BOWLS ENGLAND CHAMPIONSHIP PRELIMINARY ROUNDS (BEDFORDSHIRE COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIPS) – GENERAL RULES.

I – CHANGES TO RULES

These General Competition Rules may be amended:

a)        Immediately following notification of relevant changes to the Rules of Bowls England.

b)        By a simple majority at a Men’s Council Meeting, subject to the change being consistent with the Rules of Bowls England.

c)        Bowls England Regulation 50 will apply to these games and can be read in full on Bowls England website.

II – ELIGIBILITY

All clubs currently affiliated to Bowls Bedfordshire and have paid their fees are entitled to enter the competitions. No restriction shall be placed upon any member playing in more than one competition, but no player shall represent or allow his name to be submitted for more than one Club in any one year in the competitions.

III – CONDITIONS

a)        The competitions shall be played under the Rules of Bowls England and shall be under the management of the Men’s Executive Committee of Bowls Bedfordshire.

b)        Ties shall be played only upon greens at least 31 meters long and no longer than

40 meters, with Banks and Ditches and a good surface.

c)        All ties in Bowls England Championship Preliminary Rounds shall be played on greens of Clubs affiliated to Bowls Bedfordshire.

d)        Where the green of the challenger is not of a suitable standard the challenger shall have the right within 24 hours of nominating a suitable green in the nearby area. If the challenger is not able or does not exercise this right, then the game shall be played on the green of the opponent providing it has a suitable playing surface. If neither green is suitable the tie shall be played on a neutral green mutually agreed upon.

e)        Bowls Bedfordshire have the right to inspect greens if the need arises to verify the suitability of the playing surface.

f)        At the discretion of the Executive Committee a Bowls England Championship Preliminary Round may be played on a green outside the Bedfordshire County boundary, provided such green has been approved for playing Bowls England Championship Preliminary Rounds by the appropriate County Association Administrative Body.

IV – QUESTIONS AND DISPUTES

a)        The Executive Committee of Bowls Bedfordshire shall determine all questions and disputes that may arise and which do not come within the scope of the Umpires duties. The decision of the Executive Committee shall be final and binding.

b)        Appeals under Bowls England 'Laws of the Sport of Bowls' shall be made within 24 hours of the playing of a tie, and not later than the last day of the period of the round if reinstatement of a defeated appellant is desired.

c)        A clear statement in writing of the point at issue shall be communicated to the County Secretary within 24 hours of the fixture together with any evidence producible.

d)        A sum of £10 must be deposited with each appeal, which sum shall be forfeited should the appeal be considered groundless or frivolous. Should any Club in connection with any appeal have a Representative on the Executive Committee, the said Representative shall leave the Committee Room while the appeal is being considered.

V – DRAW, CHALLENGER AND OPPONENT

a)        For all County Championships an open draw will take place, the first being termed the challenger and the second termed the opponent.

b)        The result of the draw shall be published on the County Website.

c)        For Bowls England Championship Preliminary Rounds (unless otherwise stated) where the green of a challenger as drawn does not conform with Rules III(b) and III(c) the challenger shall have the right within 24 hours of nominating a passed green in his own area. If he is unable or does not elect to exercise this right, then the tie shall be played on the green of the opponent provided that green does comply with Rules III(b) and III(c). When the green of the opponent also does not comply, then the tie shall be played on a green mutually agreed upon. All

VI – ARRANGING A GAME AND RINK SELECTION

a)        Selecting the Rinks for play - In a Multi Team Match or Competition the Home Club has the right to determine which rinks are to be used for play.

The visiting skip or Captain will pair their teams with those of the home teams by placing their cards on the faced down cards of the home side, then make a draw from the pre-booked rinks to determine which team from his side will play on which rink.

Note : 'Side' means any agreed number of teams, whose combined scores determine the result of the match.

b)        No player in competition or match shall play on the same rink, on the day of such competition or match before play commences, under penalty of disqualification.

c)        In a single game the opponent shall draw from a minimum of 2 rinks offered by the challenger and as far as reasonably possible if 6 rinks are required.

VII – ROUND, DATE OF

The date on which the various rounds must be played will be found on the County Website. These dates must be strictly adhered to, but ties may be played BEFORE the dates specified by mutual consent of both parties. Under exceptional circumstances a limited extension may be granted at the discretion of the Men’s Executive Committee (or by any authorised Sub-Committee thereof).

It shall be the duty of the challenger to notify his opponent confirming the venue.

VIII – COMMENCING TIMES

a)        County Championships leading to National Finals, unless mutually agreed,

must be played on either:

(1) Weekdays

Start time no earlier than 6pm or later than 6.30pm

(2) Weekends

Start time no earlier than 9.30am or later than 6.30pm

If a player/team fails to be ready within 30 minutes of the agreed start time (Sanction I

Applies Bowls England rules).

IX – VENUE OF BOWLS ENGLAND CHAMPIONSHIP PRELIMINARY ROUNDS

The ties in all rounds up to and including the last 16 shall be played on the greens of the challenger except in cases where Rule V(c) or III(d) shall apply. The Quarter Final ties onward shall be played on greens and  dates selected by the Executive Committee.

X – RESULTS, NOTIFYING

a)        Results must be sent using the Form on the competitions page on the Bowls Bedfordshire website before 22:00 hours on the day of match taking place. As an alternative the result can be emailed using the form on the website before 22:00 hours on the day of the match taking place.

b)        When reporting results, you must state the competition played, your full name, your opponent’s full name, the score, your teams players full names, and if a substitute is used.

c)        Each team must complete a match scorecard which shall be completed with all players full names and signed at the end of the match by the opponents skip. This scorecard must be retained by the winning team and taken to all subsequent round ties, this is not a requirement in singles’ matches.

d)        It is up to each team to ensure that the team they are playing against consists of the named players of the previous round(s). All teams to have scorecards from previous rounds with them as evidence.

XI – MARKERS AND UMPIRES

Markers and Umpires shall be appointed in accordance with the World Bowls 'Laws of the Sport of Bowls'.

XII – MISCELLANEOUS

a)        It is expected that all Championship Winners attend the County Annual Dinner and Prize Presentation to collect their trophy.

b)        When representing Bowls Bedfordshire in the National Championships at Royal Leamington Spa all bowlers must wear the official County Colours.

c)        Bowls Bedfordshire shall be entitled to at least one representative in each

Championship discipline.

d)        The winners of the following County championships will be entered in the Eastern Counties B.A. Championships which take place in May of the following year.

4 wood Singles Champion                2 wood Singles Champion

Pairs Champions                        Triples Champions

Fours Champions                        4 wood Junior Singles Champion

XIII- CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES THESE RULES APPLY

        4 wood Singles

Pairs

        Triples

        Fours

        2 Wood Singles

        U24 4 wood Singles

        U24 Pairs

XIV – DRESS CODE

a)        Players dress will be Club uniform with Suitable Flat Soled Shoes. If club do not have registered colour below waist then default of white to be worn in quarter final onwards.

b)        Hats and caps must be in County authorised colours. Belts, braces and waterproofs (if worn) must be white.

XIV STICKERS (DISCS)

Coloured bowls stickers as supplied shall be used during play as and when directed by Bowls Bedfordshire.