Braintree enters a number of knockout competitions, for which the captain selects the teams. Competitions entered by Braintree include the following:

• County Double Fours

A knockout competition across Essex. Two teams of four, one home and one away. The team with the highest cumulative score wins the tie.

• County Shield

A knockout competition across Essex. Four teams of four, two home and two away. The team with the highest cumulative score wins the tie.

• Memorial Shield

Very similar to the Widdop Cup. The only difference is that one badged bowler is allowed per rink.

• National Top Club

Similar in format to tennis’ Davis Cup, this is a best-of-five knockout competition, with regional qualifiers competing at Leamington.  The five matches (played concurrently) are: Two Wood Singles, Four Wood Singles, Pairs, Triples and Fours.

• National Two Fours

A knockout competition across Essex. Two teams of four played side-by-side.  The team with the highest cumulative score wins the tie.  Qualifiers from the area compete an Leamington.

• Widdop Cup

A knockout competition for unbadged bowlers across Group 2. Two teams of four, one home and one away. The team with the highest cumulative score wins the tie.

You must play at least 4 CMBL league games in the season to be eligible for the knockout competitions.

• Open Pairs

Randomly drawn pairs competition.  Home team to arrange a match before the deadline, as laid out in the CMBL handbook.

• Open Singles

Randomly drawn singles competition.  Home player to arrange a match before the deadline, as laid out in the CMBL handbook.

In the following competitions, the finalists (and sometimes third place) will qualify for the National Championships at Leamington: Singles, Pairs, Triples, Fours, Two Wood Singles, Under 25 Singles, Under 25 Pairs and Senior Fours.

Singles

• Open Singles

Anybody in Essex can enter, although the first rounds are split up into local areas.  Games are traditionally played on consecutive Mondays until the latter stages.

• Two Wood Singles

The first few rounds of the Two Wood Singles competition are played across a single Saturday, with the quarter-finals onwards being played later in the season.  Matches are best of 21 ends.

• Unbadged Singles

Any unbadged bowler in Essex can enter, although the first rounds are split up into local areas.

• Under 25 Singles

A knockout competition for bowlers aged 25 or younger.

Pairs

• Pairs

Games are traditionally played on consecutive Tuesdays until the latter stages.

• Under 25 Pairs

A knockout competition for bowlers aged 25 or younger.

Triples

• Triples 

Games are traditionally played on consecutive Thursdays until the latter stages.

Fours

• Fours

Early rounds to be played at the beginning of the season, in May. 

• North Essex Fours

As above, but only competed for by the North of Essex.  The winners of North Essex and South Essex Fours competitions compete at the end of the season for the Hood Cup.

• Senior Fours

A knockout competition for bowlers aged 55 or over.

Cups

• Benevolent Cup

A friendlier knockout Singles competition designed to raise money for the County’s Benevolent Fund.

• Secretaries Cup

A friendlier knockout Singles competition eligible only to the various secretaries on club committees.

The County effectively decides whether to make you a badged bowler.  This means a bowler has represented the County at some level for five consecutive years.  It is a great honour to receive a County badge, as earning one requires many years of consistency and commitment.

• Balcomb Trophy

Similar to Middleton Cup, but in a Double Fours format.

• County Friendlies

For the vast majority of County debuts will be at a County friendly. This is still a competitive atmosphere, whilst remaining friendly and welcoming.  Traditionally, eligible bowlers will be selected for one County friendly per season.

• Eastern Counties League

The Eastern Counties is a six rinks of fours, competing against other counties in a league format.  This is a highly competitive league, but it is generally the pool from which County selectors choose their Middleton Cup squad.

• Middleton Cup

The Middleton Cup squad is the elite squad of bowlers in Essex.  Six rinks of fours (plus reserves) compete annually in the national competition, starting with a qualifying group.

Above club level, there are annual competitions within the county.  Essex is split into 8 groups, with Braintree a part of Group 2. This group covers North West Essex.

• Ashford Cup

This is a highly competitive tournament between the groups, specifically for unbadged bowlers.  There are six rinks of fours, playing in three round robin matches on consecutive Sundays, followed by a final later in the season.

Each season, the club captains nominate players for consideration, and it is down to the Group 2 Selection Committee to select a squad.  This is a prestigious tournament, particularly because it is widely considered to be the first step on the way to becoming a badged bowler.

• Wally Ball

Four rinks of four compete in three consecutive Sunday round robin games, followed by a final later in the season.  This is for both badged and unbadged bowlers, although there is no nomination process, so it is selected directly by the Group 2 Selection Committee.  It is possible to be selected for both the Ashford Cup and Wally Ball in the same year.

• Inter Group Knock Out

Six rinks of four, with every bowler in the Group eligible for selection.  No round robin, with the tournament starting at the quarter final stage, with matches on a roughly monthly basis. 

• • For Your Information: 
  • Group 1: Colchester area
  • Group 2: North West Essex (inc. Braintree)
  • Group 3: Chelmsford area
  • Group 4: Romford area
  • Group 5: Wanstead area
  • Group 6: Southend area
  • Group 8: Harlow area
  • Group 9: Grays area 

(There is no longer a Group 7 after they disbanded in 2012).

If the competitor qualifies from the area qualifiers, they will compete at the National Championships at Leamington.

• National Champion of Champions

The winner of the Hunnable Champonship is nominated by the club to represent Braintree in this competition.

• National Mixed Fours

Two men and two women in knockout competition.

• National Mixed Pairs

One man and one woman in knockout competition.

• Senior Pairs

A knockout competition for Pairs aged 55 or over.

• Senior Singles

A knockout competition for men aged 55 or over.

As well as the NWE League, the association also runs a series of knockout competitions throughout the season.  These competitions generally have the playing date decided in advance.

• Champion of Champions Singles

The winner of the Hunnable Cup (club men’s singles) is put forward by the club as our representative for this knockout competition the following year.

• Open Pairs

Open to any pair in North West Essex, as long as both represent the same club.  This is a straight knockout competition, typically played on a Tuesday.  One name is put forward as the contact for arranging matches.

• Open Singles

Any club member can enter this competition, which is drawn and published online and in the NWE handbook.  Games are typically played on Mondays.

• Open Triples

Open to any triple in North West Essex, as long as all represent the same club.  This is a straight knockout competition, typically played on a Thursday.  One name is put forward as the contact for arranging matches.