Barlows Bowling League 2026

NORTH SHROPSHIRE VETERANS CROWN GREEN BOWLS ASSOCIATION

RULES 2026

1. The current leagues which are members of the Association are the Whitchurch & District Over 60’s Bowling League and the Market Drayton Senior Citizens Bowling league both of which can be known by their current sponsors’ names. Matches are played on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons respectively.
2. All players, both Ladies and Gentlemen, must be at least 60 years old on the day they play in a match.
3. All teams shall comprise of 8 players with only 2 teams allowed per Green.
4. The number of teams in each division of each League and the number of divisions will be decided by the Management Committee prior to the start of the season. 2 teams will win promotion each year. Similarly match dates will be decided at that time including space for competitions.
5. Players can only play for one Club in a season in a particular league. A player can only play for one team in one week. If one match is re-arranged (see rules 15,16 and 17) then players can play twice in a week for the same team. Teams playing an ineligible player by this rule, rule 2 or without a registration number being provided as in rule 13 will lose 40 chalks . 
6. For 2026 Clubs will pay an annual affiliation fee of £10 per team and match fees of £3.20 per team per league match which will be invoiced before the end of the 2026 season. If smaller divisions than 12 teams the match fees across all the divisions in a League will be £4.00 per Team per League Match. These fees to be voted on annually at the AGM and any alterations will be proposed by the Management Committee. All match fees will be due even if there are walk overs or players playing twice in a match. Payments to be made by cheque or bank transfer to the relevant league giving the Club or invoice reference.
7. No practice is allowed on the match green one hour before a match by  either the home or away team players.
8. The two team Captains will determine the order of play using scorecards provided by the Leagues.
9. All games to commence at 2.00pm with 4 games to be in play by 2.15pm.
10. All games are 21 up, the team with the most chalks deemed the winners of the match.
11. No person other than the players in play, any measurers or referees are allowed on the Green during a match.
12.  Each game shall be marked on score cards by one representative of each team and scores checked every 3 ends. If they fail to agree the scores shall revert to where they last agreed, with the Team Captains to arbitrate in the case of any dispute.
13. The Match result should be entered by the Home Team Captain on the relevant web site within 24 hours and should be checked by the Away Team Captain to ensure the scores and Team players are correctly entered. The results should be entered in order of play. Both Captains should ensure that any new players are entered on the website prior to the Match even if they have not received their County Registration number.  Such a player should be entered with “A/F” (applied for) where their registration number should be entered. When their number is received it should be entered    promptly by their Club. A player can only play 5 games for their Club without their registration number – after that they will be deemed an ineligible player. If necessary the Away Team Captain can also enter the results if they wish to do so or they are not entered within 24 hours.
14. All matches must be played on the dates provided in the fixtures and completed on that day unless there is a cancellation on the day for a green unfit to play or inclement weather, postponed for the funeral of a Club Member or abandonment during the match - weather related or other reasons such as illness.
15. Cancellation. Where a green is deemed unfit for play (this should be decided by the Home Team Captain in conjunction with their greens’ person if possible) the Home Captain must notify the opposing Captain by 12pm to avoid unnecessary travel. The same applies if by mutual agreement between the Captains the weather is deemed inclement – stormy, heavy rain or snow for example making play impossible.

The Results Secretary must be informed within 24 hours and the game must be played within 14 days of the original date. The Clubs involved should mutually agree a date in consultation with the Results Secretary which can be any day within the 14 days. If they are unable to agree on a date then the Association Management Committee will provide a ruling.

16.Postponement for a funeral. A fixture can be postponed for a funeral of a past or present Club Member if it falls on the date of a match fixture. The Captain postponing the match must advise the opposing Captain and the Results Secretary with at least 72 hours notice of the postponement. The two Captains agree to play the match on a prior day or at an alternative time on the fixture day having previously advised the Results Secretary of the arrangement. If not the match must be played within 14 days of the fixture date. The Clubs involved should mutually agree a date in consultation with the Results Secretary which can be any day within the 14 days. If they are unable to agree on a date then the Association Management Committee will provide a ruling.

17.Abandonment for inclement weather or illness. Each Captaincanabandon a match which is due to start or has started if the weather conditions justify the action or a team member becomes ill. If a match is abandoned partway through, the results of completed games will stand and the points of uncompleted games shall also stand with the position of the jack marked to enable future completion.

The Results Secretary must be informed of the abandonment within 24 hours and the game must be played within 14 days of the original date. The Clubs involved should mutually agree a date in consultation with the Results Secretary which can be any day within the 14 days. If they are unable to agree on a date then the Association Management Committee will provide a ruling.

Players who did not play or start to play on the original date may be changed as long as they have not played for another Club team on the date of the abandonment.

18 Match attendance. In the event of a team failing to turn up for a fixture the result is determined at the end of the season.

The team who did turn up, whether that be home or away, will receive their average score for their home or away games as appropriate with the opposition team still receiving no chalks.

Teams must travel to away matches with however many players they have even if they have only one player. 

19. Playing twice. In a league’s lowest division if a team is short of players a player is allowed to play twice. If a Club has all their teams in the lowest division of a League only their lowest team can have players playing twice. For each player that plays twice the teams aggregate score will be reduced by 5 chalks. The players second game will not count towards their individual averages.

Up to 2 players can play twice in a match, being named by the relevant captain before the match commences and those players named must play in the first 4.

Those players having to play a player who is playing twice can have a 10 minute "roll up" if they wish.

Rule 19 will be voted on annually at the AGM. 

20 BCGBA Rules. Each Club must have a copy of the current years rules available in the clubhouse

21.Annual Division and Individual Prizes. The Team Winners and Runners up (and third place if the League size warrants it) in each division will be awarded cash prizes determined annually by the Association Management Committee based on annual receipts per League.

Each division will have “Most Wins” prizes - both male and female.

In the event of a tie this will then be determined on aggregate (walk overs will not count) 75% of games or more must be played to qualify. In the event that a player has played for a Club with Teams in the same division and played for any/all of those teams all the results will count.

22 An Annual Presentation Luncheon will be held for the Association Prize monies not collected at the Luncheon will become forfeit and returned to League funds. All prize winners are expected to attend the above event though a representative from their Club may collect on their behalf. No refunds given a week before function and they are due by or on the end of season meeting.