News
(From Bob Worley, E&DBA President and Secretary)
Originally, we were going to have a meeting on March 7th 2021 with the AGM on Sunday April 11 but this is now impossible, due to current restrictions. I would like to ask if everyone can retain the positions they have until the end of the summer when, I hope that things are back to as normal as we can. There may well be pandemic issues along the way. I propose we have an AGM in Oct/Nov 2021 to sort things out. To remind ourselves of planned dates Victory Shield Semi Finals on Sunday 8th August Victory Shield Final on Saturday 14th August E&D Ladies 2 wood on Sunday 22nd August E&D semi at Brentham on Sunday 12 Sept Finals at West Ealing on Sunday 19th Sept Middlesex Bannerette 75th + 1 Anniversary celebrations and E&D game, This date for this is still under discussion. Rob has flagged up that the county and national competition calendar has had to be reworked for this year, The date I gave last time (July 2nd ) is no longer possible. Victory Shield IMPORTANT This is STILL difficult at the moment: Isleworth are not well placed. Terry Elliott says there is a meeting in the Spring to discuss their future. If Isleworth close, then we will have to redraw. If a redraw is necessary, then Rob and I shall have a quick meeting with some onlookers to do a redraw. Please do not arrange games yet. Competitions I think we should fill these in and do the draw after the closing date on Sunday May 9th. The entry forms have been sent to clubs. The only competition I can see at risk is the Fours but this takes place at the end of the season as entries are the fewest. 321 Leagues We can keep these leagues as they stand. If Isleworth close. then it can be accommodated in the format as it stands. Division 1: Featherstone, Isleworth, Ealing Central, Springfield, Brentham Division 2: North Greenford, West Ealing, West London, Pitshanger, Hounslow Conservatives. Monday Night League This league may be at risk because there are 8 players on the rink and we need to see how travel arrangements develop. I suggest we go ahead and just see how things work. I had an entry from Rosedale and but please confirm with Monica that you are still able to take part. Gunnersbury? The club told me in October 2019 that they would not be able to take part in competitions in 2020 as the owners wanted to redevelop the area. Since then, there has been news that a group of people want the green to stay. I did talk to a senior member of the club, but he said they could no longer take part as many members had gone to other clubs. We shall see how it progresses, but it is a shame that all this interest from the media did not take place several years ago when Gunnersbury were trying to negotiate with the owners of the sports club . Bob Added: There is a petition to allow Gunnersbury Park BC members access to the green to do essential maintenance. Please show your support for local bowlers at a club that were founder members of this Association. petitions.hounslow.gov.uk/GPBowlsClub/ (From Bob Worley, E&DBA President and Secretary)
Back in March, when we were sent into lockdown, Bowls England and Middlesex, along with many other associations took the immediate decision to cancel all competitive bowls for 2020. We, in Ealing & District decided to adopt the "wait and see" approach - with many bowlers in isolation until mid-June, we felt that we could hold off making any snap judgments until we got in to June, in the hope that things would have progressed enough to make our competitions and leagues viable. Unfortunately, with us now into June, whilst there has been some recent movement, we are still a long way from normality, with play only possible on alternate rinks with now pairs or even triples being possible. Please keep watching https://www.bowlsengland.com/coronavirus-guidance/. It is of course up to clubs how they apply the Bowls-England guidance. In addition clubhouses and changing rooms remain off-limits. For this reason, after consulting Rob and Monica, I have made the sad decision to cancel all of our normal competitions for 2020 (including Victory Shield, 321 and Monday Night League). In addition, our proposed 75th anniversary celebration match against Middlesex CBA has also had to be put off, hopefully just until next year. Whilst this is disappointing, the safety and health of our members must be our primary consideration. As a light at the end of the tunnel, if things keep progressing, we are hoping that we may be able to arrange some form of event(s) on the dates originally allocated for the Victory Shield and Competition semis and finals (9th and 15th August, 13th and 20th September). Obviously though this depends on how the situation develops. This has affected bowlers and their families within the E&D and in Middlesex CBA. It might impinge on the viability of clubs to exist next year and the future the future of bowls in this county. A second wave of infection could be catastrophic for bowls. E&DBA are saddened to receive news of the recent passing of Ray Wilkinson of Springfield as a result of Covid-19. Ray was previously a member of Perivale BC and it was during this time that he served as the 2006 President of Ealing & District BA.
The members and committee of the Association send their condolences to Ray's family at this difficult time. |
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