The second annual
Cumbrian Separatists' Lawn Bowls Tournament
Friday 2007-07-27 18:00

Proud to participate on SysAdmin Appreciation Day

Well, we got away with the weather - just! A short shower just before we started, and another short shower during the buffet, with only the finalists actually get a little wet in the last end of the final! Phew!

The "group and a final" format of this year's tournament did make things run a bit more smoothly, with plenty of time for everyone to refuel at the bar between matches, and at the buffet throughout the evening. Those of us still at the pub at nearly midnight can testify to there still being food left six hours after the event started!!

The runaway winners of Group 1 were "Tennents R Us" (Richie McGregor and Laura Jackson) met the "PAS-i-fists" (David Young and Jeremy Layton) in the final, which was a tense and closely fought affair. Eventually, the PAS-i-fists ran out winners (0-2, 1-0, 2-0). All hail the PAS-i-fists!!

Thanks to all who turned up on the night (both players and spectators) and made it an enjoyable event. Thanks also to The Redfern for hosting the event, and providing the buffet.

We may try and squeeze in another lawn bowls night this summer, but if not, there will be a Ten Pin Bowling night this autumn.

There are pictures from the day here.

A small social event, just for a laugh.

• Friday 27th July 2007, at the Redfern Inn. Players must arrive before 18:00 to register.
• The Friday after the solstice had been chosen to maximise sunlight and alcoholic beverage consumption, whilst minimising disruption to work. The final will aim to finish before 22:00.
• Teams of 2 players, maximum of 10 teams. Bowls provided by the pub
• Spectators are welcome, but there is a maximum of 60 people (including players) for the buffet, at £6 per person. Money is to cover buffet and prizes, with any surplus going to Macmillan Cancer Relief.
• Prize per player of the winning and running up pairs.
• Quiz if the weather is too bad to play. If play is abandoned, scores on completed games will be used to decide the winners.
• Players must wear flat soled shoes to protect the bowling surface
• Drinks must be kept away from the bowling lawn to prevent spillages and broken glass on the bowling surface.
• Buffet will be available from 20:00, with the aim that this will be between the group phase and the semi-finals.
• Children can attend, but are not allowed on to the bowling surface. Children under 5 will not need to pay £6.
• Payment will be per person attending. Non-attendees will be charged if buffet numbers cannot be adjusted, or replacements not found.

Lawn Bowls Rules Summary

Firstly, anything not covered in the following rules will be arbitrated by the organiser on the night, with his decision being final.

The standard lawn bowling green is divided into lanes. The bowler must have one foot on a rubber mat, 14 by 24 inches size, when delivering a ball.

The target ball, or "jack", is a small white ball. Each bowler has two "bowls" (balls/woods). They are not perfectly round and are weighted slightly on one side, enough to make the bowl curve about 4 feet in that direction over a distance of 100 feet. This weight is called the "bias". It will be best to spend a minute or two practicing before competing, if you've never played before.

Before each match, the teams will toss a coin to decide which team goes first. The first contestant to bowl first rolls the jack ball. If it doesn't go at least 75 feet, or if it goes out of the rink boundaries, the other team rolls it. The jack is then centred in the lane at that distance from the mat (the "length") and then becomes the target for all the bowlers.

Having rolled the jack, the first bowler (called the lead) rolls a bowl, then the other team's lead rolls their bowl. Then each lead rolls their second bowl. Then the other players (or "anchors") take their turns.

When walking up and down a lane/rink, try to walk along the edge as much as possible, and not when a player is bowling.

The player not bowling is allowed to stand near the jack and provide verbal feedback to their bowling partner.

It is permissible to knock an opponent's bowl out of place with your bowl.

If the jack is knocked into the end gully, then any bowl which touched the jack counts even if they are in the gulley, and any bowl still on the lane or rink counts also. If the Jack is knocked into a neighbouring rink/lane or into a side gulley, the next player rolls it again from the mat, whilst bowls that have already been rolled remain in place.

Once all the bowls have been rolled, thus completing the end, scoring is similar to the scoring in horseshoes or curling: A team gets 1 point for each of its bowl closer to the jack than any of the opponents' bowls. The team which did not roll first, rolls first in the next end.

Competition format:
- Two groups in which all teams play each other
- Each group match is two ends
- Teams will decide amongst themselves the winners of each end, and then complete the scorecard before bowls are moved
- Scorecards will be passed to the official scorer at the end of each match

The top two teams from each group go through to the semi-finals, with the group positions decided on:
- the number of ends won
- the total number of scoring bowls
- the result between drawing teams
- an additional end between drawing teams

So remember, every scoring bowl may be important!

The semi-finals and finals will each be the best of three ends

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