News

News.

4 - 2 - 12
Grant's corner to corner was won by Murray Scott.
Club captain Barry Milner awarding the Grant's whiskey .

2 - 2 - 12
Gary Lawson accuses Kerry Clark of influencing selections.

                                                      Click on The Press icon to read about it.

1 - 2 - 12
The second of a series of Twilight Bowls was held tonight at the club with a similar turnout to last week. The weather was rather cool which may have meant that some teams failed to arrive.

31 - 1 - 12
St. Albans-Merivale played host for the centre mixed pairs.

The Bowls New Zealand Challenge Trophy will be played at Burnside February 10 - 12. Come and watch New Zealand's best.
                 Sunday February 12th 2012 at Burnside.    CAN YOU HELP WITH MARKING?
24 markers required. Burnside BC urgently requires your assistance.
Please contact BILL FOWLIE - phone 342 8406- or email bill@fowlie.co.nz

26 - 1 - 12
Representatives from Bowls Canterbury at the club discussing ideas to improve the workings of the club. A very worthwhile meeting according to president Allan Reid.

Congratulations to former St. Albans-Merivale member Rohan Ware who has been selected to represent Bowls Canterbury at the Wellington Quadrangular Tournament at the Naenae Green Sunday, February 19.

The club has been selected to represent a town selection with a mixed fours selection to play a country selection for the Grant Cup at Waiau on Wednesday, February 22.

18 - 1 - 12

2012-13 Draft Programme.

* Is currently on the website.
* Below is a copy of a document sent out to club secretaries.
* Submissions are required to be at the Centre by Wednesday 29th February.

16 January 2012

To Club Secretaries and participants

Bowls Canterbury

Set out below are draft conditions of play that are open for comment and submission. We invite your input into this consultation process and we are genuinely seeking your views.

Over the years in my role on the Review Panel I have tried to introduce some structure into the annual programme so that events are held on a similar date each season. The goal with some changed format is to complete a fixture over one weekend rather than having finals mid-week that are not desirable for a number of reasons.

As a part of this review the Board will receive submissions, then survey clubs on key issues and then outline proposals at an all clubs meeting on Wednesday 21 March 2012.We have allowed sufficient time for you to consider and respond to the attached and the draft programme submissions close on Wednesday 29 February 2012.

It is expected that the interclub competitions for 2012/13 season will start four weeks earlier than last season subject to green availability. Easter in 2013 is earlier but Champion of Champion events may be scheduled later.

2011/12 has been marred by inclement weather and cancelled rounds do have an impact on winners as fixtures are not a true round robin. Where possible we have scheduled reserve days so that postponed games can be rescheduled, not cancelled. In order to provide for reserve days, qualifying must be confined to no more than one days play. We seek your views on a cancellation and postponement policy.

A recent Bowls NZ survey on format types, timing and style of the game, 65% of respondents expressed a desire for change in the sport to enable participants to play more often. 25% expressed a desire for shorter formats, 23% preferred evening bowls and 17% wanted a change in format or timing of events.

In terms of formats we seek your comment on continuing with the status quo or considering the following option:

Three fours as one separate competition prior to Xmas with a two or three day interclub sevens competition played on Sundays. The current sevens competition played after Xmas together with the tens or an alternative competition such as eights (Two pair and a four).

We seek your input into the continuation of three sets of 9 ends with the tens. Sets are only played at the Commonwealth games. The administration of sets for maintaining results on our website is labour intensive.

In terms of timing, we plan to have the 2012/13 programme finalised by 30 April 2012.

Yours faithfully

C P Reynolds

Regional Chief Executive

Congratulations to Belfast who have won both Divisions 1 & 2 of the BDL Toshiba Men's Sevens, 2012.
Click on the icon to read about their victories.

29 - 11 - 11
Some information from a recent meeting, Working Party Presentation, many interesting points were made. MuzzaWeb has produced a summary of some of the more important ones. Click on the above link for the complete presentation.

We need strong and sustainable clubs.

This means:

Leaders and capable administrators.

}Sound ongoing financial situation.

}‘Adequate’ membership levels.

}Active programme involving community.

}Adequate facilities - in good repair.

}Can withstand economic tough times.

Many clubs are close together.

Papanui … 3 clubs within 3 kms.

}Inner city … 11 clubs within 8.5 kms.

}South CHCH … 7 clubs within 8 kms.

}South East … 4 clubs within 7.4 kms.

Membership.

25% clubs have less than 50 members.

25% clubs have 50 - 75 members.
17 clubs have 50 or less members per green.

Profit and Loss.

(Info available for 32 clubs)

}

}17 clubs ran at a ‘loss.’

Only 15 ran at a ‘profit.’

}

Factors:   Budgets, membership, subs, pricing, sponsorship, cost management, pay for play, reliance on trusts.

It's going to get even harder.

}Greatly increased insurance costs.
40% reduction in gaming trust funding for bowls nationally between 2007 and 2010.
Loss of many city gaming outlets since quake. Nett loss of Chch residents.
Increased competition for funding from quake affected community facilities.
Businesses hard hit – affecting sponsorship. Continued membership decline.
Aging administrators.

