Various competitions are run by the HSMBA as summarised below with links to the respective
website pages
National Championship Qualifiers Each year Herefordshire runs qualification events
for the various disciplines in the ESMBA National Championships. The winners and,
depending on the allocation of places to the county, up to 3 additional teams may
secure places in the National Finals. The qualification events are one day competitions
held between October and January. The National Finals are held at a central location
in April. Entry is open to all HSMBA registered players and entry forms go out to
affiliated clubs at the beginning of the winter season. Team entries may comprise
players from different clubs. The format, prescribed by the ESMBA, is a round robin
stage followed by a knockout section through to a final and 3rd/4th place play-off.
Each game comprises a set number of ends.
County Championships County championship events are held for the various disciplines
each year. The competitions are run as one day events (or across a weekend in the
case of the Singles) across the winter season and entry is open to all HSMBA registered
players. Team entries may comprise players from different clubs. Entry forms go out
to affiliated clubs at the beginning of the winter season. The format is a round
robin stage followed by a knockout section through to a final. Each game comprises
a set number of ends subject to a pre-determined time limit.
Bill Mackie Cup This is a challenge match held over two legs each summer between
the Herefordshire and Gloucestershire county teams in memory of a former Gloucestershire
captain. The teams are selected by the county captains from the county squad players
and the format follows that of an ICC county match.
LEH Trophy This is a club knockout competition (our FA Cup!) open to teams of
10 players from clubs in the Herefordshire and Gloucestershire associations. The
competition dates from when the two counties formed a joint association in the 1990s.
The competition runs through the season with a final in March.
Macmillan Trophy The Macmillan is a charity open fours tournament run each November
at Bromyard Leisure Centre to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support. The competition
attracts around 40 entries from Herefordshire, Gloucestershire and beyond. Entry
forms go to affiliated clubs at the beginning of the winter season. The competition
uses a randomly drawn ‘open’ format whereby each team plays 4 games across the day
(one slot playing, one slot resting) and teams’ ranking in terms of points and shots
won determines the competition winner. Each game comprises a set number of ends subject
to a pre-determined time limit.
Bromyard Triples Challenge Cup The Bromyard Triples is a one day club competition
for 16 teams of triples, each representing their club (clubs may nominate entries
or hold their own internal competitions to determine their entry). Each HSMBA affiliated
club has one guaranteed place and numbers are made up to 16, if necessary, by allocating
additional places to clubs who can provide additional teams. The format is a round
robin stage followed by a knockout section through to a final. The competition is
held at the Larruperz Centre in Ross having originally been run at Bromyard Leisure
Centre (hence the name). Each game comprises a set number of ends subject to a pre-determined
time limit.
Other Competitions In addition to these HSMBA run competitions there are a number
of other open or charity competitions run by individual clubs or associations. Within
Herefordshire the current competitions are the Fownhope Charity Fours (a one day,
16 entry competition held in April by Fownhope SMBC at their village venue) and the
Woolhope Charity Fours (a one day, 32 entry competition held in September by Woolhope
SMBC at Leominster Indoor Bowling Centre). Other competitions popular with Herefordshire
players include Avon Open Pairs and Fours (held at Bristol Indoor Bowling Centre
in June & September), Hardwicke Mens & Ladies Triples (held at Kingsway Community
Centre, Quedgeley, Gloucs in November & May), Gloucestershire Open Charity Fours
(held at Mid Glos Indoor Bowling Centre, Gloucester in April) and Wiltshire and Westbury
Blue Circle Open Fours (held at Clarrie Dunbar Indoor Bowls Centre near Bath, Somerset
in May).
