Minutes of Annual General Meeting 2020
Stoke Club at 8.00 pmFriday 4th September 2020
Roll Call
The meeting was attended by representatives of 15 teams. Apologies for absence were received from:-
Bakers Rogues; Hit & Hopes; Lamb Shanks; Monkey Spankers; Wyndham Arms; ell Ash A; Lords & Ladies; Rosie’s RebelsHotspots; Lamb & Larks; Ham Boys; Levellers; Floppers;
No communication or previous registration form has been received from Rose & Crown (Eli’s). All other teams have now expressed a desire to continue in the league.
The Secretary Pete Wescott chaired the meeting as Chairman Keven Fowler had previously indicated he was working and would not be at the meeting before 8:30.
Trophy Winners 2019-20
The truncated season meant that the Memorial Cup Final, Knockout Cup and Coronation Cup were not contested. The league had been stopped after 17 of the scheduled fixture nights and league positions were determined by the positions after 17 games. The final league tables and honours list is attached.
Pete Wescott handed out the annual trophies to the Captains of the trophy winning teams. Two sets were not given out (Hit & Hopes and Lamb & Larks had no representative present. Arrangements will be made to hand these over sreparately). He retained all the permanent trophies which all been engraved appropriately.
Formation of League
Due to the continuing uncertainty over the course of the Coronavirus and the restrictions imposed on pubs and gatherings, there will be no formal league programme this season. It was agreed that the league would be recommenced in 2021-22 based on the promotions and relegations from last season – depending on how many teams we have then.
The Lord Nelson B team had resigned during the 2019-20 season so will no longer be included.
Treasurer’s Report
Pete Wescott presented the accounts for the season (appended to these minutes) showing a balance of £1293.66. This shows a £460 increase since last season – largely due to savings from cancelled Presentation night and other cup finals.
League Fees
As the expenditure for next season is likely to be minimal and there is sufficient bank balance to cover necessary expenses, Pete Wescott proposed that no league fees will be charged. This was agreed without a vote.
This is also based on no honorariums being paid to the officials this year.
Discussion of 2020-21 Season
It was agreed that there will be no formal league this season. There was, however, much discussion of whether and when to get some cup and or mini-league fixtures. Appended to these minutes are the views off all those teams and pubs who responded to the questionnaire circulated prior to the meeting.
This survey showed a wide spectrum of views with a fairly even split between wanting as early a start as possible, waiting until January and waiting until next season. Several teams also indicated that they would struggle to raise 8 players at present.
A number of people were concerned about how games could be safely conducted due to the handling by everyone of the same balls throughout the games. Pete Wescott indicated that there is no official guidance on this but that the pubs who had responded positively to the survey all had, or would have, hygiene and separation measures in place. All alleys will have hand sanitisers for skittlers and, separately, for stickers-up and all will have rules for the number of people in the alleys and at tables in the bars.
It was generally agreed that any matches arranged would not include post-match food.
A suggestion about games being played “remotely” so that each team plays on their own alley was regarded as unworkable and impossible to make fair as the average scores on different alleys are so different.
There were a number of proposals and counter-proposals regarding the setting up of limited cup and league competitions. It was understood that any plans would need to be provisional and subject to immediate cancellation and so the organization needs to be as simple as possible.
It was finally agreed that we would try to organize:-
- an extended Pairs Cup in the Autumn (October/November). There are two possibilities here. The first would be open to as many pairs as individual teams want to submit. The second would restrict the tournament to one pair per team – but each team might want to organize their own “selection” night with their winning pair being submitted. The tournament proper would be held over a number of weeks on selected, suitable alleys and each game would be restricted to (say) 6 pairs to minimize distancing risks.
- in the New Year, circumstances permitting we will organize a set on mini-leagues each of which will consist of (say) 5 teams each of which will play each other once only. The winning teams will then proceed to semi-finals and a final.
Trophies will be awarded. There are a stock of unused ones from last season – Coronation Cup and Knockout Cup so would involve no additional costs.
Pete Wescott agreed to circulate invitations for these as soon as possible with request to choose an option. All participation will be entirely optional and, with a massive request to observe all hygiene and separation rules.
Election of Officials for 2020-21
David Jones is stepping down from his role as Fixtures Secretary. Steve Lonton has volunteered to take this role on. There were no other proposals and he was elected without a vote. It was proposed and generally agreed that the current committee continue.
The following will form the Committee:
| Chairman | Kevin Fowler |
| Vice Chairman | Barry Cullimore |
| Match Secretary | Steve Lonton |
| Treasurer/Secretary | Pete Wescott |
| President | Richard Wharton |
| Vice-President | Keith Brice |
| Committee | Tim Nobbs, Graeme Whittle, Andy Shire, Andy Gould, Dave Jones |
Any Other Business
No other business.
There being no further business the meeting closed at 8-45 pm.
Pete Wescott
General Secretary
| Team | When | How Many? | Pub | Response |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bakers Buoys | 2021-22 | 6 or 8 | Bakers | Good to go |
| Bakers Rogues | ASAP | 8 | Baker | Good to go |
| Duke Of York | ASAP | 8 | Duke Of York | Good to go |
| Stoke WMC | Jan-21 | 8 | Stoke Club | Good to go |
| Seahawks | Whenever | 8 | Stoke Club | |
| Dolphins | Whenever | 6 or 8 | Stoke Club | |
| Hit and Hopes | Whenever | 6 | Lamb and Lion | Good to go |
| Lamb Shanks | Jan-21 | 8 | Lamb and Lion | |
| Monkey Spankers | ASAP | 8 | Petherton Club | Good to go |
| Split Pins | Whenever | 6 or 8 | Petherton Club | |
| VIP’s | ASAP | 8 | Nags Head | |
| Nobbys Nuts | Jan-21 | 8 | White Hart | |
| Wyndham Arms | ASAP | 8 | Wyndham KE | |
| Half Moon Stoke | Jan-21 | 8 | Half Moon | |
| S Club 8 | Whenever | 6 | Somerton Sports Club | Good to go |
| Somerton Club | Jan-21 | 6 or 8 | Somerton Sports Club | |
| Bell Ash A | 2021-22 | 6 | Bell Ash | Good to go |
| Mandy’s Bell Boys | Whenever | 6 or 8 | Bell Ash | |
| Lords & Ladies | 2021-22 | 8 | Rose & Crown, BH | |
| Rosies Rebels | ASAP | 6 | Rose & Crown, BH | |
| Hotspots | Jan-21 | 6 | Lamb &Lark | Good to go |
| Lamb and Larks | 2021-22 | ? | Lamb &Lark | |
| Rose and Crown Inn | Eli’s | |||
| Lord Nelson A | Whenever | 6 | Nelson | |
| Ham Boys | Kings Head, High Ham | |||
| Mucky Ducks | ASAP | 6 or 8 | Kings Head, High Ham | |
| Levellers | 6 or 8 | Crown, Fivehead | Not currently available | |
| The Floppers | 2021-22 | Wyndham, Ilton | Not currently available | |
| Pornstars | ASAP | 8 | Ilton Cricket Club | Not currently available |
