IT’S GOOD TO BE BACK
After an horrendous fifteen months or so it is good to see bowlers once again playing crown green bowls after so much uncertainty. Hopefully, there will be no further pauses in play imposed by the Government and all bowlers will follow the guidelines as we play our part in fighting off this virus.
Getting the correct guidance, particularly regarding this latest ‘Return to Play’, has been frustrating to say the least. We have had to wait for the Government to clarify the points contained in their roadmap to exit lockdown before we can pass the information on to our members. Our CEO, Mark Bircumshaw, has put in countless hours on this subject alone and should be commended for his time and effort. He was often in a ‘no win’ situation but endeavoured to ensure that the correct guidance was issued each time. Guidance has always been issued to all county associations to pass on to their member clubs and posted on our website. You can view the current guidance by visiting the BCGBA website – bcgba.org – and click on the Return to Play link on the homepage. Hopefully, all restrictions will soon be coming to an end but this virus is likely to be with us for some time so please play your part in remaining safe. The BCGBA will observe any Government protocols remaining in place when Step 4 guidance is announced.
DOUG STEWART RIP
It is with great sadness that Doug Stewart, an Honorary Life Member of the association, passed away earlier in the week.
Affectionately known as 'Mr Wigan', Doug was BCGBA Competitions Officer for over ten years, was a Life Member and Chairman of the British Crown Green Referees Society and was an active member of the Finance Committee for many years.
Doug would light up a room with his sense of humour and would ensure there was never a dull moment when he was officiating at BCGBA events.
We should also take a moment to remember those who have sadly departed as a result of this awful pandemic or ill health. These include our former Competitions Officer, John Coxill, Barrie Milnes (Derbyshire), a Life Member of the British Crown Green Referees Society and Hugh Hornby, former secretary of North Lancs & Fylde.
The BCGBA extends our sincere condolences to all the families and friends of the bowlers we have lost. They will be greatly missed and we are sure to have fond memories of our bowling colleagues.
NEW CHAIRMAN
Alan Stephenson (Yorkshire) has been appointed as the new Management Committee Chairman. Alan takes over from fellow Yorkshireman, Chris Hasselby, who has had to stand down due to ill health. The BCGBA wishes to place on record our sincere thanks to Chris for his outstanding contribution to the association and wish him well for the future.
2021 BCGBA SENIOR COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP KNOCKOUT TROPHY
With the Senior County Championship unable to run in its usual format due to Covid restrictions, after consultation with all county associations, for 2021, it was decided that a knockout format would be used, played on the first Sunday of each month from July through to October. The normal format will return in 2022.
The draw (below) will be played straight through with the winners of Yorkshire v Merseyside playing Wales in the next round, Potteries & District or North Midlands taking on South Yorkshire or Cumbria, Greater Manchester or Staffordshire facing North Lancs & Fylde or Shropshire and Warwick & Worcester or Lancashire meeting the winners of the Derbyshire v Cheshire clash.
The winning county in each match will be the county that has the best overall aggregate from both venues. However, in the event of a draw the following order of criteria will determine the winners.
- The county with the most individual winners progresses to the next round.
- If it still remains a draw, the county with the best winner will progress to the next round.
- If it still remains a draw, the county with the second, third, fourth etc best winner will progress to the next round.
Teams this year do not have to be exchanged until 14 days prior to each match and it is hoped that all counties will live-score their games as their match progress. You can view all match cards and results on the BCGBA website – bcgba.org.uk. Click on the 2021 Competitions link on the left hand sidebar.
FIRST ROUND – Sunday 4th July (2pm)
YORKSHIRE at Whitkirk BC (LS15 7BT) v MERSEYSIDE at Mossely Hill Athletic (L18 8BX)
WALES v Bye
POTTERIES & DISTRICT at Dilhorne BC (ST10 2PQ) v NORTH MIDLANDS at Dunlop No 2 (CV6 4AU)
SOUTH YORKSHIRE at Crookesmoor Recreation (S10 1BA) v CUMBRIA at Lindal BC (LA12 0LA)
GREATER MANCHESTER at Crompton BC (OL2 7SU) v STAFFORDSHIRE at Woodfield Sports & Social No 1 (WV4 4AF)
NORTH LANCS & FYLDE at Rushton Street BC (BB6 7 JQ) v SHROPSHIRE at Newport No 2 (TF10 7DX)
WARWICK & WORCESTER at The George BC (B68 9LN) v LANCASHIRE at Bellingham No 1 (WN1 2ND)
DERBYSHIRE at Stretton No 2 (DE13 0HA) v CHESHIRE at Castle Sports No 1 (CW8 1HE)
BCG LADIES COMPETITION COMMITTEE
COUNTY CUP 2021 – SUNDAY 18th JULY – 9.30am
The British Crown Green Ladies have also changed the format of their County Championship this year, again after consultation with all counties.
