Two more new teams join Winter League

Winter League

Kirkheaton Cons and Lockwood Cons have both entered B teams for the 2023-24 Winter League season to take the number of new team applications up to eight. This continues the previous experience of teams that have already enjoyed bowling outside during the Winter months to have a growing demand from within their clubs for more places.

The League has grown in numbers every year that it has been in existence and no team has ever withdrawn from the League over the four years that we have been in business. A check on Bowlsnet indicates that we remain as the fastest growing League in the country

The Kirkheaton and Lockwood teams join Marsh United, Outlane, Broad Oak, Thorpe Green 'D' and two teams from Cowcliffe as new teams for the coming season. There are even more teams that have enquired about joining the League and we hope that at least one of those will become firm applications before the 3 July deadline for new teams.

Those eight additions takes the total number of teams in the League up to 48 and that means we will be adding a new Division 6 to the League structure. To accommodate this continuing rise in interest and the demand for new places, a new host green will come into the League and we are delighted to welcome the Rugby Club at Lockwood Park as the new base green for the teams in Division 6.

Lockwood Park provides a good green, a warm welcome, plenty of outside cover for the rainy days and ample free parking adjacent to the green which all adds up to an ideal new partner for the League. More team applications are still very welcome as the Winter League continues to prove very popular but the closing date for the 2023-24 season is now less than two weeks away.

The format of the six divisions will not be finalised until the League's AGM which is scheduled for 26 July. Teams should not assume which division they will be allocated to as there are many factors to take into consideration before such matters can be finalised. However all the teams that finished in promotion or relegation places in their 2022-23 divisions can safely assume that those moves will be honoured.

The closing date for new team applications for the new season is Monday 3 July 2023. You can learn more about what winter bowling is all about by reading our Ultimate Guide to Winter Bowling.

In brief:

• teams are made up of 4 bowlers who can be of any gender

• matches are played of 2 Singles and 1 Pairs games

• bowlers must have passed their 60th birthday to qualify to bowl

• you don't use your own green in the League as each division is allocated a host green that they play on all season

• teams play on the same day of the week throughout the season

• all matches have an 11.30am start time

• matches are played from October to mid-February

• there is a two-week break over the Christmas period

• League fees are £15 per team per season

• weekly match fees are £10 a team (£2.50 per bowler) which all goes to the host green which covers green fees, raffle tickets, hot drinks and biscuits.

• additional hot drinks, hot and cold food are always available for bowlers and spectators at a modest charge.

Make your application to join the League or get any further details you require from the League Secretary, Jeff Jacklin, by phone (07968 171 197) or by email to jefftheref2000@yahoo.co.uk