FROM THE OVENS & MURRAY WEBSITE

Noel Murrell, Thursday, 30 January 2014
WEEKEND OPEN PENNANT – CANCELLATION OF ROUND 13 (01 Feb 14)

WEEKEND OPEN PENNANT – ROUND 13 IS CANCELLED DUE TO FORECAST EXTREME HEAT

The Weekend Pennant Committee has once again been monitoring forecasts for this coming Saturday at each of the venues and from the consistancy of reporting there is nothing that leads us to believe that the forecast for Saturday will not reach or exceed the predicted temperatures at each venue. In fact the BOM predictions have increased since yesterday with an even hotter day forecast for Sunday.

The committee is very much aware of the impact that this cancellation may have to the Pennant ladder but unfortunately the Regions Weekend Pennant Committee has a ‘Duty of Care’ to all our Pennant players and as a result it believes it has a responsibility to cancel the round in accordance with the Regions Pennant Rules of Competition Rule 12.2.5.

Today we have received numerous phone calls and emails seeking a decision earlier than later. Not one of the phone calls indicated that the round should not be cancelled but in fact supported a decision if cancellation was to occur.

An option for the future to avoid cancellation of Pennant due to extreme temperature is to play earlier in the day or of an evening. However, to force an early start, due to predicted high temperatures, will require a rule change and the support of clubs. The Pennant committee will be seeking club input on this at the Regions next General Meeting and if support is forthcoming, allowing the Pennant committee to force an early start time, then the Pennant Rules will be changed. An additional issue for clubs to consider is the lowering of the temperature rule to 38 deg which has the support of 50% of clubs as ascertained on the Pennant Survey. This will also have the potential to impact on Weekend Pennant during summer. Again we will be seeking feedback from the clubs re whether the temperature rule should be reduced in accord with the Bowls Australia guidelines of 38 deg.

A range of forecast temperature for each venue is as follows:

WEEKEND PENNANT – ROUND 13 – 01 FEB 14
PREDICTED TEMPERATURES AT VENUES – 29 Jan to 01 Feb

Division A Section 1 29-Jan 30-Jan 31-Jan 1-Feb
Benalla Yarra/Mul GCR 37.2 39.7 40.4 41.5
Corowa Civic Corowa Services 39.2 40.3 41.1 41.3
Rutherglen Wodonga 1 38.8 39.9 40.7 41
Yarrawonga Wangaratta 39.2 40.8 41.5 42.1
Division A Section 2
Mansfield Myrtleford 34.1 38.3 38.8 40.7
Moira Wodonga 37.2 39.7 40.4 41.5
St James Benalla 37.2 39.7 40.4 41.5
Yarra/Mul GCR Chiltern 39.2 40.8 41.5 42.1
Division A Section 3
Beechworth Yarra/Mul GCR 37.2 39.7 40.4 41.5
Bright Ovens 39.2 40.8 41.5 42.1
Swanpool Yarrawonga 37.2 39.7 40.4 41.5
Wodonga Wangaratta 39.3 39.9 40.7 40.9
Division A Section 4
Benalla Kiewa 37.2 39.7 40.4 41.5
Corowa Services Wodonga 1 39.2 40.3 41.1 41.3
Myrtleford Rutherglen 37.2 39.7 40.4 41.5
Wodonga 2 Clubmulwala 39.3 39.9 40.7 40.9
Division B Section 1
Mansfield Corowa Civic 34.1 38.3 38.8 40.7
Milawa Benalla 39°C 40°C 41°C 42°C
Tungamah Moyhu 39.2 40.8 41.5 42.1
Yarra/Mul GCR Moira 39.2 40.8 41.5 42.1
Division B Section 2
(bye) Rutherglen
Clubmulwala Corowa Civic 39.2 40.8 41.5 42.1
Corowa Services St James 39.2 40.3 41.1 41.3
Yarrawonga Benalla 39.2 40.8 41.5 42.1
Division B Section 3
Bright Wodonga 39°C 40°C 41°C 42°C
Corowa Civic Wangaratta 39.2 40.3 41.1 41.3
Ovens Beechworth 38.1 39.9 40.6 41.5
Division B Section 4
Myrtleford Mt Beauty 37.2 39.7 40.4 41.5
Tallangatta Corryong 38.4 38.9 39.7 40
Wodonga Yackandandah 39.3 39.9 40.7 40.9
Division C Section 1
Chiltern Corowa Services 38.8 39.9 40.7 41
Moira Dederang 37.2 39.7 40.4 41.5
Wodonga Yackandandah 39.3 39.9 40.7 40.9
Division C Section 2
(bye) Mt Beauty
Mitta Valley Tallangatta 36°C 37°C 38°C 39°C
Tawonga Corryong 38°C 40°C 41°C 42°C

Noel Murrell Chairman Weekend Pennant Committee