After a very strange and worrying year, we hope everyone stays safe and well, enjoyed your Christmas in the best way you could and let us all hope for a better, more normal year in 2021.

News Article.

Another Ladies coffee morning is planned, see here for details.

Here is some COVID advice from the government aimed at the people who are vulnerable and have been shielding.

The WBA are saddened to learn of the passing of Val Williams, the wife of one of our stalwart executive committee men, Robert Williams.  Our thoughts and prayers are with Robert and his family at this difficult time.

Please see the details for a Bowls Wales Nominatd Director and express interest to the appropriate people.  HERE

Statement regarding the Annual General Meeting is here.

Calling all members - if you fancy a chat and a catch on Zoom during lockdown, we are having a virtual coffee morning on Thursday 5th November - Please see poster for details.  Zoom training also on offer beforehand, just let us know.

Thank you Alis Butten for the poster

Please see statement regarding the unification of the WBA and the WWBA.

Three Cwmbran Park bowlers have received a presentation from the club after each of them completed fifty years continuous bowling service for the club.  Many congratulations to John Alford, Alan Cooper and Brian Relland.

Latest newsletter from the governing bodies group can be found here.

Read Here

The British Isles Womens Bowls Council (BIWBC) have agreed a new look for its international events to increase awareness of the women's game in the UK and close align with the formats at world events. see here

There are free online workshops for clubs which our clubs may find interesting and you can find out more by following this link.

For the latest guidance from the WBA & WWBA please follow link.

For the Latest Guidelines on reopening greens and club houses please check the bowls wales latest documents.

Your National Secretaries, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. are also available to offer any help and assistance you may require.

Good morning Ladies and Gents, we are still waiting further guidance from the Welsh Government regarding our sport and are hopeful of getting something soon.  We can only advise clubs to be patient because it would not reflect well if a fresh outbreak of the virus were associated with the bowling fraternity because we jumped the gun, so to speak.

The latest we have has been posted on the Bowls Wales website which you can access from the link below.

My thanks goes to Claire Joll and her team for keeping us up to date.

https://bowlswales.com/bowlswales-update-on-large-gatherings-10th-july-2020/

Following the recent announcement from the Welsh Assembly Government, please read the following statement from the governing bodies.  Read Here.

Be active Wales fund launches today 7 July 2020, details here.

Very sad news this morning with the passing of JIM O'CONNOR a stalwart of Bedwellty Park Bowls Club for many years.  Jim made many friends in the bowling world and was always a very sociable and pleasant bloke who always had time for a chat.  Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this very sad time.  At this unusual time funeral arrangements have been very limited but as soon as we know the arrangements we will post it here for peoples information.

R.I.P. JIm

More useful guidance for clubs who are reopening.  See Here

The W.B.A. would like to welcome bowlers back to the greens following the first minister's announcement on Friday.  Although it is only social bowling at this time we are sure some members will find this beneficial.  Please continue to follow government and club guidelines to ensure you and your families remain as safe as possible.

Please see this joint statement issued by the N.G.B.'s of flat green bowls in Wales.  Read Here

Read Here

We are hoping that the Welsh Government will allow us to open clubs soon and we are waiting confirmation of this from Bowls Wales as to when this will be. In the meantime, and in accordance with our holding statement sent a few weeks ago, please find attached guidance to help with your planning - putting safe systems in place may take some time, so we wanted to give you as much opportunity to plan if you are going to open. 

Guidance Notes

Risk Assessment

Club Poster

RInk Booking Form

Please follow the link for the holding statement released by the WBA and WWBA governing bodies. Read More.

Following a BIBC meeting today, Saturday 16th May 2020, it has been decided to cancel the junior international series in September.  It was decided that both international series will be rolled over to 2021 to be staged at the same venues as was scheduled for 2020.

Senior series will be scheduled for Llandrindod Wells from 1st to 4th  July 2021.

Junior series will be scheduled for Ayr Northfield from11th to 12th September 2021.

Further details will follow as soon as they become available.

Important information regarding world bowls singles, click link.

Address from John Bell

Presidents Address

WBA Statement

WBA Statement.

WWBA Statement

BIBC Statement

Bowls Wales Statement

     SENIOR FOURS 2020

www.atlanticseniorfours.com

  Dear Member Nation

The Atlantic Senior Fours 2020 Organising Committee is acutely aware of the many issues facing countries and the MNA’s of World Bowls with the ongoing Coronavirus outbreak.

Governments and Sports organisations are beginning to take drastic measures in order to contain and prevent further spread of the disease, some of which are starting to affect sporting events and general public life.

Taking into account the age demographic of our participants the Committee has decided to suspend invitations to this event.The 30th March deadline date for expressions of interest in participation is therefore now postponed.

The Committee will meet again on 1st June 2020 and reassess the global conditions with regards to Covid-19 and decide whether or not to continue staging the event in 2020 or to defer it to a later date and MNA’s will be notified accordingly. 

Thanks to all who have shown an interest in the event and have been following our updates on our Website and Facebook page and we will publish a further update after 1st June.

Hazel Bagshaw

Event Manager

Organising Committee

Event Manager​​Hazel Bagshaw​              This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Tournament Director​Viv Tomlinson​              This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Tournament Director​Graham Tomlinson            This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Finance Manager​​Martin McMilllan​              This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Chief Technical Officer​Allan Thornhill​              This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

CBH Liaison ​​Ann and Trevor Allman    This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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2020 World Bowls Championships to be postponed indefinitely 

Controlling body World Bowls (WB) and host nation Bowls Australia (BA) have agreed that the 2020 World Bowls Championships be postponed indefinitely as a result of the evolving coronavirus (COVID-19) global pandemic. 

