(2026)
1) LAWS OF THE GAME
a) All games are played under the laws of the game.
b) Immediately following notification of relevant changes to the Laws of the game and Bowls England, Rules and Regulations 50-70.
d) It is the responsibility of the skips to ensure that all players are complying with the laws of the sport, especially that of the legality of bowls in accordance with the National Finals. Bowls are to carry a date stamp of 1985 or later, on their bowls up to the National Championships then they need to bare the current year or later.
e) Bowls used in the County Championships must be of the same set and not allowed to be changed during the game, except when playing Singles 4 bowl or Pairs, where 1 wood becomes unplayable.
2) ELIGIBILITY
a) The competitions shall be confined to Clubs that are affiliated to this Association, Bowls Cambridgeshire and Bowls England and have paid their subscriptions for the current year. No restriction shall be placed upon any member playing in more than one competition, but no player shall represent or allow his name to be submitted for more than one Club in any one year in the Bowls England competitions.
b) Championship competitions are ones that qualify for the National Championships which are Singles, Pairs, Triples, Fours, Junior Singles (Under 24’s as of 1st April that year), Junior Pairs (Under 24’s as of 1st April that year), Senior Fours (Over 55 as of 1st April that year) and Two Bowl Singles.
c) Players may play for another Club in County Domestic Competitions, Over 55’s Singles (Over 55 as of 1st April that year) Over 55’s Pairs (Over 55 as of 1st April that year), Champion of Champions, Norton Cup, Emily Huckle Cup, C G Gilbert Cup, St Neots Trophy, Ken Gilbert Cup, Roy Peacock Cup, Don Watson Salver, HJ Brown Trophy, Open Triples League, provided that by agreement with his parent club, but then they can’t play for the parent club in any of the domestic competitions, they registered for that purpose.
d) Senior Pairs game shall consist of 18 ends: 4 bowls each player, the leads to play their four bowls before the skips. In the event of a tie at the end of the game, an extra end must be played, the shots in this end to count in the final score.
e) Only the winner of your Club 4 Bowl Singles is allowed to enter the Conty 4 Bowl Singles Championship. Also, the winner of the County 4 Bowl Singles will be eligible to enter the competition free of charge for the following year.
f) Benevolent Triples, players do not need to be from the same club, but the clubs must be affiliated to Bowls Cambridgeshire.
g) In exceptional circumstances and only allowed to happen once, in the competition for that season and with the agreement of the opposition.
h) In a Domestic 4’s team competition, if a team turns up 1 player short then you play 8 woods against 6 woods, playing Lead, Lead, Two, Lead, Lead, Two, then the 2 number 3’s and skips as normal.
i) In a Domestic Triples team competition, you play 9 woods against 6 woods, playing Lead, Lead, Two, Lead, Lead, Two, Lead, Lead, Two, then the skips play as normal.
2) COMPETITION RULES
All the Championship and Domestic competitions rules can be found with each individual competitions on the website.
3) CONTACT DETAILS
The names and telephone numbers / email addresses of each competitor will be found on the County web page under competitions then Competitor List (password protected). It’s the players responsibility to make sure the information on the we are correct.
4) DRAW
a)The draws for all competitions will be taken from an approved computer program, except for day competitions, Two Bowl Singles and Benevolent Triples when the draw will take place at 9.30am on the day of the competition, when teams and players can enter on the day.
b) For all the competitions there are no zones/groups
5) CHAMPIOSHIP and DOMESTIC DRESS CODE
Players are required to wear white tops or club shirts and greys or club shorts / trousers in all competition games up to the Final. All team members wear the same dress code.
6) VENUE OF CHAMPIONSHIP PRELIMINARY ROUNDS and DOMESTIC COMPETITIONS FINALS
a) The ties in all rounds shall be played on the greens of the challenger (1st name team/side in the draw), except in cases where home and away venues are to be used.
b) The Finals and Semi-finals where we have 2 qualifiers for Leamington, shall be played on a green or greens selected by the Executive Committee.
c) Any Club or Player failing to play on the final’s day will be banned for the following year from that competition.
7) DOMESTIC FINALS WEEKEND, subject to over lapping.
Friday 5pm (This might be worked into the Saturday and Sunday subject to space and over lapping players) – Men’s Senior Singles (1), Women’s Senior Singles (1), Benevolent Triples (Women’s) (1) (subject not being played on Benevolent day.
Saturday 10am/ 1.15pm/ 4.30pm – Norton Cup (Men’s) (2), Emily Huckle Cup (Women’s) (2), Mixed Top Club (5), Mixed Peacock Cup (3), Men’s Champion of Champions (1), Women’s Champion of Champions (1)
Sunday 10am/ 1.15pm/ 4.30pm – Men’s Senior Pairs (1), Women’s Senior Pairs (1), Secretary & Treasures (1), Don Watson Salver (Open) (4), C G Gilbert Cup (Men’s) (3), Women’s Top Club (3).
(number of rinks required)
Food for the players after the Saturday and Sunday matches at 10am and 1.15pm. If playing in a team game a charge for the food will be made!
