still positives in 2020 - sunday 6 june
still positives in 2020 - sunday 6 june
Embedded Files
General secretary’s report to the 2021 AGM on Weds 2nd June:
Good evening one and all, and I must say how good it is to see you all in person and to be on the cusp or re-starting league fixtures for the first time since October 2019.
You don’t need me to tell you that the last 20 months have been trying in so many ways due to the Covid-19 pandemic, with its waves of infections and lockdowns.
And your League officers have certainly been trying hard in so many ways to keep the sport of crown green bowls in Mid Shropshire in people’s minds, in good order and ready to roll again as soon as allowed but, most importantly, when safe and sensible as possible, thanks to the success of the vaccination programme..
We tried everything to organise fixtures in 2020, meeting many times virtually to come up with options for local mini divisions before the seriousness of the worldwide virus forced to admit defeat in early June.
We tried to communicate like never before after the last in person League meeting in March 2020, direct to our clubs and to our hundreds of bowlers via the website and social media.
We tried to help our 26 member clubs survive the financial strain of reduced income in 2020 by granting them all £42.50 to cover the cost of their BCGBA affiliation fee and handbook bill and their SCGBA affiliation fee.
And we tried – and succeeded – in promoting the only competition to be played in Shropshire during the summer season, the September 2020 won by Peter Millington of Trench and made possible by the great will-do attitude of the Edgmond club.
So despite the trying nature of the last year or more, the League still has plenty to be proud of – and I certainly look forward with a positive mind set with a view to keeping Mid Shropshire at the leading edge of the sport in the county.
From the first week of July, let’s replace infection rate statistics with league tables; let’s enjoy our great sport again; and let’s relish what we have missed so much – being amongst fellow bowlers enjoying the craic - without or without a tipple!
Let’s pay tribute to the many we’ve lost since being all together by making this curtailed, one-off season as successful and enjoyable as it can be – and look forward to a good old fashioned Mid Shropshire League knees up that we are planning before Christmas to celebrate that fact.
And finally, I must pay tribute to the hard work of your league chairman since rising to the heady ranks of county vice-chairman this year. Sean has spent hours trying to guide the new top table in the right direction – with the same steady hand that has served Mid Shropshire bowls so well.
Thank you
FLEXIBILITY IS THE KEY - WEDNESDAY 7 APRIL
FLEXIBILITY IS THE KEY - WEDNESDAY 7 APRIL
Some big bowls decisions are going to be made in the next couple of days – and not just by clubs in the Mid Shropshire League.
A vote at an extra meeting of the BCGBA’s management committee on Friday (9th April) will determine whether any of the county championships will go ahead this summer – and, if some do, on what dates and in what format.
The men’s senior county championships seems the most likely to get the green light, but continuing Covid concerns – especially about travel – has put big question marks over the ladies and junior competitions.
A bowls calendar lacking ladies and junior matches on summer Sundays will obviously give organisers of the hundreds of county, league and open competitions extra flexibility to try and avoid clashes.
And it’s the need for flexibility in this ‘half season of a year’ that has led to the Thursday Division and Saturday Division being put into cold storage for 2021 – so that clubs have extra room to re-arrange fixtures in the league’s core Friday and Monday divisions should they need to.
When the action starts in those divisions, and indeed what it will look like, will be decided by a series of votes at the league’s April management committee meeting on Monday night (12th April), again via Zoom.
That’s when club delegates will cast their votes to determine start dates, numbers per team, registrations – if any – and even if they want to allow bowlers to play twice in a match if a team is short.
Decisions made by majority will be formally ratified at the delayed AGM on Monday 24th May – hopefully to be held in person - and clubs would have until Wednesday 2nd June to tell league how many teams on which nights they will be fielding under the structure approved.
But one thing is already clear – 2021 is going to be very much a one-off campaign with no promotion or relegation, no prize money or trophies presented.
