Bowls Committee

HIBC Bowls Committee

Bowls Committee News

The minutes of the most recent Bowls Committee meets are posted on the Bowls Committee noticeboard in the Bowls hall for all members to view.

Rule Changes

At the 2025 AGM the following rules/rule changes were proposed and agreed on a show of hands:

1.  When a team fields an ineligible player in a league game or competition, then the following shot deductions will apply at the end of the game before deciding the winner:

• In a rink/fours game, one quarter of the shot score for the defaulting team will be deducted
• In a triples game, one third of the shot score for the defaulting team will be deducted
• In a pairs game, half of the shot score for the defaulting team will be deducted

An ineligible player, is any player who does not meet the criteria for playing in the league or who is a named player of another team in the league (or fails to meet any other Conditions of Play for that league or competition)

2.  In order to ensure the views of all full members are represented including those who do not play in leagues, one of the three member representatives on the Bowls Committee should be a social bowling member (i.e. wholly or mainly bowls socially or in bowls drives rather than leagues and club teams).

3. Where there are less than 12 teams in a winter league, the league will be split into two sessions, namely Autumn (15 weeks to Christmas) and Spring (14-15 weeks to early April). This will allow new teams/pairings to join the leagues at Christmas. The winners of each of the Autumn and Spring sessions will play each other in a final game to decide the overall winner. If one team wins both sessions, then the runners up in each session will play off to decide the runner up.

In any league where there are more than ten teams in a league, prizes will be awarded for league winners and runners up.

At the 2023 and 2024 AGMs the following rules/ rule changes were proposed and agreed on a show of hands:

1. A team that fails to fulfill all its league fixtures will not automatically retain their place in that league for the following season.
2. Teams may rearrange the date of a league match if it is brought forward and played before the date of the original scheduled game. This new date must be agreed and the rink allocation moved on Bowlr at the time of cancelling.
3. When any scheduled league match has been cancelled under exceptional circumstances and at late notice, it will automatically be rearranged for the Tuesday afternoon/evening of the following week for daytime/evening leagues respectively. Tuesday morning league matches will be moved to the next Friday afternoon.
4. Any player registered for a team in a league, cannot sub in that league for another team.
5. Subs can only skip if the player that they are subbing for is the usual skip for the team.
6. Daytime matches are played over 2 hours but evening matches will be played over 17 ends for pairs and 15 ends for triples. Evening games must be started at or before 7pm.
7. The club colours will now be club shirts and BLACK below the waist (previously white). During league games, members may now wear black or grey below the waist

Players are reminded that they may not be allowed to play league games, competitions or Nationals if they still owe money for games played or missed. Any debt at £10 or above MUST be settled immediately if the member wishes to play socially or in leagues or teams.

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Bowls Committee Administration

Objectives of Bowls Committee

The Bowls Committee meet 8-10 times a years:

– To oversee all bowling matters relating to club facilities, leagues, competitions, friendlies, recruitment/ training, special events, etc.

– To deal with any bowls related complaints/disputes between members.

– To consider and gain approval from members for rule changes with regards to bowls and membership

AGM of the Bowls Committee

An Annual General Meeting of the Bowls Committee is held at the end of each Winter season with the following objectives:

• Review of bowling season.
• Review of bowling rule changes.
• Appointment of Team Captains for the next season.
• Appointment of the Bowls Committee for the next year.
• Team entries for National Competitions
• Any other related issues.

Current Bowls Committee members are: 

Paul Footitt (Men’s Section Rep & Chair), Lis Watson (Secretary),  Graham Watson (League Secretary), Stuart Leech (Competitions Secretary), Alan Hardaker (Short Mat Secretary), Betty Lawrenson (Ladies Section Rep), George Hornsey (Social Bowling Rep), Colin Whiting & Andy Swales (Member Reps).

Members can be contacted in person or by leaving a note in reception marked for the attention of the Bowls Committee.  All matters and complaints raised with the committee will be treated in the strictest confidence, however complaints must be made in writing in order to be considered.