Banister Park wins 2018 Ken Marsh Trophy.

Banister Park are the new holders of the 2018 Trophy having beaten former champions Atherley Bowling Club. The game went down to the wire with Banister Park winning the game by one point with their last wood bowled by skip Brian Barber. The Trophy was presented by Past S&D President Derrick Fulker to Roger Honey who played for Banister and who is the sponsor of the Trophy in memory of his close friend and playing colleague Ken Marsh.

Ken Marsh Trophy

​Background
Ken Marsh was a former Southampton & District President who died in August of last year aged 86 years
Ken took up bowling in the early 1960’s and for the majority of those years he bowled for Hampshire Police Bowls Club. He also bowled indoors as a member of Banister Park Bowling Club. Being over 6ft 6ins tall and thin as a bean pole he stood out from the crowd but the more so because of his natural gift and flair as a lawn bowler. Over the years he won many awards for his bowling both at County and District level; the most impressive being to win the National over 55’s pairs championship in 2004 with Barry Bendall of Banister Park.
Ken lived for bowling and was an active member of S & D until his passing last year. He was made President in 2009 and both before and after that year served on many committees and selection panels.
There are a great many bowlers who will be ever grateful to Ken for the way in which he shaped their bowling careers through his help and constructive advice.
It is against this background that our General Secretary Roger Honey, who is a former colleague of Ken both in the police service and as a fellow member of Hampshire Police BC, asked that the Club Knock Out competition be named after Ken to mark the first anniversary of his death and in order that Ken’s name can live on in bowling. Roger is also supplying the trophy. There was no dissent from Roger’s proposal and hence the naming of this new trophy.
We have 15 clubs entering this competition.  Hopefully it will be a success and some of the other clubs will participate in the future.  It gives clubs at least one more competitive game of bowls after the league season has finished.  The draw for this competition is below, and the Rules are above.

It is a knockout comp. Two rinks home two rinks away. Played on Thursday evenings. !6 ends. Overall shot difference determines the winner.  The venue of the final will be at Banister Park on a date to be arranged.  If you wish to withdraw from the competition let me and your opponent know as soon as possible. 

Rules of the Competition

​This knockout competition is run by the League Secretary.
The competition is open to one team from each club in the association.
Entries for the competition will be accepted up to four weeks before the end of the league season, when the draw for the first round ties will be made. Should a club withdraw before the start of the competition, then the opposing side will receive a bye in the first round.
The final will be played at Banister Park, the home green of Ken Marsh, on a date to be arranged.  
 
1. Each team shall consist of four rinks of fours; two rinks to play at home and two away on the same night.  It is important that arrangements are made for the home and away rinks to be in telephone contact. 
 
2. Competition to commence in the week following the end of the League programme. Each round, except the finals, shall be played in successive weeks.
 
3. Start time, evenings of play and period of grace. 
Except for the final, each round shall be played on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.
The start time will be 6 pm with 15 minutes grace being allowed.  Any rink failing to be available to start within the period of grace shall forfeit their game, and 10 shots shall be awarded to the opposing rink which shall be added to that teams score.
 
4. Start of play. Except in the final, the visiting side shall take possession of the mat at the beginning of each game. In the final, the team captains shall toss a coin for possession of the mat.
 
5. Scoring and number of ends to be played. The aggregate number of shots scored by the four rinks forming a team shall decide the winner to go through to the next round.   All rounds, up to the final, shall be played over 16 ends. 
 
6. Trial ends.  Shall be played in all rounds including the final.   These may be waived if both teams agree.
 
7.  Inclement weather.  In the event of inclement weather each of the rinks in competing teams may play 10 ends. This must be agreed by the Captains before the start of a match and will constitute a match. 
 
8. Green not fit for play.  Only in the event of a green being declared unfit for play or in circumstances when it would make it unsafe to play shall a game be postponed. 
Should a game be postponed:  Before play commences on either green; then the whole game shall be postponed.   After play has commenced on both greens, then if play is postponed on one green, play may continue on the other green. 
Any game which is postponed must be played/completed before the following round.  
In the event that play is postponed on either green, it shall be resumed on the same green and at the point at which play was postponed. 
 
9. Notification of results.    The scores for each round are to be notified to the League Secretary by e-mail on the same evening on which the matches are played. 
 
10. Tied games. In the event of a tie at the end of a match an extra end shall be played. Before the start of the game, the captain of the first drawn team shall nominate which rink will play the extra end. The nominated rink may be on either green. 
 
11. Resolution of disputes. Any disputes between teams should be referred to the League Secretary for resolution.  If necessary, he may consult with the Executive Committee. The League Secretary’s decision shall be final.