marking where that record ball had stopped.
And on we went toward the finish line, with a few more throws. As timing would have it, I got the last one. It was a long, straight shot, but it was over a bridge. Next to a waterfall. Seriously, no pressure, no pressure at all.
An Irish road bowler during a recent match in West Virginia. The sport, in which players roll a ball over a two-mile stretch of road in the least possible number of rolls, is catching on.
(John Bright For The Washington Post)
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So I did what any courageous road warrior would: I shut my eyes tight and sent that bullet flying with all my strength. When I opened them, I saw my little ball had scooted just over the finish line.
Our final score: 50. We didn't earn any trophies in those two hours, but we did leave with some lovely memories of the West Virginia countryside and the good company we had that afternoon.
If you're itching to test your road bowling skills, you don't have to wait until spring 2006. The next competition is at the Strawberry Festival in nearby Buckhannon, W.Va., in May.
One place I doubt road bowling will ever catch on: the District. Even the best hurlers in Ireland are no match for our patchwork of potholes and plates.
Escape Keys
IRISH ROAD BOWLING TOURNAMENTS organized by the West Virginia Irish Road Bowling Association (202-387-1680, www.wvirishroadbowling.com) are open to the public. Here are upcoming tournaments in the state:
May 21 & 22
Buckhannon, Strawberry Festival, Turkey Run Road, 1.4 miles, 4 p.m. Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday.
June 12
