Another division switch on the cards

Winter League

We previously reported on the reasoning behind the move to switch Divisions 6 and 7 to overcome problems with the promotion and relegation of host clubs in the League. Another Division switch is also on the agenda for very different reasons after a move to swap the home venues of Divisions 1 and 5 for next season was approved at the Management Committee meeting on Thursday.

This will see the Division 1 teams moving from their Milnsbridge BC home of the last six seasons to play next season at Lindley Lib with Division 5 teams moving in the opposite direction. As both Divisions already play on a Wednesday there is no logical reason why this shouldn't go ahead with minimal disruption to any team.

There are a number of reasons for this move but primarily it is about keeping the competition fresh and not allowing things to go stale. Being aware of the moves of some teams in other leagues because they want a new challenge. I am aware of teams withdrawing from long time membership of Huddersfield leagues to join leagues in Bradford. They are fed up meeting the same teams every season, with the top one or two teams fighting for the title each year with the same team winning each time. Good bowlers need a new challenge every so often or their game can suffer as a result. They need to be pushed against good bowlers or better teams to keep that edge to their game.

The Winter League has a number of teams from the Halifax and Mirfield areas and the reason they are in the League is because of the level of competition it offers. We cannot be complacent and expect things to carry on as they have done for the past six years without contributing to the reasons to entice teams to join the League.

It is clear that many teams are comfortable operating at a certain level every season and many of them have a loyalty to their particular host club. That is especially true of the relationship between many teams and the host club caterers. I often hear of teams not wanting to be promoted as that would mean they wouldn't be able to enjoy the food offered by their host club. It is true that the food offered by many clubs is excellent and it has become an important part of the day's enjoyment for many bowlers. Let us not forget that we are a bowling league, not a Michelin 5-Star organisation. If the bowling side wasn't thriving the host clubs would suffer on the numbers attending and their income would drop. Bowling is the reason we get together.

The Management Committee has a responsibility to all teams not just teams in any one division. I have listened to bowlers talking about why they shouldn't change their host club. I haven't heard of any good reason why bowlers should stay where they currently bowl other than for their own short term benefit. This is an important precedent fully supported by the Management Committee with talk moving on to extending the swapping of greens on a more regular basis.

This year Divisions 1, 5,6 and 7 will do swaps affecting Wednesday and Thursday divisions. There is no reason why that cannot be extended to Mondays and Tuesdays. We recognise that it is more of a problem if Divisions moved their playing day of the week and there are no plans to do that other than the changes that come about as a by-product of promotion and relegation of teams.

The Winter League prides itself in being different in all respects to most other leagues. We are not against introducing changes because we learn from them. Not to change is to stand still and in the current climate bowling cannot afford to do that. We have a sport in free fall. We have to look forward and ensure that we have a product that is fit for the longer term.