2025 Hutchinson Cup conundrum

Bowling News

There is a new low of 55 entries in the 12-mixed gender Hutchinson Cup competition this year. I counted 12 Huddersfield area teams that have entered the 2025 competition with 11 of them involved in the qualifying round.

There are 55 teams entered into this year's competition so it is a little unclear as to the format adopted. You would normally expect the means of working the 55 down to 32 to contest the next round. Normally that would mean having 46 teams involved in the qualifying round with 23 progressing to the next stage. Nine would then get byes to leave 32 teams in Round 1.

However, on this occasion the Competition Secretary has decided to have 48 teams in the qualifying round which will be worked down to 24 teams progressing to add to the 7 who now have byes. That gives 31 teams in Round 1 so one of those will have a bye. Most unusual!