Norfolk Bowls Association
Competition
byelaws & regulations
Men’s Competitions
Byelaws (DECEMBER 2023)
These byelaws
must read in conjunction with the current Bowls England Regulations
1.
All competitions shall
be confined to those clubs which are affiliated to the Norfolk Bowls
Association and Bowls England in accordance with rule 4 of the general rules.
No competitor shall allow his name to be submitted for entry in the Junior
Singles, Junior Pairs, 2 Bowl Singles, Four Bowls Singles, Pairs, Triples,
Fours or Senior Fours competitions for more than one club in any one year but
subject to the Competition Regulation for the Junior Pairs.
2.
The County to which
his one club is affiliated is the only County for which a competitor may
compete in the National Championships or Inter-County Championships but subject
to the Competition Regulation for the Junior Pairs.
3.
No Club affiliated to
the Norfolk Bowls Association shall play a person in a National Championship who
has already played in a National Championship in any other County affiliated to
Bowls England in the same season or if they
have entered another United Kingdom country’s championship in the same season
4.
All Competitions shall
be played in accordance with the Laws of World Bowls including the Bowls
England domestic regulations and in accordance with the Competition byelaws and
regulations of the Norfolk Bowls Association.
5.
The
dress code for all matches will be in accordance with Bowls England Regulations
6.
All competitions must
be played on greens that are properly banked and ditched as laid down in the Laws
of the game in accordance with byelaw 4
7.
The draw for all
Competitions shall be made by a sub-committee consisting of the Hon. Secretary,
Hon. Competition Secretary and one member of the Management Committee
8.
All
Rounds of the Two bowl Singles, Singles, Pairs, Triples & Fours Competitions together with the Jermy Cup,
Bales Cup and Lord Fermoy Cup shall be played on fixed dates as notified by the
Hon. Competition Secretary or Competition Group Secretary and games shall
commence at 6:30pm on the date fixed unless otherwise notified.
Games may, however, be played at an earlier date by
mutual agreement with the exception of the fixed date for other competitions
unless the participants are not in any other competition.
One trial end each way may be played at the start of the
game with the appropriate number of bowls.
In the Two bowl Singles, Singles, Pairs, Triples, Fours
& Senior Fours the first named player(s) in the draw shall be the ‘home’
draw and for all rounds up to but not
including the quarter final the match will be played on the green of
the home drawn player.
In the Junior Singles & Junior Pairs, the first named
player(s) in the draw shall be the ‘home’ draw and for all rounds up to and including the quarter finals the match
will be played on the green of the home drawn player. The date & venues for
the semi-finals & final will be determined by the Hon. Competition
Secretary
In the event of a club having more competitions to play
at home than rinks available, they shall allocate those rinks in descending
order from the first named player. The lower competitors who cannot be
allocated a rink shall play on their opponents green other than if an
alternative date has been determined by the Competition Secretary.
9.
If the
Green of the first drawn competitor or one of the contestants in the Lord
Fermoy Cup competition should be unfit for play due to inclement weather or
other circumstances, the game shall be played, if practicable, on the green of
the opponent if that green is fit for play. If both greens are unfit, the game
may be played by mutual agreement on a neutral green.
The Quarter-finals, Semi-finals and
Finals of the Bales Cup and
Jermy Cup and the final of the Lord Fermoy Cup shall be
played on a green selected by the Competition Secretary.
No competition shall be played on an indoor green.
There is nothing, at present constituted, which
stipulates that games may not be played on a surface other than grass. It is,
however a condition that ties are played outdoors.
10.
If any Competitor(s)
fail to appear or not be ready to play within 30 minutes of the commencement
time, the opponent(s) may claim a 'walkover’. Each Competitor in the Junior
Singles, Junior Pairs, Singles, Pairs, Triples, Fours & Senior Fours must
telephone or email the result immediately after the match to the Competition
Group Secretary and retain the scorecard for future reference if so required.
