Ladies National Top Ten

Bowls Scotland – Ladies National Top Ten - Rules 2022

1. This competition is open to all Ladies who are members of Bowls Scotland clubs. Teams of 10 players will form the “team” for the competition – the Top Ten. Each team can be made up of any combination of players as long as each player is a member of any bowling club, which is a member of Bowls Scotland. Players do not have to be from the same club to make up a team.

2. Team selection – players in a team can be any nominated players forming an agreed Top Ten team. The Team name is required at time of entry with players being named at first game on the green.
   Teams can be changed around between any round however; players cannot be substituted between any participating Top Ten teams. Players will only play for 1 Top Ten Team in any year.

3. The competition is entirely managed by Bowls Scotland, who will divide the entrants into 4 geographical regions and carry out a draw of the fixtures, once all entries are confirmed. Entries will be required by 27^th May 2022. Draws for the competitions will be made by Bowls Scotland and issued electronically to named team representatives.

4. The entry fee is £50 per team. Payment together with a completed entry form must be completed and submitted to Bowls Scotland no later than 27^th May 2022.

5. 1 game will be played in each round and that must be played on the date set, unless this needs to be changed, due to unforeseen circumstances by the Co-ordinators.
   The match dates will be published by Bowls Scotland and any team not willing to play on that agreed date will forfeit the game. The match will be played on a neutral green, suitably located to suit both, by the Bowls Scotland coordinators.
   Geographical areas for the draws will be split once the entries are received.

6. All rounds will be played on a Sunday and on set dates.
   For 2022 dates for play will be:

• 1st round – Sunday 24^th July
• 2nd round – Sunday 14^th August
• 3rd round – Sunday 21^st August

Semi-finals and finals will be played on Sunday 28^th August 2022 at the National Centre for Bowling, Northfield, Ayr.

Number of rounds required will only be known once entries are confirmed.

7. The 4 section winners will play semi-finals and finals, as arranged by Bowls Scotland with the 2 winners of the semi-finals competing in the final.

8. The prize money will be: Winners £300, Runner Up £150, Losing Semi Finalists £75.

Winners, Runners Up and qualifiers will receive medals, along with the Winner’s Trophy

9. All results must be submitted electronically to Bowls Scotland, within 24 hours of the games being completed. Results will be published on our website and social media channels.

10. Scoring – the matches will consist of the following ties:
    • Singles playing to 21 shots
    • 4 bowl Pairs playing 17 ends
    • 3 bowl Triples playing 15 ends
    • Fours playing 17 ends

2 points will be awarded for each game won, 1 point for a draw, and if equal, shots for and against. I.e., shot difference will decide. If still equal, the winner of the singles tie will decide the winners.

11. Abandoned games – if a game is abandoned, due to the green being deemed unplayable by the venue and officials on the day, the following criteria must be met to constitute a completed game:
    If 11 ends or more have been played by the competing sides, the results will stand, and the game decided. The result will be taken at the point where all teams have played the same number of ends. All players must start at the same time.

If 1 rink is unplayable then the entire team will require to stop play. Singles – first player to reach 14 shots will be deemed the winner.
If all the criteria are not met, then the teams must return to the venue and complete the game, at a mutually agreed date within 5 days.

A resumed game is a game which is properly started after the jack is delivered in the first end (trial ends do not count) and all teams have not played at least 11 ends.
In a resumed game players must play in the same position of the same side and the cards are continued at the end where the game was stopped.

12. If any players are not available any number of substitutes may be used.

13. Dress code – the dress code for all stages of the competition - each Top Ten team must be dressed alike in any combination of trousers, skirts or shorts and with coordinated tops.

14. Stamping of bowls will be as per Bowls Scotland rule on bowls stamping.

15. Smoking - Smoking on the green will not be allowed by any player during play at the Semi Final & Final, including vaping. If wishing to smoke a player must step off the green to do so.

Bowls Scotland will only apply this ruling at National Championships Stage 2, Andrew Hamilton Trophy Final & Ladies Top 10 Semi Final & Final played at the National Centre for Bowling.

The Controlling Body will adhere to any written legislation applied by the Local Authority if found to differ from the above.

16. Each team has 24 hours to give written notice of any protest to Bowls Scotland.

Coordinators for each area are:

• North - Kathleen Gordon, Tel: 07734 651670
• South - Margaret Bingham, Tel: 07732 323581
• East - Sandra McLeish, Tel: 07974 956633
• West - Dawn Hunter, Tel: 07920 876762