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Club Competitions & Rules

MERSEA ISLAND BOWLS CLUB

PLAYING SECTION

COMPETITION RULES 

 

Please note:

Members should not enter any competition knowing that their holiday arrangements may jeopardise their ability to participate in any of the rounds by the due date, in particular Finals weekend.  If they cannot re-arrange their holiday they should consult the Competition Secretary to see whether any alternative arrangements can be made.  Please remember that all club competitions are arranged for the purpose of enjoyment and club members should play and spectate in a spirit of friendship, sportsmanship and respect.

GENERAL

1.  Club competitions are open to full, life, temporary and junior members as long as compliance with entry dates has been adhered to. These Rules apply to Men’s and Ladies’ Competitions.

2.  The Playing Committee shall appoint a Competitions Secretary (CS) whose name and contact details will be posted on the notice board.

3.  A Competition will not be run in a season if there are not two or more entrants at least enabling a final to be run.

4. All club competitions operate under the jurisdiction of the CS. Any unresolved problems should be put in writing, including email, immediately to the CS, who may seek guidance from the Playing Committee. The CS’s decision is final and not subject to appeal.

5. All games must be played by the due date, unless the CS has agreed an extension.  Players are urged to play matches as early as possible during each round, in case adverse weather or other unforeseen circumstances prevent play later.  If any competitor has holiday arrangements or periods when they are not available during a competition round, he/she is to notify their opponent at the start of that round.  Extensions may be agreed by the CS but only in exceptional circumstances.

6. It is the responsibility of the Challenger i.e. the first named, to contact their opponent, arrange a suitable date, book the rink, and, in the case of singles competitions, to provide a marker who must be thoroughly conversant with the rules and acceptable to both players.

7.  The challenger shall, as soon as possible, offer the non-challenger 2 dates on which to play the match. If the non-challenger cannot agree any of the dates offered following negotiations he/she will forfeit the game. The challenger should take account of the non-challenger’s work commitments and any fixed date matches in national, county, group or borough competitions.

8.  If the non-challenger has not been contacted one week before the end of the round, he/she should contact the challenger to remind him/her of the completion date.  If the challenger cannot provide play dates within that week, the match will be awarded to the non-challenger.  If both parties fail to complete the above, both will forfeit the game, unless the CS has granted an extension.

9.  The winner should record the result on the draw sheet as soon as possible.

10. National, County and Borough matches (in that order) take precedence over Club Competitions and Club roll-ups with regard to the booking of rinks. On Monday and Friday evenings club roll-ups take precedence over club competitions.  Players in a club competition may be asked to re-arrange their booking should their rink be required for a National, County or Borough game, providing that a minimum of 48 hours notice is given.  Extensions may be granted for any Club Competition due to the above circumstances.

11. In all club competitions, the appropriate dress shall be worn by players and markers, i.e. greys below the waist, whites or club shirts above.  In the Finals, whites are to be worn, with approved Club shirts.

12. Where a match is played to a predefined number of ends, should the game be tied at that time an extra end(s) shall be played to decide the winner.  Possession of the jack at the commencement of the extra end is to be decided by the toss of a coin.

13.  If a match in play is stopped due to bad weather or other unavoidable circumstances, then:

a. If 15 or more ends have been completed, the score counts as the result of the match.

b. If 8 to 14 ends have been completed, that match may be continued from the point reached at a rearranged date.  If this is not possible, the score reached will count as the result.

c. If less than 8 ends have been played, the match may be restarted at a rearranged date.  If this is not possible, both teams/players will be eliminated from the competition.

14. If any competitor fails to appear within 30 minutes after the fixed/agreed time, their opponent may claim the match.

15. Club competitions must NOT be decided by the ”toss of a coin”.  Matches must be played or conceded.

 

 

THESE RULES APPLY TO THE FOLLOWING COMPETITIONS

 

16. CHAMPIONSHIP SINGLES- MEN’S & LADIES (BETTY BUNTING)

Competitors will play with four bowls, the winner to be the first player to reach 21 shots. The winner may represent the Club in the following year as the Mersea Island Champion in "Champion of Champions" competitions.  All other rules apply for a singles match.

 

17. TWO WOOD SINGLES (VICTORY CUP-MEN)(VINTER CUP-LADIES)

Each player will play with two bowls and the match will be played to 21 ends.  All other rules apply for a singles match. The men’s competition will be played on a single day to determine the finalists.

 

!8.  OPEN SINGLES (WAREING CUP)

The Open Singles is open to all members. Competitors will play with four bowls, the winner to be the first player to reach 21 shots. Men entrants will be given a 0 handicap and lady entrants a 4 handicap. Before the first end is played the marker will adjust the scoreboard to reflect the difference in handicap.  Scoring then follows on the normal basis. All other rules apply for a singles match.

 

19. BLYTHE CUP-MEN

 The Blythe is open to members who have not won a singles competition at our or any other club. Each competitor will play with four bowls and the winner is the player to first reach 21 shots.  All other rules apply as for a singles match.

 

20. HANDICAP SINGLES-MEN’S & LADIES (HOLMAN)

The Handicap Criteria is agreed by the Playing Committee and is displayed on the Notice Board. Before the competition is drawn the Playing Committee will apply a handicap to each entrant to this competition. Before the first end is played the marker will adjust the scoreboard to reflect the difference in handicap.  Scoring then follows on the normal basis.  Each player will play with four bowls and all other rules apply for a singles match. The winner shall be the first player to reach 21 shots including the handicap adjustment.

 

 

21. MEN’S, LADIES (ROBERTS) & MIXED DRAWN PAIRS (CAPTAIN’S CUP)

Each player will play with four bowls and the match will be decided over 21 ends, unless there is a tied game, when Rule 12 will apply.  All other rules apply as for a pairs match.

 

22. SUBSTITUTES

In pairs competitions a substitute is allowed before the competition begins.  That substitute will then play in all subsequent rounds. After the first round a substitute is allowed only in the case of illness and the substitute shall not have played in a previous round. It is the duty of the remaining player to find a substitute or forfeit the match

Men’s Handicap Criteria 

 

0       County Finalists in Singles, Pairs, Triples or Fours in past 3 years. Players selected for Middleton Cup, Eastern Counties League or to represent Essex at national finals. Benevolent, Secretaries’ and Unbadged Singles finalist in past 3 years. Borough Singles finalist in past 3 years. Club Championship winner in past 3 years.

2      Wally Ball or Inter-Group KO player during last season. Club 2-wood or Open Singles winner in past 3 years.

4       Borough Pairs, Triples, or Fours Finalist in past 3 years. Club Handicap winner or Championship or 2 Woods finalist in past 3 years. Played more than 3 games for the A Team last season.
Played in Ashford Cup during last season.

6      Any player who played 6 or more games for the B Team last season, or was likely to if the team was not run. Blythe Cup Winner in past 3 years.

8     Any player who has played one season or more and has yet to reach a club singles final.

10   Any new bowler with less than one season’s bowling experience.


When an established bowler joins the Club and before he has played a full season the Competitions’ Secretary shall assess his experience and allocate a handicap accordingly.

NB. The Playing Committee can make a ONE shot adjustment in circumstances where the grading is considered to be either too generous or too severe.