News

17th APRIL 2025

 

Report to Clubs  

Summary report of the Clubs Meeting held on 6th

April 2025

NORFOLK BOWLS ASSOCIATION UPDATE

County Sponsorship

We are delighted to announce the agreement to a sponsorship arrangement with

Howden Insurance based at 1 Surrey St. Norwich which will provide direct

financial benefits to both the County Association and affiliated Clubs.

Howden Insurance will become the headline sponsors of our County League and

have provided branded scorecards which have or is in the process of being

distributed to Clubs and ask that these be used for County League matches

As part of the arrangement, the County will receive a cash payment and for any

Club member who arranges insurance through them the Club will receive a cash

payment to them of £25.00 paid to them on a quarterly basis. When asking for a

quote, they will be asked how they heard of Howdens and provided the cover is

then placed the Club will receive the £25.00.

To advertise the services that Howden’s provide, they are asking Clubs if they

will display one of their advertising boards and if you are willing to do so then

please liaise initially with David Naunton, who is managing the arrangement. It

is appreciated that some Clubs already have local sponsorship deals with other

insurance brokers which may create a conflict of interest and prevent such

advertising being displayed

Howden’s cover over 100 types of insurance business and to see details please

go their website https://www.howdeninsurance.co.uk/norwich where the

Manager is Neil Carver.

Please do share this information with your membership and make them aware of

the potential benefits to both them and your Club.

County handbooks & Howden Insurance branded scorecards

These have or will be distributed to all Clubs. The contact for any issues is John

George.

Clubs

Newly affiliated Clubs for 2025:-

· Wellesley BC (Great Yarmouth)

· Hempton BC

· Aylsham (Ladies) BC

 Unfortunately, Saxon BC has decided not to re-affiliate in 2025 and GW

Staniforth has closed.

2025 County Championships & Bowls England National Finals

Draws for our County Championships have been made and published including

the inter-Club events

The Group Competition Secretaries are

· Group1 /2 Ian Groves

· Group 3 Malcolm Struthers

· Group 4 Malcolm Struthers

John George looks after inter-clubs competitions (Bales Cup, Lord Fermoy Cup &

Jermy Cup)

The programme for the 2025 Bowls England National Finals has been published

and is on the Bowls England website. The number of qualifiers we have for each

Championship will be confirmed when received from Bowls England.

County dress

We have agreed to introduce a new playing shirt with black shorts/trousers for

National Inter County events for 2025.

The design is the same as adopted by our Ladies Section so we have a dress

code covering both genders which we see as a way forward and integration

across the whole County.

Additional kit will be available including a hoodie and training top and these too

will be available. Going forward we may extend the kit range to include rain &

shower proof tops.

Members will be able to purchase all kit direct from the Suppliers but we will

hold some stock but there will be a lead in time of up to 5 weeks.

Full details will be circulated in due course

2024 AGM

Rules updates

At the AGM in December, motions were passed to change various rules and

these have been incorporated into the current rules and regulations, namely:

· County League to 18 ends including WP Baker & Hansells Cups

· County League changed to open to allow lady members (for any ladies

that play they MUST be affiliated and affiliation fees paid)

Please ensure your Team Captains are aware of these changes

The new League Secretary is Ian Groves - contact details:

· Email – leaguesec64@outlook.com

· Phone - 07584 287456

In addition, the 2024 Hansells Cup final between Swaffham Town & Cawston was

postponed last year due to bad weather. This will now be played on at 10am on

Saturday 17 th May at Aldiss Park (under the ‘2024’ rules’).

  

 Teams with more than 1 team in the County League must register 12 players for

their ‘A’ team by 30 th April and the Registration Form has been sent to those

Clubs where this needs to be done.

Officer vacancies

There are vacancies for the following positions should any members be

interested:-

· Junior Vice President

· Press Officer

· Safeguarding Officer - I am covering at present but we a looking to

appoint a permanent officer should anyone be interested

· Disciplinary Officer - with changes to Bowls England Regulation 9 we need

to appoint a County Disciplinary Officer and this is being pursued

Middleton Cup

As last year, this will be a round robin with home matches at County Arts.

