Competitions

Members seeking more competitive play, other than club morning or Monday afternoon roll ups can progress their skills by various means. These are listed below, in an ascending order of skill level.

 

1) Play in friendly matches - these are listed in the fixtures (on-line) and sheets requiring your names are posted on the club house notice board - friendly section.   The team sheet for playing is then usually posted about 1 week ahead of the match.  Matches can be home and away - all our members are of sufficient ability to compete in these games which have a social element.

2) Play in internal club competitions - the club runs 11 knock out competitions through the summer season with finals at the end of August/early September.  There are some lovely trophies to be won with winners names inscribed on the honours boards in the club house.  Entries by form issued before the pre-season meeting in March. 

3) Play in leagues - our club has teams in four District evening leagues, comprising 2 mens and 5 mixed teams, and the ladies play in two daytime ladies leagues.  The majority of members play in at least one of these teams.  Matches are played every week, May though to August, home and away,  with a squad of members, decided by the club’s selection committee, so participants do not necessarily have to play every week.  District league teams are formulated over the winter, and most Districts publish details in a handbook or on the web, well prior to the season start.  Our club needs to soon know the level of participation by the end of November each year to ensure we have a suitable number of team entries.

4) Play in District competitions - the four Districts that we have league teams in all have competitions running through the season.   These culminate in finals days and award ceremonies, usually presentation lunches, just as our own club.   Entry for these competitions is made in November utilising a form that  I, as club secretary process and submit to the relevant District's competition secretary.
This system is gradually changing and will in due course move to on-line submission directly by the individual entrant. The winners of our club singles competition will usually enter the District and County Champion of Champions competition - an event that Billericay have won several times.

5a) Play in Essex County competitions.  For men, these have already moved to on-line direct entry.  Site is https://www.essexcomps.co.uk     Ladies entries are via our Ladies section secretary.   The competitions are knock out running through the season, including singles, pairs , triples and fours etc and are segregated into ‘badged’ players - experienced County bowlers or unbadged -  for those that haven’t qualified to be a County bowler (badged).

5b) Play in County matches -  eg Essex against other Counties.  To qualify one needs to be invited by success in competitions or other events - men for instance have a process of playing in the County Ashford Cup, comprising 4 matches in May, for 5 seasons and at least one County match a season to qualify for their County badge.  Ladies can qualify by gaining points from success in County competitions.   A County badge should be the aim of any keen bowler - above that comes come the ultimate honour - competing for England!