The All-in-One Bowls Club Management System
Picture the buzz of the Inter-County Events in 2026 – teams arriving, matches unfolding, scorecards being checked. Now imagine managing it all without the usual admin headaches. For many counties, juggling fixtures, results and member details can quickly become overwhelming. That’s where we come in.
At Bowlr, we provide county competition software designed to simplify county-level competitions. In this blog, we’ll take a quick look at what’s ahead for the 2026 season and show how our system – already trusted by counties across the UK – can ease the pressure. Whether you're running leagues or competitions, we’re here with the tools and advice to support you.
The countdown is on. This May through August, counties across England will return to the green as the Inter-County Events 2026 get underway. From seasoned champions to determined newcomers, every team will be chasing silverware and representing their region with pride.
The Middleton Cup, Johns Trophy, Balcomb Trophy, Walker Cup, Mixed O60 Inter County Championship, and the Junior Championships are all set to deliver the very best of county bowls.
With competition dates for the various Inter-County Events spread across May through August, planning ahead is everything. Here's what's on the calendar for 2026's major inter-county competitions.
The Balcomb Trophy gets the senior men's calendar moving early, with the preliminary round on 17th May 2026 and the Final Round following just under two weeks later on 30th May. If your county is involved, those spring dates will come around quickly. Make sure your squad is confirmed, your rinks are booked, and your diary is clear well in advance.
Running almost in parallel with the Balcomb Trophy, the Walker Cup sees women's county teams compete in the preliminary round on 17th May 2026, with the final round taking place on 31st May. A single day separates the men's and women's finals, making the end of May a particularly busy period for county associations managing multiple teams and travel arrangements simultaneously.
The Mixed Over 60 Inter-County competition spans the longest portion of the summer calendar. The initial round takes place on 19th May, followed by the round of 32 on 16th June, the round of 16 on 14th July, and the quarter-finals on 4th August 2026. With four distinct stages to navigate, this competition demands consistent availability and careful planning from both players and team managers throughout the season.
Group stages for the Middleton Cup begin on 6th June, with further matches on 20th June and, for groups of five, an additional round on 13th June. Final group matches are scheduled for 11th July, with quarter-finals on 8th August 2026. Winners at that stage progress to the National Finals. It's a competition that rewards depth of squad and consistency across a long, demanding group stage.
The Johns Trophy follows the same structure as the Middleton Cup, with group stages on 6th June and 20th June, an extra round on 13th June for groups of five, final group matches on 11th July, and quarter-finals on 8th August 2026. For women's county teams, this is the flagship competition of the summer. Reaching the National Finals at Leamington Spa is the ultimate goal.
The junior competitions bring real energy to the summer calendar, with the Amy Rose Bowl for women under 25 taking place on 14 June 2026, followed by the White Rose Trophy for men under 25 on 21 June. These events are more than just competitions. They're a chance for the next generation of county bowlers to represent their region and make their mark on the national stage.
The Amy Rose Bowl and White Rose Trophy represent something genuinely exciting about the future of county bowls and the Inter-County Events. Taking place on 14th and 21st June 2026 respectively, these under-25 championships give emerging talent the chance to compete at county level and experience the pressure and pride that comes with representing your region.
Junior bowls is thriving, and events like these are a big reason why. For clubs and counties, nurturing that talent pipeline matters. The next generation of champions is already on the green, and you can see them for yourself in 2026.
For every county team competing this summer, one destination sits at the end of the road. Victoria Park, Royal Leamington Spa, hosts the National Bowls Finals from 12 August through to 30 August 2026, and it remains one of the most prestigious occasions in the English bowls calendar.
These finals are more than just tournaments. They're a celebration of grassroots strength, months of county competition distilled into a few defining days on the green. Local clubs will have supported their players through every stage to get here, and that sense of collective effort makes the occasion all the more meaningful.
Whether you're playing, managing, or spectating, Leamington Spa in August is where the season finds its conclusion.
Inter-county competition doesn't begin and end with outdoor bowls and the Inter-County Events, and 2026 is a reminder of just how broad the bowls calendar really is.
The GSMBA Inter-County Cups kick off with the Spring Short Mat Festival on 12th April 2026, followed by the ESMBA Top Club on 1st May. Both events celebrate a format that has built a loyal and passionate following across the country.
And an honourable mention should go to the World Indoor Bowls Championships at Potters Resort, which was held earlier in the year from 9 to 25 January 2026 and takes place annually. This year’s event showcased the very highest level of the indoor game.
Whatever format you play, 2026 has something worth following.
Running county-level competitions shouldn’t mean endless spreadsheets, late-night admin or chasing players for entry fees.
With Bowlr’s bowls county competition software, we make the entire process – from player registration to final results – easier, faster and far more efficient. Designed specifically for county bowling associations, our system gives you full control over every stage of your tournaments.
You can set entry limits, take payments securely online, generate fixture PDFs, and even customise eligibility rules for each competition. Players can view fixtures, see who they’re up against, and submit their scores, all from one easy-to-use portal.
Our bowls county tournament software is already in use by several county associations who’ve transformed the way they manage their events.
These include:
We’ve developed the system to work with multiple competition formats, including singles, pairs, triples, and fours. Whether you’re running a one-day knockout or a full summer league, Bowlr saves time and cuts out the hassle.
If you’re ready to streamline your competitions and provide a smoother experience for players and organisers alike, our team is ready to help you get started.
Choosing the right bowls county competition software isn’t just about features – it’s about finding a system that genuinely makes your life easier. That’s exactly what we’ve built with Bowlr. We understand the pressure that comes with organising competitions, managing members, and keeping everything running smoothly behind the scenes.
That’s why our software is cloud-based, giving you access whenever and wherever you need it, with no more paper diaries or clunky spreadsheets getting in the way.
Everything from member details to competition entries can be handled in one place, dramatically reducing admin time and freeing you up to focus on the game itself.
You no longer need to chase clubs for updates or manually pull together fixtures – our system handles that quickly and efficiently. As it’s designed with real county associations in mind, you can trust that it works the way you do.
Best of all, there’s no need to call around for information. Bowlr puts control in your hands, making it simple to manage leagues and competitions across your county with confidence. We’re already working with counties across the country, and we’d love to help you bring your operations up to speed with software that works as hard as you do.
If you're looking for bowls county tournament software that takes the stress out of organising leagues and competitions, we’re here to help. Our cloud-based system removes the need for diaries and spreadsheets, giving you fast, easy management from one central place.
Whether you want to simplify membership management or cut booking time, our bowls county competition software has you covered. To find out more or arrange a no-obligation demonstration, give us a call on 01202 684400 or fill out our contact form. We’ll be happy to answer your questions and show how Bowlr can work for your county.