Content reviewed and updated 20/9/11

A condition of membership in the North Yorkshire Association is that members affiliate to both the ESMBA and the NESMBA.

For details of the NESMBA Championship Heats and Finals go to NESMBA CHAMPIONSHIPS

For details of past winners and runners up in the annual NESMBA Championships go to ROLL of NESMBA CHAMPIONS

The Northern England Short Mat Bowling Association (NESMBA)

formerly known as the ESMBA (NORTHERN ZONE)

At the 2004 AGM a resolution was put forward by Humberside to change the name of the former Northern Zone to the Northern England Short Mat Bowling Association or NESMBA. This was in response to an ESMBA request to remove their initials from the title and also because it was seen as being more appropriate.

The NESMBA is a grouping of several of the northern counties (currently nine) originally set up in 1990. At this time the ESMBA recognised four Zones (South West, Central, Eastern and Northern) but the idea failed to be developed by them and soon fell out of favour. Of the four, the Northern Zone survived (now renamed) and is run by its own committee. With no official role to fulfil as far as the ESMBA is concerned, the NESMBA now has two functions - to organise a local northern Inter-County League and annual Championships. North Yorkshire participates fully in both of these.

Note that the inclusion of the Stockport Metro league in 2001 was possible due to an amendment to the NESMBA Constitution allowing for the inclusion of "Areas" that are not recognised as ESMBA counties. Within the ESMBA, this league is not recognised as a separate county and therefore its members still affiliate via other County Associations - primarily Cheshire.

NESMBA teams to take part in the ESMBA ICC for 2011/12

June 2011 - After years of talking, the ESMBA have invited the NESMBA to take part in the National ICC. To make this possible and to enable all NESMBA teams to continue playing in the NESMBA IC league at the same time,  the National body have agreed to three concessions. First, participation will commence at the KO stage only which means that our Division 1 will, in effect, be regarded as an additional ESMBA qualifying group. Second, due to the fact that our league games do not normally conclude until mid-March, whilst the ESMBA knockouts commence in early February, our entry will be retrospective. So for the season ahead (2011/12) our results from 2010/11 will be used. Thirdly, Stockport Metro (who are still not recognised as an ESMBA county) have not been ruled out of the competition but will be allowed to take part.

November 2011 - The results of the questionnaire sent to all 9 NESMBA counties after the AGM in July 2011 showed that the only counties interested in future involvement with the ESMBA ICC were Stockport and North Yorkshire. All other counties voted to maintain the status quo and continue with the NESMBA league unchanged. I have informed the ESMBA of this response in a letter to Keith Hawkins (ICC Secretary) dated November 28th and copied to all NESMBA Secretaries.

December 2011 - North Yorkshire SMBA have now entered a team in the ESMBA ICC for 2012/13 and consequently will only be entering a single team in the NESMBA league for 2012/13.

January 2012 - Andy Miles (Championship Secretary) and Roger Green (League Secretary) have both announced that they will not be standing for office at this years AGM (to be held on Sunday June 17th).  Secretary Keith Worrell has urged all counties to look for willing successors to take over these vital posts ready for next season. It should be noted that both Andy and Roger have stated that their decisions are final and that neither would be persuaded to continue beyond June. 

January 2012 - Brandon Whittaker, England team Assistant Manager, has agreed to an invitation by North Yorkshire SMBA to bring the full England squad of 52 to North Yorkshire to play against a "Northern Select" side in 2013. The weekend agreed is February 16th/17th and I have asked all NESMBA Secretaries to keep this weekend free of other commitments so that their key players can be available for the Select team if desired. No further details have been agreed yet but it is likely the match will be held at the Galtres Centre in Easingwold and a team of 52 will be required on both days.       

OTHER NESMBA WEB SITES

STOCKPORT  http://stockportmetro-bowls.org.uk

DURHAM  http://durham-county-smba.webeden.co.uk

WEST YORKSHIRE http://wysmba.webeden.co.uk

2011/12 LEAGUE POSITIONS

Tables last updated FEB 5 at 5.10pm

2010/11 FINAL LEAGUE POSITIONS

2009/10 FINAL LEAGUE POSITIONS

2008/09 FINAL LEAGUE POSITIONS