For the, Bales Cup, Jermy Cup and Lord Fermoy Cup, competitor(s) must telephone
or email the result immediately after the match to the Competition Secretary
and retain the scorecards for future reference if so required.
11.
Match details for the
Junior Singles, Junior Pairs, 2 Bowl Singles, Singles, Pairs, Triples, Fours
& Senior Fours up to the Quarter Finals will be forwarded to the Competitors
by the Competition Group Secretary. The Competition Secretary will forward
match details for the aforementioned from the quarter finals onwards and all
rounds of the Bales Cup, Lord Fermoy Cup & Jermy Cup.
12.
For the purposes of
the Competitions the County may be divided into Groups, Zones or Sections to be
decided upon from time to time by the Competition Secretary according to
entries received during the current year.
13.
At the Annual General
Meeting, a Competition Group Secretary shall be appointed from amongst the
members thereof for each group or section who shall run the Junior Singles,
Junior Pairs, 2 Bowl Singles, Singles, Pairs, Triples, Fours & Senior Fours
Competitions up to but not including the Quarter Finals. The Competition
Secretary shall arrange all rounds of the Bales Cup, Lord Fermoy Cup &
Jermy Cup and the Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals and Finals of the Junior Singles,
Junior Pairs, 2 Bowl Singles, Singles, Pairs, Triples, Fours & Senior
Fours The two skips shall be the judges
of all disputed points and when they agree their decision shall be final. If
they fail to agree the point, it shall be decided by an umpire if appointed,
otherwise by a neutral person mutually chosen. In all competitions in which no
official umpire has been appointed the respective skips shall have the right to
inspect their opponent’s bowls before commencement of the first end to ensure
that they comply with the requirements of ' the laws of the game'
14.
The rounds in all
competitions shall be played on or before dates determined by the Competition
Secretary (subject to byelaw 9). No extension will be allowed under any
circumstances except when players are representing their Country, participating
in the County Tour or in the event of a game not starting due to exceptional
weather conditions. No Semi-Finals or Finals shall be played on the date
arranged for the Quarter Finals, Semi-Finals or Final of the Middleton Cup.
15.
In the event of a game
not starting or starting but no decision being reached owing to exceptional
weather conditions in a Competition game, excluding Bales Cup and Lord Fermoy
Cup games, it shall be resumed within three days of the fixed date and allowed
to take precedence over any other game. Under no circumstances must a fixed
date of another Competition be used. The Competition Group Secretary should be
notified immediately in respect of Competition games and the Competition
Secretary should be notified immediately in respect of Bales Cup, Lord Fermoy
Cup & Jermy Cup games. Bales Cup, Lord Fermoy Cup & Jermy Cup games must
be completed within 7 days. The first named side must contact their opponents
within 24 hours to arrange a new date and the Competition Secretary notified of
the result immediately after the match. Where games have started, they shall be
resumed with the scores, as they were when the game was stopped.
16.
In the event of the
scores being equal at the completion of a Pairs, Triples or Fours game, an
extra end or ends shall be played until a decision has been reached. The leads
shall toss a coin and the winner shall have the right to decide who shall play
first.
17.
For the purpose of
considering and determining all disputes and protests there shall be
established a special sub-committee consisting of the Hon. Competition
Secretary and two members of the Executive Committee as delegated. All protests
appertaining to the green etc. must be intimated before the commencement of the
sixth end and all protests against a player within three days after the game.
Notwithstanding the intention to lodge a protest the game must be completed.
Protests appertaining to the green shall be notified on completion of the game
and confirmed in writing to the Competition Secretary within one day of the
game. The Secretary of the club concerned will be notified of an inspection by
the greens inspection committee who will report to the sub-committee whose
decision will be conveyed to the competitors and to the Club Secretary.
Protests appertaining to a player shall be notified in writing to the Hon.
Competition Secretary within three days of the game, referred to the
sub-committee and a decision conveyed to the protester.
18.