The event, which was set to be staged on the Gold Coast, Queensland, from May 26 – June 7, and involve 36 competing nations from around the world, has prioritised the health and safety of the public, players, staff, officials and volunteers.

Further to the risk of public exposure, many nations have also implemented strict measures on local and international travel, including Australia, where travellers from overseas are currently being made to self-isolate for at least 14 days.

The intention remains to stage the event at an appropriate time in the future, however, given the current climate around the uncertainty related to the virus, WB and BA are unable to provide an official confirmation of rescheduled dates at this stage.

WB Chief Executive Officer, Gary Smith, said the unfortunate decision was made with the health and safety of the public, players, staff, officials and volunteers as the primary concern.

“Given the uncertainty we face as a global community, we have made the unfortunate, but necessary action related to the 2020 World Bowls Championships,” Smith said.

“This situation is not unique to bowls, with many other sports and competitions around the world taking similar cautionary measures. 

“We believe this is the right decision to minimise the risk of public exposure to the coronavirus, which the World Health Organisation recently declared a global pandemic.”

BA Chief Executive Officer, Neil Dalrymple, said both parties would continue to monitor the situation and liaise with competing countries as to the future staging of the event.

“We have been monitoring the coronavirus situation closely for several months, with advice taken from the relevant stakeholders and government agencies,” Dalrymple said.

“The decision was not made without careful consideration and we firmly believe they have been made in line with the best interests of the public, players, staff, officials and volunteers.

“We are fully aware that athletes, officials and others may have made travel arrangements for this event, but our overriding concern is the health and safety of all involved in the event.”

*ENDS*

For more information, please contact:

Aidan Davis

Bowls Australia

Communications & Marketing Manager

P: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

E: 0432 255 213

Domenic Favata

Bowls Australia

Communications & Digital Coordinator (High Performance)

E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

P: 0431 695 575 

17 March 2020

Dear WSA Member,

This is an update to help with the sector’s contingency planning around Coronavirus, as we know that many of our members will be concerned about staging events, participation and preventing it spreading further.

Latest Government Information

The UK Government yesterday published an action plan to contain the possible spread of the coronavirus.

Welsh Government has also published information including:

·       A statement from Public health Wales (March 4^th)

·       Risk level

·       Returning travellers

·       Overseas visitors to Wales

·       Travel advice

·       Further information

The following tailored advice for the sport sector has been developed:

• There is presently no rationale to close or cancel sporting events, but this may change as the situation evolves, so please keep a close eye on Gov.Wales
• Anyone with flu-symptoms should avoid the risk of spreading their infection, whatever that infection may be, by staying at home and recovering;
• For those hosting sporting events, whatever the size, attendees and participants should stay up to date on the government’s latest advice on how to avoid catching or spreading the virus, which is here;
• As the situation progresses advice may follow for the frail, elderly and those with pre-existing health conditions (to be defined) to stay away from gatherings as part of general advice aimed at minimising unnecessary contact with others; 
• For those travelling to sporting events overseas, the Foreign Office’s travel advice should be followed here and travellers should note that apart from the countries and territories named in that advice, the government is not presently advising against travel to anywhere else;
• For those who offer community and leisure services, such as running a local football team; or running a gym; hand hygiene should be strongly promoted and encouraged and equipment and facilities should be thoroughly cleaned and wiped down as usual following use. We understand that the UK Government is planning to publish specific advice on this shortly;
• There is presently no reason people should stop doing their daily sport and physical activities as they normally would.

Contingency Planning

Our friends in London, the Sport and Recreation Alliance, have issued the following guidance, and while there should be no presumption that one stage will automatically lead to the next it is best practice to think about the different scenarios that may emerge, adding that the following ‘ABC’ approach may be helpful…

A: As you are - Our current state.

• There is no need to cancel or postpone your events at this time;
• Reassure your athletes, stakeholders, and customers, building on the latest Public Health England advice;
• Examine your insurance policies to see what cover you may have should the situation evolve;
• Remain mindful of guidance on infection control in the workplace - catch it, kill it, bin it;
• Take sensible steps to discourage staff with flu-like symptoms from coming to work;

B: Behind closed doors - If the Government finds it necessary to curb travel or large gatherings of people, this is particularly a possible scenario for spectator sports.

• Consider broadcast options and contractual arrangements, if relevant;
• Be mindful of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office advice which may make it more difficult to bring athletes and their teams into the country;
• Examine your supply chain arrangements, particularly for equipment, and explore contingency plans;
• Determine the minimum number of staff required to safely stage an event and how you would ensure their wellbeing and manage logistics;

C: Cancellation, curtailment, or postponement - If the Government finds it necessary to impose restrictions which make staging an event or providing a service impossible.

• Consider how you would resolve your remaining fixtures and conclude your competition, workforce health permitting;
• Consider how you would deal with cancelled classes, membership, season tickets etc. Make an assessment of the economic impact of lost revenue and share this analysis with Sport Wales. 
• Please also take every step to help keep our nation active. Being fit and healthy can reduce the risk of infection in the first place. Think creatively about how we can maintain activity levels in such a scenario, looking out for steers from Sport Wales/ Welsh Government. 

The Welsh Sports Association would like to reiterate the importance of following advice from Public Health Wales and Gov.Wales when you have queries relating to the impact of coronavirus. 

If you have any comments or queries, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. If you don’t want to receive emails in future, please let us know so that we can remove you from our database.

Best wishes

Kate

Kate Evans | Head of Communications & Policy/ Pennaeth Cyfathrebu & Pholisi

A: National Centre, Sophia Gardens, Cardiff CF11 9SW