AFTER much debate and various options thrown into the melting pot, the English Bowling Federation have decided to go ahead with a straight knockout tournament for the men's Adams and Newton competitions, but for the second year running there will be no Donald Steward or Silver Jubilee Vase events for the women. as there was little or no support from the counties.
Seven of the 13 affiliated counties are supporting the new one-off men's format, including Northants, who have been drawn against Hunts in the opening round on Saturday, June 26, with the Adams team away and the Newton team at home (Whittlesey Manor).
The winners will meet either Norfolk or Suffolk in the southern final with the winners facing the northern section winners at Skegness on Saturday, August 21.
To give a more balanced draw, Lincolnshire have been moved into the northern section, where they will play Humberside, with the winners facing Notts.
The Durham Centenary Trophy is going ahead as scheduled, with ties being put back to early June – Blackstones are Northants' representatives – so it means there will be three finals on the opening day of Skegness, as the Reg Wright Under 25 competition has been sidelined for a second year.
There are provisional plans for the Reg Jackson tournament to be run on the Sunday and Monday morning, with the individual EBF championships starting on Monday afternoon instead of the Tuesday morning.
