Set out below is the feedback just put out from the BCGBA about their latest survey results. Lancashire’s return was the third highest of any County so thank you for your input.

BCGBA BOWLERS SURVEY RESULTS

“The results are in and, as promised, here is a brief overview of the results. In total, we received 2,147 responses, and the locations of the responses can be seen on the first slide.

We fully appreciate that the survey was basic, and had limited responses available for feedback, but that was to enable us to get straight to some basic answers. We wanted to confirm what YOU, the bowler, want the Association to focus on.

The key areas that we need to focus on are clear from the results….and that’s exactly what we are going to make our priority. As previously said, we fully accept that change is needed, and we’re going to bring the Association into a much more modern landscape.

By way of an update, directly from the responses to the survey, we are already reviewing the BCGBA website in preparation for a full redesign concept. By developing this, we can ensure that everything is in one place, and on a much easier to use format, enabling us to cascade information much faster.

Linked into this, we will be using social media much more. As many of you have previously commented, we’ve already started to utilise Facebook posts far more. This allows us to get information directly to lots of our members, on a quick, informal platform with lots of images and videos from around our sport. Going forwards, we’ll continue to develop this whilst also introducing additional platforms.

One of the key messages is also around the development need within our sport – especially with regards to grassroots and junior development. We are currently working on a National Development Strategy that will address many of the needs of Clubs and Counties, and we hope to have this ready in draft form by the County Representative Meeting (National Council) at the start of July.

Thank you for all of your responses to the first BCGBA Bowler Survey. There will be more surveys coming out over the next few weeks, and these ones will be much more specific….with the opportunity to give specific feedback and share ideas. We are committed to develop and grow our sport….and we need your support to help us to achieve this.”

THE  VETS BOWLING COMPETITION DUE TO BE HELD ON 27^TH JUNE

AT THE BAY HORSE AT ADLINGTON IS NOW TO BE HELD ON  THE

15^TH OF JUNE,,

WE WERE NOT AWARE THAT BCGBA WANTED THE NAMES OF THE

QUALIFIERS MUCH SOONER THAN NORMAL.

ENTRIES TO DATE

PAUL CADDICK   ALLAN BELLIS  PAUL CULLEY NORMAN YOUNG

MIKE BAILEY  MARK WARBURTON  KEITH JOHN ROBINSON

KEITH ROBINSON  TONY ROBINSON  MARK WORRALL

BILLY GRIFFITHS STEPHEN MCMANUS  KEITH HIGHAM

DUNCAN WATKINS  PHIL BOYDELL  MICHAEL BETHELL

KEVIN LATHAM PETER CLINTON KEVIN BREEN

PETER TILLEY, 

COULD YOU PLEASE CONTACT Graham Royles

ON 07488266477  OR 01942862417

This is a final reminder that the Lancashire Junior Merit is scheduled for Sunday, 9th June at the Bellingham Bowling Club, New Lodge, Wigan, WN1 2ND with a start time of 4pm and practice allowed from 3.30pm. This is a uniformed event so entrants should wear their Lancashire shirt and black or navy tailored school trousers (not jeans or track suit bottoms). If your child does not have a Lancashire shirt, Clive Fenn has a few white polo shirts with him they could use. The winner and runner-up of the Lancashire Junior Merit usually go to the National Junior BCGBA Merit Final. This year the National Final is being held at Mosborough, Welfare Miners in South Yorkshire on Saturday, 17th August. This competition is open to any bowler who was born on or after 1^st January 2006.

If you have not already contacted Clive to let him know your son / daughter would like to take part in the Lancashire Merit Competition, please do so as soon as possible. Also, if you know of any other junior bowler who may be interested in bowling, please contact Clive.

The BCGBA is currently undertaking a period of significant transition to develop the sport to be “fit for the future.”

As a Governing body, they fully accept that there is a need for change, and want the input of the Crown Green Bowing Community to help facilitate this.

Throughout 2024, the BCGBA will be issuing a series of surveys to get feedback on what Clubs, and Bowlers, want and need.

Please support the surveys and be honest with your answers. The feedback will help drive change and the BCGBA intend to share this with you along the way.