Entries in
the Junior Singles, Junior Pairs, 2 bowl Singles, 4 bowl Singles, Pairs, Triples
Fours & Senior Fours Competitions are accepted on the understanding that those
that are eligible under Bowls England Regulations shall be entered for and
compete in the Bowls England National Championships.
19.
In the 2 Bowl Singles,
Singles and Junior Singles Competition, those Competitors who do not represent
the County in the National Championships shall be banned from entering the
National Championships under the jurisdiction of the Norfolk Bowls Association
for up to three years.
20.
Where there is no
representation at the National Championships by a Pair, Triple or Four and who
are unable to satisfy the Executive Committee they had good reason for not competing
will also be banned for up to three years.
21.
Any competitor
becoming aware that he is unable to represent his County in the National
Championships must withdraw from the Competition immediately.
22.
All trophies shall be
presented to the winners at the Annual Luncheon or other event which might be
arranged
23.
The winners shall hold
the trophies for one year and shall return them to the Competition Secretary
by 1st September.
24.
The holder will be
responsible for their safe custody other than insurance.
25.
The winning clubs in
the 2 Bowl Singles, Singles, Pairs, Triples, Fours, Junior Singles, Junior
Pairs & Senior Fours, Club Championship (Bales Cup), Jermy Cup and Double
Fours Competition (Lord Fermoy Cup) shall be presented with a County Pennant
showing the year and name of the event.
26.
Entries for all
competitions shall be made on the forms provided. Club Secretaries which must be
returned to the Hon. Competition Secretary by the date specified thereon. Entry
Fees and the cost of any Competition Supplement will be determined from time to
time by the Executive Committee and approved by the Annual General Meeting of
the Association.
27.
Mobile phones or other
electronic devices shall not be used on the green during any matches.
Competition Regulations
In the 2 Bowl Singles, 4 bowl Singles, Junior
Singles, Pairs, Triples and Fours Championship no player may play for more than
one club. A player may only play for one club in the Jermy Cup & Bales Cup
or for one side in the Lord Fermoy Cup. This need not be the same club or
the club from which he entered the individual County Championships.
The dates on which games are played are subject to
byelaws 9, 14 & 15.
Junior Singles
1.
This Competition shall
be open to male applicants who are full members of clubs affiliated to the
Norfolk Bowls Association who have not attained the age of 25 on the 1st of
April in the year of the competition.
- Each game shall consist of 21 shots with four bowls each
player. The first drawn player must provide a
marker.
3.
The early rounds of the competitions may be
played on an area basis, which may not conform to the groups and sections of
other competitions.
4.
The player whose name appears first in a draw is
designated the ‘Challenger’ & similarly the player whose name appears
second is designated the ‘Opponent’.
For ties prior to the quarter finals:-
The challenger
shall offer his opponent the choice of 2 dates.
Ties at
weekends shall not commence before 10.00am and ties on weekdays shall be
arranged to commence at 6.30pm. Other times may be offered if agreed by both
players/teams. These dates must be offered not less than 14 days before the
closing date of the opening round of the Championship or within 5 days, after
the closing date of the previous round
If the
challenger does not offer dates within the required time period the opponent
becomes the challenger and shall offer dates as above at their own club. When
dates are offered, the arrangement must be confirmed within 72 hours and must
adhere to any arrangements made
If the
opponent has previously arranged to play another County Championship on one or
both of the two dates offered or is on outdoor International duty or on Bowls
England business, the Challenger is required to offer alternative dates
5.
All ties from the Quarter Finals onwards will be
played on fixed dates on greens selected by the Competition Secretary.
Two Bowl Singles Championship
1. Each game shall consist of 21 ends with
2 bowls for each player. In the event of a tie, an extra end or ends shall be
played until a decision has been reached. The first drawn player must provide a
marker.
2. The early rounds of the
competitions may be played on an area basis, which may not
conform to the groups and sections of other competitions.
3. Each round shall be played on the date
stipulated, or in accordance with byelaw 9, 14 & 15.
Four Bowl Singles Championship
1. The winner shall be the first player to score 21 shots with 4 bowls for
each player. The first drawn player must provide a marker.
