I never thought that this would cause such a problem. But having thought more about it I have decided that we need a rule, so I have amended the original one as follows

Anyone who qualifies for the final must have a North West Handicap Tournament average that is NOT more than five (5) pins below their current league average as at the week commencing 9th November 2008. Anyone who is more than five (5) pins below must use their highest current league average for the final.

That is why I made it ten games instead of fifteen so everyones on the same quicker.
This is my final words on the subject.

John this is local rules gone mental if you play bad your hcp stays the same within 5 pins if you play well your hcp goes down so in theory the same players should win,what is the point of changing the hcps when if your averaging less than your league average in another centre your hcp goes back to 5 pins differance even im confused.Seems to me your punishing the players who cant bowl at Blackburn whys this cant be fair can it or can everyone average more at Blackburn ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????

To be fair to John I think he is just trying to protect the final against any potential sandbagging, so I understand why the rule was amended in the 1st place !!

The initial change I felt was most unfair for bowlers like me who seem to struggle (for the time being anyway) at Blackburn, as I currently would be 10pins worse off every month I played if I had to play off my entering average, as oppose to my North West Handicap tournament average !!

At least this way I should be able to compete on a level playing field each month, which after all is all I am trying to achieve (if I play well I've a chance, if I don't I haven't)! So I feel John's revised method is reasonably fair in that I will be able to compete each month, although I might struggle in the final if I qualified should my average at Blackburn remain constant.

To me this competition is about being able to compete each month, and I feel John's revised method is fair ! I might be against it should I qualify for the final, but if I'm honest the final would just be a bonus anyway for me, and you never know I may have even be bowling to my average at Blackburn by then.

Anyway, I suppose you can't please everybody whatever the rules are, and even though I may be against it should I qualify for the final at least each month I should be able to compete, so fair enough !!!

Fine balance I suppose between being fair and trying to protect the final. I'd like to think that nobody would (and I genuinely feel nobody would) take advantage of whatever rules are in place for the final. However, I agree with John that some sort of protection/ruling should be put in place just in case. A reasonably fair compromise by the last ruling I feel, as at least I (or anybody else in a similar situation) should be able to compete in the monthly competition !! I'll certainly be attending more in the future !!!

I think a lot is nit picking now. Like John said to me and everyone on the day...the mechanics are going to change pattern each month. Who knows maybe the players who dont average there normal average will do on a shorter pattern lets say or a longer pattern or whatever. In that case this rule is nonsense in my opinion.

Personally if it was up to me then we all would bowl at different centres around the North West, therefore a level playing field is pretty much certain. Taking nothing away from John though, I think he's done himself proud with the last results and it is a pleasure to bowl at arguably the best centre in the North West at the moment.

Good luck and good bowling