September sees the start of the new season for WBT and their joint collaboration with the Professional Bowls Association and together with sponsors Co-operative Funeralcare sees the launch of the Co-opeative Funeralcare UK Masters. This event comprises of 8 one day events from September 2011 through to April 2011 culminating in a Finals playoff for two Co-operative Funeralcare Tourcards for the three Televised Ranking events in the 2011-12 season.
The new event dates and veues are; Dolphin IBC on the 3rd. September 2011 - Erewash IBC on the 16th. October 2011 - Bromley IBC on the 20th. November 2011 - Cynon Valley IBC on the 26th. November 2011 - New Earswick IBC on the 17th. December 2011 - Falkirk IBC on the 26th. February 2012 - Stanley IBC on the 18th. March 2012 - Belfast IBC on the 13th. April 2012.
The Co-operative Funeralcare Tourcard will give the winners automatic entry into all the WBT Ranking events for the season which are as listed:
- The Co-operative Funeralcare Scottish International Open at the Dewars Centre, Perth, Scotland from the 5th. to the 12th. Nov 2011
- The Potters Holidays World Indoor Championships at Potters Leisure Resort, Norfolk from the 13th. to the 29th. January 2012
- The Co-operative Funeralcare Welsh Grand Prix at the Samuel Selwyn Centre, LLanelli, Wales from the 4th. to the 10th. February 2012
Ian Bond aka 'The Devon Destroyer' has been given wildcard entries to all three of this seasons three main WBT Ranking events.
The Co-operative Funeralcare used their wildcard entry for both the Co-operative Funeralcare Scottish International Open and the Co-operative Funeralcare Welsh Grand Prix WBT Ranking events to give to Ian as he is their defending World Matchplay 2010 Champion and as BSKYB had pulled out this event at last minute notice they felt that Ian was worthy of the wildcard.
Potters Holidays awarded Ian one of their wildcards for the World Professional Indoor Singles as they felt that they should use at least one wildcard to give a player who had just dropped outside the top 16 the opportunity to use their skills to achieve more ranking points to return into the top 16 fold.
Both the Co-operative Funeralcare and also Potters Holidays have one remaining wildcard each to award in their respective events and hope to announce who these lucky players will be in the near future.
Success for the fourth time at the Potters Holidays World Indoor Singles Championship in January has led to Scotland's Paul Foster retaining the World Bowls Tour world number one ranking, according the list for the 2011/12 season announced by the WBT.
