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County News
Issue 12: November 2014
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Page Two
County News
Keeping you informed throughout the year
Welcome to‘County News’, your at-a-glance guide to key decisions being made by
Bowls England’s committees (comprising democratically elected Council Members)
and the work they are doing.
This newsletter aims to keep you, as a County Secretary/Administrator and/or Council
Member, fully informed of decisions made by them within their roles and responsibilities
as approved by you. On each page we have highlighted for you the decisions that
have been made by each Committee, and whether they are ‘Resolved’, which
means they are confirmed, or ‘Recommended’. The latter means the decision will go
forward to the Board for approval or referral to a Company Meeting.
In addition, I would like to take this opportunity to draw your attention to the following
items of interest:
National Championships
The 2014 National Championships at Royal Leamington Spa, our first joint Championships at a single venue, was
widely regarded as a success. I must take this opportunity to thank all those who contributed to the event with
particular reference to my staff team, volunteer supporters and Warwick District Council, whose commitment
to Bowls England and our Members has been outstanding.
Commonwealth Games
The highlight of the summer at international level had to be the Commonwealth Games, where 13 of our 15
strong team returned with a medal, with special mention to Sophie Tolchard, Ellen Falkner and Sian Honnor
who secured Gold in the Women’s Triples. The event provided a great showcase for our sport and we continue
to work closely with Commonwealth Games England to maximise all opportunities both now and in the future.
In 2015, two of our most promising young players will participate in the Commonwealth Youth Games and this
promises to provide them with a tremendous opportunity to experience an international multi-sport event that
can only bode well for their future.
Support for Clubs and County Associations
I am delighted to report that the last year has seen more than £1million worth of grant funding secured for
Bowls England affiliated clubs, and we have may more clubs currently preparing bids for external grants. Our
free legal helpline continues to be popular among clubs, with a vast range of issues raised that our Lawyer or
other specialist advisors have responded to. All this is in addition to the day-to-day information service provided
via the Head Office. Our Coaching Bursaries have also assisted many members who wish to gain a Coach
Bowls qualification and, at the time of writing, a total of 192 people have obtained a Level 1 qualification.
Recruitment and Retention
Encouraging new people into our sport, and looking after those we already have, continues to be our top
priority as your National Governing Body. We remain a committed partner of the Bowls Development Alliance,
and latest figures show that nearly 400 Play Bowls Days have been organised in the last year, resulting in 4,000
new people trying our sport for the first time. Having got new people through the door, it is vital that our offer as
a sport is relevant, and again I urge all Clubs and Counties to be flexible in their approach - whether it be with
regard to the format of play offered, dress code or organisation of fixtures. More must be done to make it as
easy as possible for people to participate at a time and place that meets their wishes
Although this newsletter is aimed primarily at County Secretaries and Council Members, please share this
information with other colleagues as appropriate. If you have any queries or suggestions for future issues, please
contact Alistair Hollis, on 07765 050408 or e-mail: alistair@bowlsengland.com
Tony Allcock MBE
Chief Executive
Bowls England
Page Three
COMPETITIONS
Committee Responsibilities:
National Championships & Competitions
Tournaments & Licences
Umpire Services
Laws of the Sport
Summary of decisions from meeting held in September 2014
National Competition Entry Cards 2015: Resolved
entry cards for 2015 competitions be promoted
throughout the closed season through the website
and social media.
Regional Finals 2015: Resolved venues as proposed
be confirmed for 2015 and 2016.
BIBC Under 18 Singles: Resolved the highest placed
male bowler in Sutton Winson Trophy would represent
England in any future BIBC Under 18 Singles event.
Named Entrants: Resolved that should the named
entrant be unable to play due to exceptional
circumstances the team may request an additional
player in writing to Bowls England via the County
Association for consideration.
Mileage Calculations: Resolved that for club events
the mileage would be taken from club to club and
for county competitions the mileage be taken from
county centre to the host venue from 2015 onwards.
Women’s Top Club: Resolved that format would
remain the same. Further resolved that dates of the
inter-county stages be considered to avoid potential
clashes during the National Championships.
Review of the 2014 National Championships: The Chair
reported that the Championships as a whole were a
great success. Comments regarding the greens were
positive and all staff were praised for their work during
the Championships. The schedule for 2015 would
remain as 2014. The Chief Executive reported that the
addition of two access gates had been requested for
2015 and provisions for disabled parking to be looked
into further. Resolved that markers of singles events
would use lollipops to indicate scores from the quarter
final stages onwards. Resolved that in the event
of a delayed game due to clashes the affected
opponents would be allowed a practice prior to the
game as and when rink space is available. Resolved
that the potential of live scoring during the 2015
National Championships be discussed further.
Rules and Regulations: Recommended to the Board
that an extra end be played in the event of a tie in a
Middleton Cup or Johns Trophy group stage match
where both points and shots are level.
