Mahurangi East Bowling Club Inc eNewsletter

Feedback on Single Entry v Team Entry for Visiting Teams

We have recently received some feedback about the single entry Tournaments and The ability of visiting Teams to still compete as teams in those Tournaments, This being the case I'd like to outline the discussions we had prior to the start of the season which led to our decision to support this decision, We arte happuy to receive any further feedback if anyone still believes that we should be doing something different.

When we planned out the program for this year, we decided that our Tuesday Tournaments would all be “Open”. The reason for this is that we have a large proportion of visiting teams and this helps to support our revenue stream enabling us to further upgrade the club facilities. We were getting around 20 to 25% of our Tuesday Tournaments attended by visitors.

SIngles Tournaments have been operated by the club, primarily to enable newer members who may not be included within regular teams, the opportunity to play with other more experienced members.

We Decided that in order to support both of these principles, that any visiting team, could compete as a Team to encourage their continued participation. This does have the consequence that sometimes the visiting teams have an advantage as they play regularly together and win the tournaments.

From a personal perspective, I relish the fact that visiting teams come to our singles tournaments as it represents a real challenge and playing against better teams helps us to become better players.

However before the start of the season, we asked for feedback from all full playing members as to the principles we would adopt for the 24/25 season, and the adoption of one singles tournament per month on the basis that visiting teams would still be able to compete as teams was outlined, and included in 3 newsletters .

I have outlined the feedback we received below, and the boards response to it, which makes clear how we would operate the 24/25 season. Principle 1 feedback highlights the single entry and visiting team proposition.

Please give your feedback in writing to the board if you would like to change this and we will consider this for next season, and if the majortiy view is to change then we will consider how to make this work, without any impact on our revenue stream from visiting members.

We have a board meeting on 27th March, so any feedback should be given within by the 21st March to allow us to schedule for discussion.

Many Thanks

Ged

Response To Feedback on Draft Principles for 24-25 as at 26.04.2024

Executive Summary

As you will be aware we recently drafted the principles on which our bowling program would be built for the 2024-2025 Program and asked you for your feedback.

This was the Request we made back in April

“Full Playing Member input on the proposal for next years calendar and competition format

This document aims to layout the principles on which we will build our playing calendar for the forthcoming season.

The purpose of these principles is to engage with the membership and be transparent about the rationale used in designing our schedule, so that we achieve our overall club objectives in terms of revenue generation, clarity as to competition rules, agreement over which BNH competitions we will support as a club, and transparency over selection.

Agreement of these principles ahead of the start of the season, will enable all members to have clear visibility as to the program and encourage the widest participation possible.

We would like your feedback by the 6th May so that we can finalise our proposals based on your input.”

We had a great response rate with 40 out of 50 eligible responses received, the overwhelming majority supporting the idea that we adopt the principles for the forthcoming season. 3 of the 50 had no registered email address and for two of these members, this situation has now been rectified.

We also had some great feedback to which we have listened and amended the principles as appropriate.

The Feedback is detailed below and our response to comments received. noted in the right-hand column.

We have now built our program for next year, considering the BNH program, overlaying your feedback and Dave Bartlett is currently updating a wall planner to be placed in the Office, detailing all of the tournaments and events for the season.

We have already updated the program on the Bowling Calendar which appears on our website, and you will see our 2024-25 season in its entirety.

Many thanks once again for all of your feedback. It has been very helpful in determining our approach to the year ahead and will give both clarity and transparency to new season and allow you to plan your participation accordingly.

King Regards

Ged Taylor

On behalf of Pauline, The Board and the Match Committee

Agreed Principles for 2024-2025 season

Tuesday club days will be all Open Tournaments due to the amount of revenue they can generate. Currently we are getting approx. 5 outside teams per week, equating to an additional 25% incremental revenue.
For the purposes of the 24-25 season, we will have 3 team tournaments and one single entry tournament per month, all of which are open to single entry teams for MEBC. When we do the draws, we will enroll the single entries into teams ensuring that individuals do not miss out.
Each month (4 week period ) will have 3 triples competitions and 1 pairs competition as part of the Tuesday program.
One of the triple tournaments per month out of the 3 to be played during the period, will be a 2 bowl triples to encourage the use of 2 bowls which is a fundamental premise of outside tournaments \
Two Saturdays per month will be dedicated to club competitions and cups. This will enable club members who work during the week, to fully engage in our cup tournaments. In response to your feedback, we have also included Thursdays as a day in order to avoid clashes with BNH
We will leave our Tuesday tournaments as is i.e., fixed number of ends, and introduce timed tournaments for Championship events only.
We aim to give clarity as to the format and methodology for club championship tournaments and align them with BNH.The competition format is outlined on the final page
Junior tournaments towards the end of the season i.e., Feb & March to give newcomers a chance to improve their bowling skills before the competitions start.
Bowls North Harbour tournament participation to be determined at the start of the year so that we can plan our program around the ones we wish to enter.
Selectors to be nominated and published to improve transparency. Chosen to represent the various levels of bowling experience across the club
Potential male selectors: e.g Graeme Bull, Dave Bartlett & Harold Bailey
Potential female selectors: e.g Pauline Hill, Judy Fisher & Karen Vassiere
Formalise the Junior manager position required to look after and guide our Junior members We would very much appreciate it if you could return your feedback to by Monday 6th May, so that we can formalise our proposals based on your feedback

