Bowls league gets tough on bad behaviour

Jeff Hutchinson stood down as president of the Molson Coors Mid Shropshire League at its annual general meeting.

It came after more than four decades of loyal and outstanding service in many roles.

He was presented with a silver salver to mark the occasion by league chairman Sean Round before handing over the presidential chain to Mike Potter, who is nearing the end of his term as county president.

All proposed rule changes put before delegates at Wellington's Sir John Bayley Club were passed.

The most significant was the motion from Hadley USC to clamp down on unsociable behaviour and bad language.

Seconded by Albrighton, it gives the league the power to deduct points from teams and ban players who continually bring the game into disrepute.

League officers will now work on a method of operation before the season starts and aim to use it alongside the code of conduct that is going before the county association AGM on February 1.

Other changes approved include bigger fines for failing to fulfil a fixture, alterations to handicaps in the Harris Cup and an opening of the door to the Senior Merit for all bowlers playing regularly in the league.

Treasurer Celia Miles reported a profit of £701 on the 2015 season and former league treasurer, David Winwood of Bridgnorth, was welcomed back into the fold as auditor.

Secretary Malcolm Fletcher reported on another season of progress that included Potter serving the county so well as president at the nomination of the league.

Three new sponsorship deals had been secured and the Prince of Wales Hotel from Shrewsbury had returned to the league in the Dennis Lewis Thursday Division.

Fletcher added: "Shifnal have become only the sixth crown green club in Britain to achieve Clubmark status.

"Thanks to terrific work by vice-chairman Steve Roberts with help from Rob Burroughs, a Junior Development Policy is ready to roll."

All officers, Hutchinson apart, were re-elected and honoraria increased by five per cent.