Recommended to the Board that Regulations be
amended to read: “County Championships leading
to National Championships shall be administered
by the County Association under the Rules and
Regulations of Bowls England”. Recommended to the
Board that Regulations 54.7 and 61.7 be amended to
read: “...possible to win ‘by’ playing a scheduled tie”.
Recommended to the Board that Regulation 56 be
amended to include dress code. Recommended to
the Board that shorts and other sports type apparel
may be worn by Men and Women in Bowls England
National Competitions so long as it has been
previously approved and licensed by Bowls England.
Recommended to the Board that the possibility of
raising the mileage from 160 mile round trip for intercounty competitions be discussed at the Counties
Meeting in November.
Budget: Resolved that no prize money would be given
for the senior inter-county events, but would continue
to be presented for the youth inter-county events in
an aim to promote/support the youth sections.
Eligibility for 2015 National Competitions: The
Committee considered correspondence regarding
the 2015 Mixed Pairs and Mixed Fours Regulations.
Resolved the current wording remains, in that each
player in each team must be an affiliated member
of a club in that county. This need not be the same
club or county from where they enter National
Championships.
John Whitehead Park: Resolved letter of support be sent.
Opportunities for Players with Disabilities:
Consideration was given to an event for players with
disabilities during the National Champoionships. It
was resolved that, although Bowls England support
the idea, it would not be possible during the
Championships. It was noted that several bodies
already exist and organise their own events.
Sutton Winson Trophy: Resolved as condition of entry
each participant must bring a marker and that entry
fee would be £5 per player. Resolved that the first
128 entries would be accepted, then a reserve list in
operation. Resolved that the Plate Competition will
be a drawn pairs.
Middleton Cup: Resolved not to support request
from Gloucestershire Bowls to move a set date for
Middleton Cup.
Laws of the Sport: Resolved to submit the
Domestic Regulations, which had been produced
in conjunction with the English Bowls Umpires
Association, to World Bowls for approval.
Date of next meeting: Tuesday 13th January 2015 at
Royal Leamington Spa.
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FINANCE
Committee Responsibilities:
Financial Performance
Annual Budgets
Affiliation Fees
Loans (Clubs)
Report submitted by Chair of Finance Committee (November 2014)
Finance status for 2014: Preliminary indications
show that Bowls England will, as forecast at the
AGM in February this year, have recovered a large
proportion of the 2013 relocation costs within the first
year at Royal Leamington Spa.
Surplus: 2014 was a massive year of change for
Bowls England, but the financial estimates, together
with the planning and negotiation of terms with
Warwick District Council for temporary head office
accommodation and National Championship &
Competitions facilities, appear to have paid off.
The 2014 accounts ‘surplus’ includes the new rental
income from our former head office in Worthing,
plus the cost savings from the current head office
accommodation (including utilities and services),
National Championship facilities, meetings and
international events. Bowls England is still well on
course to recover relocation costs from related
savings before the end of the 2015 accounting
period.
Membership: The reduction in Affiliated Members
in 2014 was 3260 (2.78 per cent). This was a very
disappointing result after the Bowls Development
Alliance activities in recent years.
Sponsorship and Donations: The Friends of English
Bowling were again the main supporters of the
National Championships and - with some excellent
support from our Insurers Sutton Winson - the new
Under 18 Open Singles Tournament was a great
success.
The withdrawal of some commercial sponsors
was a blow, but some new ones were obtained
too. The Operational Services Manager and the
Business Services Manager work very hard to obtain
sponsors, so please advise them if you know of any
opportunities to recruit new ones.
The Friends of English Bowling continue to provide
a constant source of extremely valuable funding
to Bowls England. Please do everything you can to
support them in return.
Affiliation Fees: The Affiliation Fee of £5 will be
maintained for 2015 (the same as the women were
paying the English Women’s Bowling Association
in 2006). It was recommended to the Board that
Affiliation Fees remain at this level in 2016. However
if we are to remain self-sufficient and solvent as a
National Governing Body then a prudent annual
increase in Fees may well be necessary.
Development Loans and Greens Maintenance
Loans: Bowls England Loans are currently available.
Please apply if you cannot obtain a grant from any
other source.
Relocation: The Worthing to Royal Leamington Spa
Relocation Project has been completed and we
are now at the tentative stage of planning new
requirements for when we have to vacate our
current ‘free accommodation’ in Riverside House.
Warwick District Council’s plans are still being
formulated, so we do not yet have a target date for
relocating. As the District Council cannot yet give us
any firm indication of where or when they intend to
move, we are simply assessing our alternatives ready
for when they make a decision.
Planned finance actions for 2015: Forecasting and
finance planning will continue as high priority items
to ensure that we have a clear indication of our
likely relocation funding availability.
