RULES OF THE LADDER 

The Ladder Night competition (LNC) should be run on the first Monday of each month, except when there is a bank holiday, commencing in February and finishing in November.

• The LNC will be a one winner movement and is open to club members only.
• There will be 10 sessions available for the LNC.   Only the best 8 scores will count for each pair to determine their final position.
• If a partnership ceases to play together, the players may re-enter the LNC with new partners.   All previous points will be deleted.  No re-working of other pairs’ past scores will take place.
• A substitute partner can be a member who is not competing in the LNC, has retired from the LNC or a ‘double substitute’ (one member each from two competing pairs)
• If 2 pairs swap partners for a month and both new pairings play that month then no  points will be allocated to those pairs.  
• Guests cannot be substitute partners.
• A substitute partner (of whatever kind) can only be used on two occasions. If a substitute partner is used on more than two occasions only the best two scores with a substitute will count.
• Each time a substitute partner is used a penalty deduction of 4% will be made from the percentage score of that pair before LNC points are allocated. (i.e. a score of 57% would be reduced to 53% and then LNC points allocated)
• LNC Points will be allocated to pairs as follows:-

1st=24, 2nd=23, 3rd=22  etc….….23rd=2, 24^th=1. 

• Every pair playing in any month will be given an additional point for competing.
• The results of the night’s play will be displayed on the web site in the usual format. To calculate ladder positions, the results will be merged into one list and updated throughout the year.  Overall ladder results/positions will be displayed on the web site.
• If there is a tie for first place, the winners will be the pair with the best average percentage over their 8 scoring rounds.
• PRIZES: The winners to receive an engraved shield and pairs 1 to 5 to receive appropriate prizes.
• Eligibility for prizes:  In order to be eligible for a prize, each player in the pair must have attended the club at least 16 times during that calendar year.
•  The Val and Bernard Smith Award.   This trophy is awarded each year to the highest placed "non-expert" pair who have not won it previously and are outside the top 5.   A "non-expert" pair is one where both players are 9 or lower on the NGS after November LNC results have been added to the NGS. 
• There will be NO HOST available on LNC sessions.