1. The IBA Challenge Cup competition shall consist of the IBA Senior Challenge Cup, IBA Intermediate Challenge Cup and IBA Junior Challenge Cup.
2. Challenge Cup entry forms must be received by Honorary Competitions Cup Secretary on or before the closing date as stated on Challenge Cup Entry Form.
3. (a)(i) The Council or its Joint Competitions Committee shall fix a final date for each round to be played but, except for the semi-finals and final, an earlier date may be arranged by the Sides concerned but each Side must notify the Honorary Competitions Cup Secretary at least three days before the new date of the tie.
3. (a)(ii) For all Competitions, first round ties shall be scheduled to commence on the same date.
3. (a)(iii) Clubs entering more than 2 Sides should have two greens available and have assigned which Side(s) be allocated to which green on the Entry Form. This Side to Green arrangement will be for the duration of that competition.
3. (a)(iv) Clubs with 2 or more League Sides must enter each Side, in order of their higher League Tier status downwards without exception, into the appropriate Cup Competition relevant to their League Tier status.
3. (b)(i) Home Green Allocation
3. (b)(ii) Venue Selection Process for Semi-finals and Finals
After the Quarter-Finals:
After the Semi-Finals:
Venue Selection Criteria:
3. (b)(iii) Scheduling of Semi-finals and Finals
3. (c) When two or more Sides secure home draws on the same green, then the ties for other than the first and second drawn ‘home’ Side(s) shall be played on dates and times fixed by the Joint Competitions Committee, unless otherwise mutually arranged by the Sides concerned.
3. (d) Where two ties are to be played on the same green on the same date, the first of these shall commence at 1:00pm and the second shall commence at 5:30pm or earlier by mutual agreement.
3. (e) A Side unable to fulfil a tie must notify its opponents, to be received at least 48 hours prior to the time fixed for the game. Failure to comply with this requirement may involve the defaulting Side in payment of expenses incurred. Honorary Competitions Cup Secretary must be informed without delay.
4. When a tie involves one Side from the Bowling League of Ireland (ILB) and one from another Association of Clubs the starting time shall be 1pm. Otherwise, apart from the circumstances covered in Rule 3(c) and 3(d) ties shall start at 2pm if played on a Saturday and no later than 6.30pm if played on other weekdays.
5. When a Club has Sides engaged in a round of the Senior, Intermediate and Junior Cup competitions on the same day, the Senior tie shall have precedence over the Intermediate / Junior tie, the Intermediate match shall have precedence over the Junior tie, except in accordance with Challenge Cup Rule 4.
6. (i) Each tie shall consist of two Sides of four rinks playing 21 ends, though in exceptional circumstances and provided both sides agree before the game begins (or before an interrupted game resumes) fewer ends, subject to a minimum of 18, shall constitute a completed game. In the case of a tied result an extra end on each rink shall be played, and should the result still be tied another end shall be played and so on until a result is achieved.
6. (ii) Sides may play, one, two or no trial ends, if agreed before commencement of play. An arrangement of only one shot scored in first two ends is not permitted and may result in both Sides being disqualified.
6. (iii) Sides may play with less than the regulation 16 players, but with not less than 1 player absent per rink and shall be deducted ¼ of total shots scored on each defaulting rink.
7. In all ties, bowls must have identification discs attached. Where the discs of the visiting Side conflict with those of the home Side as to cause confusion in the identification of bowls by spectators, players or officials, the home Side shall be required to change discs to another colour or to remove the discs completely. One set of discs only may be applied to a bowl at any one time.
8. If a tie is stopped on, account of darkness, weather conditions, or any other valid reason, it shall be resumed with the scores as they were when it was stopped, and either skip may require that not more than one trial end each way shall be played. In these circumstances, or when the tie cannot be started for similar reasons, the resumption/re-arranged date shall be within 7 days unless otherwise arranged with the IBA Honorary Competitions Cup Secretary. The home Side shall submit to their opponents, (in person, by telephone, or by email) on the day on which the match was due to be played, or was interrupted, two alternative dates (not consecutive) one of which must be accepted. When the tie involves one Side from the ILB and one from another Association of Clubs, at least one of the offered dates shall be a Saturday.
9. Both Sides must phone, text or email the result to the Honorary Competitions Cup Secretary immediately after competition of the tie. Both sides shall forward the scoring card(s) by post or by electronic method within three days of a tie being completed to the Honorary Competitions Cup Secretary so that an official record of the results and players involved can be kept.
10. A Side playing a player who has previously played for another Association Side in the same season shall be disqualified and dismissed from the competition. The tie shall be awarded to their opponents.
11. Upon application by a Side, at least five days before any tie, or for other good reason, the Management Committee shall inspect any green. If the green is found to be unfit for play, they shall decide on another green within three days of the tie with consideration given to the wishes of the home side.
12. Badges shall be awarded for each of the thirty-two players involved in each Final. A further four badges for each side may be purchased from the Honorary Treasurer.