2. Each round shall be played on the date stipulated, or in accordance with
byelaw 9, 14 & 15.
Pairs Championship
1. Each game shall consist of 18
ends with 4 bowls for each player. In the event of a tie an extra end or
ends shall be played until a decision has been reached.
2. Each pair shall consist of two men who must be bona fide playing members
of the same club.
3. The two players taking part in the first game shall constitute the pair
who should normally play together throughout the competition. One additional
player, and the same player may, however, be used as a substitute at any time
provided he has not already played in the competition, and may play in any
position.
4. Each round shall be played on the date stipulated or in accordance with
byelaw 9, 14 & 15.
Triples Championship
1. Each game shall consist of 18
ends with 3 bowls for each player. In the event of a tie an extra end or
ends shall be played until a decision has been reached.
2. Each triple shall consist of three men who must be bona fide playing
members of the same club.
3. The three players taking part in the first game shall constitute the
triple and should normally play together throughout the competition. One
additional player, and the same player may, however, be used as a substitute at
any time provided he has not already played in the competition, and may play in
any position.
4. Each round shall be played on the date stipulated, or in accordance with
byelaw 9, 14 & 15.
Fours Championship
1. Each game shall consist of 18
ends with 2 bowls for each player. In the event of a tie an extra end or
ends shall be played until a decision has been reached
2. Each four shall consist of four men who must be bona fide playing
members of the same club.
3. The four players taking part in the first game shall constitute the four
and should normally play together throughout the competition. One additional
player, and the same player may, however, be used as a substitute at any time
provided he has not already played in the competition, and may play in any
position.
4. Each round shall be played on the dates stipulated or in accordance with
byelaw 9, 14 & 15.
Junior Pairs Championship
1. This Competition shall be open to male applicants
who are full members who are full members of clubs affiliated to the Norfolk
Bowls Association who have not attained the age of 25 on the 1st of April in
the year of the competition. The two players
may be from different clubs, but they must both be members of Clubs affiliated
to Norfolk Bowls Association and have entered all other National Championship
events from the same county.
2. Each game shall consist of 18 ends with four bowls each player with the leads to playing their
four bowls before the skips.
3. In the event of the scores being equal when all ends have
been played, an extra end or ends must be played until a decision is reached.
4.
The early rounds of the
competitions may be played on an area basis, which may not
conform to the groups and sections of other competitions.
5.
The player whose name
appears first in a draw is designated the ‘Challenger’ on behalf of themselves
and, where appropriate their team, similarly the player whose name appears
second is designated the ‘Opponent’.
For ties prior to the quarter finals:-
The challenger shall offer his opponent the choice of 2
dates
Ties at weekends shall not commence before 10.00am and ties
on weekdays shall be arranged to commence at 7.00pm. Other times may be offered
if agreed by both players/teams. These dates must be offered not less than 14
days before the closing date of the opening round of the Championship or within
5 days after the closing date of the previous round
If the challenger does not offer dates within the required
time period the opponent becomes the challenger and shall offer dates as above
at their own club. When dates are offered, the arrangement must be confirmed
within 72 hours and must adhere to any arrangements made
If the opponent has previously arranged to play another
County Championship on one or both of the two dates offered or is on outdoor
International duty or on Bowls England business, the Challenger is required to
offer alternative dates
6.
All ties from the Quarter Finals
onwards will be played on a dates determined by the Competition Secretary &
on greens selected by the Competition Secretary.
Senior
Fours Championship
1. This Competition shall be open to male
applicants who are full members of clubs affiliated to the Norfolk Bowls
Association who have attained the age of 55 on the 1st of April in the year of
the competition. All four players must come
from the same club and must represent that same club from which all other
National Championship events have been entered.
2. Each game shall consist of 18 ends with 2
bowls for each player.
3. In the event of the scores being equal when all ends have
been played, an extra end or ends must be played until a decision is reached.
4.
The early rounds of the
competitions may be played on an area basis, which may not
conform to the groups and sections of other competitions.
