Go to the UTBC Club Competitions (Men) Tournament List

The draws for all Individual, Pairs and Mixed Triples competitions are available on the club website in the Sport Menu with details for each event in the About and Rules Tabs above the draw.

Introduction

There are 173 games in 10 events this year, a decrease of 16 on the 2025 season and split as follows:

• Men – 115 games (141 in 2025, 114 in 2024 and 98 in 2023)
• Ladies - 44 games (33 in 2025, 41 in 2024 and 37 in 2023)
• Mixed – 14 games (15 in 2025, 16 in 2024 and 0 in 2023)

The total number of matches in each round is 3 (Last 64), 28 (Last 32), 62 (Last 16), 40 (Quarter Finals), 20 (Semi Finals) and 10 Finals.

Rules

All UTBC Club Competitions will continue to be played under NIPGL/NIWPGL Association rules for the 2026 season.

All information is in the About and Rules tabs of each competition on the website.

Conduct

Players/Teams will be disqualified for any unacceptable behaviour during the competitions.

Format of Play and Links to all Competitions

Men

• 2 Bowl Singles (2 bowls, 18 ends)
• Club Championship Singles (4 bowls, first to 21 shots)
• Challenge Cup Singles (4 bowls, first to 21 shots)
• Veterans Singles (Age 60+), 4 bowls, first to 21 shots)
• 4 Bowl Pairs (4 bowls per player, 18 ends)

Ladies

• Open Singles (4 bowls, first to 21 shots)
• Challenge Cup Singles (4 bowls, first to 21 shots)
• 2 Bowl Pairs (2 bowls per player, 15 ends)
• 4 Bowl Pairs (4 bowls per player, 15 ends)

Mixed

• Mixed Triples (2 bowls per player, 15 ends)

Notes

• Click on the links above to go to the draws, results and player stats for each competition.
• Games to be played on or before the scheduled reserved rinks date or cut off date, whichever is earlier.
• An extra end is to be played if the scores tied after the relevant number of ends have been played.

Challenge Cup Entry Criteria

• Ladies - Only players who have NOT won the Challenge Cup may enter the event.
• Men - Only players who have NOT won a UTBC Club Competition may enter the event.
• Any player who has only been a sub in the Final for a Winning Pair or Triple may enter the Challenge Cup providing the other cirterion above has been met.

Veterans Age Criteria

All players must be 60+ years of age at the time of the draw to qualify as a Veteran.

Arranging Dates for Matches

All initial matches that do NOT have a Reserved Date (see below) must have a confirmed date to be played arranged and notified in the 2026 Competition WhatsApp Group or direct to a member of the  Competition Committee by Sunday 24th May 2026.

If you need a contact number for a player, please post the request in the Competition Whats App Group and it will be sent to you.

Any matches NOT confirmed by Sunday 24th May 2026 will be given a 'play on or before' date by the Committee.

Cut Off Dates

Due to the large number of NIPGL/NIWPGL League and Cup matches as well as NIPGL/NIWPGL Competitions, all competitors will be given specific dates and times to play their matches 'on or before' those dates/times.

If you are unable to play the tie on the specific date and time you must arrange an earlier date/time with your opponent (give them at least 2 options) and keep the Competitions Committee informed/updated either directly or in the Competition WhatsApp Group

The following cut off dates will be in force for each round to make sure all events are completed on time (Male/Female/Mixed total matches in brackets):

• Sunday 24th May 2026 – All Last 64 Matches (3/0/0)
• Sunday 28th June 2026 – All Last 32 Matches (37/1/0)
• Sunday 26th July 2026 – All Last 16 Matches (40/15/7)
• Sunday 23rd August 2026 – All Quarter Final Matches (20/16/4)

Please note players do NOT need to wait for all matches in a round to be completed before playing a tie, you may play your available match anytime from today up to the cut off dates above.

Dates shown on the website or competition sheets in the clubhouse for each match in all competitions are ‘To be Played on or before’ dates.

Reserved Rinks

To facilitate completion of the competitions on schedule, specific rinks will be reserved on available Thursday evenings and Sundays for competition matches on those dates.

A number of dates and times have been arranged for the initial rounds of the Men's 2 Bowl Singles, Club Championship Singles and 4 Bowl Pairs as well as the Mixed Triples (see below).  Players may arrange to play the matches before these dates if they wish.

The normal cut off dates apply to all matches that do NOT have a Reserved Rinks date.

Removal

Cut off dates will NOT be extended.

Any matches not played by the cut off dates in each round will result in the removal from the competition of all players/teams involved in those games.

Arranging matches

The team (player/pair/triple) on the left of the draw is responsible for arranging a marker (if required), contacting their opponent and arranging a date for the match. The opponent should be helpful in trying to agree a suitable date.

Before the match:

• All competitors should be given a choice of two rinks unless only one is available.
• Toss a coin or roll a bowl, winner may take the jack for the first end OR give it to the opponent.
• All competitors are entitled to 2 trial ends with 2 bowls if they wish.

Please note markers should only answer questions and indicate 'a measure' if not sure which bowl is closer to the jack.

Contact numbers for all players are available from any Competition Committee Member or in the Competition WhatsApp Group (click on the player name) or you can post in the group and agree a suitable time/date there.

Scorecards and Results

Please post results in the Competition WhatsApp Group (Event, Round, Player Names and Score).

Scorecards should be left in the Competitions Box in the mats/jacks container or given to a Competitions Committee Member.

The competitions will be updated with all results as soon as possible after receipt.

Teams and Players

All draws show teams in competitions, even in Singles as it allows statistics to be shown at Team and Player level.

Players are linked to teams in competitions – click on a team, then the players tab and you will see the players in a team.

Click on the player for statistics and any other information.