[<<] [>>] by Samir Patel
29th March 2009 (CqE Official News)

The 2009 revision of the tournament regulations has taken place and been published on this website. Most of the changes are corrections, or regularize existing practice, such as asking a bystander to mark where your ball goes off the lawn, but a few may affect players more directly.

Incorrect Handicaps

The issue of games played with the wrong number of bisques mentioned on p20 of the December Gazette was considered again and it was decided that players should be jointly responsible for agreeing the number of bisques to be given, asking each other for their handicaps, rather than relying on published lists. Mistakes cannot be corrected once the game has started and the result stands (the complications of doing so fairly were felt to be too great, and there may not be time to restart the game). Only if a player claims too high a handicap are they liable to be disqualified. In a knock-out, they would be, but in a Swiss or American Block they may be allowed to continue playing at their incorrect handicap, but may not win any prize.

Using Bisques when Time Expires

As mentioned in the December gazette article, you have to play an extra turn or the first stroke of a bisque, not just claim it, to be allowed to do so before time is called

Non-White Team Strips

Non-white team strips are permitted, provided that all members of the team wear either them or white.

Experimental Laws

The temporary variations of the laws for top-level play have been approved and are to be found in Appendix 5 of the regulations. The only substantive changes (as opposed to tidying up the wording) from versions previously circulated in draft are to the eligibility for a free placement (the initial proposal was that a player who conceded the option of a free placement also lost his entitlement to one, the current one is that a free placement is no longer available after any ball has been pegged out) and that the movement of the first ball played to baulk if it does not go off, hit or pass through a hoop, or hit the peg, is at the adversary's option.

These laws variations will be trialled in the 2009 South of England Championship with a view to trying them in the 2010 President's Cup. They may also be adopted for any other events that clubs wish to advertise them for.

the full regulations