Getting bowlers back bowling is the key this year, being as flexible as possible to get as many to return and as safely as possible . . . in the sincere hope that some vestige of normality returns in 2022!
Some big bowls decisions are going to be made in the next couple of days – and not just by clubs in the Mid Shropshire League.
A vote at an extra meeting of the BCGBA’s management committee on Friday (9th April) will determine whether any of the county championships will go ahead this summer – and, if some do, on what dates and in what format.
The men’s senior county championships seems the most likely to get the green light, but continuing Covid concerns – especially about travel – has put big question marks over the ladies and junior competitions.
A bowls calendar lacking ladies and junior matches on summer Sundays will obviously give organisers of the hundreds of county, league and open competitions extra flexibility to try and avoid clashes.
And it’s the need for flexibility in this ‘half season of a year’ that has led to the Thursday Division and Saturday Division being put into cold storage for 2021 – so that clubs have extra room to re-arrange fixtures in the league’s core Friday and Monday divisions should they need to.
When the action starts in those divisions, and indeed what it will look like, will be decided by a series of votes at the league’s April management committee meeting on Monday night (12th April), again via Zoom.
That’s when club delegates will cast their votes to determine start dates, numbers per team, registrations – if any – and even if they want to allow bowlers to play twice in a match if a team is short.
Decisions made by majority will be formally ratified at the delayed AGM on Monday 24th May – hopefully to be held in person - and clubs would have until Wednesday 2nd June to tell league how many teams on which nights they will be fielding under the structure approved.
But one thing is already clear – 2021 is going to be very much a one-off campaign with no promotion or relegation, no prize money or trophies presented.
Getting bowlers back bowling is the key this year, being as flexible as possible to get as many to return and as safely as possible . . . in the sincere hope that some vestige of normality returns in 2022!
club re-openings the focus - wednesday 24 march
club re-openings the focus - wednesday 24 march
The chances of League fixtures resuming this summer are growing all the time but, right now, it’s the clubs that are the centre of attention in the crown green bowling world.
Greens can officially re-open on Monday 29th March - with the rule of 6 and 2 households outdoors rules in force - but that’s about the only things that are set in stone
Full clarification about the practicalities is still awaited from Sport England via the governing body, the BCGBA – and it’s not expected to be published until the actual day that bowling greens can re-open!
But it’s fair to say that risk assessments, booking green times to practice, social distancing, hand sanitising, face masks, in and out signs etc etc will be here for some time yet.
And these are just some of the reasons that the League has adopted a cautious approach to re-starting fixtures, the ultimate aim being Friday 2nd July.
The trouble remains, however, that nothing is yet certain – and the government’s roadmap could change very quickly, especially if the vaccination programme is hit badly and infection rates start to rise again.
But all we can do is hope that everything goes to plan and that we make a great start to springing clubs back into life, getting bowlers back on the green and, just as importantly, socialising again with people they have not been able to see.
The Big Bowls Weekend from May 28-31 then gives clubs a great opportunity to try and attract new people – young and old – to give the sport a try.
It could just be that the chance to try something new and fun, in fresh air outdoors and in a welcoming environment after all this time in lockdown, gives clubs, leagues and the sport itself a very welcome boost in the long run.
delivering a fitting tribute - tuesday 16 march
delivering a fitting tribute - tuesday 16 march
A year ago today the world of crown green bowling ground to a halt – all play stopped by a suspension notice from the BCGBA in the face of mounting Coronavirus concerns.
What followed was a year that none of us will ever forget, or want to repeat for that matter.
It’s seemed like 12 months of loss – sadly of 120,000 plus lives to Covid; of our normal day-to-day lives; of most of the things we took for granted; and, for bowls lovers, the key part of their summer way of life.
And it’s not just the game that I’ve missed but, perhaps more importantly, the people.
How I yearned, during what was one of the best summers in recent years, to be standing greenside with a pint in hand chewing over the fat with some of the people I have come to cherish meeting since the late 1980s.