Fixture details are on our website

Balcomb Trophy & White Rose Trophy

Changes approved at the 2024 Bowls England AGM have been implemented for

2025 and there will be Regional Finals played for both events under the new

playing formats.

The Balcomb Trophy is at Brampton Institute BC in Huntingdonshire on 17 th/18 th

May where we will start our defence of the title with the White Rose Trophy at

Hadleigh BC in Suffolk on 31 st May/1 st June.

As previously announced the playing formats for both these events have

changed in 2025 to:-

· Balcomb – team of 10 playing singles, pairs, triples & fours

· White Rose – teams of 5 playing singles/fours, pairs/triples

Over 60 Inter-County Team Competition

This is a new knock out event for 2025 comprising a team of 12 men & 12 ladies.

We have entered a team with Mark Turner & Christine Webb as joint Managers.

Our first round match is against Cambridgeshire on 17 th June at County Arts.

Eastern Counties League

There have been changes in that the matches will now comprise 4 rinks + a rink

comprising players aged over 60/ County Officers.

There was a risk of the League folding due to lack of support from other

Counties and the above change has meant the League will continue in 2025.

County Friendlies

Application forms for matches have been issued to Clubs for return to the Match

Secretary (Barney Wymer).

The full programme of matches is on our website though the programme is

smaller this year mainly due to the reluctance of some Counties to travel.

County Tour

 The 2025 Tour, hosted by President Chris is to Leicestershire and the

Tour Manager is John Mason

BOWLS ENGLAND UPDATE

Affiliation Fees 2025

Following a change at the 2023 Bowls England AGM, the Bowls England

affiliation fee will increase annually based on the CPI at October.

The Bowls England fee for the 2025 season will be £7.10 per member.

The NBA Affiliation fee remains unchanged at £2.00 per member. However we

are not immune to rising costs and may have to consider an increase at some

time, but we have no plans to increase at present.

The Hon Treasurer (David Naunton) has issued the relevant paperwork to Clubs

with payment of the fees required by 10 th May 2025.

Late Affiliation Fee payment for new members joining after the May affiliation

payments will be requested later in the year.

County Development Programme – Norfolk 2025

Norfolk has been selected as one of 5 Counties to get dedicated support from

the Bowls Development Alliance (BDA) in 2025.

The first stage was a Roadshow held in conjunction with Bowls England at

County Arts in February. More information will be provided by the BDA on how

they can support Clubs and I urge Clubs to consider the help and support that

can be provided to them on many topics.

Details of Club sign-up to the 2025 Norfolk County Development Programme

have been sent to Clubs along with details of a ‘Club Health Checker’ both of

which could provide great support to Clubs and Clubs are urged to consider

these

The contact from the BDA is their East Region Development Officer, Annie

Dunham whose contact details and other useful information may be found on the

BDA website including the County Development Programme & Club Health

Checker.

Safeguarding

Much work has been undertaken to ensure Clubs have an Officer in position by

1 st May, this being a Sport England requirement.

Most Clubs now have or are in the recruitment process but those who have not

are being actively chased.

Clubs with any issues or concerns should contact the Hon. Secretary or the

Bowls England Safeguarding Lead, Juliette Maggs-Bowen

Misconduct/Disciplinary

 Currently this is covered in Bowls England Regulation 9 which all Clubs must

adhere to as a condition of their affiliation.

The current Regulation is complicated and very difficult to adhere to so

Bowls England is undertaking a review of the Regulation and will be making this

simpler and easier to follow. Work is ongoing and when completed Board

approval will be sought and the Regulation implemented with more details given

at that stage.

Fit for Future strategy

The 5 year strategy is on-going and covers such things as

· Bowls Big Weekend

· Bowls Bash

· Play Bowls platform

Full details are the Bowls England website and I would urge Clubs to take a look

to see if any of these are a ‘fit’ for them. Bowls England will provide support &

guidance

Bowls Big Weekend 2025

This is in its 5 th year and many Clubs across the Country have signed up for this

over the Spring Bank Holiday weekend.

Bowls England AGM

The AGM was held in February and there is not too much of importance to Clubs

to report but if anyone requires a copy of the minutes these will be provided.

The Annual Awards Night followed and I’m delighted to report that Brian Taylor

of County Awards received the prestigious National Greenkeeper of Year award.

