The Southampton Open Bowls Tournament

2010 Tournament Regulations

1. INTRODUCTION

2. BOWLS ENGLAND (formerly EBA)

All competitions will, as far as possible, be conducted under the present BOWLS ENGLAND Laws. Any
deviation will be recognised as having been done to bring about a satisfactory conclusion to the Tournament.

3. THE PRINCIPAL COMPETITIONS

There are five main competitions: men’s singles, men’s pairs, men’s triples, ladies pairs and ladies
triples. The singles and pairs competitions will consist of four bowls for each player – 21 shots and 21 ends
respectively. The triples event will be three bowls per player – 18 ends. Two trial ends, two bowls only per
player will be allowed in the singles, pairs and ladies triples. No trial ends are permitted in the men’s
evening triples competition until the semi-final stage. Subject to the Tournament schedule running to plan,
the committee may organise a men’s singles ‘plate’ from Wednesday onwards and an ‘open’
consolation pairs from Thursday onwards. The number of ends for these competitions will be determined
before each round of theses competitions takes place.

4. REDUCTION OF POINTS/ENDS

The committee reserves the right to reduce the number of ends or points per game as and when it is
thought necessary: e.g. due to bad weather.

5. BAD WEATHER CONDITIONS

When the green steward and or green keeper decide that play cannot continue on a green/rink because
of the weather and there is no likelihood of early resumption, the following rule shall apply: the
player/team having scored the most shots at the cessation of play shall be the winner(s).

If the scores are tied then the player/team winning the most ends will be the winner(s). If both scores
and winning ends are tied then the outcome will be determined on the toss of a coin.

6. SUBSTITUTES

The players in the first match, one of whom shall be named in the official competitor list held by the
secretary will constitute the team. Each team will be entitled to one and the same substitute throughout
the Tournament. Substitutes are not allowed in the singles competition. In order to meet a special
situation, e.g. a player in a team becomes ill and cannot continue, a second substitute, where the original
cannot be contacted, can be used in order that the team can continue play in that match only. Thereafter
the team must revert to the original substitute in any further matches. The second substitute must be a
person who has not already played in that competition.

7. SCHEDULED TIMES OF PLAY

Start times for play are listed in the programme. A competitor will be allowed a maximum of 12 minutes
thereafter to start play otherwise his opponent may claim the match. Any further delay can only be
accepted with the agreement of both singles players or in team matches, the two skips, and the duty
green steward. The latter has the authority to reduce the number of ends/points to incur a satisfactory
conclusion to the match. It may be due to bad weather etc, that the scheduled start times have to be
altered. The onus is upon the competitor(s) to regularly check with the green steward for any changes
to the promulgated start times.

8. UNNECESSARY SLOW PLAY

If the Tournament is to come to a satisfactory conclusion then every competitor must co-operate.
Constant visits to the ‘head’ are unnecessary and unacceptable. Competitors seen to be doing this
by the green steward or umpire will be reminded once only. Further infringements will amount to the
match being stopped and the opponent(s) being awarded the game. The committee have resisted
imposing time limits that are evident in a number of other Tournaments and are subject to criticism.

9. DRESS

Competitors are required to wear suitable white tailored shirts and greys below the waist from Monday
to Wednesday. Some clubs require ties to be worn as part of their club rules - please check with the
green steward. From Thursday onwards the dress is all whites. Markers are also asked to wear whites
for the sake of uniformity. Suitable club or team coloured tailored shirts (or uniforms) may be worn throughout
the week providing all team members wear the same club or team shirt (or uniform) and that
the shirts do not display any club advertising other than the current club sponsors. Jeans and
non-tailored shorts are prohibited.

10. UMPIRES / GREEN STEWARDS

In the event of a dispute over the Laws of the Game which cannot be resolved by the players, the umpire,
or in his absence the green steward shall be called. The decision made shall be final even if at a later
stage, it is found to be incorrect.

11. MARKERS

Like most other Tournaments, finding sufficient markers for singles matches is extremely difficult.
Players must accept that markers are unpaid volunteers. Markers will maintains the scorecard and
answer questions to the best of their ability from the player who is ‘in possession of the mat’.
The onus is on the player to judge whether the opinion is correct or otherwise. Queries beyond the
markers opinion should be addressed to the umpire or the green steward and that decision shall be
final irrespective of the fact that it was later discovered to be incorrect.

12. SCORECARDS

At the end of the match the scorecards shall be signed by both players in singles matches and by both
skips in team matches. It is the winning player/teams responsibility to ensure the scorecard is handed
in to the green steward.

