SYBA News

:: National Finals Abandoned for the second time on 16.09.07
   (posted 23.09.07)

The re-arranged National Finals to be held at Priorscroft BC and Hawkhead BC, following their original abandonment on Saturday 11th August 2007, once again had to be abandoned on Sunday 16th September 2007 due to heavy rain and unplayable greens.

The original Finals Day had to be abandoned due to heavy rain and waterlogged greens after approx. 30 minutes play for only the second time in the 25 year existence of the SYBA.

The weather on 16th September was even worse than on the 11th August and no play could even be commenced, with at 9am the Hawkhead greens already under water.

The Executive Committee met at 10am and decided to give the weather and greens a chance to improve, given the long distances some players had travelled and the expense incurred by all players and spectators in attending the National Finals Day for a second time.

It was decided to wait until 12 noon to see if the rain ceased and what effect this would have on the playing surfaces at all four greens.

However by 11am it was clear that no play could be considered as the two greens at Priorscroft were starting to flood, whilst they had not been too bad at 9am compared to the flooded greens at Hawkhead.

Vice President Ross Dennis confirmed that the situation had not improved at Hawkhead and the decision was taken to abandon the National Finals Day at 11am and not hold people back for a further hour.

It was also agreed that the 2007 National Finals would be held early in the  2008 season at a date and venues to be agreed by the AGM in November 2007 (to be held at Linlithgow BC).

It is incredible that the National Finals have been washed out twice in the same year for the first time in the history of the Scottish Young Bowlers Association and even more galling that it has happened in the "Silver" anniversary year!

GLOBAL WARMING OR WHAT!?

Alan Mitchell (P.R.Officer)