AGM DATE AND NEWS FROM END OF SEASON MEETING

The date for the ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING has been set and will be on THURSDAY, JULY 18th (7.45pm) at MATLOCK CONSERVATIVE CLUB.
It is ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT that all teams are represented at this meeting as there are some very significant issues to address taking the league forward.

So if captains or club representatives can't attend please send a replacement instead so we can have a meaningful voting platform on the night.

The end of season meeting recently was to hand out the final statistics to those who don't have online access and also to review the season and address any issues that arose.

The match secretary said it had been a good competitive season on the snooker front though inputting of results didn't go quite as smoothly as the previous season, with a few occasions where sheets had to be chased up having been left on club premises from the match night, but on the whole most teams were on the ball which was very helpful and thanks were passed on accordingly.

Something which might help is upgrading the league phone so that captains can take and transmit snapshots of the scoresheet on the night of the match which would speed up inputting considerably if it could be achieved.

And would certainly be of some use in one instance as Matlock Cons Club are hoping to enter a team with home nights on Fridays next season (as the weekly report usually goes to press on Saturday); teams will be canvassed over the close season as to whether they think this would be problematical for them or not.

Also there had been a number of postponements in cup matches which had delayed some of them quite substantially and again this was something that makes it difficult for everyone concerned and so it was hoped we could return to the much smoother process of the previous season.

The match secretary pointed out that he did try to avoid clashing dates with players involved in other leagues but sometimes the same courtesy wasn't extended in return and one such occurence led to a long delay of a 2-man team event when our date had been the first on the calendar (the problem being that the opposition team had specifically asked for the match to be no later than that particular week due to oncoming holidays). Though with the other leagues committee in a state of transition at the time, it was felt it was perhaps just circumstances dictating on this occasion.

On a related note a team final had been cancelled at late notice apparently due to lack of players on one teams behalf but again there was a clashing match in another league on the same date and nothing had been said until very late the previous evening (despite the final date being set well in advance).

As the travelling distance between the venues was negligable, it was hoped if a similar situation occurred in the future both fixtures could be honoured or else enough notice given to the team's other squad players to obtain a replacement or two well in advance with prior planning.

The match secretary said the best system was usually to ask everyone if they can play on the date in question at the previous game and if all are OK its pretty much job done without any hassle.

There had also been a proposal by a couple of clubs that advanced or 'high-rated' players should play a stipulated number of league games from the start of the previous season to show their commitment before being eligible to compete in the competitions, being as a percentage of the league match fees does go towards the prize money pot nowadays.

Though it was also felt those novice and intermediate players who are registered as reserves who can't force their way into a team should remain unaffected if any rule change did occur as it would be doubly unfair to deny them playing opportunities still further.

The nearest situation found to a previous vote on this was when Nigel Bond was entering the competitions having just ceased playing in the League and it was passed by a single vote that he be allowed to continue, though I think he voluntarily moved on to bigger fish very shortly afterwards!

Plus a new issue cropped up where a player who is barred from a club gets drawn there in one of the competitions.

Nothing is covered in the rules regarding this, so we need a clear procedure to go through, as in this case it was a doubles competition I think playing on a neutral venue would probably be fairest here but perhaps with some compensation for losing home advantage (maybe moving on to the next handicap bracket for the one match).

But as it was, no alternative date could be fixed and the pair who should have played at home ended up conceding the game which was clearly unsatisfactory.

So these are all issues that need to be addressed at the AGM, as well as electing committee positions, and any other proposals clubs may put forward in the interim (need to be tabled at least 2 weeks in advance of the meeting date).

On other issues it was noted that the minutes had been scrutinised and it was found that if the league is tied, it should now be decided on most wins, followed by head to head in the meeting between the two teams. This had been passed by 6 votes to 2 at a previous meeting some years ago but had not been updated in the rules which still pointed to a play off if level.

Similarly, if there is a tie for most wins in the individual ranks, highest percentage takes the top prize (voted on at the same meeting).

It was also agreed that if a player reaches the semi finals or further in a cup competition after going down in the handicap during the same season, he may be liable to return to his original mark with immediate effect to take into account his form in any such competition as well as the league (at the discretion of the committee).

The snooker prizes were presented on final nights this season with photos distributed to the local press, which was generally well received and the billiards presentation night will be at Whitworth Institute on Saturday, July 13th.

The one snooker prize still to play for, the Hartshorne Cup, can be presented at the AGM if necessary with it having been delayed into June.

It was also suggested that if the Hartshorne - traditionally attracting the smallest field -  failed to fulfil the minimum number of entries (8) we could use that award for one of the league trophies, for which the A and B Division Shields were rather cumbersome and now looked rather dated.

As it was if we dipped under 5 teams in each Division, which was this years number, would we be able to run a separate B League anyhow? - this was another question to ponder.

Finally those present who took part said they really enjoyed the recent Inter League Cup match against Hope Valley and Buxton at Eyam and it was hoped to make it a regular event, either home and away at start and end of season or at the conclusion of each season with each League having alternate home advantage.

Present at meeting: R Slack (snooker match sec, Bolehill Inst); J McCann (billiards match sec, Whitworth Inst); R Lowe (chairman, Tansley Potters);
N Parkinson (Edgefold); C Parker and C Hodgkinson (Matlock Golf Club);
D Pownall (Belper Strutt Club); S O'Sullivan (Hartington RBL) and B Monk (Marehay Miners Welfare).

JIMMY AND HANNAH IN FINAL DESPITE KEITH'S HEROICS

THE Hartshorne Cup 2-man team final has been delayed due to illness so will now probably be played in June, as it was already behind schedule prior to that due to the semi final being cancelled twice previously.

KEITH MANLOVE won both his singles frames but couldn't quite tip the scales.

Jimmy Gratton and Hannah Jones will play Ben Monk and Andrew Gratton in the showdown to the event after they defeated Keith Manlove and Paul Holmes 3-2.
Keith won both his frames, while Hannah and Jimmy won one each, with the latter notching a 31 break to boot.

And in the deciding frame, the Jaxx duo clicked superbly to notch a match-winning contribution of 63 in the scotch doubles to put them in line to lift the Presidents Cup, the old pairs trophy which was recovered this year to be presented to the top break winners after being presumed lost for so long.

Hartshorne Cup 2-man team semi final: Jimmy Gratton / Hannah Jones (Jaxx) 3, Keith Manlove / Paul Holmes (Matlock Club) 2.
Breaks: J Gratton / H Jones 63 (scotch dbls); J Gratton 31.