Like most sports, outdoor bowls competitions run throughout the season. The season runs from April till September.
There are several formats for competition comprising Singles, Pairs, Triples and Fours. These matches can be played with two woods each, four woods each and usually three woods each in the triples.
Matches are usually played over a set number of ends. That means all bowlers bowling from one end of the green to the other. This completes one end. They then bowl back to complete the second end and so forth.
The number of ends is predetermined before the match starts and can range from as little as 5 ends up to a general maximum of 21 ends.
For the benefit of future reference the word “Shots” is a bowls term for points
Bowls is a sport played by both Ladies and Men. In most cases they play their competitions in their respective genders. However, mixed matches are played. In recent times more and more matches are played in the mixed format.
Below I have outlined the various auspices that bowls competitions are played under
The Grange Internal Club matches
The Grange Bowls Club hold annual competitions under the following headings. The majority of these competitions are played on a knock out basis
Male Competitions
- Championship. Singles match played with four woods each. The first player to score 21 shots is declared the winner and goes through to the next round. The winner of this competition represents their club in the following season’s national Champion of Champions competition
- Handicap. Singles match played with four woods each. The first player to score 21 shots is declared the winner and goes through to the next round. The handicap element means that players will have a prefixed number of shots start depending on experience and previous success.
- Two Wood. Singles match played with two woods each over 21 ends. In the event of a tie an extra end decides the winner.
- Pairs. Each player has four woods The match is played over 18 ends. The pair with the highest number of shots at the end is declared the winners. In the event of a tie and extra end is played. Pairings are made by pulling names out of a hat
Ladies Competitions
- Championship. Singles match played with four woods each. The first player to score 21 shots is declared the winner and goes through to the next round. The winner of this competition represents their club in the following season’s national Champion of Champions competition
- Handicap. Singles match played with four woods each. The first player to score 21 shots is declared the winner and goes through to the next round. The handicap element means that players will have a prefixed number of shots start depending on experience and previous success.
- Two Wood. Singles match played with two woods each over 21 ends. In the event of a tie an extra end decides the winner.
- Pairs. Each player has four woods The match is played over 18 ends. The pair with the highest number of shots at the end is declared the winners. In the event of a tie and extra end is played. Pairings are made by pulling names out of a hat
- Joan Gammage Triples. This competition is a memorial to Joan Gammage. Joan was a key figure in the forming of The Grange Bowls Club. She was a founder member and Trustee and served as Treasurer for many years. The match is played over one afternoon on a Round Robin basis. Team members are picked out of a hat
Mixed Competitions
- Galas. These matches are normally arranged as fund raising events. Teams from the surrounding area clubs are invited to take part. The format varies for each match. However, they usually take part over one day or afternoon. They are played on a Round Robin basis. The winning team and runners up usually receive a prize at the end of the match.
- Aussie Pairs. This exciting new bowls pairs match format originated from Australia and was introduced to the club in 2019. Each player has four woods. The match is played over 18 ends. In this format players from each side rotate the position they bowl. It means that both players will have turns at bowling the first wood and last wood.
- Frank Gibbs Trophy. This competition was introduced 2013 and is played in honour of Frank Gibbs. Frank was a member of this club for over forty years. He was President for a record 26 years and was one of the founder members and Trustees of The Grange Bowls Club. The competition is open to both male and female bowlers. It is designed to provide an opportunity for players who have yet to win a club singles competition. It is played on a Knockout format with four woods. The first player to score 21 shots is declared the winner and goes through to the next round.
Team Club Games
- Friendlies. Men and Ladies have their own respective fixtures for these matches. They are usually played on a Saturday afternoon. However, they are sometimes played in the weekday evenings on a home and away basis. The club will travel up to 30 miles to play against teams from other towns and villages. They are played with up to 6 rinks of four players. This is not set in stone and fewer rinks can play. Each player bowls two woods in a pre- determined order. The order comprises of a lead, number two, number three and a skip. These matches are ideal for new bowlers to learn the rudiments of the game under the guidance of experienced players. In recent years it is not uncommon for these matches to be played on a Triples basis
- Mixed Friendlies. These matches are played as above but with both men and ladies playing together
RBA (Rugby Bowls Association)
The RBA is an association of all the bowls club in Rugby. These clubs comprise Caldicott BC, Bilton BC, Grange BC, Oakfield BC, Rugby BC, Rugby Rail BC and Thornfield BC. The association run several competitions throughout the season. These competitions comprise of annual knockout and Leagues matches
Singles for men
- Ralph Robins Super Singles. Played with four woods each on a knockout basis. First player to score 21 points is declared the winner
- Dick Avery Singles. Played the same format as the Ralph Robins Super Singles. However, you can now only enter this competition if you have not previously won an RBA singles competition
Singles for Ladies
- Singles. Played with four woods each on a knockout basis. First player to score 21 points is declared the winner
Pairs Competition.
- Men’s Coronation Pairs. Each player has four woods and the match is played over 18 ends. In the event of a tie at the end of 18 ends, a deciding end will be played
- Ladies Britannia Plate. Each player has four woods and the match is played over 18 ends. In the event of a tie at the end of 18 ends, a deciding end will be played
Mixed
- Tony Dean Mixed Pairs. This is played as the Coronation Pairs format with one male and one female in each team
Team Matches
- Finch Cup. This competition is played on one evening Three rinks of four players are picked by the men’s selection committee. The three teams play at three different clubs. The matches are played over 18 ends. You do not play at your own club. All teams play an extra end in the event of a tie in the overall aggregate score. The team with the highest overall aggregate scorewins the cup
Leagues
- Sunday Trophy. This a league for ladies. All teams play each round on the same rink. The venue rotates so that every club gets to host a round.one. Usually two teams of four play over 18 ends. With 2 points for each winning rink and 2 points for the overall aggregate score, a total of 6 points is available.
