Below are the confirmed Notices Of Motion for clubs to discuss at there respective committee meeting or AGM’s. As per last year there will be no discussion and a simple vote on will take place on each one as each club delegate should have been instructed how to vote.
AGM will take place on Saturday 15 November 2025 (10am) at Houghton Dairy Lane BC
Sunderland & District AGM – Notice Of Motions
NOTICE OF MOTION 1 – Whitburn Community Club
Motion: To reduce the age qualification for vets leagues to 50.
Reason – To enable early retirees an opportunity to participate and give clubs a larger pool of senior players to select
from.
NOTICE OF MOTION 2 – Seaham Town BC
Issue – every club within our league is made to officiate to Durham County even if they don’t wish to enter the national
comps. This in essence is money waste for the majority of clubs.
Proposal – I would like to propose that if a club wishes not to enter the nationals or be affiliated to Durham County then they should not be forced to pay fees applicable and can enter the Sunderland & District leagues. In addition – clubs should not be penalised for fielding new members as the affiliation is no longer required. The financial implication to clubs would be a huge relief and money can be pumped back into the upgrading of club
facilities etc.
NOTICE OF MOTION 3 – Hylton Colliery Welfare BC
Propose – Any club failing to fulfil an AWAY fixture due to lack of players available have to reimburse the home club the relevant rink fees.
Reason – this motion is to ensure the financial stability of clubs whom operate on small membership. If a home club
fails to fulfil a fixture then they have to take the financial hit.
NOTICE OF MOTION 4 – Hylton Colliery Welfare BC
All teams must pay the full amount of the relevant rink fees to the HOME club regardless of how many players they
have available.
NOTICE OF MOTION 5 – Houghton Dairy Lane BC
No trial ends to be played. For the first two ends of the game a maximum of one point per end can be scored.
Reason – This will speed up the game without giving the hosts an advantage.
NOTICE OF MOTION 6 – Sunderland & District Exec
All Earl Cup matches to be 15 ends
NOTICE OF MOTION 7 – Sunderland & District Exec
All Swan Cup matches to be 15 ends
NOTICE OF MOTION 8 – Roker Marine BC
All Harold Howey League games to be 15 ends from 18 ends with trial ends still to continue.
Reason – Comments that have been passed by visiting teams this season on time length of game.
NOTICE OF MOTION 9 – Sunderland & District Exec
Re-wording of the Competition finals Dress code
Current wording –
11. Dress Code
In knock-out Competitions finals players will wear white trousers, shorts or skirts or registered club colours plus the above rule for shirts.
Proposed new wording
In knock-out Competition finals players will wear black or grey trousers, shorts or skirts or registered club colour’s plus the above rule for shirts.
Reason – move with the times as whites are a thing of the past.
NOTICE OF MOTION 10 – Sunderland & District Exec (this will be withdrawn should Notice 5 get carried)
Re-wording of the current Trial end rule
Proposed new wording
12 Trial Ends – (Earl, Swan, Howey, Storey)
Clubs to have the following options – Play 2 trial ends, Play 1 trial end, Play no trial ends – however both clubs must agree, if they don’t agree then the rule defaults back to Play 2 trial ends.
Reason – one of the most complained about thing is the trial end league rule, this change will now allow clubs to have
options
NOTICE OF MOTION 11 – Sunderland & District Exec (this will be withdrawn should Notices 6 & 7 get defeated)
Bye – Laws Governing the Ald George Swan Cup and the Earl Cup competitions
Delete
2. All matches played up to and including the 17 May to be 15 ends.
All Matches after 17th May up to and including 7 August to be 18 ends.
All Matches after 7 August to revert to 15 ends
NOTICE OF MOTION 12 – Sunderland & District Exec
Bye – Laws Governing All leagues
New rule addition
2. Clubs have a 15 minute window for a player to arrive; if a sub has already played the trial ends then the late player cannot play.
Reason – just missing from the current rules
NOTICE OF MOTION 13 – Sunderland & District Exec
Delete the following line
4. Should a team realise it cannot meet it’s commitments on the scheduled date the match may be brought forward, the League Secretary must be informed of this decision.
Reason – as clubs cannot cancel a game apart from weather therefore this rule is not valid.
NOTICE OF MOTION 14 – Sunderland & District Exec
By-laws Governing the Samuel Storey Bowl Competition
Insert new rule
The introduction of an ineligible player shall cause the offending side to forfeit the match together with an additional deduction of four points, plus a fine of £10.00. If both sides be party to such infringement the game shall be null and void, both clubs shall have an additional four points deducted and a fine of £10.00 each imposed.
Reason – just housekeeping as missing from current rule
NOTICE OF MOTION 15 – Sunderland & District Exec (will be withdrawn if Notice 8 is defeated)
HAROLD HOWEY TROPHY VETERANS COMPETITION (Thursday at 1:30pm)
Delete
4. Each game limited to 18 ends. Two trial ends.
Reason – just housekeeping should Notice 8 be carried
NOTICE OF MOTION 16 – Sunderland & District Exec
Competitions (SINGLE-HANDED CHAMPIONSHIP & VETERANS CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS)
Delete the following line from
5……. if no dates have been offered by 48 hours of the closing date the opponent has the option of claiming the tie.
Reason – just housekeeping as it apparently causes confusion
NOTICE OF MOTION 17 – Sunderland & District Exec
Silver Jacks, Burkett Shield, David Morgan Mixed Pairs Competition, 3-2-1 Knock Out Triples
All ties to be 15 ends plus 2 trial ends
Reason – as our finals take place in August light starts to become an issue
NOTICE OF MOTION 18 – Sunderland & District Exec
Silver Jacks, Burkett Shield, David Morgan Mixed Pairs Competition
The Home player has the choice of rinks.
Reason – current Bowls England rule penalises the home drawn team, if carried this will be added to our list of local rule variations
NOTICE OF MOTION 19 – Sunderland & District Exec
All clubs must submit a list of players after each league fixture.
Reason – following the issue we had this year where an unaffiliated player represented a club in a league game a check will take place on each submitted list