Notable Events
On Saturday 7 September 1912, the local newspaper The Hastings Observer published a change in the rules for the singles and pairs:- "Last year singles competition was 15 points up and the nearest wood to count. This year both competitions will be 21 ends not points up and only woods within three feet of the jack to count. There will be an extra end in the case of a tie. In both competitions the players will have two bowls each."
An extract of the 1925 Tournament Committee's leaves one in no doubt that the tournament was "acknowledged to be the largest and most successful Open Bowling Tournament in the United Kingdom."
The Tournament venue was later changed to its present location in White Rock Gardens where there were eight greens of which six still remain today. The Main Bowls Pavilion in the gardens, used as the Tournament's control centre was completely destroyed by fire in 1968 and subsequently rebuilt later in the same year.
Between October 1999 and April 2000 the Pavilion was completely refurbished in a joint effort by members of White Rock and Rosemount bowls clubs and Hastings Borough Council. Additional toilet facilities, men's and ladies' changing rooms, a kitchen and a bar were added. The total cost of the work amounted to about £18,000 and involved approximately 3,000 hours voluntary work by the bowlers. The building was formally re-opened on 1 May 2000. It is now managed by the Main Bowls Pavilion Company (PAVCO) which is made up from representatives from each of the above clubs.
Up until 1937 only singles, pairs and rinks were played but in that year triples were introduced to take the place of rinks. Rinks were subsequently re-introduced, in addition to the other three competitions, in 1960. The total number of bowlers participating in 1937 amounted to a near record of 1843 being 629 singles, 295 pairs and 208 triples. This compared favourably with average annual entries between 1930 and 1936 of 1724. The duration of the tournament had by this time been extended to two weeks.
Due to the number of competitors falling, the tournament was reduced to the one week in 2010. The mens fours and triples along with the ladies triples were discontinued and a mixed triples was introduced which is vied for along with the mens singles and pairs and the ladies singles and pairs.
Read more about this topic: Hastings Open Bowls Tournament
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