Category: News

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Middlesex County Indoor Bowls – The Future

Please see the following email from Andy Docker (Chairman MCIBA) sent to all clubs who play indoors in Middlesex regarding the future of the MCIBA.

Good Afternoon,
In the first instance can I ask the Clubs to forward this email to their Members.
The future of Middlesex County Indoor Bowling Association needs to be decided.
Since the retirement of Andy Knott there have been no Friendly Fixtures and since the retirement of Chris Yelland (Secretary) and Laurence Gatfield (Treasurer) there has been no ‘real’ Committee.
We Thank them for their years of service to the County.
Over the past couple of years, with Thanks to Angela Frankland, the County competitions have continued to run, and to Jason Lyttlle for organising the Liberty and Home Counties teams, leaving me to pick up/cover all of the other aspects needed for the County to run on a limited basis.
This can not continue.
Angela is happy to continue to run the County competitions but a proper Team Manager, League Secretary, Secretary and Treasurer are needed immediately with people having the correct skill sets in order to fulfill the positions.
The County currently holds around £8,000 in its accounts.
Having had numerous conversations with bowlers from Middlesex the following seems to cover all the views.
Therefore please find notice that an AGM of the Middlesex County Indoor Bowling Association is called for Sunday 13th April 2025 commencing at 3pm (after the Home Counties League Final) being held at Century BC/IBC to discuss the following:
Agenda:
1) The future of MCIBA
Option 1 – Stay as we are until the death
The Association will continue to affiliate to the EIBA, enter Liberty & Home Counties etc. have County comps and League and pay for players green fees in  Liberty etc. until the funds have gone

Option 2 – Lean operation, still enter EIBA comps and run internal comps but minimise cash burn through a small club affiliation fee and have players cover green fees

As option 1 but with the return of a large amount of the funds held to be returned to the Clubs
Option 3 – Local association basis, internal comps only
The County will basically become like a local Association, funds will be returned to the Clubs, unaffiliate from EIBA, help with representation for Clubs to join other Counties, continue to run the competitions and the league under the guise say of Middlesex and District BA, there would be no need for the Association to have insurance as it does now and also a full committee would not be required

Option 4 – Shut it all down

To close the County completely, distribute the funds to the Clubs and assist in applications to new Counties (if required)
2) Proposal to change the Middlesex League to 18 ends              Proposed by Herga     Seconded by Glebelands
With regards to item 1 on the agenda Options 1 & 2 are only viable if suitable people take position at the AGM, if this does not happen the Chair will recommend that Option 3 is adopted with immediate effect.
A lot to think about and to be decided by the whole of Middlesex (hopefully) and remember that the Association is now Mixed.
As mentioned at the beginning can we please ensure that this communication is shared to as many people within Middlesex as possible.
I hope/trust all of the above makes sense to you.
Regards,
Andy Docker
Chairman
MCIBA
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Gardening Tips

Adam Frost from Gardeners’ World was being interviewed on the radio on Saturday. He advised not to plant anything in the garden until you see weeds starting to grow. (Mother Nature knows best?!)

 

On this morning’s news, it was advised there would be less slugs around this year. Good news for gardeners although the Monday slugs help the ecosystem. (Mother Nature again)

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Club Triples Finalists

Congratulations to Pat, Will & Andy on winning their quarter-final v Tricia, Barry & Teresa this morning, the Karen & the two Brian’s in the semi-final this afternoon.
In the final, they face Dawn, Ange & Dave who scraped through their first match by a measure the width of a pin head v Peter J, Ian D & Steve yesterday; a good game v Di, Dick & Ann B in a close quarter-final this morning (until we took a 6 at the back end of the match); then went on to beat David M, Victor & Alasdair in the semi-final this afternoon.
Well played everyone. It was a really good weekend.

Thanks to Peter J, Julian, Alasdair and others who took turns manning the bar.
Special thanks to Mastermind Stella S, with the aid of Brian C’may & Dave Redington for organisation and with added Jacqui in the kitchen both days. Excellent home made sandwiches, muffins and cakes and a plentiful supply of mugs of tea.
We really appreciated all your time and effort in making the weekend run so smoothly.
Hope you’ve all got your feet up now!

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Weekend Matches

Today, Saturday, we take on friends from Masonians starting at 2:00 pm  An afternoon of bowls and fun ahead .

Tomorrow we face Bounds Green in the Middlesex League starting at 11:00 . Two mixed rinks at home and two away  supporters and spectators welcome at both venues