Principle:

1. Tuesday club days will be all Open Tournaments due to the amount of revenue they can generate. Currently we are getting approx. 5 outside teams per week, equating to an additional 25% incremental revenue.

Feedback: 100% Agree	Response
One thing would be beneficial is that Club Championships shouldn’t be scheduled on any Nth Harbour event date including Rep & Centre/Nationals dates if possible:	The BNH Program has just been released and we have built our program using this as a base, avoiding any clashes
At least one club tournament every 2 months with single entry to encourage all club members to participate and mix with new and existing players	We are planning to hold one single entry tournament per month for club members, although we will still welcome teams from other clubs.

2. Potentially have the Open tournaments as combination entry, so that teams can enter, and single entries will be amalgamated into a team. Again, the aim is to increase revenue as the outside clubs naturally provide their own teams, plus if we encourage team play we get people used to playing with each other and improving our chances in competitions. Single entries will be swept up into teams for each of the tournaments and we will include one tournament per month for single entries from club members, with a draw to follow. Outside clubs will still be able to enter their own teams.

Feedback: 90% Agree	Response
Single entry should be for all, including outside club members and visitors, this is an opportunity for us to associate on a different level with players from other clubs, and players from our club, thereby possibly learning different tactics and aspects of the game. if single entry days are about one in 6, then the other days are times to establish regular teams.	For the purposes of the 24-25 season, we will have 3 team tournaments and one single entry tournament per month, all of which are open to single entry teams for MEBC. When we do the draws, we will enroll the single entries into teams ensuring that individuals do not miss out.
Should Continue the club policy of single entry to open tournaments. This includes new players and players of weaker ability. Maybe some pairs tournaments to team entry plus the occasional triples	As Above
Would prefer 2 single entry tournaments per month: We need to remain inclusive of all members and not follow the exclusive policy of Warkworth and Orewa, where new and lesser skilled members are excluded from playing with experienced members	As above
2 Single Entries per month. Encourages juniors to play with other members and improve their skills quicker	As above
	As above

3. Each month (4 week period ) will have 3 triples competitions and 1 pairs competition as part of the Tuesday program.

Feedback 100% Agree	Response
One pairs tournament per month to be single entry	Agreed

4. One of the triple tournaments per month out of the 3 to be played during the period, will be a 2 bowl triples to encourage the use of 2 bowls which is a fundamental premise of outside tournaments.

Feedback: 85% Agree	Response
Two bowl Triples 10 ends, finishes at about 2:30. Great! 12 ends for a longer day.	We do need to include one two bowl tournament to give our players the experience required for championships, having one per month seems reasonable and we will formulate the program accordingly
Prefer more bowls but understand the benefit of having a two-bowl comp to support members competing in two bowl comps
Could also include some national and bowls tournaments

5. Two Saturdays per month will be dedicated to club competitions and cups. This will enable club members who work during the week, to fully engage in our cup tournaments.

Feedback: 100% Agree	Response
One or 2 Saturdays and or one Thursday every second month to include those who work on Saturday.	We have completed our draft plan using Thursdays and Saturdays and managed to avoid clashes with the North Harbour program
This would have to avoid Saturdays that are used by BNH

6. Consider timed matches on a Tuesday rather than fixed ends. This will ensure that all of the matches finish at about the same time and encourage speedier play. We can then have a fixed time for lunches and event completion times enabling members to better plan their days.

Feedback: 80% agree	Response
Prefer set ends plus its more work for someone to manage the clock:	We will leave our Tuesday tournaments as is and introduce timed tournaments for Championship events only.
Might speed up slower players
We used to have timed matches for open competition, but all sorts of things took place to get as many ends in as possible. I would agree with the odd timed matches
The current system works OK as most games finish within 3-5minutes of each other, but having a time limit as suggested is in keeping with championship practices and so players will grow accustomed to 'racing the clock'
Not sure, as long as it is 8 end each game, I am happy the way it is.

