SPECIAL RULE FOR EXTREME HEAT DAYS

At the October 2022 Annual Delegates Meeting - the issues which were apparent in the 2021 season regarding the temporary change to our rules used to ensure bowler safety during the heatwaves, were discussed:-

It was agreed that the WSBL has a duty of care to its bowlers and that if temperatures reach 30 degrees C and above, as defined at the time of the game and match location by the BBC Weather App; and that if these conditons prevail, a match will be cancelled and the available points shared equally for the game. Previous interpretations including changing the time or date of the match would no longer be considered appropriate.

WSBL in 2024

Hello everyone, thanks to all the members of all the clubs, our league committee, club committees & club delegates who keep this great league going, and of course not forgetting our sponsors who have supported us over the years.

Our first website was created in 2009 & we updated the domain in 2014, Alan has been updating ever since, good ole Alan!!

It's great to see 25 teams in the league this year, our 40th anniversary coming up, a good time I think to be playing in the WSBL.

Here's to a great bowling season and let's hope the weather is kind to us once again.

David Jackson
May 2024

A Message from our President

Another winter has passed us by and spring will find you all bowling on the pristine greens (hopefully) around West Sussex.

Firstly my congratulations to last years Division 1 winners Worthing Pavilion Bears, the Second Division winners, Crablands and of course Petworth who were victorious in Division 3. I trust all three leagues will be keenly contested this summer and good luck to you all. As usual your clubs will be playing for the PC Cup, no doubt Pavilion will be trying there hardest to retain the trophy.

With 19 clubs and 25 teams this year I believe we have the most teams we have ever had since I founded the league some 39 years ago. I hope that the league can continue to prosper in the future.

I repeat what I have stated here for many years - this league was started to give a competitive game of bowls to players of all abilities. My thoughts have not changed and I trust that the management we have currently (and in the future) will do there best to ensure this philosophy continues and that the game is here for you all not just the elite players.

We have rules in place that currently support my vision. Personally I was very pleased to see that at the EGM that was called this spring you the clubs voted not to accept the proposed rule change that would have opened a can of worms for future years. Good luck to you all this summer let us hope for some lovely warm sunshine, enjoy your bowls.

Chris Rolph

President - 2024.

History of the League

The League was formed as the Littlehampton Gazette Bowls League back in the winter of 1984/85 by the current League President Chris Rolph. The Littlehampton Gazette continued to sponsor the League for 30 years until the end of Season 2014 when they notified they wished to cease their sponsorship.

C & M Trophies of Littlehampton, who had provided the trophies for the League for many years, indicated a desire to become sponsors of the League and after suitable discussions it was agreed that the League would be renamed the 'West Sussex Bowls League' – sponsored by 'C & M Trophies of Littlehampton'. Sadly, Tony Wright the owner of C & M Trophies at the time of the sponsorship agreement, died early in 2017 after a long struggle with illness. 'Phoenix Frozen Foods' kindly sponsored the league from 2017 until 2023. James & James, local Sussex Estate Agents have now agreed to take over as official sponsors in 2024.

Chris acted as Hon. Secretary until the early 1990’s when he passed the reins on to his friend Brian Wellsted who worked tirelessly for the league until he passed away in 2007.

Brian was responsible for the remarkable growth of the league by attracting new Clubs, creating new divisions and intoducing the league knockout competition - the PC CUP.

In the first season (1985) the league consisted of just one division and only six clubs (Norfolk, Maltravers, Arundel, East Preston, Middleton and Bognor). In 2024 the league will boast 3 divisions, 19 clubs and 25 teams.

The impressive development over the years means that the WSBL is now widely regarded as the most successful and competitive league in the whole of Sussex County.

Chris continued to assist Brian, until being asked to return officially as Chairman.

At the 2016 ADM Chris relinquished the Chairman Role to officially become the Honorary President of the WSBL. In the same year Lindsay Bangs (Witterings BC) took over as Chairman of the League and continued untl 2023, Dave Jackson (Bognor Regis) took on the Chairman role and Lindsay continued his involvement by returning to the Management Committtee.

At the ADM in October 2011 Rod McBeth was elected to the post of Secretary and continued in this role until the end of the 2016 season. Alan Messer (Tarring Priory), took on the role of Hon. Sec. at the 2016 ADM until standing down in 2021. Roger Dear (Pagham BC) took on the secretarial role and take us through the difficulties of a pandamic! At the 2023 ADM Alan Messer returned to the secretarial role as well as continuing the resposibility for fixture planning, player records and League and PC Cup Results which he had assumed in 2021.

The Management Committee for 2023-24 consists of the following gentlemen: Lindsay Bangs (Witterings BC), Roger Dear (Pagham BC), Francis Fahey (Worthing Pavilion BC), and Paul Leatherbarrow (Pulborough BC).

Finances of the league are under the control of Crablands BC member Nigel Reynolds. He will ensure we are kept in a healthy position, having taken over from Dave Parker, who gave us ten years as treasurer.

Our webmaster is David Jackson, who designed this website for us and keeps it up to spec in an ever changing world of technology.

The Annual Delegates Meeting of the League is held each October and is hosted at Arundel BC. Our Presentation Day and Cup Final is held in September at Worthing Pavilion BC - in 2024 it is confirmed as Saturday 14th September. We are very lucky that Worthing Pavilion BC have supported us for many years at no cost.

WSBL v Division Champions 2024

This year we reverted to 3 rinks from Div 1 Champions - Worthing Pavilion Bears, 3 rinks from Div 2 Champions Bognor Regis A and 2 rinks from Div 3 Champions Maltravers. The Champions played the 'rest', a side made up of WSBL Management, a representative from most sides in the league who were not either champions or PC Cup Finalists, and a group of invited players who play to make the correct number for the rinks. The match as always was played alongside the PC Cup on the greens at Worthing Pavilion BC. The PC Cup was played out between Tarring Priory and Pulborough. See report further down page. Click on the link below to see the team sheet for the 'WSBL Rest' team.

WSBL v The Champions.

FINALS and PRESENTATION 2024

The 2024 WSBL Finals and Presentations were held at Worthing Pavilion Bowls Club, on Saturday Sept 14th. Clicking on the red link below will soon but not yet, take you to a file of images taken on the day.

All WSBL member clubs were invited and expected to send one representative to play in the Annual Champions v the 'Rest' Match and to enjoy the liquid refreshments provided and paid for by the WSBL.

The WSBL 'Rest' team, took on the mighty Bears (Div 1 Champions) Bognor (Div 2 Champions) and Maltravers (Div 3 Champions) but as always on these occasions - bowls was the winner.

In the main event of the day, Tarring played Pulborough in the PC Cup Final. Although the match was 2 rinks all at the end Tarring Priory did enough to secure victory by 83 shots to 64 shots

The WSBL ADM was held at Arundel BC in October 2024. The minutes of that meeting are shown here unsigned as an aide memoir for clubs to work with for 2025.

ADM 2024 Minutes

Alan Messer WSBL Secretary.