Let’s start with where we’re at currently. This survey will remain open until the end of May. Click on the link below to answer the survey.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfHgnk-s0DyY80RdxAJqRaA7P6bf4KAkuJDLkdv_-X5N6Afwg/viewform

If you’ve not had a look at the Bowls Development Alliance courses on the ‘Week of Learning’ then you’re missing out!!!

Some great sessions being run throughout the week to give you lots of hints and tips to develop both your Club, and yourself.

….and there’s lots of advice to get you ready for the Bowls BIG Weekend 😎. Check out the link below.

https://bowlsdevelopmentalliance.com/education/

Sport England have just announced the following:

“New Movement Fund set to revolutionise funding applications. The transformational fund offers crowdfunding pledges, grants and resources to improve physical activity opportunities for the people and communities who need it the most. If your organisation and project are eligible for funding, and your project aligns with our goals, you could receive up to £15,000. We will especially welcome new projects that have not not applied to us before.“

Find out more: https://www.sportengland.org/…/new-movement-fund-set…

As of 8th April Graham Royles has the following update for you.

• 20 April – Rivington BC – 6 entries
• 21 April – Padgate BC – 6 entries
• 27 April – Atherton Botanic Gardens – 5 entries
• 28 April – Hindley Platt Lane BC – 0 entries
• 4 May – Hesketh Arms BC – 9 entries
• 11 May – Edgeworth BC – 4 entries
• 12 May – Leigh BC – 3 entries

In this day and age, when Comps pop up by the hour, the Lancashire Senior Merit is forgotten. To make it more efficient, when your entry has been recorded would you please follow up with your entry fee (£10 per person). All entries are 10am practice, 10.30am start.

Contact Graham Royles for more details on 07488 266 477 and there is further information on our Competitions page.

On Sunday 28th April, in conjunction with the Bowls Development Alliance and the British Crown Green Bowling Association (Official), North Lancs and Fylde County Bowling Association will be hosting the first Crown Green ‘Bowls’ Big Weekend Roadshow’. The event will be held at Frenchwood Social Club, Strawberry Gardens, Bence Road, PR1 4NP Preston. It will last from 10am-12noon.

The day will consist of everything Bowls!!! There’s going to be lots of short, sharp learning sessions about ways to develop your Club, engaging volunteers, growing membership, becoming inclusive, simple safeguarding, raising funds….the list goes on….along with a host of activities and FREE coaching sessions being done on Frenchwood’s green. In addition to all of this, there’ll be opportunities to try out different weights and densities of bowls, along with trying a vast selection of disability and inclusion aids.

For the juniors (and families), there’s going to be lots of fun activities in the morning with the Bowls Buddies products. Finally, from 12 noon, the juniors take over and there’ll be a County Junior get-together for all u18 bowlers to come along for some FREE coaching.

Everything on the day is completely FREE, and is open to all bowlers, Clubs and Leagues from anywhere in the crown green world!!! All that we ask is for you to register your interest in attending by emailing the North Lancs & Fylde County Development Officer at:

steve.clamp.bowls@gmail.com

This is the first event of its kind, and it promises to be a fantastic day of learning for everyone that attends.

Please note that any Club running an Open Competition must have an Open Certificate to run the Competition which can be obtained from the Lancashire County Secretary & NOT BCGBA as before.

At the 2022 BCGBA Annual General Meeting the green light was given to the Governance Review.

This was completed on Thursday 7th March 2024 by the formation of the BCGBA Board following receipt of the Five Regional Representatives from the National Council.

The structure of the Board, which has the right to operate with full authority in the Governance of the Association is as follows;

• Chairman – Alan Stephenson.

• Chief Executive Officer – Paul Ashmore.

• Financial Officer – Graeme Underhill.

• National Safeguarding Officer – Denise Noble.

• National Administrator – Jim McGurk.

• Competitions Officer – Yvette Gregory.

• Disciplinary Chair – Sue Todd.

• Region 1 – Steve Clamp.

• Region 2 – Vacant (Cheshire, Merseyside, Isle of Man and Wales)*

• Region 3  – Steve Cochrane.

• Region 4 – Calvin Jackson.

• Region 5 – Phil Scott.

• Independent – Graham Pickavance.

• Independent – Dan Peach.

*Region 2 is currently being advertised and the closing date is Friday 22nd March 2024.