The last day of “summer” bowls is scheduled for Thursday 14 May so from that date (or possibly earlier if the grass is closed by the greenkeeper), should entries to our weekly tournaments exceed 18 teams it will be necessary to ballot teams to get down to this number.

The question and merits or demerits of balloting has been considered and debated by the Board and a final decision has been reached on the basis of the system that will apply once we are restricted to the carpet green. The following is the basis agreed which will be applicable for the duration that balloting is necessary.

1. Teams entered and/or balloted will be recorded under the skip’s name or the person entering the team.
2. Entry close off times will be enforced and if, at that time, there are more teams entered than the number that can be accommodated, any incomplete teams will be balloted out.  All other teams will be given a number from 1 up to the total number of entries.
3. Numbers will then be drawn for the excess number of entries and these team numbers will be the balloted out teams for that playing day. The affected teams will be advised as soon as practical.
4. No distinction can be made for players who may be in different teams or a mix of members and non members for example, from week to week or for teams who enter one week and not another.
5. The teams balloted out will not, in normal circumstances, be balloted out again until all other teams  have been balloted out once.  To be clear these are recorded under the skip’s name or person entering the team.
6. Should an event be cancelled due to weather or any other reason after the ballot has been done, the ballot for any team so balloted still stands and counts as a ballot.  It is not transferred to any subsequent week or event.

Essentially this is the current system but is being set out so that all understand it and can accept that over the winter months they will most likely be balloted out at least once.