Category: Latest News

Disability/Para Bowls in England point of contacts from the 1st January 2025

Robyn Lockhart Disability Lead (EIBA) will be assisted by Judy Plater on reduced hours during the remainder of the Indoor season including the EIBA National Championships in April 2025
and can be contacted by emailing judy.plater@disabilitybowlsengland.org.uk

Helen Lewis-Wall (Disability Officers (Bowls England) can be contact by email from the 1st January 2025 – helen.lewis-wall@bowlsengland.com

Sue Davies will manage the Indoor International series against Ireland in January, and will remain the point of contact for Classifications (UFN) – sue.davies@disabilitybowlsengland.org.uk

My 4 years as Chairperson of Disability Bowls England (DBE) Charity trust has come to an end at midnight on the 31 December, as the next chapter of disability bowls in England is about to be written with all activities being managed by Bowls England (BE) and the English Indoor Bowling Association (EIBA), taking the game to next level of sports inclusivity for all .

At the start of this volunteering journey, I never realised that discrimination of disabled people still existed within the sports world, but hopefully with the help of a loyal band of trustees, volunteers, and players we have changed the minds of many in the bowls world by showcasing our ability, not disability, throughout the UK and on the world stage.

But our biggest success story has been the DBE Bowls family. Our membership has grown from 140 in 2021 to over 500 active members today playing bowls across all codes of the game with likeminded people and alongside fellow able-bodied club members as equals, with over 200 disabled friendly clubs actively promoting our sport for all with the introduction of specialist adapted bowling equipment and walking aids which have extended the playing careers for so many people who wish to play the sport of bowls. It is still one of a few sports where 3 generations of the same family can play a sport together regardless of ability, gender, or age.

The past 40 years of disability bowls in England has been a rollercoaster ride for so many dedicated trustees and volunteers and I leave you all, knowing that the future of disability bowls in England at all levels, from first time grassroots and club players to International, Commonwealth Games and World Championship squads, looks very bright and secure for many years to come.

Finally, a massive thank you to the DBE Bowls Family for this amazing journey and the many life lessons learnt in the sport of Bowls and the Disability Sports Charity sector.

As the Sunsets on this journey, another Sunrise will raise again soon!!!!!

Steve Watson
Disability Bowls England Chairperson 2020-2024

DBE Trustees welcome the great news that Helen Lewis-Wall has been appointed Bowls England Disability Officer as the next chapter of para bowls in England is written 👏👏👏

Bowls England has pleasure in announcing the appointment of Helen Lewis-Wall as Disability Officer as we continue work to make our sport inclusive for all.

Helen brings a wealth of experience from both her professional and bowls background, most recently as Para Team Manager at Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and 2023 World Championships. Working closely with the Disability Bowls England (DBE) team and volunteers, Helen will lead the integration of services currently offered by DBE into Bowls England’s everyday work.

Read the full announcement.

Disability Bowls England, in partnership with the English Indoor Bowling Association, is pleased to announce the Team England Indoor Para Squad selected to play in the Test Match against the Irish Bowls Federation from 10-12 January 2025 at Solihull IBC as follows:

Classification	Name	Club	County
B2	Stephen Hartley	Exonia	Devon
B3	John Hollowell	Bridgman BC	Bedfordshire
B3	Alison Yearling	Plymouth Life Centre	Devon
B4	Sally-Ann Lewis-Wall	Barwell	Leicestershire
Directors:	Beata Hollowell	Bridgman	Bedfordshire
	Isaac Shieh	Century Bowling & Sports Club	Middlesex
	Elizabeth Shipley	Barwell	Leicestershire
	Chris Venn		Warwickshire
B6	Craig Bowler	Wellingborough BC	Northamptonshire
	Joe Peplow	Malvern Hills	Worcestershire
B7	Steve Angus	Stanley	Durham
	Fynn Kyser	Wellingborough	Northamptonshire
	Jennie Sandford	Grattons	Sussex
	Helen Wood (Captain)	York & District	Yorkshire
B8	David Fisher	Colchester	Essex
	John Greaves	Wellingborough	Northamptonshire

Judy Plater
National Development & Administrative Officer

October 2024	Event	Venue	Time
06 October	DBE Friendly	Five Rivers IBC	2pm
16 October	DBE Friendly	Leicester IBC	2pm
19/20 October	EALABA Drawn Pairs	Tamworth IBC	All Day
November
07 November	DBE Friendly	Bromley IBC	2pm
11 November	DBE Friendly	Northampton and District IBC	2pm
December
8 December	DBE Friendly	Mid Glos IBC	2pm
14 December	DBE Celebration Day	Gedling IBC	12pm to 8pm
January 2025
5 January	Friendly Fixture	Barwell IBC	2pm
10/12 January	Irish Test Series	Solihull IBC	All Day
29 January	Friendly Fixture	EIBA President Essex (6 rinks)	1.30pm
February
09 February	Friendly Fixture	Northamptonshire County – Desborough IBC	2pm
15/16 February	VIBE Open Pairs	Nottingham IBC	All Day
22/23 February	Multi Disability Open Singles	Gedling IBC	All Day
March
2 March	EALABA Friendly	Gedling IBC	2pm
8/9 March	Multi Disability Open Pairs	Solihull IBC	All Day
29 March to 17 April	EIBA National Finals	Nottingham IBC	All Day
April
2 April	Multi Disability Champ of Champs	Nottingham IBC	TBA
13 April	EALABA Friendly	Tamworth IBC	2pm
14 April	Multi Disability Open Pairs	Nottingham IBC	TBA
17 April	Multi Disability North v South	Nottingham IBC	TBA
23/24 April	LDIBIS Munro Cup	Wales	All Day
26/27 April	VIBE Triples	Nottingham IBC	All Day

