Minutes of the Bowls Oxfordshire Mixed Section – 12 February 2025
Present: Alan Scholan, Cynthia Briant; John Hurren, Caroline Bloomfield
Apologies: Terry Boswell
- Confirmation of Section Officials
The section is still short of a chair person and a minute’s secretary. The chair would also be a member of the Bowls Oxfordshire Executive Committee. We need to continue to promote these vacancies as needing to be filled and seek suitable people to commit to this.
- Mixed Section competitions
- We have 27 entries for the Officers Cup, which has been drawn by the Men’s section, which we are grateful for, but insist the decision of the Bowls Oxfordshire Executive was for this open event to be managed by the Mixed Section.
- We have received 29 entries for the Aussie Mixed Pairs competition and the date has been agreed for Sunday 22 June to be played at two venues: Charlbury and Burford. The format will be that each team will play 3 times, with 2 points for a win and one for a draw over ten ends and the team with the most points (and best shot difference if tied) will go forward to the final from each of the venues. The final will be on a separate day, but hopefully will be on the Domestic finals day.
- We have 18 entries for the Senior Mixed Pairs (over60) and we have 10 entries for the Mixed Fours, which currently falls short of our desired minimum of 16 entries to make the competition valid. It is proposed that we allow an extension until mid March to gain more entries and will write to all clubs asking them to support this inaugural event (subject to BO Exec agreement).
- The draw for the Senior Mixed Pairs was made and details have been posted on the website.
- The draw for the Aussie Mixed Pairs will be done nearer to the date and will be declared on the morning of the competition. A list of which pairs will be at which venue will be posted on the website.
- JH informed the meeting that income from mixed events, which are all domestic events, was £477 and all competition expenses and trophies need to be lower than this total.
- The section hopes that their finals can be accommodated on the same dates and venues as arranged by other sections.
- We have a trophy for the Officers Cup and the Senior mixed Pairs comps, but need sponsorship to provide trophies for both the Mixed Fours event and the Aussie Mixed Pairs events.
- Cynthia Briant will be the contact point for results managed by the section, but we note that Roy Radband has agreed to take the results for the Officers Cup for which we are grateful.
- Mixed Fixture List for 2025 season
- We have managed to secure six fixtures for our first season and potentially will have one more (Wiltshire). Details will be shown on the new website and will be circulated by the County Secretary on our behalf, with availability sheets, similar to those done for the mixed section.
- The fixture list includes the new Inter-county championship, Senior Mixed (6 rink matches) which BE hope will become as popular as the Middleton and Johns Cups.
Entry to this competition is FOC this year and we are drawn away to Middlesex to be played at Hendon Bowls Club at 1100 hrs on Tuesday, 17 June 2025. BE advises that the dates and start time are not negotiable, which will give us a challenge. We hope many of our very good bowlers in the county will try to support this fixture and others should we win !
- We have received a request to add the London & Irish Bowling Association to our fixture list in 2026, for information.
- Mixed league progress
AS commented that only 3 clubs over the two divisions had confirmed their fixture lists so far. Division 2 does not currently have an end of season Cup or trophy, so we will request this goes on the county list for finding a sponsor.
- Selection Committee
The selection committee will meet at least two weeks before the first fixture, which is against our Young Bowlers Section on Sunday 4 May at Kidlington B C. They will also select teams for two other fixtures in May
- Match Fees for 2025
When a hot meal is provided, the match fee will be £15 and for a buffet will be £12 as a guide. We will be paying a contribution to travel costs, as per our BO policy.
The cost for the match in Middlesex will be sufficient to cover the green fee if needed and cover travel costs. No food is expected following the match.
A card reader will be available for collecting match fees for those that want that option.
- Any Other Business
JH offered to do a short piece setting out our section aspirations are for this year and for encouraging clubs and players to support this new opportunity to represent the county. This will be forwarded to the County Secretary for distribution, to include asking for players availability for selection for all 2025 fixtures
Our thanks go to Chipping Norton Bowls Club for allowing us to hold our section meeting on their premises.