Category Archives: From Bowls England

Free Roadshows to Provide Top Tips to Clubs on Recruitment and Club Management

We know that bringing new people into our sport and supporting volunteers are vital to the future of our sport.

Bowls England and the Bowls Development Alliance (BDA) are hosting a series of roadshows at venues across England later this month to update affiliated clubs and counties of the support that is on offer, with a particular focus on recruitment initiatives including Bowls’ Big Weekend and Bowls Bash, affiliation benefits and safeguarding.

The sessions will also provide attendees with the opportunity to meet members of the team, including their local BDA Club and Community Development Officer.

Jon Cockcroft, Bowls England Chief Executive, said: “Feedback from clubs has consistently shown that recruitment of new participants is their top priority. It is our duty to give affiliated clubs support and guidance, therefore these sessions will provide a great opportunity for affiliated clubs to find out directly what support is available to help them grow.”

Lisa Graham, BDA Managing Director, added: “Our team is working with affiliated clubs across England daily, and we know that club volunteers are eager to learn more in order for their clubs to thrive. We look forward to meeting club and county volunteers during these sessions.”

Venues, Dates and Registration:

Tuesday 19th March – Bannister Park BC, Hampshire: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/5880b1c791584a528da327780a267354

Wednesday 20th March – Cotswold BC, Gloucestershire: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/3bdd636079464abab1f6b7e708786c73

Thursday 21st March – Peterborough IBC, Cambridgeshire: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/f51e8c7270b04bd69cc00f1cbe7ed1db

Monday 25th March – Leicester IBC, Leicestershire: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/4806e7cba12546b2b2623993bd50e8ea

Tuesday 26th March – Carlisle IBC, Cumbria: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/9cd8f84ec8cf4dc4873b898d34c1acd6

Wednesday 27th March – South Shields IBC, Durham: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/1df2e10d07db4172ad2d0fb5c6d0a40d

Each session will run from 10am-2pm and light refreshments will be provided free of charge. All attendees must complete the registration form.

Places are limited at each venue and will be allocated on first come, first served basis.

 

Bowls Development Alliance Week of Learning

GET TO KNOW OUR INITIATIVES IN JANUARY’S WEEK OF LEARNING

10th January, 2024

Would you like to learn more about Bowls’ Big Weekend, Club Management and a number of other items to improve your club? Then why not sign up for one of our free webinars being offered to all clubs in partnership with the Bowls Development Alliance (BDA).

The last Week of Learning in October saw strong numbers with 136 attendees across 10 webinars, and our next event will take place from Monday 22nd to Friday 26th January. The focus of these webinars will include introductions to our participation initiatives Bowls Bash, PlayBowls and Bowls’ Big Weekend. We’re also keen to help you improve your club’s governance, so there will sessions including an introduction to Legal Structures, the Role of a Safeguarding Officer and Inclusion in Bowls.

These informative webinars are free of charge and accessible to any club affiliated with Bowls England. If your club is not currently affiliated, we recommend contacting us to explore how you can affiliate and access the valuable resources.

Dates and times for the upcoming workshops can be found below and more information about each workshop and the booking link for participants can be found on the education platform here.

W/C 22nd January 2024

Introduction to Bowls Bash and Play Bowls Platform
23rd January – 6-7pm
26th January – 10-11am

Introduction to Bowls’ Big Weekend
22nd January – 1-2pm
26th January – 1-2pm

Introduction to Inclusion
22nd January – 10-11am
24th January – 6-7pm

Introduction to Legal Structures
22nd January – 6-7pm
25th January – 10-11am

Role of a Safeguarding Officer
22nd January – 6-7pm
24th January – 10-11am

Please note that spots for each webinar are limited, and reservations will close three days prior to each event. If you miss the registration deadline but still wish to attend, please email email hidden; JavaScript is required, and every effort will be made to accommodate your request.

BE Publish Inter County Draws

Bowls England have today published the Inter County Draws.

