Minutes of AGM held on 21st September 2009 at the Talbot

Present:  Tony Carss, Dave Cooper, John Lea, Richard Jones, Alan Martin, Chris Parry, Ted Randles, Barry Tipton, Mike Turner, Margaret Walker, Pat Wallace, Brian Welch, Billy Williams, John Pritchard (minutes).

Apologies: Gordon Vickers, Angie Barlow.

The Chairman opened the meeting at 8.05pm, welcomed all those present and thanked everyone for attending. A brief resume of the Agenda was given to those present. Apologies were received from Gordon Vickers and Angie Barlow who could not make the meeting.

1. Election of Officials

The first item on the agenda was the Election of Officials and the following people were nominated / elected:-
 

Gordon Vickers could not make the meeting tonight and sent apologies, but also asked to be nominated for the Committee again and was duly elected.  Barry Pace and Ray Lamb were also not present but were nominated, seconded and elected by those present.

2. Statement of Accounts

The Treasurer presented the Statement of Accounts for 2008-9 and copies were made available for those present. Tony Carss proposed that the Accounts be accepted, this was seconded by Barry Tipton and carried unanimously by all present.

3. Any Other Business

One formal written proposal was received before the deadline of 31st August, but before this was discussed, the Chairman began by confirming that Abbey Taxis were continuing their sponsorship of the bagatelle league and Abbey Taxis would continue to appear on all bagatelle sheets etc for the forthcoming year.  

The Winter League will start on 21st October and 10 teams will be competing in the 2009/10 Winter League.   They are:   Blacon SSC,  City Arms,  Cross Foxes,  Egerton Arms,  St. Werburgh's Club,  Spital Vaults,  Stanley Arms, Talbot,  Union Vaults and the United Services Club.  Two teams are making a welcome return this year, the Spital Vaults and the Talbot, while sadly the Railway Inn is still closed and St. Werburgh's Club will  just be entering one team this season.   It is understood St. Teresa's club have recently acquired a table and if they indicate they would like to enter the winter league they will be included in the fixtures.

The formal proposal for the re-introduction of a Summer League was presented to the meeting by Barry Tipton and was discussed by those present.  A vote was taken and all were in favour of the Summer League being re-introduced.  The format will be decided after the World Cup draw has been made in December, but it is likely that the period of the World Cup - 11th June to 11th July - will be avoided.   Billy Williams suggested that the format for the Summer League should be 5 + 3, ie. each team will need a minimum of 5 players and the lowest 3 scores can play again, if needed.  The proposal for a Summer League to be re-introduced in 2010 was unanimously approved by those present.

The format for league and cup matches remains the same as last year's Winter League, ie. if a team only has 6 players available, the two lowest scoring players will be allowed to play again, and they are to play in the order in which they appear on the team sheet, i.e.. the first named will play 7th and the second named will play 8th.   In the event of a team having 7 players, the lowest scorer can play again.   If there is a tie for the lowest scorer/s, the opposing captain will spin a coin to decide who plays again.    This will apply to all League, West Cheshire Shield and Northgate Cup competitions.   In the Five-A-Side competition, if a team only has 4 players available, the lowest scorer will be allowed to play again.

Tony Carss proposed that the Home Guard Club and Saltney Social Club were not invited to participate in the 2010 Open Knockout as they had not re-entered the league despite being invited to enter the knockout for the last two years.   He felt they were taking money out of the game but not contributing anything back.   However,  Bawn Lodge on Hoole Road, St. Teresa's Club and Saltney Ferry should be invited to participate in the Open Knockout if their tables are installed and of a playable standard by next summer as it may encourage them to enter the league, which was the main aim of the Open Knockout.  This was agreed by those present.

John Lea proposed the re-introduction of fees for the Winter League and this was seconded by Ted Randles.   After some discussion, a vote unanimously passed this suggestion, and the meeting decided that a charge of £40 be made to each club for entry into the League, West Cheshire Shield, Northgate Cup and 5-a-Side competition.   In addition, a fee of £1 per player and £2 per pair was to be re-introduced for the Singles and Doubles competitions respectively.   The Secretary will write to all bagatelle clubs advising them of this decision.  Clubs will be expected to pay their bills by Christmas, and entry fees for singles and doubles must be paid before the competitions start.

The Chairman suggested that Jack Dodd should be offered the opportunity to become Honorary Life President for his contribution to bagatelle and the meeting unanimously agreed that this was well deserved and would be a good move.  The Chairman is to write to Jack to seek his approval.

John Lea suggested that local media should be used to seek out possible sponsors for the Bagatelle League.  The Chairman undertook to try and get a statement in the local press seeking additional sponsors for the bagatelle league.   In addition, the bagatelle league table would be shown as the "Abbey Taxis Bagatelle League" in the press in future.

Barry Tipton asked about the rule where tables have to be "closed at 3pm on the day of a final".   Apparently, people were looking to play the Cross Foxes when the table was "closed" last season.   The meeting agreed that "closed" meant it was only closed to those actually in a final, and that other people not associated with the final could play the table if they so wished at the landlords discretion.

Ted Randles asked if there was a rule about people playing their sticks early in the Open Knockout and referred to Frank Whitley at the Spital Vaults recently.   There is no rule as such, and the situation only arose as Frank was away on holiday when the semi-final was due to be played and asked if he could play early which the chairman agreed to, on the condition that the majority of players agreed this was acceptable.   In general, it was agreed that we will try to accommodate anyone who genuinely cannot make a semi-final in the knockout as long as their sticks are witnessed by at least two independent witnesses.

Dave Cooper brought up an instance where a venue for a cup game was switched last year to accommodate a team whose players were barred from a particular pub.   The meeting agreed this was against the spirit of the rules and should not be allowed to happen, and a notice will go out with the first cup fixtures stating that all cup games must be played at the venue drawn.

John Lea felt that the semi-final evening of the knockout was too long with 24 players all playing at one venue, and asked if it could be split over two venues next season and this was seconded by Billy Williams.   After some discussion, a vote was taken, and the meeting agreed with the proposal that next season the Open Knockout semi-final should be held at two venues with the top four scores from each going through to the final.

Some general discussion about bagatelle continued until 9.50pm. when, there being no other business, the Chairman thanked everyone for attending and closed the meeting.

John Pritchard (minutes)

END OF MINUTES