- Friendship Cup. This a league for men (changed to a mixed format for 2023). Usually four teams of four play over 18 ends. The matches are played on a home and away basis. Two points for a rink win and six points for the overall aggregate score. Each club will play ten matches on a home and away basis.
Presidents Cup
- Played as an open pairs match with any combination of male and female bowlers. The match format is two sets of 9 ends. If the teams are tied on one set each an additional best of three ends is played to determine the aggregate points
Len Taylor Triples
- This is an open tournament played over one day. It comprises of mixed teams of three bowlers representing their own club. It is played on a Round Robin basis. Games consist of up to 7 ends each. Usually 4 games in the preliminary rounds. The tournament is played in two section. At the end of the initial games there is a play off between the winners of the two section to determine the winner.
Coventry 6 League
This is a men’s league that is open to all the clubs throughout Warwickshire and Coventry. It is made up four divisions (A,B,C,D). Each division is made up of 6 teams. It is based on a promotion/ demotion basis. It is the only men’s league in the county that is played primarily for cash prizes.
- Three teams of four make up a side. The match is played over 18 ends with 2 points for a rink win and 4 points for the overall aggregate score. Each team will play ten matches on a home and away basis.
Three Spires Ladies Bowls League
This is a Ladies league that is open to teams from the Coventry and District area. It is made up of two leagues that operate on an end of season promotion and demotion basis. The incentives are a cash prizes and trophies to the successful teams.
- The matches are played in Triples format with 3 players on each side playing with 3 bowls each. It is played over 18 ends
Warwickshire County Bowls Association (WCBA) Men
Warwickshire Women’s Bowls Association (WWBA) Ladies
This is the controlling body for Warwickshire and Coventry. It is made up of approximately 53 clubs. All clubs who are affiliated to this organisation have access to their competitions. It is also the only gateway to enter and play in the National Championships. All their competitions are played on a knock out basis. Unless stated in this guide, winners will progress to the National Finals that are played towards the end of the season in Leamington Spa.
For the purpose of simplicity. The county and national competitions are played as set out below
Most singles matches are played between two players with four bowls each till the first player reaches 21 shots. The only exception to this rule is the Two Wood Singles which is played with two bowls each over 21 ends. A deciding end is played in the event of a tie.
Most pairs matches are played with two teams of two players, played over 18 ends with four bowls each. A deciding end will be played in the event of a tie at the end of 18 ends
Most Triples matches are played with two teams of three players, played over 18 ends with three bowls each. A deciding end will be played in the event of a tie at the end of 18 ends
Most Four’s matches are played with two teams four players, played over 18 ends with two bowls each. A deciding end will be played in the event of a tie at the end of 18 ends
There are some competition formats that are more complex and need some clarification. These are the Top Club and Wardrop Cup.
These matches are made up of five different formats within the same match. to include a Four Woods Singles, two wood singles, a pairs, a triples and a fours. They are all played on the same green on the same day. Effectively it’s the best of five will see the winners through to the next round
Women’s Competitions
- Four Wood Singles
- Two Wood Singles
- Champion of Champions (Four Wood Singles)
- Pairs
- Triples
- Fours
- Senior Singles (Over 55)
- Senior Pairs (Over 55)
- Top Club
Men’s Competitions
- Four Wood Singles
- Two Wood Singles
- Champion of Champions (to qualify for this competition you have to have won your individual club singles Championship. It’s played as a Four Wood Singles)
- *Unbadged Singles (There is no National Finals for this competition)
- Pairs
- Triples
- Fours
- Senior Singles (Over 55)
- Senior Pairs (Over 55)
- Senior Fours (Over 55)
- Top Club
- Wardrop Cup (There is no National Finals for the winners of this)
- Iven’s Cup ( This is played as a fours match format with no National Finals)
- Two Fours(This is played by two teams of two rinks each over 18 ends. Overall aggregate score decides the winners)
*The Unbadged Singles competition is only open to players who have yet to achieve their county badge. To achieve your county badge you must have been selected for a minimum of 6 county friendly matches. To qualify for these county matches your name has to be put forward by your county representative.
Mixed Competition
- Mixed Pairs
- Mixed Fours
- Tony Allcock Trophy (Over 60’s Mixed Two Fours)
- Family Pairs (Can be mixed or all same sex. Must be family related)
Junior Competitions
- Junior Singles (Up to 25’s)
- Junior Pairs (Up to 25’s)
Bowls England National Championships
These finals are played at the Royal Leamington Spa Bowls Club. They are played in late August and early September over a two-week period. The club has 5 greens. These Championship events are open to players of all abilities and you qualify through your respective County Competitions.
Ladies Competitions
- Four Wood Singles
- Two Wood Singles
- Champion of Champions (Four Wood Singles)
- Pairs
- Senior Singles (Over 55)
- Senior Pairs (Over 55)
- Top Club
Men’s Competitions
- Four Wood Singles
- Two Wood Singles
- Champion of Champions ( Four Wood Singles)
- Pairs
- Triples
- Fours
- Senior Singles (Over 55)
- Senior Pairs (Over 55)
- Senior Fours (Over 55)
- Top Club
- Two Fours(This is played by two teams of two rinks each over 18 ends. Overall aggregate score decides the winners)
Mixed Competition
- Mixed Pairs
- Mixed Fours
- Tony Allcock Trophy (Over 60’s Mixed Two Fours)
- Family Pairs (Can be mixed or all same sex. Must be family related)
Junior Competitions
- Junior Singles (Up to 25’s)
- Junior Pairs (Up to 25’s)