8) GREENS
a) Greens may be inspected and passed by the Greens Inspection Committee/Executive Committee at any time during the season.
b) For County Domestic Competitions and Bowls England Championship Preliminary Rounds (unless otherwise stated) where the green of a challenger as drawn does not conform to an acceptable standard the challenger shall have the right within 24 hours of nominating a suitable green in his own area, if the green is affiliated to the County. If he is unable or does not elect to exercise this right, then the tie shall be played on the green of the opponent. When the green of the opponent also does not comply, then the tie shall be played on a green mutually agreed upon
9) ARRANGING A GAME
a) All ties in Championship/National/Domestic Competitions, shall be played on the greens of Clubs affiliated to the Bowls Cambridgeshire.
b) County Championships and fixed date competitions take priority over anything else. The National Domestic Competitions followed by County Domestic Competitions then other leagues and Competitions that the host club is affiliated.
c) 2 trial ends are permitted before the commencement of the game, if the competition rules allow it. Otherwise, you are not permitted to have a roll up on the green beforehand.
c) The date on which the various rounds must be played will be found on the web. Some competitions are play ON or others are play No later than. These dates must be strictly adhered to, but ties may be played off BEFORE the dates specified by the mutual consent of both parties. If you can’t agree with your opponent, a new date, then you must play on the ON date or concede your match/game. The date on which the various rounds must be played will be found on the web. No extensions will be granted.
d) All matches should start promptly at 6.30pm in May – July, unless mutually agreed otherwise. In August matches should start at 6.15pm. Home players should make the arrangements in advance for a marker for singles games and for an umpire to be called if any doubt should arise when measuring.
e) Selecting the Rinks for play ‑ The Home Club/Player has the right to pre-book the rinks that are to be used for a match or competition. In a Single rink match, 2 fit rinks must be offered to the away team and a draw to take place or offered verbally. The Skips of a visiting side or their representative, i.e. the captain of the side, will pair their teams with those of the home teams (by placing their cards on the face down cards of the home side). The visiting Skip or Captain will then make a draw from the pre‑booked rink members to determine which match will be played on which rink. Note: 'Side' means any agreed number of teams, whose combined scores determine the result of the match. Note: 'Team' means a Four.
f) No player in a competition or match shall play on the same rink, on the day of such competition or match before play commences, under penalty of disqualification.
g) If a party is not ready to play within half 30 minutes of the time fixed for a tie, the other party may claim a 'walk over' (attention is directed to the conditions governing the several competitions).
h) It is good practice for Clubs/Captains to check with your opponents the date and start times of 1st round games/matches. If you cannot play all the rounds, then you must concede the first round or first game. A defaulting team/person will be banned from that competition the following year, unless you have a good reason.
10) RESULTS
a) No official score cards will be issued. However, a scorecard will be issued at the final stage.
b) Results are to phone or texted through to the appropriate recorder immediately after the tie, NO CALLS AFTER 10pm or completed on the web. An email will then be sent out the name person responsible for that competition, confirming who you play next.
11) COUNTY LEAGUE
a) Form 2025 season and going forward if 12 or less teams enter:
b) If only 12 teams enter the League, the league will change to One League with Home Games one year and Away games the next year.
c) If 2 Leagues are operational and they are split into 2 Divisions. If 1 division has 2 more teams than the other, then they will be balanced by either relegating an extra team from the higher division or promoting an extra team from a lower division.
12) CHANNGE OF RULES
A Vote will take place at the County Annual General Meeting, for Domestic Competitions, with a simple majority, to the change being consistent with the rules of Bowls England.
13) TROPHIES
All Trophy winners, players(s) or club(s) must attend the County Annual Dinner and Prize Presentation to collect their trophy. Unless there are mitigating circumstances, failure to do so will result in the player(s) or club(s) not receiving their individual trophy/money, and the prize money will be withheld and will go into the county Good-fellowship fund.
14) PROTESTS AND DISPUTES
a) All protests pertaining to the green, etc. must be lodged before the commencement of the game, To either the Competition Secretary or County Secretary, by phone or email or text.
b) Protests about a player or spectator must be made within forty-eight hours of the match.
c) Protests must be lodged with a clear statement in writing of the point at issue, stating the Competition, Date, Timing, Rink(s), Direction of play and what colour markings the rink(s) are played on. This shall be communicated to the Competition Secretary and County Secretary by email or letter form soon together with any evidence produced.
d) The club or competitor lodging the protest shall deposit with the Competition’s Secretary of the Association the sum of £25:00, which may be forfeited to the funds of the association in the event of the protest not being sustained.
e) No objections or protests shall be withdrawn except by leave of the Executive Committee.
f) The Executive Committee of Bowls Cambridgeshire shall determine all questions and disputes that may arise, and which do not come within the scope of the Umpire’s duties.
h) The decision of The Executive Committee shall be final and binding.
15) MICISCELLANEOUS
a) BADGES and BARR awarded as follows:
Colts Badge on 1st Game,
Full County Badge awarded for 5 games,
Johns & Middleton awarded for 5 games (including Barr)
Eastern Counties awarded for 5 games (including Barr)
Walker & Balcomb awarded for 3 games (including Barr)
County badge to be awarded, when playing at Leamington for the 1st time, if not already awarded.
b) COACHES for away matches shall be 65 miles or over to the away venue. This will be calculated on google maps from Cambridge & County BC (CB2 8FG) to the away venue.