Setbacks for 2 Winter Leagues
- Winter League
- Jul 28, 2023
- 3 min read
Winter League
On the day that Hove Edge Bowling Club announced that they were closing down their 10-years old Winter League competition, the Huddersfield Winter League held its Annual General Meeting.
Member teams at the meeting were informed that Thorpe Green had withdrawn their green from being one of the host greens for the 2023-24 season. Thorpe Green have supported the Division 3 competition for the last 2 years and have provided a warm welcome and a great atmosphere among the teams at their green. Without their initial involvement the Winter League would never have grown at the pace that it has and so the League owes the club a huge debt and is saddened by this loss.
As club representative Alan Hobson explained to the meeting the reason for their withdrawal is solely down to the loss of their catering team. As all Winter League bowlers know, the catering team at each host green is a key factor in the success of each venue. Without hot drinks and food the over-60's struggle to function at a comprehensible level and we cannot offer safe and comfortable bowling for all without this key ingredient.
This development is obviously a setback for the League however, Chairman Mike Ralph put things into perspective by reminding the meeting that this is the first major setback that the League has suffered since its inauguration in 2020. After the initial 15-month setting up period was negotiated the League has enjoyed a fast increase in teams, bowlers, host greens and divisions. He said that this is just a blip in the journey and will be countered by a replacement host green or an alternative restructuring of the League format.
Thorpe Green has always been a strong supporter of winter bowling and will continue to have three teams in the League. With 12 new teams to include taking the total up to 52 teams the League needs 6 host greens to retain the 6-division format ideally required to accommodate that number of teams. The withdrawal last week of Thorpe Green means that the League is now looking for a new host green to join Milnsbridge BC, Springwood, Lindley Lib, Netherton Con and the 2023 addition of Lockwood Park Rugby Club.
There are a number of options to the League for restructuring of the divisions if required but the preference is to retain the tried and trusted format of 8 or 9 teams in a division. To continue with that format means that one new host green is required and any club interested in learning more about what that involves should contact the League Secretary, Jeff Jacklin, on 07968 171 197 or by email at jefftheref2000@yahoo.co.uk
Should a sixth host green not be forthcoming in the next 4 weeks then the League has a Plan B that was outlined to member teams but not discussed in detail but it is hoped that this change will not be required.
The news from Hove Edge about the closure of their Winter League competitions which have been run on Tuesdays and Saturdays for the last 10 years is also a blow to local bowling teams. There are a number of different stories going around about the reason for the closure so I decided to contact the club to try and learn what the root cause was, to ensure that we are ready and prepared if similar difficulties face the Huddersfield Winter League in the future.
Hove Edge Bowling Club Secretary Steve Rothwell was very clear that the sole reason for the closing down of the League is entirely due to the stepping down of John Beverley as the competition organiser. John was instrumental in the competition becoming established in 2012 and he has been responsible for its administration ever since. John wants to step back from that role and no one has been forthcoming to fill that gap. The catering team remain available to support the competition should a new organiser be identified in the future and certainly the club is not ruling out a return to winter bowling on their greens in the future.
Speculation that the closure was because of damage to the green by playing on it over the winter months was repudiated by Steve Rothwell. He said it was nothing to do with that. Steve stated that if it had been a factor in the decision then it would have come to light a long time before passing the 10-year anniversary marker.
Comments