Is this our future?

}20-25 clubs in Chch.
Closer to 100 members per green?
Standardized accounting format.
Financially sound with accumulating reserves for contingency and depreciation.
Operating within recommended ratios.
‘Partner Clubs’ with Bowls N.Z.
School/club partnerships.
Extended community ‘pay for play.’

This is what we need!!

•A preparedness to accept that change is critical. And necessary!!
Leaders to step up at clubs to progress the concept.
Open mindedness about the opportunities. Clubs working together for the greater good.
Pooling of memberships/assets/facilities. Better club budgeting and financial management.
Increased member contribution to club operating costs.

Benefits!!!

}‘Bowls’ as a sport is better positioned for the future.
Clubs are more attractive to funders/sponsors.
More enjoyable club environment/retirement years.
Improved standard of club champs. Improved club competitive strength. Stronger club admin. depth/capability. Consolidation of coaches, umpires and greenkeeping.
Sharing of volunteer workload.
Better green utilisation.
Ongoing CCC support.

}
The Way Forward!

Facilitation team established.

}Liaison with CCC re leases/application of clauses.

}Assistance to clubs already considering mergers.

}Meetings with ‘at risk’ clubs within clusters.

}Discussions with freehold clubs re options.

}Feasibility study for indoor facility (separate sub-committee)

}Projects to maximise bulk buying opportunities and improve accounting practices.

•

We have to accept that change is necessary.
We need leaders at the clubs to drive this change.
Clubs need to work together for the greater good.

This may well be one of the most significant meetings ever held in the history of Canterbury bowls. As a blueprint for the future it gives sound and logical ideas of how to progress.
Many have stated that bowls is indeed a sport in crisis and these ideas give a pathway for our sport's future.
But will it happen? It has to if we are to survive but it will require a change of thinking by most bowlers. It will require us to think big, look outside our own individual clubs and look at the big picture. Many of us will will have to make sacrifices for the betterment of the game as a whole. Will you be prepared to do this?

This is a presentation made by Gryphon Governance Consultants that cover a series of issues, many similar to the working party.
Gryphon Governance Consultants' presentation.

"The Future Delivery of Bowls in Canterbury."

Below is a summary of some important points made. Click on above link for the full report.

Desired Outcomes.

* Identification of how the future delivery of bowls to its members would be enhanced by maximizing the value and use from the resources that are currently available.
   * Identification of the best physical (number of clubs) delivery structure for bowls in Canterbury combined with recommendations to achieve this structure
   * Recommend a plan to deliver on these recommendations.

Read an article by Kevin Tutty from The Press on this.
Click on the Press icon.

Membership numbers will not cover expenses. 147 members seen as an average number to make bowling clubs viable.
   * Those 147 members will only generate 30% of finance.
   * 70% finance required from other sources.
Club Rationalization Proposals.

  * Number of members.
   * Location.
   * Excessive damage.
   * Growth potential.
   * Strategically and geographically located.

Benefits of Proposals. What is the benefit for members?

   * Increased level of club competiveness.
   * Strong sustainable clubs.
   * Security around heritage, history etc.
   * Atmosphere.
   * Vibrant and alive. (cf dead and dowdy)

Recommendation.
Start discussions with the identified clubs on merging, identifying and answering their fears, thoughts and ideas.

Structures

   * Combine under one structure that would be formed e.g. clubs A and B merge into a new entity called "A/B" or agree a brand new name.
   * Clubs retain their individual structure but join as clubs to a newly formed entity e.g. clubs A and B join a new club called Z, while retaining their individuality and while sharing facilities, management etc. (Living together with a pre-nuptials agreement).

Engagement with Clubs.

   * A willingness to listen.
   * A willingness to compromise for the benefit of the greater good.
   * An understanding of and a willingness to engage in honest dialogue.
   * Having no non-negotiable positions.
   * Good faith agreement.
   * Finally recognition that no matter how hard we might try we will never satisfy everyone.

********************

If the weather is uncertain you can ring the club, 355 9507, and check the message on the phone and find out what is happening.

Don’t forget the Bowls Canterbury info. line, 351 2225, which will give up to date information on what is happening with centre events.

In case you are interested, here are some upcoming international events.

§             World champion of champions singles 2013 – Burnside Bowling Club, Christchurch –late November/early December.

§             World champion of champions singles 2014 – Fendalton Bowling Club, Christchurch –late November/early December.

§             Asia Pacific Championships 2015 – 29 January to 9February 2015 – Burnside Bowling Club and Bowls Papanui, Christchurch.

§             World Sides Championships 2016 – 27 January to 14 February 2016 – Burnside, Fendalton and Bowls Papanui Clubs, Christchurch.

***   View the NZ Bowls magazine, Upshot, on line. www.bowlsnz.co.nz ***

Use this link to view some earthquake damaged greens in Christchurch.
Damaged greens.

2 - 2 - 12 Gary Lawson accuses Kerry Clark of influencing selections.

16 January 2012

2 - 2 - 12
Gary Lawson accuses Kerry Clark of influencing selections.