Minutes of the Management Meeting held at Ripley Castle - Tuesday, March 18, 2008

MEMBERS PRESENT Sir Thomas in the Chair, Tricia Heard, Graham Hyde, Jeff Watkins, Erik Thompson, Bill Kitson, Chris Newton, Steve Coombs, John Barrett, Neil Burtwistle, Justin Park, Tony Whittaker, Martin Blackham, Eric Houseman, Anton Lodge and Peter Crack.

APOLOGIES were received from Roger Deakin, Ben Drummond, Dion Wood and Barry Gill.

Sir Thomas welcomed Justin Park to his first meeting as Disciplinary Panel Secretary.

MINUTES OF THE MEETING held ON 28th January 2008 having been circulated were approved and signed as a true record of the meeting.

MATTERS ARISING there were no matters not covered by the Agenda which follows.


CORRESPONDENCE AND SECRETARY’S BUSINESS

(I) A letter of thanks had been received from Barry Canham for the League’s donation to the Umpires Association.

(II) Ouseburn C.C. The letter of 2nd November 2007 was read to the meeting. A debate followed on the question of League contributions to Clubs training expenses. It was decided as follows:-
(a) A guidance note should be sent to clubs advising what assistance might be available from the League, provided that applications were made in advance and not retrospectively.
(b) Grants should be made only to club members registered with the League, and not in any event to Overseas Players.
(c) Grants would only be made towards the cost of Level 1 courses and only to clubs having a Junior Section.
It was agreed that the previous practice of granting one half of the cost of Level 1 courses should be followed, with a grant of £180 being made to Ouseburn.
The Treasurer and Eric Houseman were requested to write the appropriate guidance note.

(iii) Spennithorne and Harmby C.C’s application to join
the League ( in Divison 8) was approved.

(iv) Mention was made of uncertainty surrounding the withdrawal of Harrogate Strays at the end of this season. They will know whether they have been accepted in Airedale and Wharfedale Cricket League in October 2008.

(v) The letter to Multi-League clubs had produced a response from Bilton C.c. involving reference to a potentially interesting Lady Overseas Player.

(vi) It was confirmed that Killinghall C .C.’s First Round
Blacksheep Trophy match will be at home to Honley C.C.
(vii) Registration of players on line.
In Ben Drummond’s absence, Tricia emphasized that all registrations should now be done on line.


TREASURER’S REPORT Neil Burtwistle reported that the bank balance was £17,341 and that all clubs had paid last seasons subscriptions.

DISCIPLINARY PANEL Justin Park reported on the action taken by Alne C.C. against their player Marcus Summerscales.
It was agreed that no further action need be taken by the Panel, except to ratify Alne’s decision. The Club had clearly followed the correct procedure.



LEAGUE SOLICITOR Martin Blackham reported that the action taken to explain the effect of Rules 15 and 18 should cover the position arising from the resolution proposed at Studley Royal C.C’s January E.G.M. Graham Hyde brought up the rumour of a “team bonus payment” being used at Studley and it was agreed that a close watch should be kept on Studley as the season developed and that Martin Blackham should write a letter to the club seeking clarification.

UMPIRES SECRETARY Jeff Watkins reported a net loss of one umpire but that the first half of the season was covered, save for Bank Holiday weekend of 24th May. The Umpires’Association A.G.M. had been held last week at which a Spirit of Cricket award for Divisions 1 and 2 was approved Further details will be given at the Pre-Season Captains and Umpires Meeting on April 4th.

GROUND COMMITTEE Bill Kitson reported that the Committee had met on 29th February and that Gary Collett had joined it. Progress at Rainton and Sharow would be repoted at the next meeting in May along with reports on all other grounds. Sharow say that they will be ready for the start of the season, but Rainton are no so sure.
Ben Drummond’s brief report was read by the League Secretary.
Chris Newton expressed profound disagreement with the decision reached on 28th January concerning Sharow and Rainton.
The President explained that the decision had been reached on the basis that all attempts to improve grounds and facilities should be encouraged, even if there was some slippage on deadlines.

JUNIOR LEAGUE REPRESENTATIVE. John Barrett reported that fixtures for the coming season had been completed with the League now consisting of 28 clubs with 104 teams, the latter figure having doubled since 1996. There are however still some League clubs which do not participate. League Hand-Books are now available. Eric Houseman sought help in finding a replacement for John as Secretary. Thanks were expressed to John for his considerable work with the Juniors.


CUP COMPETITIONS AND EVENING LEAGUE SECRETARY.
In Barry Gills absence, the secretary reported that all was well with the Cup Competitions and that Baldersby C.C. have joined the Evening League, sharing a ground with Rainton.

SIX A SIDE JUNIOR INDOOR LEAGUE Bill Kitson reported that the play offs were to be held on 12th April. Bill`s written report is attached. The President expressed the thanks of the League to Bill for his hard work in organizing the Indoor League.

CHILD WELFARE SECRETARY In Bradley Atkinson’s absence there was no report.

LEAGUE REPRESENTATIVE SIDE. In Dion Wood’s absence, the Secretary reported that he will be approaching clubs to put forward names for the League team.
The first interleague match will be in L.A.C.C. Cup on May 18th away against the Pontefract League – venue to be notified.

M.C.C. MATCH ON AUGUST 1ST AT LORDS Graham Hyde reported on suggested plans for the game as follows:-
1. Travel by Eddie Brown Coach on morning of 31st July.
2. Tour of Lords on afternoon of 31st July. Cost £10
3. Dinner in evening, possibly at Hilton London Olympia. Kensington, which is booked for the overnight stay.
Cost of the dinner £25.
4. Coach to Lords on 1st August, lunch and tea for team and officials provided. Coach home after the game.
5. Cost of coach travel and hotel £110.
6. It was agreed that the League would be responsible for costs of the event for 12 players, 2 umpires and 2 scorers.
7. Cost to others wishing to go would be £100, plus the cost of the Lords Tour and dinner.
8. It was agreed that Mr Najmir should be asked to attend the game.
9. Mr Najmir had agreed to bring a selection of League Team Clothing for M.C.C. game to the Pre-Season Meeting on 4th April.
10.It was agreed that it was important for a strict dress
code to be in place for the team throughout the event.

GOLDEN OLDIES 2010 Sir Thomas reported with great enthusiasm on the recent Festival held in Queenstown, New Zealand which he had attended with great enjoyment. He also sketched out the considerable involvement which would be required from everyone to make the 2010 Festival in our area even more successful than Queenstown.
Many of the League’s grounds would be needed and the Ground Committee agreed to carry out a preliminary inventory of grounds at their next meeting. There would be substantial benefits to the whole area arising from the attendance of hundreds of players and families and arrangements for hotel accommodation and sponsorship of events were already in place.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS
1. Erik Thompson reported on the meeting with Tricia Heard and Amy Craven at Ackrills’ Offices, as a result of which there will be a feature across the Ackrill Group’s newspapers on 21st March on Tricia’s phased retirement and the quest for a successor.

2. Erik Thompson reported that enquiries were now coming on procedures for engagement and registration of Overseas Players. In particular a question had arisen on the provision of accommodation for such players in the home of Officials of clubs or other persons

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