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Dorset Short Mat Bowling Association has been running now for 15 years. Currently the County has 2 teams in the English Short Mat Bowling Association Inter County Championship which runs from October to March.
The County also has a League which runs through the Winter months, this league has 5 Divisions and has 43 teams entered from 26 teams.
County Competitions are run through May, June and July each year and the National Championships are always supported although in recent years the number of people entering the National Championships has dwindled.
This year, Mark White from Flight Refuelling was one half of the World Championship Pairs champions, many many congratulations to Mark on this achievement.
There are currently 50+ clubs in the County and over 1100 members affiliated to the County.
Blackmore Vale
The Blackmore Vale League was formed on Easter Monday 27th March 1989 by representatives of Bishops Caundle, North Cadbury, Stalbridge, Sturminster Newton and Wincanton. Previous to this some clubs in North Dorset and South Somerset had played friendly matches.
The aim of the League is to promote competitive short mat bowling within its defined area of within a twelve mile radius of Sturminster Newton, although some clubs are outside of this. Twenty-one clubs are members of the League and forty teams play home and away in five divisions. All players in the League are registered with the E.S.M.B.A.
Matches are played weekday evenings with two triple teams over twenty ends to E.S.M.B.A. rules. Halfway through there is a short break for refreshments and the home team changes mats allowing everyone to play against members of the opposing team. This fosters the friendly ethos of the Blackmore Vale League.
The League also runs a popular end of season competition when all teams can meet and compete over one day in the Blackmore Vale Cup. Recently the League has organised some one-off competitions with leagues in Dorset, Somerset and Devon.
West Dorset
The West Dorset League was the first formed in 1989, and was originally called the West Dorset Village League playing under its own Association. This had to dropped a few years ago due to ESMBA rules.
The league was divided into East and West Zones with the two top teams playing a final to detemine League Champions. When the ESMBA enforced rules that all league players should be affiliated, the West Zone dropped out and formed their own Beaminster League which is non-affiliated.
The present West Dorset League is supported by only four clubs, Crossways, Maiden Newton, Southill, and Wool, and together they enter seven teams in the League. Matches are played with teams of six playing a total of six pairs and four triples, all over 5 ends, 2pts scored for each winning mat, 1pt for a draw, making a total of 20 points per match. League Members competitions are also played.
