UPDATED: 2020/21 State Event & Competition Dates
Updated: Friday August 14th 2020.
The following are proposed dates for returning to play, and are subject to further advice from the Victorian Government (Sport and Recreation Victoria) and Vicsport, as Bowls Victoria navigates through the recent lockdowns and outbreaks of COVID-19.
These updates aim to ensure as much notice is given to clubs before re-commencing Bowls Competitions in Victoria, when it is safe to do so.
2020 Victorian State, Over 60s, and Novice Championships:
Expected: Late October 2020
Alternative Option: January 2021
Given the recent restrictions for Metropolitan Melbourne & Regional Victoria and to ensure safety of all players, Bowls Victoria will now aim to play these events during late October.
If the situation arises where matches cannot be played in October 2020, the alternate dates for Championships will be early to mid-January 2021.
All players will be advised of future dates and venues as soon as it is safe to release. We will endeavour to provide three weeks’ notice before any event.
Should any players intend on having a coach present, they are required to register their coach’s details prior to the event. This can be done by sending an e-mail to Sean O’Kane at Bowls Victoria: seano@bowlsvic.org.au
2020 Victorian Open
CANCELLED
In conjunction with Greater Shepparton City Council, Bowls Victoria is extremely disappointed to advise that the 2020 Victorian Open has been cancelled. The event was due to take place in Shepparton from Friday November 20th through to Friday November 27th 2020.
This was a very difficult decision for Bowls Victoria to make, as we know so many bowlers look forward to this event each year, but we promise to be back bigger and better in 2021.
2020/21 Metropolitan Pennant Season
Expected: November 2020
Alternative Option: January 2021
After originally stating an 18-round season will take place for this season’s Metropolitan Pennant Competition from September 26th, we wish to advise that due to the 2nd outbreak of COVID-19 in Victoria, the starting date will be postponed to later in 2020.
The Metropolitan Pennant Season will now be scheduled to commence on Saturday November 7th (Weekend Pennant) and Tuesday November 10th (Midweek Pennant).
Aside from Premier Division, the competition structures for the Midweek & Weekend Pennant seasons will now be 14 rounds across the home and away season, followed by a regular finals season, concluding in late March.
Divisions will be comprised of 10 sections of 8 teams (5 sections of 8 teams for Division 1), minimising travel requirements for clubs. The Premier Division competition structure will be confirmed in late August. Promotion and relegation information will be released in our late September update.
New Competitions (6-a-side & 7-a-side):
After a positive response from the Metropolitan Pennant entries gathered in July, both the 6-a-side Spring Saturday Morning Competition and the Spring Thursday 7-a-side Competition will run this season. More information will be sent to clubs on the 7-a-side Competition soon. This competition will have no entry fee for the first two seasons (Spring & Summer).
Future Pennant Information:
We ask Clubs and players to be flexible for Season 20/21 as Bowls Victoria evaluates scenarios around returning to play Metropolitan Pennant.
Bowls Victoria will need to be given permission from the Victorian State Government for the number of players to return to 32 per green due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Alternative timeslots for play may be required for clubs that have more sides entered than green space available, given the level of COVID-19 restrictions that may continue to be in place.
For planning purposes, Bowls Victoria will assess the likelihood of continuing with the below schedule, and by the end of September will make a decision as to whether starting at a later date will be in the best interests of the health and safety of our Pennant playing members.
At the end of September, if Bowls Victoria proceeds with the below dates, a provisional draw will be sent to clubs following the announcement.
If health and safety is a concern for commencing Pennant in November, a later commencement date would involve a compacted season commencing on Saturday January 16th (Weekend Pennant) and Tuesday 19th January (Midweek Pennant), for as many weeks as possible, noting we have several plans in place should this occur.
The new dates of all competitions are listed below:
| Weekend Pennant (16-a-side) | |
| Round 1 | Saturday November 7 |
| Round 2 | Saturday November 14 |
| Round 3 | Saturday November 21 |
| Round 4 | Saturday November 28 |
| Round 5 | Saturday December 5 |
| Round 6 | Saturday December 12 |
| Round 7 | Saturday December 19 |
| Round 8 | Saturday January 23 |
| Round 9 | Saturday January 30 |
| Round 10 | Saturday February 6 |
| Round 11 | Saturday February 13 |
| Round 12 | Saturday February 20 |
| Round 13 | Saturday February 27 |
| Round 14 | Saturday March 6 |
| Sectional Semi Final | Saturday March 13 |
| Sectional Final | Sunday March 14 |
| Divisional Quarter Final | Saturday March 20 |
| Divisional Semi Final | Sunday March 21 |
| Divisional Grand Final | Saturday March 27 |
| Midweek Pennant (12-a-side) | |
| Round 1 | Tuesday November 10 |
| Round 2 | Tuesday November 17 |
| Round 3 | Tuesday November 24 |
| Round 4 | Tuesday December 1 |
| Round 5 | Tuesday December 8 |
| Round 6 | Tuesday December 15 |
| Round 7 | Tuesday January 19 |
| Round 8 | Wednesday January 27 |
| Round 9 | Tuesday February 2 |
| Round 10 | Tuesday February 9 |
| Round 11 | Tuesday February 16 |
| Round 12 | Tuesday February 23 |
| Round 13 | Tuesday March 2 |
| Round 14 | Tuesday March 9 |
| Sectional Semi Final | Tuesday March 16 |
