B&DBA Competition Rules
The following rules were completely revised in accordance with a decision made at the Association’s AGM in December 2023. They will apply to all the Association’s Championships held from 2024 onwards.
1. ASSOCIATION CHAMPIONSHIPS
a) The following championships are knock-out competitions and open to all full members of clubs affiliated to the association.
i. Singles Championship (Four bowls each player - first to reach 21 shots). The winner to hold the Wardlow Binns Trophy for one year.
ii. Pairs Championship (Four bowls each player - 18 ends. The winners to hold the ABBO Trophy for one year.
iii. Triples Championship (Three bowls each player - 18 ends. The winners to hold the E. Hibberd Challenge Cup for one year.
iv. Fours Championship (Two bowls each player - 18 ends. The winners to hold the Hudson Brothers Trophy for one year.
2. SPECIAL COMPETITIONS
a) Champion of Champions Singles - (Four bowls each player first to reach 21 shots). Only open to the previous seasons Singles Champion of an affiliated club and/or the previous season’s B&D Champion of Champions winner. Each competitor must still be a full member of an affiliated club. Where a player has won the Club singles Championship but has changed clubs during the close season, dispensation may be granted by the original club for that player to represent his former club in this competition. The winner to hold the Reg Angel Cup for one year.
b) Officers Competition Singles - (Four bowls each player first to reach to 21 shots). Open to affiliated clubs to nominate up to two full members to compete. The nominees to hold an officers position at the club. In addition, this competition is open to any member holding office as a B&D Association Secretary in any capacity. The winner to hold the Secretaries Challenge Cup for one year.
c) Over 65s Pairs Competition - (Four bowls each player 18 ends) Open to any two full members of the same one club who are both over 65 on 1st January in the year in which the competition is played. The winners to hold the Bob Harris Trophy for one year.
d) Mixed Pairs Competition - (Four Bowls each player 18 ends) Open to any two full members from the same club, one gentleman and one lady. The winners to hold the Colin Bingley and Peter Kaye Mixed Pairs Trophy for one year (Each winner to receive a trophy).
3. ENTRIES
a) Entry Qualifications: Except for circumstances described in Regulation 2(a) and 2(b) regarding the Champion of Champions Singles and Officers Singles, competitors may only enter the Association Championships from a single affiliated club.
b) Entry Fees: The AGM will agree the entry fees on the recommendation of the Executive and Treasurer (as per rule 4(c) of Association Rules The entry fees must be set at rates that are no lower than required to cover the anticipated cost of the competitions.
c) Entry Applications: Affiliated clubs must submit to the B&D Competitions Secretary the names and contact telephone numbers of their entries to all competitions together with the appropriate entry fees by 30th April. The B&D Competitions Secretary shall also have the discretion to accept entries made directly to him by members of affiliated clubs.
d) Withdrawals: In the event that any team withdraw from a competition prior to playing its first game, no named member of that team can play in any other team except at the discretion of the B&D Competitions Secretary.
e) Change of Clubs: A player who changes clubs subsequent to entering a competition or during the course of a season may continue to play in the competition providing he is a member of an affiliated club on the day a match is played. In the case of team events, all members of the team must be members of the same club on the day of the match. In the champion of champions, the club of which the player is champion must give its consent to the player continuing in the competition.
4. ARRANGEMENTS FOR PLAY
a) General: All competitions will be played on an approved outdoor grass surface or an approved synthetic surface, and in accordance with the laws of the sport.
b) Dress Code: For all rounds up to the B&D Finals
Above the waist: White shirts, approved bowls shirts, or club shirts. For team competitions all members must wear the same colour/design.
Below the waist: Players have the freedom to choose to wear trousers, culottes, cropped trousers, skorts, skirts or shorts on an individual basis, with no requirement to wear the same item as other players in their team, as long as all members of the team/side wear the same colour/design.
Any additional items such as fleeces, jackets, wet weather clothing, headgear, long- sleeved base layers, leggings or similar items do not need to match their club colours.
Bowling shoes must conform to the appropriate requirements in the laws of the sport.
c) Dress Code: B&D Finals:
Above the waist: Approved bowls shirts or club shirts. For team competitions all members must wear the same colour/design.
Below the waist: White, however players have the freedom to choose to wear trousers, culottes, cropped trousers, skorts, skirts or shorts on an individual basis, with no requirement to wear the same item as other players in their team.
Any additional items such as fleeces, jackets, wet weather clothing, headgear, long-sleeved base layers, leggings or similar items do not need to match their club colours.
