26 November 2007, 7.30pm
Held at Cheadle Conservative Club
Present: President, Secretary, Veterans’ Match Secretary, Treasurer and delegates
Apologies: Chairman, Victoria
Absences: Bramhall Queensgate, Ladybarn, Withington, Wythenshawe Park
The minutes of the previous half yearly meeting had been circulated. They were taken as read and approved.
Amend rule 3.3 (Practice) to read:
Match jacks to be made available to the away team for 15 minutes prior to the start time. No home players may practise on the green during this time. Away captains may practise early to allow time for the draw.
Proposed by the Secretary
The secretary explained that there had been a request for such a rule change at the delegates’ meeting last September. He was therefore making this proposal, but without enthusiasm, to allow members to decide. The Ryecroft delegate and others said that there was sometimes a problem of congestion on the green during practice. Others said that the present system worked reasonably well.
On a vote, the motion was defeated 30 to 32, and on a recount 32 to 35.
In rule 7.4 (PCS Cup new team handicap), replace the last sentence with:
New teams in the league to be on scratch until the first season after they fail to win promotion.
Proposed by the Secretary
The secretary explained that the current rule specified that new teams should start on scratch and build up to their divisional handicap at 16 points per year. However, to bring some order to the state of affairs when he took over, and not to over-penalise junior teams, he had always applied the rule to new clubs rather than new teams of existing clubs.
This policy had been questioned at the delegates’ meeting last September, prompted by a new team (Crown B) winning the cup off a handicap of +80. This had led to the whole thing being rethought, and hence the present proposal. One of the snags with the existing rule was that it was written when we only had two divisions. Now it can take five years for a team to reach its correct handicap, and this seems too long to discourage new teams.
In discussion, it was confirmed that if passed the rule would be applied for 2008 as if it had always been in force. Also, Crown B (who lose their divisional handicap) would not be penalise 16 points for having won the competition.
The motion was passed with no votes against.
Add new rule 9.2 (Merit):
All clubs shall be charged for a minimum of four entrants per team entered in the evening league.
Proposed by Robinsons
The Merit had suffered declining entries for some time and had not been run since 2005. Robinsons had made two suggestions: to run the Merit on Tuesday evenings at the end of the season, and to require clubs to pay for a minimum number of entries.
The first part required no rule change, and would be tried for 2008. The second part would possibly increase entries (since they were paid for anyway). It would in any case increase the prize fund.
The motion was defeated by 11 to 13.
Add new rule 11.2 (Veterans’ Merit):
The final day shall be held at a neutral venue. The venue shall be declared after the qualifiers are known, so that no qualifiers play the final day on their own green.
Proposed by Great Moor Conservative
The Great Moor delegate reminded the meeting that the Vets’ Merit had this year been won by a homester, and in fact he had been surprised to see two homesters competing on the final day. He believed this was an unfair advantage, and the final should always be neutral.
The secretary said that he actually tried to decide the final venue early, and he found that he often got increased entries from the host club. With this proposal the decision would have to be made later.
Spring Gardens suggested that in fact the final green could be chosen after all entrants were known, using a club that had sent no entrants. Possibly a club from the evening league, with no vets team, could be used.
The motion was passed on a vote.
The president presented league and cup trophies and prize money and trophies to the average winners.
The Annual General Meeting would be on 11 February 2008.
There was no further business and the meeting closed at 8.45pm.