5.
The player whose name
appears first in a draw is designated the ‘Challenger’ on behalf of themselves
and, where appropriate their team, similarly the player whose name appears
second is designated the ‘Opponent’.
For ties prior to the quarter finals:
The challenger shall offer his opponent the choice of 2
dates
Ties at weekends shall not commence before 10.00am and ties
on weekdays shall be arranged to commence at 6.30pm. Other times may be offered
if agreed by both players/teams.
These dates must be offered not less than 14 days before
the closing date of the opening round of the Championship or within 5 days
after the closing date of the previous round.
If the challenger does not offer dates within the required
time period the opponent becomes the challenger and shall offer dates as above
at their own club. When dates are offered, the arrangement must be confirmed
within 72 hours and must adhere to any arrangements made
If the opponent has previously arranged to play another
County Championship on one or both of the two dates offered or is on outdoor
International duty or on Bowls England business, the Challenger is required to
offer alternative dates
6.
All games from the Quarter Finals
onwards will be played on dates determined by the Competition Secretary &
on greens selected by the Competition Secretary.
Club Championship (Bales Cup)
1. The competition is open to all clubs
affiliated to the Norfolk Bowls Association.
2. Each club shall be represented by 12
male players (constituted by 3 fours) who must be bona fide playing members of
the club.
3. The game shall consist of 18 ends with 2 bowls for each player.
4. Prior to the game, the challenger will
declare the 3 rinks on which the match will be played, of which one rink shall
be drawn to play the extra end. The cards will then be placed face down, where
a visiting club person will attach a rink number. The total number of
shots over all rinks will decide the result. In the event of a draw an
extra end will be played by the nominated rink immediately after all fours have
completed 18 ends. Should this happen the result of the extra end will
determine the result.
5. Each round must be played on a date
stipulated, or in accordance with byelaw 9, 14 & 15. The Quarter Finals,
Semi-finals and the Final will be played on greens selected by the Competition
Secretary.
Double Fours Championship (Lord Fermoy
Cup)
- A team shall be
represented by 8 male players who must be bona fide playing members
of the club.
- The game shall
consist of 18 ends with 2 bowls
for each player with one four to play at home and the other four away on
the same day (but subject to byelaw 9)in all rounds except the final
which will be played on a green selected by the Competition Secretary
- In all rounds
leading to the final, prior to the start of the match the club shown first
in the draw shall nominate a rink to play an extra end which will be
played by that rink immediately after the conclusion of its 18th
end.
In the final, prior to the start of the
game one rink shall be drawn to play an extra scoring end. In the event of a
tied overall score, the drawn rink will play the extra end immediately after
both fours have completed 18 ends
and the result of this extra end will determine the result.
- A club is allowed
to make any number of entries in this competition. Clubs shall have the
option of substituting players and altering the position of players for
the second or succeeding rounds, but a player may only play for one team
in his club.
- Each round must
be played on the dates stipulated, or in accordance with byelaw 9, 14
& 15.
Jermy Cup
1. The competition shall be controlled by the Men’s
Competition Secretary of The Norfolk Bowls Association.
2. The competition shall be open to male and female
members of clubs affiliated to the Norfolk Bowls Association on 1st MAY of the
year of the and who must be bona fide playing members of that club. Clubs
shall have the option of substituting players and of altering the position of
players for the second or succeeding rounds. All players must be members of the
same club.
3. The competition shall be played under the laws of
the game adopted by the World Bowls Board and in accordance with the byelaws
and regulations laid down by the Norfolk Bowls Association.
4. A club side shall consist of three rinks of THREE
players with each rink comprising a minimum of one male and one female player
& either gender may play as skip.
5. Each club shall be represented by 9 players
(constituted by 3 TRIPLES) who must be bona fide playing members of the club.
The game shall consist of 18 ends
with 3 bowls for each player
6.
Prior to the game, the
challenger will declare the 3 rinks on which the match will be played, of which
one rink shall be drawn to play the extra end. The cards will then be placed
face down, where a visiting club person will attach a rink number.