We are proud to support Every Body Moves (EBM), an initiative dedicated to helping disabled people across the UK become more active. EBM is an activity finder and provides comprehensive information and advice on accessible sports clubs and activities, making it easier for everyone to participate in physical activity.

Join us in promoting inclusivity and physical activity by exploring the resources available on the EBM website. Whether you’re looking for accessible sports clubs, activities, or ways to get involved, EBM is your go-to source for making sports accessible to all.

Visit Every Body Moves today to learn more and find accessible sports opportunities near you.

Disability Bowls England (DBE) working in Partnership with The English Indoor Bowling Association (EIBA) are pleased to announce the planned Indoor fixtures and events to date for the 2024/2025 indoor season.

Judy Plater will remain the first point of contact for all friendly social fixtures (until 31 Dec), and we will be announcing the competitions formats etc once the full review process from October between DBE, EIBA & Bowls England have been completed.

In the meantime, please save the dates:

September 2024	Event	Venue	Time
15 September	Plant Welding Pairs	Gedling BC	All Day
21/22 September	EALABA Singles	Tamworth IBC	All Day
21 September;	DBE Friendly (Outdoors)	Watford and District Association Hemel Hempstead BC	Taster session 12 Match 1.30 pm
27 September	DBE Friendly	Swale IBC	2pm
October
6 October	DBE Friendly	Five Rivers IBC	2pm
11 October	DBE Friendly	Leicester IBC	2pm
19/20 October	EALABA Drawn Pairs	Tamworth IBC	All day
November
11 November	DBE Friendly	Northampton and District IBC	2pm
December
8 December	DBE Friendly	Mid Glos IBC	2pm
14 December	DBE Maggy Smith MBE Celebration Event	Gedling IBC	2pm to 8pm
January 2025
5 January	Friendly Fixture	Barwell IBC	2pm
10 January	Friendly Fixture	Northamptonshire county IBC	2pm
29 January	Friendly Fixture	EIBA President Essex (6 rinks)	1.30pm
February
15/16 February	VIBE Indoor Pairs	Nottingham IBC	All Day
22/23 February	Multi Disability Open Singles	Gedling IBC	All Day
March
2 March	EALABA Friendly	Gedling IBC	2pm
8/9 March	Multi Disability Open Pairs	Solihull IBC	All Day
29 March to 17 April	EIBA National Finals	Nottingham IBC	All Day
April
2 April	Multi Disability Singles Champ of Champs Finals	Nottingham IBC	S/F 9am Finals 1pm
13 April	EALABA Friendly	Tamworth IBC	2pm
14 April	Multi Disability Open Pairs Finals	Nottingham IBC	9am
17 April	Maggie Smith MBE North v South Shield	Nottingham IBC	11am
23/24 April	LDIBIS Munro Cup	Wales	All Day
tbc	VIBE Indoor Triples	Nottingham	All Day

It is with some sadness, that the Trustees of Disability Bowls England Charity Trust (DBE) have decided the best way forward for our members and future bowlers with a disability, giving everyone the opportunity to play the game of bowls across all bowls codes in England, is that DBE will disband on the 31 Dec 2024 and its activities will be managed by Bowls England and the English Indoor Bowling Association (EIBA). Continue reading “Official Statement from Disability Bowls England Charity Trust Trustees Monday 5 August 2024”

IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING ARTIFICIAL DEVICES:
(Laws 41 of the Sport of Bowls Crystal Mark Fourth Edition)

Bowls England Regulations State:
Artificial devices may be used by players with disabilities for delivering the jack or bowl provided they are approved by Bowls England following consultation with relevant disability bowls organisations. Currently this includes the standard bowling arm, the DHB Hacksaw bowling arm and the bowls launcher. The individual shall decide before a game starts if they are going to use an aid. If they decide to then they shall use it for the duration of that game.
Appendix J of our competition regulations has more detail on players with disabilities: Bowls England

English Indoor Bowling Association Regulations State:
8.3 Artificial devices be used by players with disabilities for delivering the jack or bowl (Law 41.)
The player using the device shall decide before a game starts if they are going to use an aid. If they so decide, then they shall use it for the entire duration of that game.
eiba.co.uk

ALL DISABILITIES BOWLS ENGLAND (DBE) EVENT WILL FOLLOW THE ABOVE REGULATIONS WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT

We have requested guidance from other Para Home Nations, International Bowls for the Disabled and World Bowls for International events.