It has been brought to my intention that an article appears on Social Media (Facebook) that no one can enter outdoor competitions for 2021, only the people who entered the Outdoor for 2020 will be able to play. The article on Facebook says this has come from the National body which is completely untrue.
  

I issued a statement on August 23rd saying the following:  

The article on Facebook says the draw for the 2020 competitions will be carried forward to 2021 with no other members able to enter, this has never been a proposal from National level, I have sent all the forms out to the County Secretaries for 2021 and they clearly ask for entries to the 2021 competitions.
  

The only entries carried forward are in the Durham Centenary, as they were unable to play this year and clubs will not have a winner for 2020 to go forward. The Adams and Newton team events have also been transferred on block. 

  National Outdoor Championship results (2019)

See "Skegness'19 Champions" for the 24 individual competitions and 6 team events 

See "Skegness'19 EBF" & "Skegness'19 EWBF" for full details

 

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The wearing of shorts by men

It was passed at the 2018 AGM that tailored shorts (with EBF logo) may be worn, white in inter-county association matches and national championships, grey in other games. For the full dress regulations for men click on “Rules (2019)” in the Main Menu to the left and see rule 7.21. Shotbowl are the only EBF approved outlet. Here is the link to the relevant page of their website.

At the time of writing we would normally be watching the last ends of various singles and pairs finals with the rinks champions identified yesterday afternoon. The presentation arena will be being prepared. Oh well, not this year.

Does it give perverse satisfaction that the weather this week has been bad? Rain, rain and more rain has now developed into 'north wind doth blow', with the promise of more rain. How frustrating would it have been if we had the type of weather that we usually enjoy.

We must look forward to 2021, for indoor as well as outdoor. Surely things will be "normal" by then..... let's hope so.

 

It is with great sadness that we witness the passing of David Bryant CBE. Originating from Cider Country he will not have had the opportunity to play the Federation game but it cannot be denied that for many years he was to bowls what Ali was to boxing, in terms of honours achieved. In 1978, as a young man recently introduced to the faith that bowls at Skegness was the way to utilise one's annual holiday entitlement, I watched my future Mother-in-Law (Gill Restall) win the 4 wood singles title. This was in the days of a Friday Evening presentation at the Grosvenor. David Bryant was in attendance and was good enough to join us at our table for a chat - most definitely a gentleman. I wonder if we can find the photo which appears to show Gill pointing her finger in the direction of DB's nose? My other memory of him is watching him on TV (Sportsnight, with David Coleman perhaps). If he stood up on the mat, a significant portion of the audience would whisper "He's going to fire". DB would have to step back from the mat because of the total volume of the "whisper".