Two team vacancies in Winter League

Winter League

The Winter League is looking forward to its 6th season and has been hit by the resignation of two teams. Before this season the League has only suffered one team resignation and that was from Rastrick B prior to the start of the 2023-24 season. That has now been followed this year with the Rastrick and Dalton teams stepping down. It must be disappointing for the Rastrick team after winning promotion back into Division 3 for the new season. Equally so for the Dalton team who were founder members of the League back in 2020.

The Management Committee at its meeting on Friday welcomed 8 new team applications for the 2025-26 season who will form a new Division 9 for next season. That has been followed by the resignations of two teams. Team-raising difficulties mean that both teams couldn't guarantee fulfilling all their fixtures so they have both decided that it is best that they withdraw before the season starts. That has created vacancies in Divisions 3 and 5 for the start of the new season.

The League therefore has two vacancies that it would like to fill before the season starts. It doesn't necessarily mean that any new teams would be placed in those two divisions as the League is keen to place new teams in the most appropriate division to match their capabilities. That isn't always possible but we do our best to place teams where they will be competitive without being out of their class or overly dominant.

Any team interested in learning more about the League or to apply to join us for the 2025-26 season then please get in touch as soon as possible to guarantee your place for the new season. The League Secretary can be contacted by phone on 07968 171 197 or by email at jefftheref2000@yahoo.co.uk

Here is a brief look at what winter bowling is all about:

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

• matches consist 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 once a week on the same day of the week throughout the season

• matches are played on weekdays

• 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 £12 a team (£3 per bowler) which all goes to the host green which covers green fees, raffle tickets, hot drinks and biscuits for each team member.

• hot drinks along with hot and cold food are always available for spectators at a modest charge.

• we have two individual competitions open to all Winter League bowlers. The Winter Cup is for individuals and attracted 124 entries last season. The new Pairs KO had 82 pairs (164 bowlers) competing for the title in its first season in 2024-25. Both have Division-based qualifying competitions.