The format will be on the same lines as the Veterans County Championship where teams have been divided into groups and will play each other on a round robin basis. The winners of each group will qualify for finals day at a central venue on Sunday 19th September.
Not all counties chose to enter a team with some entering two teams. To reduce the amount of travelling it was agreed to assign the teams in either the northern sections or southern sections. Groups ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’ being from the north with groups ‘D’ and ‘E’ from the south.
The winning county in each match will receive two points with one point for a draw. Once all group matches have been completed the team with the most points will qualify for finals day. However, in the event of a tie on points the winner that progresses to the final day will be determined by the following order.
- best aggregate score (total shots for minus total shots against)
- the team with the most overall winners
- the team with the best winner when the team, or teams, played each other (i.e. if Team ‘A’ and Team ‘C’ are tied on points the best winner from this match will count)
- the team with the second, third etc best winner when the team, or teams, played each other (i.e. if Team ‘A’ and Team ‘C’ are tied on points the next best winner from this match will count)
All results will be available on the BCGBA website – bcgba.org.uk. Click on the 2021 Competitions link on the left hand sidebar.
GROUP A
at Tetley Walker No 1 (WA2 8PU)
Cheshire 1
Cumbria
Lancashire 2
Yorkshire 2
GROUP B
Tetley Walker No 2 (WA2 8PU)
Cheshire 2
Yorkshire 1
Mid Cheshire 1
Greater Manchester
GROUP C
at Monks Sports (WA1 4NF)
Merseyside
Mid Cheshire 2
North Lancs & Fylde
Lancashire 1
GROUP D
at Fenton Private (ST4 4LL)
South Staffordshire 2
Warwick & Worcester 2
Shropshire 2
North Midlands
Wales
GROUP E
at Stretton BC (DE13 0HA)
South Staffordshire 1
Warwick & Worcester 1
Shropshire 1
North Shropshire
Dudley & District
COMPETITIONS
Not all of our competitions will run during the 2021 season with the BCGBA World Club Championship, Veterans County Championship, Junior County Championship, Senior Supplementary County Championship and Champion of Champions cancelled until next year.
Apart from the County Cup and Singles Merit, all ladies competitions have been cancelled as there was little appetite from the ladies counties to participate this year.
The format for entry has changed slightly this year for both the men’s and ladies competitions and players should contact their local county regarding entry into any competition
In the men’s competitions, each of the sixteen counties will receive two qualifiers for the Senior Merit Trophy, Junior Merit Trophy and Veterans Handicap Trophy (Jack & Jean Isherwood Veterans Championship). This year, the British Parks CGBA will also receive two entries in the Veterans Handicap Trophy. The Centenary Mixed Pairs will run in its normal format where the number of qualifiers on finals day each county receives is based on the number of entries received at county level.
In the Ladies Singles Merit, each county receives three entries with some receiving four entries via a random draw to make up the 64 strong field. The Isle of Man has requested to only have two entries.
The draws for each competition will be posted on the BCGBA website (bcgba.org.uk/2021 Competitions).
It should be noted that the BCGBA will follow any Government protocols that may be in place at the time of each of our individual competition finals which may result in spectators being asked to give their details for track and trace purposes. This year, spectators will be able to bring in their own chairs to each venue.
2021 BCGBA CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Sunday 4th July 2pm - BCGBA Senior County Championship Knockout Cup First Round
Sunday 18th July 9.30am - BCG Ladies County Cup Qualifying
Saturday 24th July 10am - BCGBA Senior Merit Trophy
Sunday 1st August 2pm - BCGBA Senior County Championship Knockout Cup Second Round
Wednesday 11th August 10am - BCGBA Veterans Handicap Trophy
Saturday 14th August 10am - BCGBA Junior Merit Trophy
Sunday 15th August 10am - BCG Ladies Singles Merit
Sunday 5th September 2pm - BCGBA Senior County Championship Knockout Cup Semi-Finals Sunday 19th September 9.30am - BCG Ladies County Cup Finals Day
Saturday 2nd October 10am - BCGBA Centenary Mixed Pairs Sunday 3rd October 2pm - BCGBA Senior County Championship Knockout Cup Final