PETERBOROUGH & DISTRICT TENNIS LEAGUE
Minutes of the 2010 Annual General Meeting, held at Parkway PSL 4/3/2010 at 7.30 pm
Present
John Rudd (Chairman), Alan Jones (Secretary), Ronnie Lloyd (Treasurer); Mark Pallister, Neville Burnett (Stamford); John Weston, Bob Green (JB Squad); Mick Soppitt (Deeping); Lee Cameron, Clive Evans, Jes Hibbert (Whittlesey); Henry Smith; Teal Cunnington, Chris Moody (Railway); Matt Watchorn (Castor & Ailsworth); Andy Burrows (Perkins); John Williams (OTT): Andrew Rix (Spalding);
Chairman`s Opening Remarks
John welcomed everyone to the meeting .
Apologies
Bill Skead (CoP/website); Angie Axe (PHS); Paul Stevenette; Andy Papworth (Deeping);
Minutes of 2009 AGM
These were agreed.
Treasurers Report
Ronnie presented his report, attached. We have again lost money, mainly because the Tournament lost £127.50. This was mainly because the winners’ and runners-up trophies cost £107, it was decided to be more economical with this next time.
Alan asked if we should increase the winter league fees to £12 in line with the summer. This was agreed unanimously. A lot of engraving had had to be done on the replacement D2 Winter trophy, the original having been lost. This had not helped the finances although the trophy itself was free, having been given to Alan by Joe Meenaghan.
Chris Moody asked if the trophies could be brought along to the AGM so that people could see what they are playing for. It was also suggested that trophies be signed for. Both agreed unanimously.
Secretary`s Report
Alan presented his report, attached.
Election of Officers
Alan again reported that he would like to stand down as secretary. He had tried to find someone but so far with no success. Alan said he would do it for one more year but would not go beyond that. John and Ronnie were willing to stand again as Chairman and Treasurer respectively. Alan asked for other nominations for all three posts but there were none. All officers were re-elected.
Composition of Leagues
City of Peterborough have dropped out and March have entered only one team, basically their A team from last year with some B team players. All the other teams had re-entered. Bourne have entered a team and Esporta have entered a 3rd team. Railway were considering a third team. As Stamford C and Perkins had tied at the top of D2 Alan considered that they should both be promoted (see secretary’s report). However, Esporta B who finished 6th last year in D1 (CoP were bottom) were expecting to stay in D1. Alan pointed out that the AGM last year had specifically not guaranteed this. None-the-less, no-one objected to an 8-team D1 and this was agreed on, so Esporta B retain their place.
To keep D2 at 8 teams we would not need to relegate anyone, so JB Squad who finished 7th retain their place. The final slot could go to March but Alan did not favour this as they had struggled so much last year, so the meeting asked Stamford if their E team, who finished 3rd in D3 would object to being promoted. They had no objection but would need to play home games on a Wednesday. This was agreed to.
Similiarly in D3 we need another team to make up the 8. Spalding C, who finished 3rd in D4 agreed to go up. This leaves a 7 team, D4, or 8-team if Railway C enter. (Post meeting note: they did)
John Weston asked if we were happy about having another team from the wider area, i.e. Bourne. John made it clear that he didn’t object but was just wondering what our policy is on distant clubs joining the league. Alan said that he had raised the possibility of a Bourne team last AGM and no-one had objected, also Bourne is not as far from Peterborough as March or Spalding. No-one opposed the entry but one or two teams said they may struggle to get there for 6.15pm. This was accepted (Note: see also AOB). The meeting did not really answer the question of where our geographical limits are.
The Divisions will therefore look like this.
DIVISION 1
Esporta A, Spalding A, Stamford A, Deeping A, Esporta B, Stamford B, Stamford C, Perkins.
