For more experienced bowlers there is the opportunity to get top-notch competition by playing against the best of other indoor clubs.
For unknown, but presumably historical reasons, our East Dorset Men’s teams play in the Hampshire Indoor bowling league – Bramley Bowl - and their competitions, while our Ladies have two teams in the Dorset Indoor League and also play in Dorset Competitions.
In both cases, competition success can lead to National competitions. Note that all National competitions are played in whites, as are the Men's Braamley and Wessex leagues.
This season - 2022/2023 - East Dorset Indoor Bowls Club has the honour of hostiong the Dorset Ladies Indoor Finals in March 2023.
This League is open to all clubs affiliated to the Hampshire Indoor Bowls Association, and all clubs play each other. The League winners are presented with the Bramley Bowl whilst the runner-up receive the Trisham Trophy.
The Wessex Bowls League was set up in 1983 to cover the ancient kingdom of the West Saxons and covering 12 counties. Now comprising eight regions stretching from Plymouth in the west to Rivermead (Reading) in the east, from Church Gresley (Derbyshire) in the north to Bournemouth in the south, East Dorset IBC plays in the Coastal Region, with top teams going forward into Play-off finals.
Administered by the Dorset County Ladies Bowling Association, this league has two divisions made up of teams from Dorset's indoor bowling clubs. Each team is made up of two rinks of four ladies and cClubs may enter as many teams as they wish; teams play each other both home and away. We have two teams - A and B, EDIBC A plays in Division One and EDIBC B in Division Two - and we choosefrom the list of ladies who have indicated their wish to play in these leagues. Given the League includes team from Bere Regis, Bridport, Dorchester and Weymouth, the Club supplies a mini-bus for travel to clubs beyond the Christchurch, Bournemouth and Poole area.
In the "Yetton", the Club provides four teams each of four Lady players; in each round of this National knockout competition, two teams play at home and two teams play away. Winning teams go on the challenge for the Yetton Cup whilst first round losers become eligible for the Yetton Plate. Matches are typically played at 10:00 am on Saturdays.
Whilst it is rude to ask a Lady her age, the Mason Trophy is open to clubs entering two teams of four Ladies, all of which are over the age of 60 before October 1st of the Championship year. Elimination matches are played in a one home/one away format on a schedule of dates set out by the EIBA.
Similar to the Mason Trophy above, and as the name implies, the Over 60s Double Rink is open to clubs submitting two teams of four Men all of which are over the age of 60 before October 1st in the Championship year. Elimination matches are played in a one home/one away format on a schedule of dates set out by the EIBA.
The Ladies Vivienne Trophy comprises four teams of triples with each elimination round played with two at home and two away. Matches are played on dates scheduled by the EIBA.
Like the Ladies Yetton above, the Men's "Denny" is exactly the same format with winning teams challenging for the Denny Cup and first round losers for the Denny Plate. Matches are typically played at 10:00 am on Saturdays.
In many respects the most challenging of all National Championships, Top Club entries consist of 11 players - Ladies and Men - who will play:
Elimination matches are played on a schedule of dates set out by the EIBA.