Minutes of AGM held on 22nd September 2008 at St. Werburgh's Club

Present:  Dave Cooper, Niall Kenyon, John Lea, Barry Pace, Ted Randles, Barry Tipton, Brian Welch, John Pritchard (minutes).

Apologies: Gordon Vickers, Billy Williams.

The Chairman opened the meeting at 8.15pm, 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 Billy Williams 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.  Tony Carss and Ray Lamb were also not present but were nominated, seconded and elected by those present.

2. Statement of Accounts

The Treasurer presented the Accounts balance sheet for 2007-8 and copies were made available for those present.  Barry Pace proposed that the Accounts balance sheet be accepted, this was seconded by Ted Randles and carried unanimously by all present.

3. Any Other Business

No formal written proposals were received before the deadline of 1st September, so the floor was open for discussion.

The Chairman began by confirming that the Winter League would start on 22nd October and that signing-on sheets had been distributed to all pubs (bar Blacon).  The date for return of the sheets is 1st October and fixture lists will be out ASAP afterwards.  Invitations have been sent to both the Home Guard and Saltney Social Clubs and we hope that at least one of them will join the league.  The chairman had visited both the previous Friday and the Home Guard Club seemed very keen.   This is down to the Open Knockout Competition.   Comment was made about the success of the competition. The next stage takes place at the Cross Foxes on 9th October.   It is hoped we will be able to hold it again next year.  Should it be held next year, a suggestion was made that the 8 players who made it through the semi-final night to the final should receive some prize money and the overall winners/runners up prize money reduced accordingly.  This was considered a good idea and will be discussed/implemented next year, but it is too late to change this years published format now.

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 will play again.   In the event of a tie for lowest scorer, 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.

The Talbot and Spital Vaults situations were discussed briefly. Basically, both pubs are still closed and there is no definite news as to when they will re-open.  At present it is not clear where either team will play next season.

The Chairman confirmed the the Bagatelle League has a new sponsor this season, Abbey Taxis.  We are very grateful to Mark Williams from the Cross Foxes for this sponsorship and an Abbey Taxis logo will appear on all bulletins, notices etc.

John Lea asked if there was any rule about doubles partners having to come from the same pub as he knew people from different pubs who wanted to play in the doubles together.  Historically, no-one could remember this ever being allowed and it was felt it would be too complicated to manage if everyone did it.  So, doubles partners must play for the same pub.
 

Last year Ray Lamb suggested the first round of the Singles and Doubles follows the format of the Open Knockout where everyone has two sticks and a set number of players go through.  It worked well, and this year the same method will be used.   Thus, for the singles, the preliminary round will be in four different venues, with the 8 highest scorers from each going through to the next round.  The "batting order" at each venue will be decided when the draw for the competition is made.

John Lea asked if the Veterans / Young Player Competitions could be revived this season, and this will be discussed at the next Committee Meeting which will be on Monday, 13th October at St. Werburgh's Club.  Invitations for people to enter will most likely be sent out with the first notice for Cup Competitions next month.

Some general discussion about bagatelle continued until around 10.15pm. when, there being no other business, the Chairman thanked everyone for attending and closed the meeting at 10.15pm.

John Pritchard (minutes)

END OF MINUTES