Bowling shoes must conform to the appropriate requirements in the laws of the sport.
d) The Draw: The executive will determine the method of the draw for all competitions. The competitions secretary will fix the closing date or fixed date for each competition round.
e) Green Fees: Green fees are not payable for the finals. Any green fees payable in the other rounds will be borne by the home competitors.
f) Use of Substitutes: In the Pairs, Triples and Fours competitions, the players taking part in the first game will constitute the team and will play together throughout the competition. However, one named substitute will be allowed in a team throughout a competition, providing that person has not already entered and played in the same competition. The substitute can play in any position. The B&D Competitions Secretary must be advised of any team changes as named on the original entry sheets, and also any substitutes being used during the competition.
g) Challenger - Responsibilities: The first named in the draw is the challenger. He will have the choice of green (and in singles competitions will provide the marker).
i) For Play by dates: The challenger must contact his opponent and provide dates to play the match on or before the “Challenge By Date” specified on the draw sheet. The challenger must offer the opponent three dates on which to play the tie within the period allowed, one of which must be a weekend. Should the challenger have difficulty making an offer of three dates, then this must be communicated to his opponent immediately, stating the problem and endeavour to reach a mutual agreement.
ii) For Play on (Fixed) dates: There is no requirement for the challenger or opponent to contact each other, unless either side wishes to mutually agree an earlier time or date to play. Should there be no contact then the challengers and opponents are expected to turn up for play at the default time of 6.00 pm.
iii) Default starting time: For all competitions the default start time is 6.00 pm and no competitor is obliged to play earlier than this time, except when games are arranged for a weekend or on by mutual consent. Matches where there is a “fixed date” may also be played earlier than that date by mutual consent.
h) Challenger - Penalties: Should the challenger fail to comply with his responsibilities, he will forfeit all privileges as challenger and the opponent will then become the challenger and have the choice of dates and green.
i) Opponent - Responsibilities: The opponent must accept one of the dates offered or communicate with the challenger within two days of the receipt of the challenge and endeavour to reach a mutual agreement. Any dispute regarding arrangements for playing a tie must be referred to the B&D Competitions Secretary whose decision will be final.
j) Failure to appear for an arranged game: If a player or players fail(s) to appear after 30 minutes of the agreed or appointed default time, their opponent(s) can claim the match, and notify the B&D Competitions Secretary accordingly.
k) Changing of Agreed Dates or Fixed Dates: When a date/time has been agreed by both challengers and opponents and arrangements have been made, or a fixed date match needs to be changed by one of the players/teams, this can only be done by mutual agreement. The player or team who have been requested to change the date or time are under no obligation to do so. It is expected that all alternative means to play the match are explored by both parties, but If an alternative date or time cannot be agreed then the match will need to be conceded by the player or team requesting the change.
l) Completion Date: No extension of time beyond the official completion date will be granted for playing the tie, except at the discretion of the B&D Competition Secretary.
m) Match Concession: It is expected that where a player or players concede the match prior to being played, then they must notify their opponents immediately. The B&D Competitions Secretary must also be notified immediately in order to update the draw sheets and League Republic system
5. GAME RESULTS:
a) Notification of Results: It is expected that the winners of the match will notify the result to the B&D Competitions Secretary either by telephone or email (as detailed on each competition draw sheet) by 11.00 am of the following day. Score cards must be signed by both competitors in the singles and by the skips in the team games. Copies of the scorecards are not necessary, but may be sent by players if preferred.
b) Match Not Played or Uncompleted: Where, due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances, a match is either postponed or is not completed and there are no grounds for either player or team to claim the match, then the match can be rearranged as long as it is within the ‘play by date’ period of that round, or for ‘fixed dates’ at the discretion of the B&D Competitions Secretary, whose decision is final. If a suitable rearrangement cannot be agreed then the result will be determined by the toss of a coin.
6. NON-AVAILABILITY FOR FINALS DAY
Competitors who know, or have reason to believe, that they will not be able to play on the agreed B&D Finals Day must concede prior to quarter-finals. Failure to comply may result in exclusion from B&D Competitions for the following season, unless the B&D Executive Committee rescind this penalty if it considers there are mitigating circumstances.
7. ARRANGEMENTS FOR SEMI-FINALS AND FINALS
a) Semi-Finals: A semi-final is to be played on a neutral green on or before the stated completion date or fixed date; all arrangements to be mutually agreed.
b) Finals: The final of each competition will be played at a venue to be decided by the executive on the Sunday of the following weekend after the final league match.
c) Competitor in more than one final: If a competitor is involved in three or more competitions on finals day the order of play, number of ends and time of play will be determined by the executive.
d) Wet Weather: As far as possible all finals will be played to a finish but if the weather on finals day prevents the completion of the finals day programme, those members of the executive present will make such revision to the programme as they see fit to ensure that all competitions are completed as fairly as possible.
8. ALTERATION OF COMPETITION REGULATIONS
These regulations are subject to alteration temporarily as necessary by the executive to deal with any unforeseen circumstances that occur during the competitions. Any alterations must be communicated to member clubs as soon as possible. Any alterations will cease to have effect after completion of the competitions unless made permanent at the AGM.