EIBA U-turn on Stamford's national opponents

Post date: Mar 24, 2016 9:08:06 PM

The regulators of the sport of indoor bowls have made a U-turn by re-arranging yet again, the areas in which local bowlers will compete in national competitions.

After announcing that Stamford IBC players will no longer compete exclusively in Lincolnshire in Area 6 and instead head west to find their opponents in Leicestershire and Northants, the English Indoor Bowls Association has had a re-think.

Now, while they will again lock horns with Spalding, Grantham and Long Sutton, Stamford bowlers will include Peterborough, March, Sutton St James and the recently re-opened Wisbech indoor bowls club in the re-shaped Zone One of Area 5.

Winners in their zone will compete against the qualifying clubs from Area 5 (Zone 2) - Barwell, Carlton, Church Gresley, Charnwood, Leicester and Melton IBCs.

Stamford's previous opponents at Boston will play Horncastle, Skegness and Sleaford in Area 4 (Zone 1) while in Zone 2, Lincoln's opposition will be Dunholme, Scunthorpe, Louth and Doncaster.

Explaining the turnaround in format, the EIBA's director of competitions, Carl Higgins says: "The EIBA has received constructive feedback, areas have been reviewed and amendments made."

Stamford bowlers wishing to enter national competitions should do so on forms provided at the club and submit them by April 17.