COUNTY VETS INTER- CLUB LEAGUE

  1. ELIGIBILITY
    1. The League shall be known as County Inter-Club Veterans League and split into four groups: Area 1: Shildon, Durham A, Gt Aycliffe, Darlington A; Area 2: S Shields B, Darlington B, Ferryhill, Hartlepool A, Houghton Gilpin; Area 3: Houghton Sancroft, Gateshead A, South Shields A, Stanley; Area 4: Houghton Kepier, The Parks, Durham B, Hartlepool B, Gateshead B.
    2. The Men’s County Vets Inter-Club League is open to all affiliated and associate affiliated clubs with three or more rinks.
    3. Players are eligible to play in the League if they are registered club members and have reached the age of 60 years before 1st September of the current season.
  2. GENERAL PLAYING CONDITIONS
    1. All matches are to be played under Rule 2 – General Playing Conditions, Rule 3 – Dress and Rule 4 – League Playing Conditions as set out below.
    2. Club bowls stickers must be used.
  3. DRESS
    1. All team members will wear any coloured flat soled bowling shoes, grey or registered coloured trousers or EIBA / Bowls Manufacturer shorts and either a plain white or Club registered shirt (with collar and sleeves).
    2. All players shall wear the same shirt. (With the exception of registered shirts or trousers no advertising or promotional material may be displayed other than the Bowls Manufacturers’ label).
    3. White bowls jackets with coloured piping may be worn or registered coloured jacket.
  4. LEAGUE PLAYING CONDITIONS
    1. All County Vets Inter-Club League games will be 16 ends or 2 hours on the bell. Trial ends will not be played. One shot only on the first two ends.
    2. A team will play each other club in their group twice each season once at home and once away.
    3. League positions will be determined by 1) the highest number of points 2) the highest shots difference 3) highest shots scored and 4) the match result between the clubs.
    4. Each team will be represented by three rinks of four players. All players must be full playing members of that Club. The matches will start at a time determined by the home club unless an alternative start time has been agreed by both Clubs.
    5. Players who are members of more than one club or are members of a club with more than one team will only be allowed to play for one team with no transferring during the current season.
    6. If a player is a member of more than one club and one of those clubs only play in the County Vets Inter-Club League, he may play for the other club in the County Inter-Club League.
    7. Scoring – A total of five points for each game. One point for each winning rink with half a point for each drawing rink, two points for highest aggregate.
    8. Matches will normally be played on dates laid down by the Hon. Competitions Secretary. However, by mutual consent, matches may be played on any day of the week and time. The last date for the scheduled finish of County Inter-Club League matches will be advised by the Hon. Competitions Secretary with that season’s fixtures.
    9. Payment of rink fees is the responsibility of the home team.
    10. On completion of fixtures the divisional winners and runners-up shall qualify for the play-offs. The play-offs shall be on a knockout basis and played as follows: The four group winners will be awarded a home tie against a runner-up from another division. The Competition Secretary shall select a venue for both the semi-finals and final.
    11. All play-off matches shall be of two hours duration or 16 ends. Trial ends will not be played. One shot on the first two ends.
  5. PROMOTION AND RELEGATION
    There is neither promotion nor relegation.
  6. NOTIFICATION OF LEAGUE RESULTS
    1. Team captains shall agree the result and the home team shall telephone, text or email the result of the game to the Hon. Competitions Secretary immediately after the completion of the game.
  7. POSTPONEMENT OF MATCHES
    1. Teams must complete their League programme. No provision has been made for matches to be cancelled.
    2. County Vets Inter-Club League fixtures can be postponed when weather conditions make travel impossible and / or unforeseen circumstances, or if a County Vets Inter-Club League fixture clashes with any National Inter-County or Inter-Club Championship match. That is Liberty Trophy, Over 60 Inter County Knock-Out, Under 25 Inter County Double Rink, Denny Cup/ Plate, Egham Trophy, Under 25 Inter-Club Double Rink or Top Club.
    3. Re-arranged matches are to be mutually agreed between clubs and are to be played within one month of the week specified or one week in the case of the last game for the last fixture.
    4. The Hon. Competitions Secretary must be informed of any postponement.
  8. FAILURE TO COMPLETE LEAGUE PROGRAMME
    1. By entering the League a Club implicitly agrees to play all League Fixtures.
    2. If a team fails to fulfil a County Vets Inter-Club League match the Executive Committee will immediately suspend such team from the competition. The results of the matches played by the suspended team will be deleted from both their record and the records of any team they have played in the League.
    3. When any club withdraws from the League the results of the matches played by the withdrawing team will be deleted from both their record and the records of any team they have played in the league.
    4. In the event of the cessation of the bowls operation of any club the County Vets Inter-Club League record of their team(s) to date and those of the teams already played will be deleted. Those players of a team(s) affected will be eligible to play in the County Vets Inter-Club League for another club from the date of cessation.
    5. When a team has been suspended from the County Vets Inter-Club League the club will be required to apply in writing to the Competition Secretary for membership of the competition the following year. All applications for membership will be considered at the following AGM.
  9. BREACHES OF COUNTY VETS INTER-CLUB LEAGUE RULES
    Any breaches of the above County Vets Inter-Club League rules may be referred to the County Executive Committee, who shall be authorised to impose a maximum £20 fine on the offending club / team or any other penalty as deemed.

Changed at Special General Meeting on 4th July 2019