LOCAL bowlers are busy preparing for the approaching season, despite the recent wet weather, yet the main cloud on the horizon remains the proposed cuts by various councils in green maintenance and work on the surrounds on local authority greens.

The issue has been on the go for quite a while and recent announcements that this may end after 2020 leaves a sense of despair, coupled with the proposed rise in green fees. Cuts to council budgets remain the reason given for such changes.

At a recent meeting at Keighley BC, the Worth Valley League announced there were no real changes to the league set-up, although Royd House, of Wilsden, were accepted as members of the popular Veterans League on Mondays. They will play in Division Three when games begin on April 3.

There was also very little change to report from the Hebden Bridge League which involves several local teams.

It was a different story at the Skipton & District Bowls Association AGM when, in an effort to stop declining numbers of clubs and bowlers, the association executive put forward sweeping proposals to change the structure to two separate leagues.

The clubs approved the format which sees a Thursday JACS Trade & DIY Merit League with three divisions of ten teams and one division of 11.

The change to ten teams should improve competition with two teams promoted and relegated each season, the scoring system being the same as in previous seasons.

There will be three divisions of ten teams and one of eight in the Tuesday 5,4,3,2,1, League, which has been named after the new scoring system.

Players will earn more points for their team the better their match score.

A winner scoring 21 will receive five points and the losing player will receive more points the better they do – one point when scoring five, two points when scoring ten, three points when scoring 15 and four points on reaching 20.

Games in both commence on April 11/13 and it will be interesting to see how they develop.

At all meetings, the fall in entries for competitions was discussed to some length and officials pointed out that lack of support this season could see the end of some.

The Worth Valley League hope to try a new approach and run some events on a Saturday instead and the outcome will be interesting to say the least.

On a sadder note, recent weeks have seen the deaths of Karl Whittaker and Michael Coulton. Karl was a popular member of Craven BC while Michael had not played the game for too long and was the son of Sutton legend Colin.

Sympathy goes to all concerned at this sad time.