I’m heartbroken to say that two of the bowlers who I have most enjoyed the company of – Phil Clee and Pete Roden – won’t be with us when the greens re-open again this year, both tragically taken from us far too young.
But I know in my heart of hearts that that their love for the sport that they graced in Mid Shropshire ran mighty deep.
And that’s why I’m sure they will be looking down approvingly as everyone connected with organising crown green bowling goes all out to try and safely re-launch the sport this spring, involving as many people as we can.
From a personal point of view, that’s what I will be striving to do – at League and county level – to help deliver what would be a fitting tribute in memory of two good bowls friends that I will never forget.
BIG CHANGES AHEAD - WEDNESDAY 16 FEBRUARY
BIG CHANGES AHEAD - WEDNESDAY 16 FEBRUARY
It’s not often I look forward to County Executive meetings, but I must admit that Monday night’s gathering – via Zoom - is eagerly anticipated.
For, due to the pandemic, it will be the first meeting of the executive since last January, and it marks the dawn of a new era for bowls in Shropshire.
The new top table team of chairman Phil Scott, our very own Sean Round as vice-chairman, secretary Dawn Gray and treasurer Reg Morris will take up the reins on the very day the Prime Minister is due to unveil his post Lockdown III road map to recovery.
“This is a new era for Shropshire bowls and I hope the new team can carry on the good work the retired officers did for many years,” said Phil.
“Obviously with new officers come new ideas and ways of working and I hope all the executive can help the new officers where they can, especially Dawn and Reg - I’m sure they will appreciate the support.”
On the agenda for Monday are the 2020 financial report of former treasurer Brian Kitson, appointments for the various sub committees, dates for meetings and plans to upgrade the SCGBA website.
Also up for approval is an updated Disciplinary Code of Practice, covering offences such as physical assault, criminal damage, racial abuse, verbal abuse, use of social media and bringing the game into disrepute.
Oh the times they are a changing . . .
START DATE IS THE KEY - TUESDAY 9 FEBRUARY
START DATE IS THE KEY - TUESDAY 9 FEBRUARY
How can anyone make plans in these uncertain times?
That's a question League officers have been wrestling with for nearly a year now!
It took a huge effort to put on the 2020 MSBL Relaunch Singles competition at Edgmond on Saturday 5th September, only for the looming second wave of the pandemic to stop us in our tracks.
But now we have to be extra positive and believe that, with the vaccine programme being rolled out so quickly, 2021 will see a return of League fixtures.
And rest assured, that's something your officers ARE going to start to plan for, starting with a Zoom meeting later this month once we hopefully are told how the Lockdown III period is going to end on March 5.
I firmly believe that we have to set a start date, make firm plans for it, get approval from member clubs and be ready to start fixtures on it - even if the date has to be pushed back due to prevailing circumstances at the time.
That's the only way to go forward, with a set plan in place . . . but we WILL get there!
GenerAl Secretary Has His Say - Monday 1 february
GenerAl Secretary Has His Say - Monday 1 february
Today marks the start of a new era for crown green bowling in Shropshire - and it's great to see Mid Shropshire people to the fore.
League President Mike Potter continues as county competition secretary while serving a second year as Deputy to County President Wendy Icke due to the pandemic having ruined the 2020 season.
But Mike is joined by League Chairman Sean Round as county vice-chairman and MSBL minute secretary Rob Burroughs as he takes up the same role for the SCGBA while resuming duties at the head of the county cup committee.
The new county officers were getting down to work straight away,being scheduled to meet via the Zoom meeting app on the evening of their first day in charge.
And it could just be that another Mid Shropshire person is invited to join the top table in an official capacity in the fullness of time . . . so watch this space!
But for now, here's wishing the new hierarchy every success, with a big thank you to their predecessors for their service to the county.
It's a big changing of the guard and there's lots to be done . . .
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