Our competitions are open to players of all abilities – with a range of events designed to meet your individual requirements. We particularly welcome entries from those who may not have entered one of our competitions before, as this is a fantastic opportunity to improve your game, experience competitive play and visit other clubs. You could also win a place at the Aviva National Finals at Royal Leamington Spa. All events are organised on a knock-out basis. So whether you are a regular competitor or new to our sport we have plenty of opportunities for you to get involved.

All National Bowls Championships can be entered on the Bowls England Competition Portal here. Entries close for entry on Saturday 1st March 2025.

Please find the pricing list for each competition here.

Unfortunately, we only accept entries from playing members of affiliated clubs to Bowls England, a full list of clubs affiliated can be found here > Affiliated Bowls England Clubs. 

You can create an account on the Bowls England Competition Portal, the following Step by Step Guide will guide you through the process – Account Guide 

Formats vary depending on the championship, to view the formats to all National Bowls Championships click here.

All championships will show in the account of the person who made the entry. Please contact us at comps@bowlsengland.com if an entry is not showing in your account and we will look into it for you. 

The answer is yes, please give us a call on 01926 334609 and select competitions from the switchboard.

The answer is yes, entries for fellow bowlers can be made through your account, once the entry has been made you are able to assign the entry to someone else. Click here for step by step instructions to do this.

We no longer send out paper entry forms, we encourage all participants to create an account on the competition portal. Once you have created an account click on the relevant competition you wish to enter and follow the onscreen instructions to make your entry.

All championships can be paid for in one transaction. Your entries will be placed in a shopping basket, when you are ready to pay you will be able to pay for all together in one go and not separately.

All individual championships are set to allow one entry only, if you wish to make an entry on behalf of a fellow competitor please give us a call on 01926 334609 and select competitions from the switchboard.

The option is available within your account to name your team upon entry, this will help you keep track of who you have entered with. However we only need to know the named entrant’s name prior to the first match being played within the championship.

Refunds are permissible up until entries close on Saturday 1st March 2025. Our refund policy can be viewed within the competition entry Terms and Conditions here.

Players entering National Championships in another country are eligible to participate in the following events only: 

• Family Pairs
• Champion of Champions
• O60 Singles
• O60 Pairs
• Mixed Pairs
• Mixed Fours
• Foundation Pairs  

A player can only represent one club in inter-club events, this being the club where they enter the following national championships: 

• Four-Bowl Singles
• Pairs
• Triples
• Fours
• U24 Singles
• U24 Pairs
• O55 Fours
• Two Bowl Singles
• U17 Singles 

Players who are members of more than one club and have not entered national championships can decide which club they wish to represent, however they must play all inter-club events from that same one club. 

Players are not eligible to participate in any of the Inter-Club Events if national championships are entered in another country. 

If you are unable to log in, click the ‘Reset Password’ button on the log in page which will email you a new temporary password. Click here for step-by-step instructions to do this. 

Your email is your log-in to your account on the portal, to amend your email login, please login with your old email to access your account. Once logged in select >My Account>Edit Profile your account details will appear where you will then be able to update your email and any other account details as required.

You can amend your club at any point prior to the closing date for entries in any particular competition. Once logged in select >My Account>Edit Profile your account details will appear where you will then be able to update your club & county as required.

The list as shown within each competition is updated periodically by Bowls England personnel. Your online account is your first point of call to check on entries that you have entered.

To confirm your entry, view your competitions within your account, select ‘Edit’ against the particular competition, the following screen will ask you if this entry is for you or someone else. You can confirm your entry by selecting ‘Myself’. If the competition entry is for ‘Someone Else’ you will need to enter their details in order to confirm the entry. Click here for step-by-step instructions to do this. 

• Over 60’ Singles and Pairs is open to all affiliated members over the age of 60 years of age on the 1st of April in the year of the competition. 
• The Club Mixed Over 60’s Two Fours (Tony Allcock Trophy) is open to all affiliated members over the age of 60 years of age on the 1st of April in the year of the competition. 
• O60 Mixed Inter-County Championship is open to all affiliated members over the age of 60 years of age on the 1st of April in the year of the competition.  

Under 17 Singles is open to all affiliated members under the age of 17 years of age on the 1st of April in the year of the competition.

New for 2025, the Foundation Pairs will provide an opportunity for current bowlers that have never qualified for the Nationals Finals and new bowlers to participate in an event dedicated to them.

Neither player in the pair must have previously qualified for the National Finals in any event listed below:

• Four-Bowl Singles
• Pairs
• Triples
• Fours
• Over 55 Fours
• Under 25 Singles
• Under 25 Pairs
• Two-Bowl Singles
• Champion of Champions
• Balcomb Trophy
• Walker Cup

Players who have participated at the National Finals in any events not listed above are eligible to enter.

Eligible pairings are: 

• One player who has never played at National Finals in listed events AND one player who has less than three years bowling experience; 
• One player who has never played at National Finals in listed events AND one player aged under 17 on 1 April 2025; 
• One player who has less than three years bowling experience AND one player aged under 17 on 1 April 2025; 
• Two players with less than three years bowling experience; 
• Two players aged under 17 on 1 April 2025; 

Full details are included within the Regulations. 

In the Family Pairs pairings do not need to belong to the same county in order to participate as a team.

The following pairings are permissible: 

• Grandmother and granddaughter/grandson 
• Grandfather and granddaughter/grandson 
• Mother and daughter/son 
• Father and daughter/son 
• Sister and sister/brother 
• Brother and brother/sister 
• Step relatives of the above are also eligible to play 
• Marriage 
• Civil Partnership 

Pairings need not necessarily be members of the same affiliated Club or County to participate. 

