B&DBA Annual Club Tournament - Sponsored by BEBC

Sunday 26th April 2026 @ New Milton BC

This one-day tournament is run by the B&DBA and sponsored by BEBC. 


1. DATE OF TOURNAMENT

The tournament will be played on the Sunday before the start of the B&DBA Premier League season commences. Any cancellation due to the weather will be made before 8am on the day and shared by email to all tournament contacts. The aim would be for the tournament to take place the following Sunday. Clubs would then need to re-confirm they can play on this new date.


2. QUALIFICATION

To promote inclusivity, giving all clubs within the B&DBA a chance to enter, tournament qualification will be based on the following criteria:


16 clubs to enter, taken from the previous season’s final placings, which consist of:

  • Top 14 clubs in the Premier League

  • Highest positioned club from the Saturday Triples League (not including the top 14 from the Premier)

  • One club invitational - selected by the B&DBA committee/Tournament Sponsor


Any club declining to enter, the next highest placed club will be given the opportunity to compete.


3. ENTRY FEE & TOURNAMENT INFORMATION

There will be a cost of £10 per club to enter, that will be added on to the league fees. Entry money will go towards the cash prizes.

Participating clubs please arrive for registration no later than 09:30. Team captains will be provided a handbook detailing: 

  • Tournament rules

  • Players representing each team

  • Fixtures and rinks used

  • Known rest period of play


4. CONSTITUTION OF TEAMS  

a)  A club will name 8 players ahead of the tournament, stating which four players are representing Team A, and the four players representing Team B. Names must be emailed to the Tournament organiser no later than 7 days before the tournament.

b)  Both teams will have three predetermined, random and different opposition to play - they will not play Team’s A & B from another club. 

c)  A ninth unnamed member can also be in attendance and substitute one player from either team prior to any game, however, once played, that person cannot switch teams and the substituted player will not be able to return to play. This is purely to cover absence or sickness, and should not be used as a tactical option.

d)  Any team that is unable to field a full side, or if a player has to leave a game for a variety of reasons, the team may play as a three. At this point, only 6 bowls (2 bowls each player) are used, with the same rules laid out in the constitution when playing with a player short. No change to the score will apply.


5. FORMAT

There is one league featuring 16 clubs – the top four clubs will go through to a final game of 6 ends to decide final placing for the prizes and the overall winners.


6. GAME RULES

Game rules may differ for each annual tournament, with competition rules being announced in the month leading up to each tournament.

2026 Tournament Rules

Each game is played similar to Saturday Premier rinks, which consists of two bowls per player, however, there are a few different rules:

  • Each game will start on the hour. Each team will play three of the four time slots: 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00. The final will start at 14:15.

  • Each game to consist of 6 ends to be played

  • A coin toss will determine which team gets to decide on having the mat or giving it away

  • No trial ends

  • No 3’s up (except in the final)

  • No visiting the head by any player (except in the final)

  • Each game will have a 55 minute time limit. The umpire will give a five minute warning, ten to the hour, e.g. (10:50). The game will stop at the conclusion of the end.

  • To adhere to allocated times there will be no killing of an end. If the jack leaves the confines of the rink then it will be placed on the two yard marker. If that mark is occupied, then the jack will be placed as near to the spot as possible directly in front of the two yard mark.


7. SCORING

Each team will be awarded:

  • Win: 2 points

  • Draw: 1 point

  • Defeat: 0 points

Additional points:

  • Win by 5 or more shots: 1 point

  • Win all 6 ends: 1 point

  • Win an end by 6 shots or more: 1 point

Although both teams from each club (A & B) will be playing different opposition, all scores are combined for the final league table placing.

If multiple clubs share the top four positions on equal points, positions are determined in the following order:


  1. The most amount of additional points awarded

  2. Total shots scored

  3. Total shots difference


8. FINAL

  • The top four clubs reach the final, which are played on the main Green.

  • 1st v 2nd will play to determine the overall Champions

  • 3rd v 4th will play to determine the final placings for the cash prizes.

  • Team A will play each other on one rink, and Team B will play each other on an adjourning rink.

  • Rinks chosen must not have previously been used by the team of either club.

  • 3s up with the skip.

  • The head can be re-visited by the skip only before their last bowl.


9. PRIZE MONEY

An entry fee of £10 per club means that prize money is awarded to a quarter of the clubs participating, and is broken down as follows:

Winners: £200 & the BEBC prestigious glass trophy

Runners-up: £120

3rd: £60

4th: £30


10. DRESS CODE

Whites or Club colours may be worn, in accordance with the constitution rules for Saturday games.


11. DISPUTES

Any decision on the day will be made by an official/nominated umpire.

Any dispute regarding the rules will be made by the attending B&DBA Committee – their decision will be final.


B&DBA Competition Committee


Confirmation of the 16 participating clubs for 2026 are:

  1. Boscombe Cliff

  2. Fordingbridge

  3. New Milton

  4. Bournemouth

  5. Poole Park

  6. Branksome Park

  7. Highcliffe

  8. Ringwood

  9. Moordown

  10. Knyveton Gardens

  11. Braeside

  12. Kings Park

  13. Broadstone Wessex

  14. Ferndown

  15. Pelhams

  16. Swanage