Competition Committee
David Pearce (Secretary)
Edy Woods
George Rogers
Competition Rules
1. Competitions are open to FULL members of Burghfield Bowls Club only. Individuals who have joined and play for another outdoor club in addition to Burghfield Bowls Club may not enter.
2. It is the Club’s policy that the finals of all Club competitions will be played over the Finals Weekend (as advertised).
Any members knowing that they will be unavailable for both days of the Finals Weekend, or, who are unlikely to be available for long periods of time during the season, should not enter the competitions.
3. All fees will be collected by the Competitions Secretary. Non-payment of fees will result in the member being excluded from the competition(s). The fees are £3.50 per competition, with the Open being free. Plate is also free.
4. The first named (top) player on the draw list, the challenger, is responsible for contacting the second named player, the opponent, as soon as possible, and at least seven days before the play date, to arrange a mutually convenient date for their match. The challenger will also be responsible for providing a marker for single matches. However, where the play-by date is imminent it is suggested the opponent contacts the challenger to try to arrange a convenient date to play the match.
5. The challenger must offer at least three dates to the opponent, all of which should be well in advance of the play-by-date and will book the agreed date in the GREEN BOOKING folder to ensure a rink is available. Ideally matches should be played earlier than the prescribed play-by dates and members are encouraged to arrange their matches as soon as possible.
6. Failure to complete a match by the play-by-date may result in the challenger forfeiting the match, unless it can be proved that the fault lies with the opponent.
The Competitions Committee will decide upon any dispute.
All semi-finals matches WILL be completed by the nominated play by date to enable the committees to prepare for the Finals Weekend. Only in exceptional circumstances, and with the knowledge of the Competitions Committee, will any leeway be permitted.
7. Where a dispute is liable to arise due to the unavailability of any player this must be brought to the attention of the Competitions Committee as soon as possible, preferably at least seven days before the play-by-date for that particular round of matches. The Committee will issue a verbal ruling upon any dispute within seven days. Any player shall have the right to appeal to the full Management Committee provided that he/she lodges such an appeal in writing with the Club Secretary within seven days of the issue of a ruling.
8. In the interest of fair play any Member playing Club Competitions must not practice on, nor play more than one Competition match on the same rink
on the same day.
9. Scoreboards should always be used and a scorecard indicating the competition being played must be kept for all matches. For singles games the marker will keep the scorecard and for all other matches, the skips of each team will mark separate score cards, conferring with the other at regular intervals during the contest to verify accuracy. Only one of the scorecards need be signed by one of the skips upon completion of the match, and left in the Clubhouse for the Competitions Committee.
10. All matches will commence after 2 trial ends by each player (if required) and the toss of a coin will decide who shall start.
11. Leaving the green – a player may leave the green at any time during a match for a call of nature, to get refreshments or to retrieve equipment/clothing left in the Clubhouse. The maximum time allowed for such a break in play will be 10 minutes.
12. Abandoned Matches – Where a game has commenced and has to be abandoned due to adverse weather, poor light, etc., the teams shall:
decide to replay the whole game at the earliest convenient date, or
agree that the result will stand provided:
in a singles game at least one player has twelve shots or more, except in the case of a Handicap Singles game, where at least one player has reached half their required score (rounded-up) plus one shot.
in the case of pairs or triples at least 11 ends have been played.
13. Dead Ends – are where a jack is pushed off either side of the rink. The end shall not be counted or added to the scorecard, but will be replayed from the same direction.
14. Tied Ends – are where it cannot be decided which bowl is shot, i.e. where they are identical distances away from the jack. In this case the end is counted and added to the scorecard but no score is added for either side.
15. Result – The winner will enter the result of the match onto the master competition sheet immediately after the match is concluded.
16. Dress – for all competitions for players and markers will be greys, with white tops, or approved coloured Club shirts. Finals will be played in Whites with Club shirts.
17. Substitutes – a substitute may be allowed in Pairs and Triples Competitions provided that the Competitions Committee is consulted in advance and that the substitute has not already participated in that particular competition. There will have to be a strong and valid reason for substitutions to be permitted.
18. Finals Practice:
If a player or team that has not yet played is due to meet a player or team that has already played on the same day, the player or team that has not yet played can practice as long as:
(a) there is sufficient time available without delaying the competition, and
(b) a rink is available other than one on which the player or team has been drawn to play in a subsequent round, and
(c) such practice shall be limited to 10 ends
19. Bowls Stickers – For the Finals, players will exchange their normal bowls stickers for coloured ones to aid spectator vision. New Burghfield stickers will be made available afterwards.
20. Excepting all local conditions andamendmentsabove, all games will be played in line with the Laws of the Sport of Bowls, Crystal Mark Third Edition. A copy of which is kept in the umpires kit. In addition Bowls England’s “Alternative Bowls Formats” applies to the 100 up competition.
OPEN / MENS / LADIES / HANDICAP / NOVICE SINGLES COMPETITIONS
The first player to reach 21 shots shall be the winner. In the Handicap competition, entrants will be allocated a handicap (determined by the Competitions Committee) between zero and nine. The player with the higher handicap will start on 0, the player with the lower handicap will start on the difference between the handicaps. For example, experienced player A has a handicap of 6, inexperienced player B has a handicap of 1 – player A starts on 0, player B starts on 5.
Each player will have four bowls.
The Novices Competition is open to any club member who has not previously won any Singles Competition, at this, or any other Club.
DRAWN TWO WOOD PAIRS
This competition will be played as advertised.
ALL names will be drawn to determine playing partners.
Format to be decided nearer the date, this is dependant on numbers entering.
Each player to have two bowls.
The Final will be played over Finals Weekend. Alternatively a short final may be played on the day if all finalists prefer it.
MIXED PAIRS COMPETITION
Games to consist of 18 ends
An extra end is to be played if scores are tied after 18 ends
Each player to have four bowls
TWO WOOD SINGLES & PAIRS COMPETITIONS
Games to consist of 21 ends
An extra end to be played if score tied after 21 ends
Each player to have two bowls
TRIPLES COMPETITION
Round-robin games to be played as advertised.
Format to be decided nearer the date, this is dependant on numbers entering.
Each player is to have three bowls
Final to be played over Finals Weekend
PLATE COMPETITION
Any member losing their first game in the Open Singles Competition will automatically be entered into the draw for the Plate Competition, which will commence once all initial Open Singles games have been played.
Rules as per the Open
Final to be played on Finals weekend
100 UP COMPETITION
Singles competition – 4 bowls each player
First to score 100 (or more) points is the winner.
Shot bowl to count 4 points – Second 3 points – Third 2 points – Fourth 1 point
TIED BOWLS
If tied for shot – end declared DEAD – no points awarded
If tied for Second bowl – shot bowl only counts – 4 points only awarded
If tied for Third shot – First & Second Bowls count – 7 points only awarded
If tied for Fourth shot – First, Second & Third bowls count – 9 points awarded
BOTH PLAYERS SCORING 100
If on any end both players can reach 100, the end is played to a conclusion as usual and all points are awarded. If scores are still equal an extra end is to be played and all points again awarded. If scores are still even, further extra ends are to be played on the above basis until a winner is achieved, so determined by a higher score.
Shot bowl takes the jack.
