Meetings set up to discuss crises in crown green bowls

The crisis engulfing the governing body of crown green bowls will be the crux of a meeting of the Shropshire executive on Sunday.

A huge split in the counties affiliated to the British Crown Green Bowling Association continues to fester ahead of a special meeting of the body called for Saturday, November 14, the venue for which has yet to be confirmed.

Shropshire association chiefs will try to assess the current situation on Sunday night at Tilstock BC, near Whitchurch, and agree on a stance to take at the special gathering.

“Our meeting is a crucial opportunity for discussion and it is important that we get as many delegates as possible in attendance,” stressed county secretary Dawn Gray.

New board members have been appointed by the people running the current BCGBA, who said in a statement: “The purpose of the Special General Meeting is to provide member associations with the opportunity to consider and determine the current constitutional and governance position of BCGBA.

"It's to address the competing governance arrangements that have emerged, and to establish a clear and stable basis for the Association's governance, staffing, finances and future operation.

“We know there has been a great deal of information, disagreement and understandable confusion and we believe members deserve a clear and factual account of where matters currently stand.

“Above all, we want the decisions made on 14th November to be based on facts, not hearsay.”

A neutral voice in Lisa Graham, managing director of the Bowls Development Alliance, will support the running of the Special General Meeting.

Shropshire chairman Phil Scott will also be discussing the special meeting at tomorrow's AGM of the British Parks association as that body's secretary and CEO.

Ludlow League

A postponed meeting has left the Ludlow Bowling League facing serious questions as to its future.

Still without a secretary following Steve Burmingham’s departure, Monday’s scheduled end of season gathering at Burway BC was called off by treasurer Phil Baker, who has effectively been running the show.

“The end of season meeting has had to be postponed and we will now amalgamate the AGM into the pre-season meeting Monday, March 1,” said Baker.

“We still need a new secretary and Russ (Davies) is also stepping down so we will also need a new chairperson.

“These roles must be filled at the March meeting for the League to go ahead next season.”

And Baker called on the league’s seven remaining 10-a-side teams to think hard about what the future holds.

“As well as nominations for secretary and chair, please have a think about any other ideas to help improve the league.

“Do you like the handicap in a league format?; would teams rather go back to a knockout and play each other four times in the league?; do we need to reduce size of teams if it would encourage more teams etc?”