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HILLS BOWLING ASSOCIATION
HBA EXECUTIVE MEETING – 1.6.15
HELD AT TERRY STEPHEN’S HOUSE, LOBETHAL
Present: Terry Stephen, Graham Weyland, Fred Dorr, Wayne Lee, Beth Young, Roger Faehrmann,
and Alex Reynolds.
Meeting commenced 7.25 pm.

FD congratulated all present on their appointment or re-appointment to the Executive Committee,
and welcomed AR to her first meeting.

TS circulates draft HBA Events Calendar (along with copies of Bowls SA Country and Metro
Calendars, draft schedule re various alternative formats, and refers to Regional AGM minutes.
All agreed to do away with shield matches – other than the Thursday Ladies Patron’s Shield and
the Harrison Shield.
All agreed to start pennant matches on the following dates – Sat. 10.10.15, Wed. 14.10.15, and
Thurs. 15.10.15.
All agreed to schedule regular rounds of Saturday pennant matches on Sat. 12.12.15 (despite clash
with Prestige Medley) and Sat. 19.12.15 (despite clash with State Mixed Pairs).
General
consensus that both events likely to involve no more than 6-10 players in total (male and female)
– and unfair to call off bowls for the other 370 HBA players. Provided however that we will draw
this clash to everyone’s attention from the outset.
All agreed to leave no spare make up days.
Given that Easter is a week earlier this year, and given the general complaint that the season
finishes too early – all agreed to extend the season beyond Easter – with the Wed. GF on 30.3.16,
the Thurs. GF on 31.3.16, and the Saturday semis and prelim finals on the weekend of 2.4 and
3.4.
This would see the Sat. GF scheduled on 9.4.15 – which clashes with Women’s Country Carnival
finals. However, given that we play normal pennants on Men’s Country Carnival – and again the
event is unlikely at best to occupy more than a few players – agreed to leave it there. Is always
the possibility to reschedule Div. I for the following Saturday if there is some major issue.

TS circulates copy of current HBA website home page – along with suggested amendment. Aim
marketing at the Adelaide Hills wine/dining/tourism attractions – change cover picture, and
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change “tag” words to include “wine”, “food”, “dining”, “Adelaide Hills”, and “cellar door” in
addition to existing sports and bowls related tags. Hope to attract “hits” from non bowlers. All
agreed.

General discussion re amended heat rule currently before club delegates. General concern
expressed by TS, GW, WL, and BY that (a) rule not supported by our respective clubs, and (b)
concern that it has potential to negatively impact on any Champ of Champ events because our
perception is that members generally reluctant to be involved in Saturday night fixtures. Option
suggested by FD to the effect that any Div I and II matches be rescheduled to the next available
Friday night – which would mean Jan/Feb matches being held over to 4th, 11th, or 18th March
2016. Had general support – committee to consider either a further amendment to the existing
motion, or withdraw existing motion and submit new motion.

General discussion re potential alternative formats for Saturday pennants.
FD proposal
involves:
o
A four/three/two format in Div I and possibly Div II.
o
Match split into two halves.
o
Capacity to change/transfer/replace players etc after first half.
o
Trial this for first four weeks of season – then revert to normal format for remaining 18
rounds.
Major problem arises from incapacity of IMG Online recording system to allow for exchange
of players during a match. May be alleviated by making each match two separate matches –
but defeats the purpose of being able to restructure teams during play. If we introduce a new
format to run for the entire season – there are programming problems associated with reduced
numbers being used in higher grades (refer to the schedule prepared by TS). Some discussion
re possibility of making the trial period a full round of half matches (but TS realised after
meeting that this would require five weekends 9 matches per weekend, leaving 17 rounds (not
two full rounds). Will need to be given further consideration.

Champ of Champ triples and fours. TS maintains that the amended EOA does not permit
gender segregation in triples or fours as they do not lead to a national competition – regardless of
what Regional elect to do. Propose that HBA Champ of Champs be run as single gender singles
and pairs, and open gender triples and fours. General discussion. TS agreed to provide all
committee members with a summary/synopsis of the legislation – so that the matter can be further
addressed at the next exec meeting.
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
Thursday Ladies pennant format. General consensus that the competition remains in jeopardy
if current format maintained. Teams currently require a minimum of 6 women – some clubs
down to only about 7-8 women, and virtually every side fielded during the past season used at
least two male fill ins. A format which requires fewer players is more likely to increase the
longevity of the competition. TS formulates a proposal re 9 players (4/3/2 – with the fours to be
comprised entirely women, remaining 5 can be either gender at complete discretion of club). BY
promotes continuation of fours format – but perhaps two rinks of four (with same rule as present
re at least half the side comprising women, and opposite gender players only once available
women used up).
Some committee members suggest just leaving as is – and when the
competition dies off, so be it. Further consideration deferred to next exec meeting.

Website Poll. TS advises that the HBA website has a facility to enable a poll to be conducted of
members as to preferences for various issues – such as alternative pennant formats, heat rule etc.
TS has experimented with some test polls – but would need to do a “bland” test run to check
accuracy and validity of results. There are still some shortcomings however associated with
online based polls and surveys.

Scheduling of Finals Venues. Some clubs (in particular Lobethal) have expressed some disquiet
with the existing rule regarding scheduling of finals at the “best available neutral green” –
essentially because this resulted in Lenswood hosting most of the finals in each competition.
Exec members would also like a rule which enables us to (a) exclude venues not up to standard
for finals, and (b) share finals amongst neutral clubs are of adequate standard. Draft suggestion
proffered by FD:
o
The Executive Committee will determine the venue for finals using the following
criteria:
i.
It will remove from consideration any club whose green is determined to be
unacceptable.
ii.
Thereafter finals will be rotated through the remaining greens alphabetically,
subject to (a) the game being played at a neutral venue, and (b) the club having
suitable facilities for the final
The committee to give this further consideration prior to the next meeting.
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
GW raises concern re disparate number of sides in Wed. Div. I and II – some efforts to be
made to invoke some form of promotion/relegation to bring a minimum of 8 sides into Div I. –
based on ladder position the preceding season.

BY is keen to clarify the number of qualified umpires at each club as BSA database not up to
date. GW believes that he has that information – and will send it to TS. Thereafter TS will send
this to clubs to seek confirmation that it is accurate.

WL addresses various issues from Regional AGM. Region will now pay for CRR and Prestige
Medley lunches, NW shield still precedes Schroeder Shield, State Open singles and City v
Country shield now gone. Congratulations to WL on election as Regional Councillor to replace
Lyn Walker – WL now away from 3.6 – 1.8 (but contactable by email).
Meeting closed 10.25pm
Next meeting:

Executive – Monday 6th July 2015 at 7.30pm at TS’ house.

Delegates– Monday 20th July 2015 at 7.30pm at Lobethal BC.