The maintenance of our financial processes and
procedures will continue as an ongoing task to
ensure that Bowls England remain in line with current
national compliance requirements from Sport
England and other such bodies.
As in recent years, Bowls England will continue to
promote the streamlining of processes wherever
possible in order to reduce overheads.
Update on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs): All KPIs
are currently on target for completion within agreed
timescales.
Date of Next Meeting: Monday 19th January 2015 at
Royal Leamington Spa.
Page Five
INTERNATIONAL EVENTS
Committee Responsibilities:
Appointment/recall of Team Managers;
Receipt of performance reports for all international level representation;
Protocols for Bowls England representatives at international events;
Preparation and control of international event budgets;
International events, Commonwealth Games and World Bowls events
Summary of decisions from meeting held in September 2014
Selector and Team Manager Reports: It was resolved
to discuss at the next meeting when Selectors and
Team Managers would be present.
British Isles Bowls: It was noted that work is currently
ongoing with regard to the proposed unification of
the respective British Isles bodies for each gender.
Youth Commonwealth Games 2015: Funding
has been allocated by the Board towards Bowls
England’s participation. It was resolved to appoint
Ellen Falkner to accompany the selected players to
Western Samoa and that she would be included in
all discussions with regard to selection in conjunction
with Team Managers.
World Bowls: John Bell had been elected President
and Andy Ewens European Director for World Bowls.
Given continuing discussions with regard to the World
Bowls affiliation fee and costs, it was resolved to
contact World Bowls for confirmation that all World
Bowls flights are economy class.
Commonwealth Games 2014: It was resolved that
a special presentation be made at the respective
Annual Dinners to team members in light of their
achievements in Glasgow.
World Champion of Champions: It was noted that
Amy Truran has withdrawn for personal reasons.
European Games: It was resolved to add the
Selection Criteria for this event to the Agenda for the
Managers and Selectors Meeting in January.
Atlantic Rim Games 2015: It was noted the Atlantic
Rim Games were to be the qualifying event for 2016
World Bowls. It was resolved to add selection and
availability regarding this event to the Agenda for
the Managers and Selectors Meeting in January.
World Junior Championship: It was resolved to
consider future participation in September 2015.
Internationals 2014: Reports had been received
regarding all four international teams. It was resolved
that the Men’s Junior Team Manager write to the
retiring Captain, Sam Tolchard, to thank him for his
contributions to the Junior Team over a long period.
Trials: Resolved that the format for future trials be
discussed at the Managers and Selectors Meeting in
January.
Squad Days 2015: Resolved that arrangements for
the Senior Men, Senior Women and Junior Women
squad days would remain the same. It was resolved
to request the use of Oxford City and County BC for
the Men’s Junior Squad Day.
Internationals 2015: The Committee was updated on
the plans for the respective events.
Code of Conduct - International Players: Resolved
that the Code of Conduct be updated to include
‘Adhere to a no smoking rule (including the use
of Electronic devices)’. Resolved the new code of
conduct be signed at 2015 Trials and Squad Days
next year to replace the previous one.
Date of Next Meeting: Tuesday 27th January 2015 at
Royal Leamington Spa (concluding on Wednesday
28th January)
Page Six
OPERATIONAL SERVICES
Committee Responsibilities:
Annual Conference; Commercial & Marketing; National Yearbook;
News-sheets; Merchandise; Tented Villages; Greens Maintenance;
Website; National Archives; Civil Liability Insurance; Mail-outs; Media
Relations; Social Media
Summary of decisions from meeting held in September 2014
Youth Development: Recommended to the Board
that the Chair of Operational Services meet with
the respective Chairs of Competitions Committee
and International Events Committee to decide clear
ownership of the Youth Strategy.
Social Media Policy: The Policy had been approved
by the Board at its meeting in May 2014.
Potters Week: It was noted that plans to further
develop this event are in hand.
National Archives: It was reported that international
team photos have all been digitalised.
Club of the Year: It was noted that the Regional
Winners have been selected and visits will take
place shortly to determine the National Winner.
Website/Management of National Competitions:
Resolved that a Sub-Committee be formed to
consider future requirements and present a report
for consideration.
Recruitment: The Guidance for New Bowlers booklets
are to be updated ahead of the 2015 outdoor
season in line with when the Laws of the Sport
Third Edition. Documents for Clubs and Counties
regarding how to generate media interest and
information on the use of social media accounts
have been produced. Resolved that Bowls England
consider further additions including a series of ‘How
to...’ guides to assist clubs and counties who wish to
expand their membership.
Committee Roles and Responsibilities:
Recommended to the Board that consideration be
given to the clarification of ownership of all Bowls
England policies and protocols.
Communications: Updates were provided regarding
the Bowls England website and social media figures.
