Sanctioning

1. The Western Cup XL (40) Tournament is a CTF and IGBO sanctioned tournament and maintains a Moral Support Sanction for non-members of other FIO recognized bowling organizations. The Moral Support Sanction permits the use of FIO recognized sanctioned league averages and tournament scores to determine a bowlers entering average for the tournament. All participants are subject to the CTF rules and jurisdiction for the event. The tournament is a mixed handicap competition open to men and women by invitation only.
2. All participants must be a member of CTF, or qualify under the Moral Support sanctioning requirements and be able to provide proof of membership (current sanction card or signed statement from league secretary verifying membership). If the participant is not a member of CTF, he/she/they must pay the participation fee ($5) to be eligible to bowl, and if he/ she/they would like to be eligible for CTF awards then the full membership fee ($25) must be paid instead.
3. The Western Cup XL tournament permits the participation of non-sanctioned bowlers, who shall use a minimum average of 130. Such bowlers shall be required to submit all league averages and tournament scores for possible re-rating. CTF permits the tournament manager to assign an average higher than the minimum average prior to participation. (CTF rule 319b)

Event Participation

4. The tournament events shall be handicap events and are as follows: Singles, Doubles and Team and Individual All Events. Optional individual Scratch Divisions and optional Scratch Masters will not be offered.
5. Each participant shall bowl three (3) games per event and must enter all three events. Teams will consist of four (4) members comprising any combination of men and women. Men and women will compete on an equal basis. Doubles partners must come from the same team.
6. Each participant may bowl only once in each event.
7. Only one (1) professional bowler per team will be allowed. A Professional Bowler is defined as any person who has been a “card—carrying” member of a professional bowling organization within the past twelve months preceding the Western Cup XL Tournament.

Awards and Prizes

8. All cash awards shall be based on the total pins plus assigned handicap for each event.
9. Awards will be given in the Handicap Division for the best Singles, Doubles, Team and Individual All Events. Individual All Events is defined as the nine (9) game total plus handicap of an individual bowler.
10. The award ratio for the handicap division shall be a minimum of at least 1:10, with the exception of individual All Events. Individual All Events shall be a minimum of at least 1:20.
11. Prizes will be distributed via cheque, or e-transfer, payable in Cdn currency within thirty (30) days of the completion of the tournament, barring any protests. A tie in positions 1-3 will result in a minimum 3-frame bowl off, with handicap, until the tie is broken. For ties in positions 4 or higher, the sum of the cash prizes will be aggregated for the tied positions and divided equally by the number of ties for that placing. Prize funds will be based on 100% participation.

Entering Averages

12. Any bowler entering the Western Cup XL tournament must establish a ten-pin average acceptable to CTF. The following rules shall be used to determine the entering average:

• Use the December 31, 2021/2022/2023 average with a minimum of 21 games. If competing in more than one league, the bowler MUST submit the HIGHEST AVERAGE of all leagues bowled.
• The highest previous full-season (2022-2023) book average with a minimum of 21 games. If competing in more than one league, the bowler MUST submit the HIGHEST AVERAGE of all leagues bowled.
• If no book average is available, use the highest final 2021/2022/2023 summer league average with a minimum of 21 games. If competing in more than one league, the bowler MUST submit the HIGHEST summer league average of all leagues bowled.
• If none of the above is available, use the highest book average from the 2019-2020 season, with minimum 21 games.
• If none of the above is available, use the highest tournament average from a previous Western Cup XXXIX (39), XXXVIII (38), or XXXVII (37). 

1. League standing sheet, signed and dated by League Officer, or
2. Letter from League President or Secretary, or
3. Photocopy of book average (with year noted) signed and dated by League Officer.

13. The handicap for the tournament shall be based at 100% of the difference between the bowler’s entering average (as determined above) and a scratch score of 230. Negative handicaps shall not apply.
14. As the beginning date of the Western Cup XL Tournament, any bowler who has a qualified for a cash prize of three hundred dollars ($300 CDN) or more in any single event MUST report all positions and all amounts won and all scores for the previous 12 month period to the tournament director no later than at the time of registration for possible
    re-rating. Such re-rating must be done before the entrant bowls (CTF rules). Failure to report this information shall result in AUTOMATIC disqualification and loss of all winnings.
15. The tournament director(s) have the authority to adjust the entering average of any bowler. Average adjustments will be applied as set forth under CTF rules. All average adjustments will be completed prior to the start of the tournament. A bowler unwilling to accept an average adjustment is entitled to a full refund. 
16. CTF rules regarding the BOWLER’S responsibility to verify the accuracy of his/her entering average, whether submitted by the bowler, the team captain, or other, applies to all bowlers. Failure to use proper average shall disqualify scores if the submitted average is lower than the actual average, thereby resulting in a lower classification or more handicap. Prize winnings shall be based on the higher average if it is higher than the entering average.