13. FINALS

Tournament play is scheduled to finish at 6.00pm on Finals Day. However dispensation may be given if
a player is involved in more than one final. No player will be permitted to play in more than two finals.
If a player is involved in more then he will find a legal substitute in the men’s triples. For the benefit of
spectators, every effort is made to ensure timings for the finals are as promulgated in the programme.
Nevertheless when players are involved in more than one final the committee will regard the player concerned
as more important.

14. ENTRIES - REPLACEMENTS

Each year the committee has the onerous task of notifying opponents, clubs and markers of late
withdrawals. Any entrant withdrawing from the singles competition or the whole team, withdrawing from
one or other of the competitions before the Tournament commences may bereplaced by a player or team
not previously entered in that competition. The replacements shall be taken from a waiting list of people,
in strict rotation, who were too late to enter the Tournament proper and have notified the Tournament Secretary
of their desire to be placed on the waiting list. Players who have byes will not be affected by this regulation
and no replacements after the preliminary or, as the case may be, the first round of that competition has
been placed. E.G. a player or team who plays the first match and then withdraws after winning cannot be replaced.

15. PERPETUAL TROPHIES

Perpetual Trophies presented to all finalists will always remain the property of the Committee. They
are valuable and subject to insurance. Winners will be allowed to retain them for one year provided they
sign an indemnity before leaving the Tournament on Finals Day. For insurance purposes, trophies are
not allowed to be taken out of the British Isles. Engraving of these trophies must be carried out by the
engravers nominated on the indemnity form. Any other engraving must be carried out by a professional
engraver and at the holder’s own expense. All trophies must be personally returned to the Tournament
Assistant Secretary before 1^st July of each year, or at another time agreed with the Tournament Secretary.

16. COMPLAINTS

If you have a complaint about the Tournament please address it immediately to a Committee Member.
For identification, they should be wearing a Committee Membership badge. If you are still dissatisfied
then your complaint must be in writing and sent to the Tournament Secretary, within 14 days of the Tournament.
Your complaint will be brought to the attention of the Committee and you will receive our response as soon as
possible after a decision has been reached.

17. PERSONAL INJURY, DAMAGE OR LOSS OF PROPERTY

Competitors entering the Tournament do so on the understanding that any personal injury, damage or
loss of property will not be subject to compensation by the Tournament or the host clubs.

18. HOSTCLUB RULES

All venues utilised in the Tournament are on loan. Competitors are expected to abide by the Club Rules.
Such rules are not always evident. If in doubt please ask the duty green steward, it will save embarrassment
all round.

19. PERSONAL CONDUCT

The Committee requires every competitor to maintain a courteous standard of personal conduct in keeping
with the high traditions of playing the game of bowls. Any person seen by a green steward or umpire to be
disturbing the opposition or adjoining rink(s) of players through conduct which could be described as
unbecoming and should have been avoided, will be told to leave the green and disqualified from taking part
in any other Tournament competitions during the week. Team member(s) will also be disqualified from
taking any further part in that particular competition. The Committee reserves the right to refuse entry
into future Tournaments by the offending player(s) sine die.

20. BOWLS STICKERS

The Tournament is very dependent on sponsorship and as a condition of entry all competitors, whenever
required to do so MUST, during play, use the stickers on their bowls which have been provided by the
Committee to advertise our sponsors.

21. CHANGE OF REGULATIONS

These regulations are merely a guide for competitors. The Committee reserves the right to alter, amend
or vary the Regulations at any time.

JULY 2009 - Consolation Pairs Competition

Subject to the main competitions running according to schedule, a knockout ‘open’ consolation pairs
event will start on Thursday afternoon. It is open to any men, mixed or ladies pair. Entries via the
Tournament Office, Atherley B.C. – Fee £4.00 per pair, by 1.00pm on Thursday. Final will be played on
Saturday afternoon. Prize money dependent on entries received.

FEBRUARY 2010 – Men’s Singles ‘Plate’ Competition

Subject to the main competitions running according to schedule, a knockout men’s singles ‘plate’
event will start on Wednesday afternoon. It is open to any male competitors who have been eliminated
from the main men’s singles competition, and who have submitted their entry for this competition by
6.00pm on Tuesday, at the Tournament Office, Atherley B.C. The competition will be played at a host
club chosen by the Committee, until the semi-final and final stages, which will be held at Atherley B.C.
Entry fee will be £2.00 per competitor. Prize money dependent on entries received. Entrants to this
competition will be ineligible to subsequently enter the consolation pairs event.

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