14 November 2000, 8.00pm
Held at Cheadle Conservative Club
The Chairman asked delegates to stand for few moments in silence in memory of colleagues who had passed away in the last year. These included Bill Walters, a former secretary and life member, Alec Parr of Parkville and Dave Stevenson of Cheadle Conservative.
Present: President, Chairman, Secretary, Veterans’ Secretary, Treasurer and delegates
Apologies: South Reddish
Absences: Silverwings, British Rail, Farmers Arms, Green End, Heaton Moor Park, P. C. S., Wembley
The minutes of the previous half yearly meeting were read and approved.
Correspondence had included three applications to join the league, and one enquiry. No resignations had been received, so it looks as if the league might be expanding again. The new teams were Burnage Garden Village, Northenden Social B and West Heaton Bowling and Tennis Club. The secretary welcomed these teams to the league.
Adding these teams brings the league up to 44 or 45 teams, which would be organised as 10 in Division A, 11 in Divisions B and C, and 11 or 12 in Division D. There were not quite enough teams yet for five divisions, but that might come soon.
There had been a tie at the top of the Veterans’ Division 5. This case was not covered by the rules (although it was for the evening league). In the circumstances the committee had decided the two teams should share the trophy and prize money.
Information sheets had been distributed, and many had been returned already. The secretary asked that the rest be returned by the end of the year.
The Merit had been won by Alf Lamb (Klondyke) and the Jennison Shield by Victoria A. The veterans’’ secretary thanked Grange and Houldsworth for hosting final days in the Merit and Jennison Shield.
Two teams had resigned and four had joined, making 59 teams for next year. These would be organised as 12 in Division 1, 11 in Division 2, and 12 in Divisions 3, 4 and 5. This would be achieved by relegating only one team.
There had been some debate about whether the league should avoid matches for the Vernon final day. The consensus was to continue doing so. However there were no plans to avoid Waterloo week.
A new cup had been bought as planned.
All but four clubs had now paid their fees. None of the four were at the meeting. Two of them had won prizes, which would not be paid until the fees were received.
In Jennison Shield Rules, Change Rule 3 to read:
“Matches to be played on neutral greens, or simultaneously on the greens of the competing clubs (half the players at each venue). Games to be 21 up.”
Change Rule 8 to read:
“In all rounds the Captain of each competing team shall place his team in the order he desires them to play. On a neutral green the two Captains will then toss a coin so that the competing teams shall have an equal number of first leads of the jack, odd numbers to one team and even numbers to the other. In ‘home and away’ matches, away players shall take the jack. In the event of a tie, three players from each side to play off under the same handicap (in matches played ‘home and away’ the captains to toss to decide which venue has two play-off games and which one). If still tied then the team with two winners in the play-off are the winners. The Captains of the competing teams shall act as Referees in the early rounds, but officials shall be appointed for the semi-finals and final by the Management Committee.”
Proposed by the Veterans’ secretary
The Veterans’ secretary said that this rule change had been talked about informally, but when it was written down it appeared more complicated. The main problem was the tie-breaker, but there were others.
Great Moor Conservative criticised the proposal, arguing that it was unclear and ambiguous. Great Moor Conservative also described the tie-breaker used by British Parks and Stockport Parks (most winners, then best individual winner).
The proposal was defeated; no votes in favour.
Northenden Social asked how many games were needed to qualify for the average prize, and whether it could be publicised in future. This year there were 18 matches and three-quarters of this is 13.5. One of their players had assumed that 13 games would be enough to qualify. The secretary explained that the requirement was “at least three-quarters,” which meant 13.5 or more, so in practice 14 or more.
It was confirmed that the rule for a tie at the top of a Veterans’ division would be unchanged for the next year.
Information about affiliation to Greater Manchester and insurance was not available due to illness of the Greater Manchester secretary. However, the important point was that clubs should have public liability insurance. They were free to arrange this how they chose. Many clubs have such cover as part of more general insurance. BCGBA and Greater Manchester arranged collective insurance for smaller clubs.
There was no further business and the meeting closed at 8.35pm.