7. Competitions to be section play/ round Robin instead of the 2-life system.
The following Rules will be mandated for our tournaments, to give increased clarity to our members:

Feedback: 80% Agree	Response
I am unsure on the question about championships. I did not want to give an answer, but the program would not allow that. Before agreeing I would like there to be some clarification about how the score would be calculated in the round robin and other categories in that field. Would it be wins, ends and points for and against and the final result be on differential only, or would it be ends won first and then points for and points against and differential only comes into it if players are tied after that like we do for open tournaments. The final winner could be quite different depending on which method is used. Players need to know beforehand which method will be used. If that is clarified I could change my decision.	For round Robin events whoever has the most wins, wins. If two teams have equal wins each , they will play off in a final. Please see schedule on back page
For clarity in sub items 6-11 The 2-3 winners go into an ‘Open’ draw (No seeding based on number of wins) Straight knock-out (Possibility of 1st knock-out round bye)
Happy except for Round Robin. Blending formats throws up freaky results.
Too new to the club to understand consequences of 2 life/ round robin but above seems a good system. Round Robin Full Stop: No final
If we have 3 players use round robin instead of 2 life so you have 3 games in one day and declare a winner
Limit of two from each section

8. Junior tournaments towards the end of the season i.e., Feb & March to give newcomers a chance to improve their bowling skills before the competitions start.

Feedback: 100% Agree	Response
Feb & March is still holiday time for many	Overwhelming majority support the timing so we will go ahead with this

9. Bowls North Harbour tournament participation to be determined at the start of the year so that we can plan our program around the ones we wish to enter.

Feedback: 95% Agree	Response
Not sure this is a good idea. Who knows what they get up to later in the year. My first thought on reading this was you miss out on newcomers like Ian Thrush who can play extremely well.... better than some older members. Again a bit too new to have a series understanding of the consequences	We built the program based on club and BNH programs. Individuals can then determine whether they want to participate. We are not suggesting picking teams at the start of the season, merely competitions we wish to enter as a club
Agree for the following tournaments: Winter Cup. Cadness Cup, and all champ of champ events

Difficult when BNH change their program at will and often

10 . Selectors to be nominated and published to improve transparency. Chosen to represent the various levels of bowling experience across the club
Potential male selectors: e.g Graeme Bull, Dave Bartlett & Harold Bailey
Potential female selectors: e.g Pauline Hill, Judy Fisher & Karen Vassiere

Feedback: 100% Agree	Response
Should include coaches and play selections on team dynamic rather than nominated grade.	We can determine the selection process once we have agreed on the selectors. Proposed selectors are Male: Graham Bull, Dave Bartlett & Harold Female: Pauline Hill, Karen Vassiere, Judy Fisher
Tricky when you are choosing selectors who will have to select themselves. Isn’t there a way of going on results and current ability, probably what they should be doing anyway.	We currently use grading and bowls experience plus consider the team dynamic as suggested by Dave
Maybe consider one selection team for men and women, Also require a book or sheet where grading, Handicaps and Junior age is tabulated	Sounds like a very good idea

11. Formalise the Junior manager position required to look after and guide our Junior members We would very much appreciate it if you could return your feedback to by Monday 6th May, so that we can formalise our proposals based on your feedback

Feedback: 100% Agree	Response
Plus Junior manager to organise a training/education program	We can arrange for the Junior manager to work with the coaches to provide a program.
Feedback: YES !!!! The number of us who have been on the sharp end of a certain persons/people’s tongues for a minor misdemeanour is very off putting and embarrassing when done in a public situation. The fact that people think it is ok to slag us off in public is not on. While I read through the little booklet given when registering, learning the rules is done on the green, in practice, not from a book.

Competition format:

Number of entries	Status	Method	Winner	Duration
1	Not Played
2- 3	2 Life system	Players compete until one participant wins 2 games	Player who wins 2 games	1 day
4 - 5	Round Robin	Each player plays 3 games. Winner is whoever wins 3 games. If two teams have two wins, they play each other in the final	Winner of the final or most wins.	1 day 4 games early start required
6-9	3 games qualifying	Top 4, of the 2 and 3 winners qualify. 1v4 and 2v3. If only 3 qualify, then the top qualifier gets the bye . Bye score is calculated on the winner’s average of the other game.	Winner of the final	2 days 3 games day 1 Semi final & Final day 2
10 Plus	3 games Qualifying	10 plus entries... Top 8 , of the 2 and 3 winners qualify. 1v8 , 3v6 , 4v5 and 2v7. If only 7 qualify then the top qualifier gets the bye. Bye score is calculated on the winner’s average of the other games.	Winner of the final	2 days 3 games day 1 Semi final & Final day 2

Newsletter March 2025

Interclub

Greens

Tournaments

There have been lots of tournaments during January and February. All photos are on our website.

Mangawhai Visit

Programme for March 2025

Dave Bartlett

Thank you

Feedback on Single Entry v Team Entry for Visiting Teams