National Competitions 2024 – Frequently Asked Questions

Formats vary depending on the competition, to view the formats to all national competitions click here.

Individual National Competitions:

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

Inter-Club Competitions:

All rounds are played to play by dates up to and including the All England Round of 16.

A player can only represent one club in inter-club events, this being the club where they enter national championships i.e. singles, pairs, triples, fours etc.

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 Competitions 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 click here.

All competitions should show in the account of the person who made the entry by 1^st May 2024. Please contact us at comps@bowlsengland.com (after 1^st May) if an entry is not showing in your account and we will look into it for you.

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.

If your opponent in your opening round is against a ‘No Team’ then this means you will have a bye into the next round. Bowls England will move you into the next round by Wednesday 1st May.

Click here to view the closing dates of each round in each competition.

1. Via email:

When a tie is known the nominated contact for both players/teams will receive an automated email detailing the tie and opponents contact details for arranging the match.

2. Via your online account:

The nominated contact will be able to view their oppositions contact details by clicking on the opponents name within the ‘Competition Entries’ section in their online account.

In all Bowls England events the challenger is the player/team that arranges the match, the challenger for that match will have (Challenger) next to the name in the draw, this may be the first name in the draw or the second name in the draw. For example, if the second name in the tie has ‘Challenger’ next to their name/team they are responsible for arranging the game and will offer dates and pick the venue for the match to be played.

In all Bowls England events the opponent is the player/team that receives dates for the match, the opponent will not have (Challenger) next to the name in the draw, this may be the first name in the draw or the second name in the draw. For example, if the second name in the tie does not have ‘Challenger’ next to their name/team they will not arrange the match instead await dates and venue for the match from the challenger.

All matches must be played on the challengers 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 associated to the tie is required for all Area Finals in Inter-Club Competitions (Top Club, Club Two Fours & Tony Allcock Trophy) and Senior Competitions (Senior Singles & Senior Pairs).

The All England Rounds of 32 & 16 (excluding Senior Singles & Pairs) are played on a neutral green midway between the two clubs associated to the entry.

Matches can be played during the day only by mutual agreement.

Three dates must be offered to the opponent for each match involved. The three dates must include at least one weekend date.

Weekdays – start time no earlier than 6pm or later than 6.30pm

Weekends – start time no earlier than 9.30am or later than 6.30pm

Two starting times on the same day do not count as two separate dates.

No date must be offered within 48 hours of the challenge. For example, you are offered dates at 6pm on the 22^nd May, the earliest date you can offer your opponent is 6pm on the 24^th May.

If the match to be played is the first match for both players/teams then dates must be offered by the challenger no later than 21 days before the closing date of that round. Click here for details specific to the competition you are playing in.

If you have a bye to the next round and your opposing player/team has an earlier round, the challenger must offer dates within 24 hours of the close of the previous round. For example, the round closes on 21st May, the challenger must offer dates by 11:59pm 22nd May.
If the opposing player/team had a fixture in the earlier round and was given a walkover, this is classed as a match played and dates for the next round must be offered as per above.

The challenger must offer the opponent dates within 24 hours of the close of the previous round. For example, the round closes on 21st May, the challenger must offer dates by 11:59pm 22nd May.

Only dates offered within the window of the round are classed as eligible dates, therefore if dates are offered outside of this window you do not need to accept and are entitled to ask for further dates.

For an opening match:

Failure to offer eligible dates (challenger) within 21 days of the opening round will result in the opponent becoming the ‘challenger’ and must make all match arrangements within 20 days of the close of the round. For example, Closing date of round is 21^st May – if dates are not received by 11:59pm on the 30^th April, the opponent then becomes the challenger and must offer dates within 24 hours, this being 11:59pm on the 1^st May. Click here for further details.

For a following round:

Failure to offer eligible dates (challenger) within 24 hours of the previous round closing will result in the opponent becoming the ‘challenger’ and must make all match arrangements within 48 hours days of the close of the previous round. For example, Closing date of round is 21^st May – if dates are not received by 11:59pm on the 22^nd May the opponent then becomes the challenger and must offer dates within 24 hours, this being 11:59pm on the 23^rd May.

For an opening match:

The opponent must accept a date no later than 19 days prior to the close of the round. For example, If the challenger offers dates on the 25^th April for a round with a closing date of the 21^st May, the opponent must accept a date by 11:59pm on the 2nd May.

For a following round:

The opponent must accept a date no later than 72 hours after the close of the previous round. For example, if the closing date of the previous round is 21^st May,  and dates are offered on the 15^th May, the opponent must accept a date by 11:59pm on the 24^th May.

For dress code please refer to Appendix B1 & B2 within our Rules & Regulations here.

Pre Aviva National Finals:

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 to the Aviva National Finals. All bowls shall be from the same set as stated in the Laws of the Sport V4 (Law 2.4).

Aviva National Finals:

All bowls must bear a stamp in accordance with the current Laws of the Sport V4 (Law 53). A World Bowls Ltd stamp with a date of the current year (2024) or later will be valid.

A draw for rink/s to be played on shall be made in accordance with the current Laws of the Sport (Law 1.3).

1. One rink required = Two rinks offered
2. Two rinks required = Two rinks offered
3. Four rinks required = Four rinks offered
4. Five rinks required = Five rinks offered
5. Six rinks required = Six rinks offered

How rinks are determined for play is a domestic matter for clubs to decide.

For Inclement Weather refer to Appendix J within our Rules & Regulations here.

All results are to be submitted online via your online account – click here for step by step instructions in order to submit your result successfully.

In order to enter a W/O tick the box under your name if you are the player/team progressing through to the next round.

Please email comps@bowlsengland.com detailing your name, competition and club, we will then be able to resolve this for you.

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

The Aviva National Finals will take place from Thursday 15th August concluding on Sunday 1st September 2024.

• Senior Singles & Pairs – 32 Qualifiers
• Champion of Champions – 16 Qualifiers
• Mixed Pairs & Fours – 16 Qualifiers
• Family Pairs – 16 Qualifiers
• Top Club – 8 Qualifiers
• Club Two Fours – 8 Qualifiers
• Tony Allcock Trophy – 8 Qualifiers

The full Aviva National Finals schedule can be viewed here.

Please find a list of all our National Competitions that could be affected by clashes and their associated risk levels here.