Fylde Coast Autumn Bowling Festival
 
Fancy a relaxing seaside break, in the build up to the climax of Crown Green’s most prestigious prizes. Look no further! Blackpool and the Fylde will play host to the Fylde Coast Autumn Festival of Bowling during the week commencing Monday 8th September 2008.  Keep your skills honed for the serious stuff ahead, whilst experiencing a sociable and welcome respite from the end of season blues many encompass at this time.
 
The newly elected Committee, met recently to formulate a detailed plan for the tournaments. The initial decision taken was to name the event “The Fylde Coast Autumn Bowling Festival”. It was also decided that in this, the inaugural year of 2008, only four of the six originally suggested competitions would be held. In an endeavour to ensure a firm basis for the future was put in place, it was felt that the inclusion of a Junior Trophy and Plate competitions for the Mens and Ladies Singles, may prove excessive administration during the first year. All of these will be reconsidered when discussion takes place for 2009.
 
Unlike many major tournaments, the concept is to hold the events at local club greens spread around the Fylde Coast area. Greens under consideration include, Cleveleys WMC and the Park Club. Cleveleys, Layton Institute, Marton Institute, Carleton and Norbreck BC, Gardeners Arms, Fleetwood BC and Fleetwood CC, East End BC, St Annes Ex-Service BC, Freckleton BC, and Staining BC.  After qualification, one venue will play host to the Final stages. In 2008, the famous Raikes Hotel is the selected venue for the Final stages of all four main competitions. These final venues will be rotated from year to year around all the participating clubs.
 
Qualification rounds in the Mens and Ladies singles are scheduled to take place on the Monday and Tuesday, play being held in both the mornings and afternoons. Due allowance will be made to bowlers who take part in leagues on these days. On Wednesday morning and afternoon the Veterans take to the stage, with the Mixed Pairs qualification being held at four of the greens, probably The Gardeners Arms, Carleton BC, Marton Institute and The Raikes Hotel, on the Wednesday evening. Thursday afternoon will see the hosting of the first Finals with the last 16 of the Vets doing battle at the Raikes. Play continues on the Thursday evening, as the Mixed Pairs Trophy is decided. Finally, the week climaxes with a feast of bowling all day on the Friday, with the last 16 of both the Mens and Ladies main events taking place concurrently.
 
Entry for each competition is just £8.00 per event (the Mixed Pairs being £4 per person). All entries, together with the necessary remittance, should be forwarded to the Festival Secretary, Peter Jose, at 10 Alconbury Crecsent, Thornton Cleveleys, FY5 1DR. Any further details can be obtained from Peter on 01253 887351.
 
Entry forms are also available by contacting any of the following: Bill Booth, on 01253 894667; Geoff Worden on 01253 729556, Julie Holcroft on 01253 312846 or Tom Kitchen on 01253 314601. They are also available in the March edition of Bowlers World, or as a download on the following websites: Arthur Land’s PBA website, http://www.crowngreenland.co.uk, the Federation of Crown Green Bowls, http://www.federationbowls.org.uk or our other associated Fylde Coast Bowling League websites, http://www.online-bowls.com or http://www.lsambl.co.uk. Entries will be accepted by phone, providing the remittance is received by the Secretary within 7 days of contact.
 
Whilst we have not finalised the complete sponsorship details it is anticipated that prizes on offer during the week will total over £7500. If any organisation or individual is able to provide assistance with the prize fund, in monetary or any other pecuniary form, please get in touch with our Sponsorship Manager, Phil Moon. He can be contacted at 6 Medlar Close, Wesham, Kirkham, PR4 3EJ or by email at pcmoon@talktalk.net As well as hard cash, bowling related goods of all forms would be especially welcome as prizes.