The first events are the men’s and women’s fours championships, to be played at Timboon Bowling Club on October 2 and 9. Entries close this Sunday. Sheets for the over 60 singles championships on October 11 and the over 60 pairs championships on October 16 are also on club noticeboards.

Saturday pennant starts October 8, while Tuesday pennant begins October 18.

The Tuesday competition was reorganised after Warrnambool advised it could not field its division 2 Green side.

In May, a working party was asked to develop a replacement for the three-year pennant structure that ends this season. As numbers on Tuesdays continue to decline, there is a need to attract new and younger bowlers, perhaps with shorter types of competition.

At a meeting on September 18, most ideas put up at previous working party meetings were rejected.

There was clear majority that pennant should continue to be played as fours over 25 ends; that late finishing times for some matches on Saturday are a problem; and that there must be two full rounds of home and away matches. It was also agreed that all nine clubs should be entitled to have a place in division 1 competitions; that there should be no promotion and relegation; and that Tuesday pennant should continue as now organised.

Notes will go back to clubs for comment, with the next meeting on November 20.