International update/Performance Team Update

Changes have been made to the Performance Team international trial

nominations with a new Performance Team now in place

The Balcomb Trophy & White Rose Trophy Regional finals will now be treated as

a key element of the selection process, particularly for the Senior Team, though

performances in other events will be taken into account.

As for Juniors, some Counties have not entered a team in the White Rose Trophy

so a Junior International Trial as well as an Under 18 training day will be held

and nominations for these are being sought (details are on the BE website).

In addition, Bowls England is planning Regional Under-18 Talent Days followed

up with a National Development Day at Leamington 2025.

Details on the above may be found on the Bowls England website

Another item of news is that Bowls England has expressed interest in hosting the

2027 World Bowls Championships and further news is awaited.

Page 5 of 6

c:\users\user\documents\my documents from e drive\nba - secretary docs etc\clubs meetings\2025

04\report\report to clubs.docClubs data/Club dashboard

Bowls England hold, on their website, data for all Clubs and are developing this

further to be a ‘one stop shop’ for any one searching for a bowls club and the

bowling & facilities that they provide.

Whilst Bowls England will populate Club information with the details that they

hold and which have been provided, once this is live, responsibility for update

will lie with Clubs.

There are items of information that will be mandatory, including Club

Contact/Secretary but there will be other information that the Club may record

should they think fit, including contact details of other key Club Officers. The

‘site’ is still at the development stage and more details will be provided in due

course.

Bursaries – Safeguarding, Umpiring & Coach Bowls

Bowls England has previously offered bursaries towards the cost of Coaching,

Umpiring & Safeguarding but they have advised that they have currently

suspended payments whilst they undertake a review, which I understand will be

completed very soon.

The Norfolk Bowls Association Coaching bursary (for 50% of the course fee for

Coach Bowls Level 1 for 2 members per Club over a 2 year period) will continue.

John Ottaway

Hon. Men’s Secretary

13 th April 2025

Circulation:-

Norfolk Bowls Association Men’s Club Secretaries

Norfolk Bowls Association Men’s Management Committee

Mark Turner – Middleton Cup Manager

Christine Rednall – Norfolk Bowls Association Ladies Section Secretary

 

24th February 2025

 

Brian Taylor awarded the Bowls England Greenkeeper of the Year

Photo link

At the Bowls England Annual Awards Night held at Leicester Athena on Saturday, Brian Taylor of County Arts BC was awarded the prestigious ‘Greenkeeper of the Year’, a richly deserved honour for his work and dedication at both his own Club and many other Clubs across the County over many years.

 

The Bowls England citation given stated “Brian’s 30+ years green-keeping transformed County Arts BC into one of Norfolk’s finest. His expertise helped to revive the green after major setbacks and he supports other Clubs as Norfolk’s Greens Maintenance Advisory Officer showcasing unmatched dedication to bowls services”

 

Many congratulations to Brian from the County Association and the many players both in Norfolk & beyond who have had the pleasure of play the greens you have worked on over many years.

 

21st December 2024

County Comps 2025 now on website and click the link here.

Norfolk Bowls Association League Fixtures 2025 now on website and click the link here  

 

 

15th November 2024

NOTICE of County League Annual General Meeting on 8th December 2024

NOTICE OF COUNTY LEAGUE AGM

 

Notice is hereby given that the Norfolk Bowls Association COUNTY LEAGUE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING will take place on Sunday 8th December 2024 at County Arts Bowls Club, Plumstead Road East, Norwich immediately following the Men

 

 Attached is the Agenda together with:-

· Agenda item 3 - Minutes of the AGM held on 3rd December 2023

· Agenda item 6

· Agenda item 8 - League format for 2025 but this is still dependent on league entries received and which do not close until 15th November and if you have not yet submitted your Club

 

Please note the two motions that have been submitted which are shown in Agenda item 5 & explained in the Appendix, namely:-

· Change from 21 ends to 18 ends

· Change to an

 

If you have any queries or comments prior to the Meeting then please address these to the Hon. League Secretary - Mark Elliott (email: markelliott1962@outlook.com).

 

Links to following

1.   Agenda 8th December 2024

2.   Minutes of last AGM held on 3rdDecember 2023

3.   League format for 2025

4.   League Secretary Report