AVON BOWLING CLUB COMPETITION RULES 
1.
A competitor shall be:
a.
A playing member of the Club and only members who have paid their annual
subscription by the 10th May shall be eligible for any competition.
b.
14 years of age on the 1st May in the year in which he/she competes.
2.
All competitions shall be played in accordance with the laws of the
game, as prescribed by Bowls England.
3.
The Competitions Committee, comprising the Competition Secretary (Club
Captain), Ladies Captain and a Club Member (appointed each year), shall make
the draw for the competitions.
4.
Any individual competition will only be run if there are enough players
to ensure that at least one round is played
before the Finals. If there are not enough entrants for a competition, that
individual competition will not be run that season.
5.
The Novice Cup competition is open to fully paid-up playing members who:
a.
Have not won a club competition at Avon Bowling Club.
b.
Have not played at County level.
6.
Each round of each competition shall be played on or before the fixed
date as published in the draw.
7.
Competitors who know they cannot play in the final must withdraw from
the Competitions.
8.
Pairs:
a.
The pairs will be drawn for each of the pair’s competitions with one
experienced player to be drawn with one less experienced player (the
Competitions Committee to decide on the experience).
b.
In the event of one member of a pair not being able to play by the
closing date of any round, a substitute may be allowed. If there is no
substitute the pair will be eliminated and their opponents go through.
Substitutes will be allowed in any round including the final but he/she must be
eligible and not have entered the pair’s competition in that year. The Competitions
Committee will identify any substitute.
9.
The Competitions’ finals shall be played on the allocated days shown in
the Fixture Card. All finalists will play on the day allocated by the
Competitions Committee, having regard to any individual being in more than one final. The Competition Committee will identify the markers and umpire for the Finals.
10.
Both players are responsible for arranging their
match in any round.
a.
The player first drawn in any pairing is the Challenger. For the Singles
competition rounds the Challenger is responsible for providing a marker who
must be approved by both players.
b.
As early as possible, the players should discuss match dates. When a date
has been agreed it is requested that this is noted on the draw sheet so that
the Competitions Committee can see that they do not need to ‘chase it up’.
c.
Competitors who have failed to finalise an agreed date and play off a
tie by the required date will be automatically disqualified from that
particular competition unless the Competitions Committee agree to extend the
date – extenuating circumstances only.
11.
Rinks shall be drawn for all stages of the competition. On a match day,
no competitor shall play on the selected rink before the match.
12.
Two trial ends should be played before the first end is played.
13.
If any competitor fails to appear within 30 minutes after the
fixed/agreed time, their opponent may claim the match.
14.
Inclement weather: If the match cannot start or has to
be abandoned due to bad weather (not just a break to allow the weather to
improve) then:
a.
If at least 12 ends have been completed, the score stands and the match
is complete.
b.
If 7 to 11 ends have been completed, the match continues from that point
at a rearranged date. On resumption on another day trial ends may be played.
c.
If less than 7 ends have been completed, the match restarts from 0 on a
rearranged date.
15.
The Competitions Committee will have the final say on any issues or
appeals arising. Where a Competition Committee member is not independent of any individual appeal,
the Club Chairman will be involved in the appeal decision.
16.
Dress for the initial rounds is smart casual, with the Finals to be
played in Whites.
The competitions will be (number of entrants
permitting):
Men’s’ singles – 4
woods
Ladies’ singles - 4
woods
Men’s 2 woods
Ladies’ 2 woods
Men’s Pairs
Ladies Pairs
Mixed Pairs
Novice cup - 4 woods
singles, mixed (first to 21 shots)
The Competitions will be played in accordance with the Bowls England regulations which will be displayed on the notice board.
The Competitions Committee request members to play your matches on time and within
the rules of the game giving your opponent courtesy at all times.
These rules were agreed by the Club Committee April 2022