Bowls International and EIBA Announce Media Partnership

Historic Deal Made

EIBA and Bowls International agree media partnership

Bowls International magazine is delighted to announce an official partnership with the English Indoor Bowling Association Ltd as the flag bearers of the ‘Premier Threes’ events to be held from April 2013 to October 2013.

The Premier Threes is designed to captivate and excite spectators through its quick-fire, exciting format. The event will be played in different regions, with a grand final to take place at Erewash IBC in December 18th.

FORMAT

Players will compete in an open singles competition, using three bowls, playing the best of three sets, with each end comprising of three ends. If, at the end of the three sets the score is tied, a one bowl shoot out will determine the winner – the nearest to the jack wins the game.

In each event there will be a field of 32 competitors, with two sessions, and the winner of each session will qualify for the grand final.

The format of the game is quick-fire and designed to be fast and exciting, where a poor start can be deadly, or alternatively, a fast start can set you up for a fast win.

Chief Executive of the EIBA Ltd, Peter Thomson, expressed his delight at the working partnership between the EIBA and Bowls International magazine, seeing the partnership as beneficial for all involved:

“The EIBA Ltd is delighted to have entered into a media partnership with Bowls International. As a major player in publicising and promoting the sport to the bowls community and wider public, it is much appreciated that they are supporting indoor bowls.

“In addition, it is great that we are able to recognise the work of our affiliated clubs through the Bowls International Club of the Year award and publicise the Premier Threes tournaments pre and post events.”

The commercial director of Key Publishing, Ann Saundry, expects that the partnership will aid the sport of bowls in general and to promote the Premier Threes format as an exciting initiative that can interest spectators, new and old, in the sport of bowls:

“Bowls International magazine is delighted to be working alongside the EIBA Ltd on this initiative and others, and hope that this partnership will stay in place for many years to come.

“The sport of bowls has to work together to attract new people and give the game as much publicity as possible, and we feel this media partnership will only strengthen these bonds.

“The EIBA Ltd and Bowls International feel that the Premier Threes is an exciting format that can open up the game to a new audience and the snappy nature of the game can attract new people to the sport.

“All of the regional finals and the grand final will be available to watch on Premier Sports, which you can subscribe to either on Sky or on Freeview channel 428.

“This new TV opportunity is very exciting and hopefully the sport can make the most of it.”

AN ADDED BONUS

Whilst at the Premier Threes events, one lucky spectator will have the chance to win the Bowls International Bowl for a £1000 competition. The person will have one bowl and a target of a yard to draw within, and if this is achieved, £1,000 is yours to keep.

OTHER PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVES

Bowls International will also be working with the EIBA Ltd in other areas. The newly launched Bowls International Club of the Year award is designed to reward clubs who have made an exceptional effort in some way, whether it be in the area of recruitment, hospitality, accessibility or maintenance improvements, or any other area where the club has shown initiative.

DATES OF THE PREMIER THREES

10th April Loddon Vale Indoor Bowls Club

24th April Swale Indoor Bowls Club

8th May City of Ely Indoor Bowls Club

7th August Bristol Indoor Bowls Club

21st August York Indoor Bowls Club

4th September Erewash Indoor Bowls Club

18th September Lincoln Indoor Bowls Club

2nd October Stanley Indoor Bowls Club

Grand Final

18th December Erewash Indoor Bowls Club