DIVISION 2
Deeping B, Deeping C (the D team of last year), Castor & Ailsworth A, Stamford D, Stamford E, JB Squad, Blueflames, NENS
DIVISION 3
Whittlesey A, Deeping D (the C team of last year), Railway A, Spalding B, March, OTT, Whittlesey B, Spalding C
DIVISION 4
Deeping E, Stamford F, Railway B, Castor & Ailsworth B, Deeping F, Bourne, Esporta C. Plus Railway C if they enter (confirmed)
Some special requests were made
Stamford C want to play home matches on Tuesday nights
Stamford E want to play home matches on Wednesday nights (see above)
Deeping F want to play home matches on Monday nights (to be confirmed)
Both OTT and Esporta C are planning to use the Orton courts, which may not be available on Wednesdays. OTT would play home matches on Thursdays, Esporta to advise.
Blueflames had not made any specific request but normally want to play home matches on Wednesdays.
The meeting did not set a date for the start of the season. (We forgot again)
Tournament
The tournament at Esporta last year was praised by several speakers, although it lost money. Esporta were willing to host it again, as were Stamford. It was decided to go to Esporta again. Chris Moody and others suggested sponsorship. John Rudd pointed out that Esporta already has an arrangement with an equipment supplier so any sponsorship couldn’t conflict with this. Sponsorship of the league itself and/or advertising on the website might be easier. John and Ronnie to investigate.
Tournament to be on 10th October at 10am, same format as last time.
Rule Changes Proposed by the Committee
(See attachment with invitation to meeting)
Rule 12 Equal Points
The proposal was accepted apart from the alst phrase about lots being drawn. Mark Pallister suggested that games won over the season should decide the issue if teams were level on points, wins and scores between themselves (not very likely) or by a play-off if even that was level (very unlikely). This was agreed.
Rule 2 Powers
Agreed. The disputes committee currently comprises Lee Cameron, Andy Papworth and John Rudd, all are willing to continue and were ratified by the meeting.
New rule 13A
The meeting was in favour of the rule but Alan questioned when a match would be considered to have been forfeited. If a match is re-arranged in accordance with Rule 24 then it has not been forfeited. Alan pointed out that Rule 24 requires a revised date to be notified to the secretary within 2 weeks of the scheduled date of the fixture, otherwise the match is forfeited. Alan thought that the new rule would probably not be invoked until the end of the season. There was a debate about whether to make the trigger 3 matches or 4 matches. Mark Pallister proposed 4 matches. A vote was held;
For 4 matches 8 votes
For 3 matches 4 votes
Rule Changes Proposed By Bob Green
Timing of marches:
There was a long discussion about Bob’s proposal but there didn’t seem to be any consensus for changing the rule. It was accepted that having the match balls available for a reasonable period of knock-up was important..
Courts unfit for play:
This issue was again debated but still no-one had a clear definition of what constitutes unfit. The meeting was not in favour of giving one team the unilateral right to have the match called off, disputes will continue to be referred to the disputes committee.
“Double Headers”:
This was agreed, but the secretary is to have a veto if he or she deems it inappropriate. An example of this might be two teams from the same club playing each other in a match which could affect promotion or relegation.
Club Membership
The temporary rule brought in last year relating to Division 1 had not been invoked by anybody, but it had met with no opposition and the meeting decided to make it permanent.
Alan will amend the rules in the light of all the above and will re-issue them.
Any Other Business
Bob Green had also made a proposal relating to the winter league but this had been received too late to be included in the agenda as required by Rule 3.
The proposal was;
Instead of playing two sets there should be two 9-game rubbers between each pair, with no tie-breaks. One point to be awarded for each rubber.
The question of whether bonus points would be awarded for most rubbers and most games was discussed but I am not clear on the outcome- AJ
There was widespread support for this and Alan asked whether there was a way around Rule 3, which had not been drafted with the winter league in mind, if not then the change cannot be made for 18 months. It was agreed that Alan would write to all the winter league teams and ask if they were happy to introduce the new system, if no-one objects we will use it next winter.
There was a discussion about tennis balls. Attempts to set up a unified order for all league teams have never succeeded but the larger clubs can already get good deals on balls, for instance Mark Pallister reported that Stamford had paid £6.99 per dozen last season. Stamford would be willing to order for other clubs if asked and so would Deeping. Alan will ask clubs what deals they have and let everyone know the results.
Chris Moody reported that efforts were being made to improve the line marking at the Maskew Avenue courts.
Chris Moody proposed a vote of thanks to the officers.
The meeting closed at 9.30pm approx