| Sectional Final | Thursday March 18 |
| Divisional Quarter Final | Tuesday March 23 |
| Divisional Semi Final | Thursday March 25 |
| Divisional Grand Final | Tuesday March 30 |
| 6-a-side Spring Season (Saturday Morning) | |
| Round 1 | Saturday November 7 |
| Round 2 | Saturday November 14 |
| Round 3 | Saturday November 21 |
| Round 4 | Saturday November 28 |
| Round 5 | Saturday December 5 |
| Semi Finals | Saturday December 12 |
| Grand Finals | Saturday December 19 |
| 6-a-side Summer Season (Saturday Morning) | |
| Round 1 | Saturday February 6 |
| Round 2 | Saturday February 13 |
| Round 3 | Saturday February 20 |
| Round 4 | Saturday February 27 |
| Round 5 | Saturday March 6 |
| Semi Finals | Saturday March 13 |
| Grand Finals | Saturday March 20 |
| 7-a-side Spring Season (Thursday) | |
| Round 1 | Thursday November 5 |
| Round 2 | Thursday November 12 |
| Round 3 | Thursday November 19 |
| Round 4 | Thursday November 26 |
| Round 5 | Thursday December 3 |
| Semi Finals | Thursday December 10 |
| Grand Finals | Thursday December 17 |
| 7-a-side Summer Season (Thursday) | |
| Round 1 | Thursday February 4 |
| Round 2 | Thursday February 11 |
| Round 3 | Thursday February 18 |
| Round 4 | Thursday February 25 |
| Round 5 | Thursday March 4 |
| Semi Finals | Thursday March 11 |
| Grand Finals | Thursday March 18 |
If you have any questions about Metropolitan Pennant, please e-mail Sean O’Kane at seano@bowlsvic.org.au
Junior League
Expected November 2020
The 2020 Junior League is also shifting commencement date to later in the year and will now start on Sunday November 8.
| Junior League | |
| Round 1 | Sunday November 8 |
| Round 2 | Sunday November 15 |
| Round 3 | Sunday November 22 |
| Round 4 | Sunday November 29 |
| Round 5 | Sunday December 6 |
| Semi Finals & Grand Finals | Sunday December 13 |
Players that have already entered a team into the League and turn 18 during the time period October 11th – November 7th will still be permitted to play.
For more information on Junior League, please contact Clare Hockey at participation@bowlsvic.org.au
Under-18 State Championships
POSTPONED
The 2020 Under 18 State Championships have been postponed. The event that was originally scheduled for Monday September 21st – Thursday September 24th, 2020, at Shepparton Park Bowls Club, will now be played in January with a venue and dates to be determined. No new entries will be accepted.
If players who have entered the 2020 event have since turned 18, they will still be permitted to participate.
The 2021 Under 18 Championships will still be held in April 2021. For more information or any questions, please e-mail Clare Hockey at participation@bowlsvic.org.au
2020 Multi Disability Open Day
POSTPONED
This event (originally schedule for Deer Park on September 27) has been postponed until further notice. Sign up to our email list if you would like to keep up-to-date on our bowls program for people with a disability.
2020 Victorian Schools Super Series
CANCELLED
The 2020 event has been cancelled. The Department of Education have ceased all inter-school sporting events. With many school competitions still incomplete and some students required to travel to the event from across regional Victoria, it is unfortunately not possible for the event to go ahead this year. We look forward to seeing you all in 2021.
2021 Novice Championships
March/April 2021
The 2021 Novice Singles Championships (Last 16, Quarter Finals and Semi Finals) will take place on Sunday March 7th at Mulgrave Country Club BC. The Final will be played at Bendigo East BC (at 2021 State Champions Week) on Saturday April 10th, 2021.
2021 State Disabilities Championships
April 2021
The 2021 State Disabilities Championships will be held at Golden Square BC and Bendigo East BC from Tuesday April 6th to Friday April 9th 2020.
For more information on the State Disabilities Championships, please e-mail our participation team at participation@bowlsvic.org.au
2021 State Champions Week
April 2021
Victorian State Champions Week will return to Bendigo East BC in 2021 from Friday April 9th through to Friday April 16th 2021.
2021 Over 60s Championships
April 2021
The 2021 Over 60s Championships will be held from Tuesday April 6th through to Friday April 9th at Bendigo BC.
2021 Women’s Country Carnival
April 2021
The 2021 Women’s Country Carnival will be held in Echuca/Moama from Sunday April 18th through to Friday April 23rd, 2021.
For more information and further updates please click here.
2021 Champion of State Pennant (Midweek and Weekend)
April 2021
The Champion of State Pennant Competition will return to Moama BC in 2021. This will be held on the 24th/25th April (Weekend Pennant) and the 26th/27th of April (Midweek Pennant).
2021 Region Sides Championships
April/May 2021
The 2021 Men’s and Women’s combined Region Sides event will be held in Shepparton across three venues (Shepparton Park BC, East Shepparton BC and Shepparton Golf BC) from Friday April 30th through to Sunday May 2nd.
2021 Indoor Singles Qualifying
July 2021
The 2021 Men’s and Women’s Indoor Singles Qualifying will be on the weekend of July 10th and 11th, 2021. The backup weekend for this event is the 17th and 18th of July, 2021. Similar to what was anticipated for the 2020 Indoor Singles event, this will be held at multiple indoor and undercover venues around Victoria.
To assist Regions, the following dates are required for qualifiers to be submitted to Bowls Victoria. Please note: these dates are subject to change given the unpredictable circumstances.
Novice Singles:
Monday 22nd February 2021
Over 60s & State Champions Week Participants:
Monday 22nd March 2021
Champion of State Pennant Teams:
Monday April 12 2021
For any questions around upcoming events, please e-mail Sean O’Kane at seano@bowlsvic.org.au