7. Total number of shots over all rinks will decide
the result. In the event of a draw an extra end will be played by the
nominated rink immediately after all TRIPLES have completed 18 ends. Should
this happen the result of the extra end will determine the result.
8. For the purpose of the competition, the County may
be divided into Groups, Zones or Sections to be decided upon from time to time
by the Competition Secretary according to entries received.
9. The Competition Secretary shall arrange all rounds
of the Competition. The Semi-Finals and Final shall be played on a green
selected by the Competition Secretary. There is nothing in the laws of the
game, or in the rules of the competition, which stipulates that games may not
be played on a surface other than grass. It is however a condition that the
ties are played outdoors.
10. The
Competition Secretary will send match details to the Secretary of the each
club. The result must be telephoned immediately on completion of the game to
the Competition Secretary. The result card properly completed clearly showing
both teams and signed by both skips must be forwarded to the Competition
Secretary.
11. All rounds
shall be played on fixed dates notified by the Competition Secretary and games
shall commence at 10am on the date fixed unless an alternative time is mutually
agreed between competing clubs (apart from the semi-finals & finals which
will be played on the date determined by the Competition Secretary). Games
prior to the semi-final and final may however be played at an earlier date by
mutual agreement with the exception of the fixed date for other competitions
unless the participants are not in any other competition. One trial end each
way may be played at the start of the game with the appropriate number of
bowls. No extensions will be allowed under any circumstances except for
exceptional weather conditions as in competition byelaw 15.
12. In the event
of no decision being reached owing to exceptional weather conditions the game
shall be resumed within 7 days with the scores, as they were when the game was
stopped. The first named side must contact their opponents within 24 hours to
arrange a new date and notify the Competition Secretary. Under no
circumstances, must a fixed date of another competition be used.
13. If a side
fails to appear or not be ready to play within 30 minutes after the agreed time
for the tie the opponents may claim a walkover.
14. For the
purpose of considering and determining all disputes and protests there shall be
a sub-committee comprising the Competition Secretary and two members of the
Executive Committee as delegated. All protests appertaining to the
green etc. must be intimated before the commencement of the sixth end
and all protests against a player within 3 days of the game. The procedure is
as explained in the Norfolk Bowls Association competition byelaws no. 17.
15. The Jermy Cup and a Pennant showing
the year and name of the event will be presented to the winner at the Annual
Luncheon or other event which might be arranged. The winner shall hold the trophy
for one year and shall return it to the Competition Secretary by September 1st.
The winner will be responsible for its safe custody other than insurance.
(ends)
APPENDIX
Summary of changes to byelaws &
regulations
December
2022
1. INTEGRATION OF 2022 ADDENDUM INTO MAIN RULES
a)
Playing formats for individual Championships –
individual Competition Regulations
b)
National Championship qualification – update of Regulation 18
2. CHANGES FOLLOWING MOTIONS PASSED AT THE 2022 AGM
a)
Bales Cup number of ends reduced to 18 – update of Bales Cup Regulation 3
b)
Lord Fermoy Cup number of ends reduced to 18 - update of Lord Fermoy Cup Regulation 2
c)
Jermy Cup number of ends reduced to 18 - update of Jermy Cup Regulation 2
d)
Lord Fermoy Cup extra end
clarification – update of Lords Fermoy Cup Regulation 3
e) Individual County
Championship Area finals not on neutral green – update of Regulations 8 & 9
December 2023
CHANGES
FOLLOWING MOTIONS PASSED AT THE 2023 AGM
1.
REGULATION
5 – DRESS CODE
Regulation change to dress code to be in accordance with Bowls England
Regulations
2.
JERMY
CUP
Format to change to 3x triples over 18 ends with each player playing 3
bowls and each of the 3 triples to contain a minimum of 1 male & 1 female
player
3.
BALES
CUP
Correction to Regulation 4 to provide for extra end to be played once 18
ends have been completed