Women - Rules

COMPETITION RULES

General

  • County Championships and Competitions shall be administered by Bowls Northumberland and will be conducted under the Rules and Regulations of Bowls England and in accordance with the current Laws of the Sport of Bowls. For further information see https://www.bowlsengland.com.
  • All competitors must have paid affiliation fees through their club for the current year.
  • All County Championships, unless mutually agreed, must be played on a set date, at the venue of the home drawn club unless specified. Games shall be played either on weekdays in the evenings, with a start time no earlier than 6pm and no later than 6.30pm or at weekends. For weekdays, in the absence of mutual agreement the start time of no earlier than 6pm shall be adhered to.
  • The draw for rink/s to be played on shall be made in accordance with the current Laws of the Sport.
  • Winners should notify the results by phone, text or e-mail to the Competition Secretary no later than 10pm on the day of play.
  • The winners’ scorecard signed by both skips and listing all the player’s names must be submitted by the winners, to the Competition Secretary, within 72 hours of the end of play. This can be via post, emailing or WhatsApp, with a photo making sure the date, competition, all competitor’s names and scores are all clearly visible.
  • The winners of each Championship shall represent Bowls Northumberland at the Bowls England National Championships.
  • Any cases of dispute should be referred to the Competition Secretary.

 

Cancellations

  • Games may be rescheduled to an earlier date if mutually agreed but must be played before the next round commences.
  • For cancellations due to adverse weather conditions as determined by the green keeper/challenger, the tie must be played before the next round commences.
  • Any cancelled game must be reported to the Competition Secretary the same day.
  • New dates should not be offered on County match days or any other County Competition days (see calendar).

Dress Code 

  • Qualifying rounds/ Benevolent/ Norris/ Double Rinks Final.
    All competitors must play in regulation shoes and grey trousers/ skirt/ crops/ bowls regulation shorts and registered club tops.
    If there is no club top registered to the BNWS then you must wear a predominantly white polo shirt. All members of the same side must wear the same tops.
  • County Finals
    Dress for all county finals is white/navy skirt/trouser/crops/ bowls regulation shorts plus predominantly white or registered top. All players of the same side must wear the same tops and the same colour below the waist.
    Any competitors not compliant may be disqualified.
  • Bowls England National Championships
    Northumberland County regulation tops, white regulation skirts/trousers/crops/BE shorts and regulation shoes.
  • For other dress code please refer to Bowls England Regulation No 50. 2.8

 

Undrawn Competitions

Benevolent, Norris, 2 Wood & 4 Wood Champion of Champions

  • Arrive at the venue no later than 9.45am. Draw will take place at 10am.
  • Competitors in the undrawn competitions must give prior notice of withdrawal or incur green fees

 

County Double Rinks

  • 3 Dates to be given, one of which must be a weekend or evening.
  • Rounds to be played on a play by date except the semi-final and final, which will be on a set day.

 

Format of Play

National Championships Players(per side) No of bowls(per player) No of ends No of shots Age restrictions(age as at 1st April 2024)
2 Bowl Singles* 1 2 21 Open age
4 Bowl Singles 1 4 21 Open age
Pairs* 2 4 18 Open age
Triples* 3 3 18 Open age
Fours* 4 2 18 Open age
Senior Fours* 4 2 18 55 or over
Junior Singles 1 4 21 under 25
Junior Pairs* 2 4 18 under 25
County Competitions
Double Rinks* 8 2 18 Open age
Benevolent Triples 3 2 15 Open age
Norris Trophy 3 2 15 Open age

* In these games – in the event of the scores being equal when all ends have been played, an extra end or ends shall be played until a decision is reached.

 

Trophies

  • Current trophy holders to deliver all trophies to their respective finals.

Winners and runner-ups will be expected to get their trophies engraved (font and size according to existing engraving on the trophy).
Players will then bring the engraved and polished trophies to the County Luncheon where they will be presented formally.

 


Dress Code for County Matches

Bowls Northumberland County shirt, navy trousers, skirts, crops or bowls regulation shorts and regulation shoes.