Guide to HSMBA Competitions

County Championships

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.