Club gets green light to carry on bowling

Post date: Sep 23, 2020 7:57:26 PM

Bowlers at Stamford's indoor stadium in Exeter Gardens, can continue to enjoy their sport, despite the Government's new restrictions imposed for the next six months - the game's governing body has advised tonight (September 23, 2020).

This new guidance by the English Indoor Bowls Association, will be a huge relief to the local indoor bowls club, and its members, who had feared a second closure following re-opening on August 17, could seriously further effect its future.

The club had, in recent weeks, imposed stringent safeguards against the spread of Covid-19 with mandatory wearing of face masks and two metre social distancing on and around its green.

The latest guidance stipulates that from Thursday, September 24, only upto six players will be permitted per rink, although multiple rinks may be used subject to appropriate social distancing measures. No interaction with players on the next rink will be allowed.

As a result the Tuesday and Thursday night fours will be reduced to a triples competition - three-bowl triples on Tuesday and two-bowl triples on Thursday. Bowlers are reminded that their 2020-21 subscription must be paid (by September 30, 2020) BEFORE they compete in domestic leagues or their team score becomes invalid.

Commented club chairman Keith Rippin: "We have conducted a risk assessment for all aspects of returning to indoor bowls at Stamford and this includes the fact that juniors aged under 18, can participate in bowling activity at Stamford as long as they are supervised and follow all the required regulations we have imposed on our members to keep them safe. Those aged 11 and over must where a face covering.

"I am delighted that having taken all the necessary safety measures in the government's guidance on returning to sport we are Covid-19 Secure and welcome the opportunity for our members to continue to play safely in groups of up to six people on each rink.

"We would ask all our members to comply with the regulations in force including the new one of not ‘mingling’ with those on other rinks. We have also reviewed our changing area policy and in future those playing on rinks 2 & 4 will change at the entrance end with those playing on the other rinks continuing to change at the scoreboard end. By doing this we hope to provide further space.