Club Internal Competition Rules (2025)

Here is a summary of our internal club competitions.  Please accept our apologies in advance if some of the terminology is strange, but we will try and explain as best as possible, however, you will become fluent in bowls speak before you know it.

The club runs five internal club competitions.  These are:

The Drawn Pairs - won by Lucy Edwards & Nigel Brady from Jose Calo & Andy Farrell

The Club Championship - won by Billy Nairn, runner-up John Dowling

The Club Handicap - won by Dean Fitzpatrick, runner-up Robby Sukhdeo

The Club Plate - won by Donal Coonan, runner-up Michael Silliton

The Club Ladder

The Drawn Pairs Competition

This involves all entrants being placed into two pools, the first will contain experienced players and the second less experienced/novice players.  Pairs will then be drawn at random by members of the committee, with each pair consisting of one experienced player and one less experienced/novice player. This year we have changed the format so that rather than pairs going into leagues, each pair will be able to request a game with any other pair in one large group. Each pair must play 5 games over the course of June/July, and ideally the matches will be played on Sunday afternoons or Friday evenings. The top 8 pairs at the end of July will qualify for the knock-out stages, with the final to be played on 13 September. We have a rink booking system, which pairs can book for their game. Please try to avoid days/evenings when MHBC is playing against other clubs. These dates aren’t mutually exclusive, but the rink availability might be an issue.

Format

Games will be played over 12 ends, with 4 woods (bowls) per player, with 2 points for a win and 1 for a draw.  No marker required. Quarter final 24 August;

Semi final 7 September; Final to be played on 13 September 

The Club Championship Competition

This is open to all players and is a knockout competition. All entrants will be placed in the pool and drawn in a FA Cup/Wimbledon competition style draw. Depending on the number of entrants, some members may have a bye in the first round in order to even up the numbers on each side of the draw.  Fixed dates are set by which games in each round must be played.  These dates are fixed and not negotiable, unless the competition organisers agree extensions in exceptional circumstances.

Format

4 woods per player, played as first to 16 in the early stages, and first to 21 in the semi-final and final.

For singles games we would recommend that you have a marker.  This person will centre the Jack, advise as to the status of the head (the positions of the various bowls/woods around the jack and who is nearest etc).  This makes life easier for the players, but not a requirement.

Dates for completion

First round 6 July;  Second round 27 July; Third round 10 August; Quarter final 24 August;

Semi final 7 September; Final to be played on 13 September 

The Club Handicap Competition

This is organised by all entrants being placed into a pool and the drawn at random in a knockout competition along the same process as the Club Championship Competition (but being random, hopefully different opponents in the first round).  The main difference being that in this competition, each player will have a handicap based on their experience/ability as a bowler. Players new to the game will be given a handicap of 0, the most experienced players will have a handicap of -10, and those in between anything from -1 to -9.  So, if a novice player was playing a player with a handicap of -7, then the novice player would have a 7 shot advantage, meaning that they would start on 0 as normal, with their opponent starting on -7, meaning that they would need to score 7 shots to get to 0, and would only start on the scoreboard from then.

Format

4 woods per player, played as first to 16 in the early stages, and first to 21 in the semi-final and final.

Dates for completion

First round: 6 July;  Second round 27 July; Third round 10 August; Quarter final 24 August;

Semi final 7 September; Final to be played on 13 September

Club Plate Competition

This will consist of a fresh draw in a knockout competition of all players who have lost their first round game in the Club Championship Competition, or players who were given a bye in round 1 but then lost their ‘first’ game in round 2.  This competition will start later than the other 4 competitions to give those given a bye in round 1 who then lose their first competitive game in round 2 entry into this competition.  However, given the reduction in the number eligible for this competition, there should be plenty of time to conduct the competition.

Format

4 woods per player, played as first to 16 in the early stages, and first to 21 in the semi-final and final.

Dates for completion

First round: 27 July;  Second round: 10 August; Quarter final 24 August;

Semi final 7 September; Final to be played on 13 September

Club Ladder Competition

This is a season-long challenge competition.  All Players are allocated a slot on the ladder (the more experienced lower on the ladder) and can challenge those one or two rungs above them to a match.  If they win then they swap places on the ladder with the loser.  If the challenger loses then both players' positions remain unchanged. Aim of competition is to finish season on the highest rung.  Ladder board is prominently displayed in the locker room along with fuller rules.  

Format:

Four woods per player, first to 11 points wins, no draws permitted.