The following pairings are not eligible: 

• In-laws 
• International Players since 1st April 2020 
• Anyone who has played Walker Cup or Balcomb Trophy since 1st April 2020 

The Club Two Fours is open to all affiliated players of a club, open to all genders. Teams no longer have to be all men.

For the Top Club, Club Two Fours and Club Mixed Over 60’ Two Fours (Tony Allcock Trophy) events:

All players must be affiliated members of the same club, that club being the same club that they enter/play National Championships that are administered by County Associations in the early stages.

For Individual National Championships managed by Bowls England:

Players do not need to be members of the same club in order to participate, however they are required to play from the same county in all National Events – that county being the same county where they play their National Championships managed by county associations. The exception is those clubs affiliated to two counties due to historic geographic circumstances.

From 2025, only players who won their Club Singles in 2024 are eligible. Club champions will represent the club where they qualified and placed in the area that the club is assigned to – see Regulations for exceptions.

Players who have moved clubs during the close season shall still be eligible to enter the Champion of Champions providing that Bowls England receives written approval from the affiliated Club Secretary where they secured qualification. This must be submitted no later than 1st March 2025.

All early rounds in national competitions are played locally, the later stages (All England Rounds) are played against neighbouring counties within your geographical area.

National Championships managed by Bowls England:

All rounds are played to play by dates unless your county association sets play on dates within your county.

Inter- Club Championships:

All rounds are played to play by dates up to and including the All-England Round of 16. The exception is the Men’s & Women’s Top Club where the All-England Round of 16 (Round prior to qualifying for the Aviva National Finals) is to be played on a fixed date.

All matches must be played on the challenger’s green associated to the entry unless it is stipulated that a neutral green must be used. Matches may be played at another affiliated club within the area of the competition if mutually agreed between the two players/teams involved in the tie. The venue of the match must be stipulated when dates are offered.

A neutral green midway between the two clubs or equal distance associated to the tie is required for all Area Finals in Top Club, Club Two Fours & Tony Allcock Trophy.

The All-England Rounds of 32 & 16 are played on a neutral green midway between the two clubs or equal distance associated to the entry.

Below the waist:

Players have the freedom to choose to wear trousers, culottes, skirts, skorts or shorts on an individual basis, with no requirement to wear the same item as other players in their team, as long as all members of the same team/side wear the same colour or design below the waist.

Footwear:

Players, umpires, and markers must wear flat-soled (‘heel-less’) footwear when they play on the green or act as an umpire or marker.

Above the waist:

Should a team/club/county not have their own colours, in events under our jurisdiction players may choose to wear white above the waist OR matching bowls shirts so long as the colour/design is the same.

Other Clothing Items:

Any additional items such as waterproofs, long-sleeved base layers, leggings, or similar items do not need to match your team/club/county colours. This aims to reduce the pressure for bespoke club/county wear and put participation, accessibility, and comfort at the centre of our sport.

The start time for any match shall be set by the Challenger when the dates are offered, but no player/team/side shall be compelled to accept a time earlier than 6.00pm Monday to Friday or 9.30am on a Saturday or Sunday.

The exception is in the O60 Singles, O60 Pairs and the Mixed Over 60 Inter-Club Two Fours. Matches in these events can be played at a time outside of the above timescales.

The Challenger in O60 Singles, O60 Pairs and the Mixed Over 60 Inter-Club Two Fours may offer a start time between 9.30am and 6.30pm on weekdays.

To encourage junior participation cub bowls are permitted to be used in the following events: 

•  U17 Singles 
• Family Pairs 
• Foundation Pairs 
• White Rose Trophy 
• Amy Rose Bowl 

All bowls shall bear a clearly legible stamp which has an expiry date of 1985 or later. These bowls can be used for the rounds leading up to the Aviva National Bowls Finals with the exception of those events where Junior/Cub bowls are permitted.

If you qualify for the Aviva National Bowls Finals, all bowls must bear a World Bowls Ltd stamp with a date of the current year (2025) or later.

The Aviva National Bowls Finals are held at Victoria Park, Archery Rd, Royal Leamington Spa, CV31 3PW.

The Aviva National Bowls Finals are held at Victoria Park, Archery Rd, Royal Leamington Spa, CV31 3PW.

• Senior Singles & Pairs – 16 Qualifiers
• Champion of Champions – 8 Qualifiers 
• Mixed Pairs & Fours – 8 Qualifiers
• Family Pairs – 8 Qualifiers
• Under 17 singles – 8 Qualifiers
• Foundation Pairs – 8 Qualifiers
• Top Club – 8 Qualifiers
• Club Two Fours – 8 Qualifiers
• Tony Allcock Trophy – 8 Qualifiers 

The full Aviva National Bowls Finals schedule can be viewed here.

The Aviva National Bowls Finals schedule for 2025 has been developed to deliver against the outcome of the competitions review.  

Core principles included: 

• No duplications for Blue Riband and Performance events – potential duplications will be avoided through the flexibility of split sessions in early stages should players be in two Blue Riband/Performance events on the same day
• Minimize other potential duplications
• Avoid giving one player/team ‘competitive advantage’ wherever possible

Additional considerations included: 

• Availability of markers/umpires 
• Greens usage and availability 
• Utilize weekends for all inter-county events 
• Minimize travel and accommodation for players per event where possible 

Whilst potential duplications are inevitable at this stage, the risk has been greatly reduced in comparison to previous years.  

We encourage all players to review the schedule prior to entry in order to avoid disappointment – details of potential duplications in all events are included on the relevant page of the Competitions Portal.

Entrants are reminded that should a duplication occur during the Aviva National Bowls Finals priority will be given to Blue Riband and Performance events. Substitutes/and or other squad members as relevant will be required in Team Spirit and Participation events should a duplication occur.