With the introduction of a new World Bowls stamp on the 1st April 2002,
the following brief history aims to help clear any confusion with regards
to the domestic game, i.e. club, county, and National Championships, of
male outdoor bowls in Scotland:
The only stamps which will be accepted on bowls used in
events which come under the control of the SBA are one of the Bullet
stamps dated 1997 or later or the World Bowls stamp 2002. The BIBC Round
or Oval stamp used prior to 1987 is no longer acceptable regardless of
year shown.
Without going back in the realms of bowls history, in the years leading
up to 1986 there were two valid stamps in Scotland:
| 1) The round B.I.B.C. stamp :- |
|
| 2) The oval B.I.B.C stamp :- |
|
The stamp had to be legible and the year on the stamp had to be at least
the current year.
' These stamps are no longer acceptable '
1987 - 1994
On the 1st June 1987 an International Bowling Board (BIB) stamp was phased
in, and by the 1st January 1988 all new and re-tested bowls bore this
new stamp:
From this time on all stamps have carried the following information:-
| Authority |
BIB - International Bowling Board |
| Manufacturer |
A, is Taylors Bowls. |
| Year of Expiry |
1997 (expiry being ten years from the date of stamping) |
| Registered Trade Mark |
R |
So as of the 1988 season in Scotland, acceptable stamps were the 2 B.I.B.C.
stamps and the new BIB stamp. Again stamps had to have an expiry date
of at least the current year.
1993 - 2002
During 1993 a new World Bowls Board (WBB) stamp was introduced and as
of 1st January 1994 all new and re-tested bowls bore this stamp:
Prior to the start of the season in 1994, the council of the SBA decided
to dispense with re-testing and re-stamping of bowls. With the new stamp
there are now 4 acceptable stamps, provided that they were legible and
had an expiry date of 1993 or later. Subsequently in 1996 the SBA introduced
a Scottish Variation to the Laws of the Game:
2002
On the 1st of April 2002 a new World Bowls (WB) stamp was introduced:
As from 1st April 2002 all new and re-tested bowls will bear this stamp.
However during the 2002 season the existing SBA regulations were in force.
2004 and Beyond
For the season 2004 - Bowls must be stamped 1997 or
later.
In the new issue of Laws of the Sport due out early
March 2004
Note: The SBA's
rules on stamping are not the same as those of the SWBA
Est.1874