The Eric Bateson Retirement League
Minutes of the AGM held at 2pm on 24-11-23 at Thirsk Athletic S & S Club
Those present:-
G Bowman & G Midgeley - Bedale
D May - Bishop Monkton
A Wilkinson & Katherine Mays - Dishforth
G Preston - Harrogate Pinewoods
C Pickard & D McWee - Harrogate Valley Gardens
P Hodgson - Leyburn
M Dale & J Dale - Masham
A Appleby & M Hartley - Thirsk
The chairman Malcolm Hartley welcomed everyone to the meeting.
1) Apologies for absence - B Birchall & P Darbyshire - Bishop Monkton and B Eland - Northallerton.
2) The 2022 AGM Minutes were agreed and therefore adopted.
3) Matters arising - There were no matters arising.
4) 2023 League review - The 2023 league winners were Leyburn and Bishop Monkton were the runners up, a reversal of last years positions. Congratulations to Leyburn and thank you for hosting the winners v the rest. Unfortunately I was unable to attend that match, my thanks to Geoff Snowdon for standing in for me.
I certainly enjoyed the season and I hope everyone else did, I find it to be a friendly and relaxed atmosphere and it is generally warmer on an afternoon. Mentioning weather I think it was relatively kind to us this year. There were only two games lost to the weather, both at Harrogate Pinewoods and there were three games curtailed at twelve ends, two at Harrogate V.G. and the other at Bishop Monkton.
We must record a huge vote of thanks to Basil for all the work he does.
This includes publishing a fixture list, collecting and collating the match results and swiftly issuing results and tables to all the clubs as well as other communications, the website and emails. Thank you Basil.
5) 2023 Elsdon Metcalfe review - The number of entrants increased to twenty four this year which demonstrates that there is an appetite for the competition. Some of the scores submitted in the early rounds indicated some very close matches. The semi finals saw Judith Bish & Malcolm Hartley of Thirsk play Susie & Rex Whistler of Bishop Monkton and David Chapman & Pete Darbyshire of Bishop Monkton play Derek & Judith Chappel. The two Bishop Monkton teams produced strong performances to set up an all Bishop Monkton final with David Chapman & Pete Darbyshire continuing their good form to claim the trophy. My thanks to the Thirsk ladies for keeping everyone refreshed and the green team for preparing the rinks.
6) Financial report - We started the year with £214.65 in the bank. Our only income was the Elsdon Metcalfe entry fees of £48 and the only expenses were the Elsdon Metcalfe trophies and engraving at a cost of £37.87, giving a positive balance of £10.13 which means we now have £224.78 in the funds which is held in the chairmans bank account. A brief discussion took place as to whether clubs should pay a league affiliation fee. It was proposed by G Preston and seconded by A Appleby that there be no fee for 2024 and all agreed.
7) Notice of Motion - An application had been received from Dishforth to re-enter the League. Andrew Wilkinson explained that the club had seen an increase in their membership to a level that would enable them to field a team of twelve players with the required number of both male and female players. All the clubs in attendance were in favour of welcoming Dishforth back into the league.
8) 2024 Teams and Fixtures - Basil had preempted the re admittance of Dishforth back into the league and had circulated a fixture list which reflected this. The 2024 season will start one week earlier and finish three weeks later with teams having two byes in the season. G Preston thanked Basil for re-arranging the Harrogate fixture on their tour weekend to avoid any possible complications.
9) Date of 2024 meeting - 22 November.