Walker Cup First Round    Wiltshire v Devon to be played by Sunday 9th June

Balcomb Trophy First Round     Worcestershire v Wiltshire to be played by Sunday 9th June

Amy Rose Trophy Preliminary Round Gloucestershire v Wiltshire to be played by Sunday 2nd June

White Rose Trophy First Round      Warwickshire v Wiltshire to be played by Sunday 2nd June

BOWLS ENGLAND SECURES APPROVAL FOR CHEMICAL CONTROL OF LEATHERJACKETS AND CHAFER GRUBS

Taken from the Bowls England Website

Bowls England is delighted that approval has been received for Acelepryn to be used on bowling greens to enable greenkeepers to more effectively target leatherjackets and chafer grubs.

Leatherjackets and chafer grubs can cause serious damage to fine turf including bowling greens and Bowls England has received an increasing number of calls from clubs for support in recent years.

The approval follows lengthy lobbying of DEFRA by Bowls England on behalf of our affiliated clubs in conjunction with the Sport and Recreation Alliance. It ensures Acelepryn will be available to clubs to target leatherjackets during their end of season renovations and chafer white grub in late spring.

Alistair Hollis, Bowls England Head of Sport Development, said: “One of our top priorities is to support clubs. We are delighted to have worked in conjunction with the Sport & Recreation Alliance to gain approval for Acelepryn to be used to help clubs take preventative measures against leather jackets and chafer grubs in the future.”

Alan Lewis, Bowls England’s Greens Maintenance Advisor, added: “I have dealt with a number of enquiries from clubs in recent years who have suffered from leather jackets in particular, therefore this approval is welcome. However, we’d remind clubs that this chemical is not a replacement for good turf management and would urge clubs to remove the conditions that encourage Leatherjackets and Chafer Grubs, especially the build-up of thatch.”

Leon King from Canterbury BC in Kent said: “Leather jackets have been of increasing concern to clubs within our area. We were aware that Bowls England was lobbying on behalf of its affiliated clubs and this approval shows the importance of having a national governing body and makes the affiliation paid to Bowls England worthwhile.”

Lisa Wainwright MBE, CEO, Sport and Recreation Alliance, added: “The Alliance is pleased to have played a role alongside Bowls England to ensure Acelepryn received approval for use on bowling greens. We’re delighted that the product will now be available for grassroots clubs and organisations to help protect their facilities, and hope that it means as many people as possible are able to enjoy the benefits of bowls.”

As the National Governing Body for lawn bowls, Bowls England is committed to helping all affiliated clubs create the best possible environment for its participants to enjoy a superb bowling experience. Clubs can benefit from a range of initiatives to increase their playing numbers as well as make savings on their Civil Liability Insurance. Click here to explore all the benefits of affiliation.

Bowls England offers a Greens Advisory Service where an affiliated club can send its questions in to Alan Lewis. Please e-mail email hidden; JavaScript is required with full details of your Club’s issue and include photographs if possible.

For more information on the approval, please visit: https://www.syngentaturf.co.uk/news/product-update/new-acelepryn-approval-opens-options-soil-pest-strategies

Wiltshire Clubs to host BE Regional Finals

Devizes Bowls Club will tomorrow (Sunday 11th June) be hosting the Regional Finals on the Bowls England Amy Rose competition.

In the morning semi-finals, starting at 10.00am, Devon take on Somerset and Dorset take on Warwickshire.

The final will be start at approximately 2.00pm with the winner going on to represent the West Region on Saturday 12th August at the National Finals at Leamington.

On Sunday 25th June Box Bowls Club will be hosting the Regionals Finals of the Walker cup where in the mornings semi-finals Worcestershire/Dorset will play Gloucestershire/Devon and Somerset/Warwickshire will play Cornwall/Herefordshire.

The Regional final will be played in the afternoon with the winners representing the West Region at Leamington on Sunday 27th August.