Author: Dean Capel

We’ve reluctantly had to make the decision to cancel the 2020/21 season.

We know this will be a disappointment to many people, but it had become clear that a lot of skittlers are not keen or able to play at the moment because of concerns around the Covid virus. There are also issues with some venues, specifically around being able to socially distance in small spaces.

We’ll review the situation towards the end of the year to see if we’re able to run a mini-league in early 2021 for any teams wanting to take part.

With the news that pubs are to reopen from 4th July 2020, we’ve been considering how this affects whether we can finish the 2019/20 season and what plans we can make for the 2020/21 season.

In deciding when we can resume the league we have to consider the following:

• Can skittles be played in a safe environment, in line with government guidelines.
• Are pubs and clubs open, willing and able to host skittles matches.
• Do people feel they want to accept the risks involved in playing skittles with Coronavirus still present in the community?
• Is it safe for players who fall into the vulnerable category to play skittles.

We’ve noted that one of the specific leisure industry exceptions for being able to reopen on the 4th July are bowling alleys. For this reason alone it would be inappropriate to resume skittles.

Our main concern is always the safety and well-being of skittlers. Clearly it isn’t an appropriate time to resume playing and there is no indication yet as to when might be the right time. For now we’ll keep our options open with regard to the end of the 2019/20 season and the 2020/21 season and we’ll keep in contact with the Tiverton and District (Thursday) league who face the same issues.

Stay safe.

Dean & Paul

Some sad news to report. Long time skittler and committee member Donald Broom passed away on Thursday 11th June 2020. Don will be very much missed by us all as he was a regular fixture at skittles matches, meetings and events over many, many years. Our thoughts are with Don’s family and friends.

The only news to update is that the 69th AGM originally planned for 27th May is postponed.

There’s no detail yet on when pubs and clubs can reopen and no guidance about what social distancing measures will have to be put in place when they do. Once these details are announced, we will consider whether we’ll be able to finish the current season and what competitions can be arranged for the 2020/21 season.

With what should have been the final week of league games there’s no change in the government advice to stay home and stay safe. We’re still hopeful that we’ll be able to complete this season’s league and cup competitions at some point, but the great unknown is the period of lock-down.

Events definitely cancelled:

• Individuals Cup Round at Tiverton RFC on 15th April 2020
• Finals and Presentation of Trophies at Cullompton RFC on 6th May 2020

Very likely to be Postponed or Cancelled:

• 69th AGM at Cullompton RFC on 27th May 2020

We’ll look at an alternative way of signing-up teams for next season if the AGM doesn’t go ahead as originally planned.

Following the updated Government advice to avoid social contact and specifically to avoid pubs, clubs and restaurants, we have no choice but to suspend the league with immediate effect.

The health and well-being of players is our primary concern and despite it being really disappointing, we have to be guided by the advice of the experts.

We hope to be able to resume the league within a reasonable time, but this will be dependent on when the Government advice changes to allow social contact. We’ll post updates as and when we can.

WOULD CAPTAINS PLEASE CONTACT YOUR HOME ALLEY TO ADVISE THEM THAT NO GAMES IN OUR LEAGUE WILL BE PLAYED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

We’re so sorry to have to take this action, but hope you’ll understand why we need to be decisive and play our part. Our thoughts are very much with those whose jobs and livelihoods are affected by this awful situation and hope it is resolved as soon as possible.

Paul & Dean (joint secretaries)

We’ve had some inquiries with regard to promotion and relegation from the divisions this season. The situation is dependent on a few factors (mainly whether the same teams all take part next season and whether any new teams join the league), but on the assumption that things stay as they are, we will implement the following.

Our intention is to move the byes in Division A and B to Division C, so that any new teams fill the available positions in Division C.

Division A – one team relegated. (-1)

Division B – 2 teams promoted (Division A + 2, thus eliminating the bye in A), 1 team relegated (Division B total -2)

Division C – 3 teams promoted (Division B + 3, thus eliminating the bye in B). Division C net gain -2 (+1 relegated from Division B, -3 promoted to Division B), thus having 2 byes in Division C.