Coaching: It was noted that a joint statement
regarding Coach Bowls is currently being prepared
in conjunction with the English Indoor Bowling
Association Ltd. Resolved to advise those that
have been granted a Coaching Bursary that their
information has been received, but that payment
would only be sent following confirmation from Sport
Structures of course completion.
National Championship Luncheons: Recommended
to the Board that consideration be given to fewer
luncheons during the Championships. Additionally
Recommended to the Board that any off-duty Bowls
England officials should not attend. Recommended
to the Board that a complimentary National
Championships programme should be included as
a benefit to all members of the Friends of English
Bowling. Resolved that a report with regard to
resource implications for live scoring during the
2015 National Championships be prepared for
consideration.
National Yearbook: It was noted that the cost of the
2015 Bowls England Yearbook will remain at £4.25.
Merchandise – Future: It was noted that discussions
are currently underway with regard to the future
outsourcing of all Bowls England merchandise.
Date of Next Meeting: Monday 9th February 2015 at
Royal Leamington Spa.
Page Seven
POLICY & MANAGEMENT
Committee Responsibilities:
Articles, Rules & Regulations, Achievement Award,
Associate/Associated Membership, Logo/Colours, Celebration Matches,
Annual General Meeting, Annual Dinners, Anti-Doping Policies, Children
& Vulnerable Adults, Equal Opportunities, Gender Issues,
Life Membership, Health & Safety
Summary of decisions from meeting held in November 2014
Fixture with EIBA Ltd: Resolved that Chief Executive
discuss with the EIBA Ltd.
Celebration Match: Resolved to accept request from
Eastern Counties BA for fixture in 2015.
Counties Meeting: Resolved that the Agenda would
be finalised for circulation following the November
Board Meeting.
Safeguarding: The Operational Services Manager
provided a brief update on training and the
Advanced Standards submission.
Community Amateur Sports Club (CASC): The HMRC
review of the CASC scheme is nearing completion.
Bowls England has participated in the process
through the Sport & Recreation Alliance. Resolved
that once HMRC review is complete guidance would
be issued to all affiliated clubs.
Presidential Protocol and Clothing Protocol: Resolved
that the Presidential Protocol and Clothing Protocol
be Recommended to the Board and a copy be sent
to the Board and Presidential Team.
Celebration Match Protocol: Resolved that the
updated protocol be adopted. Resolved that match
fees be £7 per person for the 2015 season.
Associated Membership Information: Resolved that
the updated protocol be approved. It was noted
that for Associate Members to fully benefit they
should provide Bowls England with an e-mail address.
It was resolved to change the wording from ‘mailout’
to ‘Bowls England E-mails’ in the protocol.
Women’s Annual Dinner and Presentation of Prizes:
Arrangements for event on Saturday 22nd November
were reported.
Fee for Associate Membership: Resolved that the
membership fee remain unchanged for 2015.
Model Constitution for Clubs/Guidance to Counties:
A draft paper for Guidance on County Association
Constitutions was presented. Resolved, subject to
update, to Recommend to the Board.
Presidential Team Allowances: Resolved to
recommend to the Board that allowances remain
unchanged for 2015 and continue to be reviewed
annually.
Affiliation Fee for Junior Members: Consideration was
given to a reduced affiliation fee for Junior Members.
Resolved that there would be no change at present.
Directors Protocol: Resolved that a Directors Protocol
be produced.
Certificate of Merit: Resolved to amend the
application form to replace 25 years with long
service, and an additional column be made
requesting period of service. Resolved that suitable
photograph be taken of all recipients for inclusion in
the Bowls England Yearbook.
Date of Next Meeting: Thursday 9th April 2015 at
Royal Leamington Spa.
Page Eight
Entry cards for 2015 National
Competitions now available
Bowls England has produced entry cards that
enable clubs and individuals to enter a number of
competitions using the same form for 2015.
The Club Competition form (to be completed by the
Club Secretary or other Club Representative) is to
be used for the following National Competitions:
•
•
•
•
over)
•
•
Club Two Fours – Men
Top Club – Men
Top Club – Women
Tony Allcock Trophy – Mixed (aged 60 and
Champion of Champions – Men
Champion of Champions – Women
The individual competitions form is to be used to
enter the following National Competitions:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Mixed Pairs
Mixed Fours
Family Pairs
Senior Singles – Men
Senior Singles – Women
Senior Pairs – Men
Senior Pairs – Women
County Associations have received an entry form for use with the Champion of Champions.
Entry forms are also available from www.bowlsengland.com. Alternatively e-mail: comps@bowlsengland.com
or telephone 01926 334609 to request an entry form.
Please note that all individual entrants from the 2014 National Competitions will receive notification directly for
2015.
The closing date for entries is 1st February 2015.
DON’T DELAY - ENTER TODAY