County Finals will have more riding on them

The Huntingdonshire Bowls county finals this season will have far greater significance than normal with only one qualifier in all but the men’s and women’s junior singles being permitted this year.

Usually both finalists already know they will be heading to the National Finals at Leamington before the county decider.

Instead of a month-long National Championships from the beginning of August, Bowls England have decided to shoe-horn the event into the space of 18 days starting on Thursday, August 19, hence the reduction in entries.

Those counties with larger entries in the main events will get two qualifiers instead of three and it also means the men’s and women’s competitions will be running side by side and that places increased pressure on players who may have to choose between the Bowls England finals and the English Bowling Federation finale at Skegness which runs from August 21 to August 28.

The EBF championships usually clash with either the men’s triples and fours or the men’s singles and pairs, but this time more events will be running at Leamington at the same time.

The Bowls England decision allows counties more time to play their qualifying competitions should there be any delay in the relaxing of Covid restrictions.

One other significant change is the decision to play all the inter-county championships on a knockout basis rather than in regional groups leading to the last eight as these matches will not be permitted until late June.

The EBF are considering a similar move for their county championship programme.

With clubhouses closed and car sharing not permitted until at least May 17, the Peterborough League, which usually starts around the first week in May, could be delayed.

The ‘rule of six’ also applies until May 17 which means that although league matches (three triples) can be played on alternate rinks, any clubs with less than six rinks could not play at home.