MINUTES OF HALESOWEN CHESS CLUB AGM 2010

LIGHTHOUSE PUB TUESDAY 18 MAY 19:30

Present

         S Fishburne (Chair)                        A Ambrose                R Grimes                  

                        D Digger (Treasurer)           J Asbury                    M Hadley

                        J Southcote (Sec)                P Banks                     M Hunt

                                                                        M Bethel                    J Llewelyn

                                                                        D Curry                      D Martin

                                                                        J Edge                        W Peck

                                                                        J Evans                      A Taylor

                                                                        P Evans                     J Taylor

                                                                                                            M Vile

Apologies: D Jackson, M Clark.

1. Fred Freshwater

The meeting noted with sadness the passing this season of our team mate and friend, Fred Freshwater.

2. 2009 Minutes

Accepted.

3. Matters Arising

The Chairman reported that after research no funding from Dudley Council had been identified.

Malcolm Hunt reported that no better alternative premises had been identified.

4. Officers’ Reports

Secretary: Another exciting year of admin. An additional team was added in Division 6 of the Birmingham league. This proved the correct decision, but left us tight on players. This, combined with many fixture re-arrangements due to the severe winter caused problems. It was a credit to our players and team captains that all fixtures were eventually fulfilled (last one on 12 May) and hardly any boards defaulted. Furthermore, it was the most successful season in a number of years with one divisional title (Wolverhampton 3) and one other Promotion (Birmingham 4). Congratulations to those teams and the respective captains, Tony and Don.The season ahead promises to be equally challenging, as it currently looks as if we will have to operate with fewer players.

Treasurer: presented the year’s accounts which were accepted by the meeting.

Webmaster: the supplier of the site was changed in order to maintain free hosting and this may need to be done again shortly.

5. Captains’ Reports

Wolverhampton Summer League 2009 ( Pete Banks): all games (4) lost and finished bottom, but everyone who wanted to play was given a game.

Birmingham Div 1 (John Edge): solid performance with mid-table finish. Best regular Malcolm Hunt on 60%. Don Curry coming in as a reserve scored 67%. Mark Bethel and Mike Hadley were ever-present.

Birmingham Div 4 (Don Curry): Won promotion in 2nd place and narrowly denied 1st. 9 players used and 5 regulars all scored over 50%. Winsor Peck outstanding with 9/11.

Birmingham Div 5 (Tony Taylor): relegated in a play-off after a rough season. Had lost two top bards to Div 4 by the time of the play-off.

Birmingham Div 6 (Joyce Evans): a reasonable season. 8th place with W4 D3 L4 record, using 8 players. Mark Vile had the best record (W3 D4 L1).

Wolverhampton Div 1 (Stewart Fishburne): a good season, finising 4th out of 11. Best were Stewart Fishburne and Malcolm Hunt on the top two boards with 6/8 each. Mike Hadley was ever-present.

Wolverhamton Div 3 (Tony Taylor): champions by 2 points using 10 players across the 5 boards.

Wolverhampton Div 4 (John Southcote): propped up the Wolverhampton League with 1 win in 10. However provided league chess for 11 players across 4 boards.

Dudley Div 1 (Bob Grimes): joint bottom but enjoyable games.

Dudley Div 2 (Paul Evans): happy with mid table finish.

Dudley Div 3 (Joyce Evans): a creditable performance, finishing 2nd.

Worcester County 1 (Andy Ambrose): a good start, but difficult last 3 games. Finished 2 points behind champions Malvern with W2 D3 L1 record. Maureen Clark scored 2/2 and John Llewelyn 4/5.

Worcester County 2 (Paul Evans): 3rd place. Failed to win a toss for choice of colours all season.

4NCL (Windsor Peck): not a good season for results but enjoyed by all 10 players who took part ( Windsor, Jon A, John L and guests from other clubs). Unable to get the sponsorship enjoyed by other teams. Thanks to Jon A for driving.  

6. Award of Trophies

Reg Beasley Individual Trophy: John Llewelyn

Kevin Ryder Team Trophy:        Wolverhampton Div 3

Player of the Season:                 Derek Digger

Quickest Win:                               Pete Banks and Bob Grimes (13 moves)

Summer Knock Out:                    Not completed

Ladder:                                           Not awarded

Pete Banks undertook to take over running of Summer Knock Out and gave notice that where games were not completed on time both players would be eliminated.

The Ladder was not awarded as the nominal winner, Dayl Martin, had played no games because he remained unchallenged. It was decided to continue with the Ladder in 2010/11.

7. Teams for 2010/11          

It was decided to drop one team from the Birmingham League due to loss of players. Thus teams would be entered as follows:

3 in Birmingham DCL (Divs 1, 3 and 6)

3 in Wolverhampton DCL (Divs 1, 2 and 4)

3 in Dudley DCL (Divs 1, 2 and 3)

8. Election of Officers for 2010/11

Chairman: S Fishburne

Secretary: J Southcote

Treasurer: D Digger             (all elected unopposed)

Summer KO and Ladder Controller: P Banks

Publicity Officer (New post): P Banks

9. Team Captains for 2010/11

Birmingham 1: J Edge                                Wolverhampton 1: A Ambrose

          3: D Curry                                                             2: A Taylor           

                     6: A Taylor                                                             4: J Southcote

Dudley          1: R Grimes                            Worcester          1: S Fishburne    

                        2: P Evans                                                          2: P Evans                       

                        3: J Evans

 4NCL               W Peck

10. Review of Fees

The Treasurer’s view was that fees should go up to compensate for falling membership. The Chairman put a proposal to the meeting that the fee for each category of membership should be increased by £5 ( making full membership £50 pa and concessions £35). This proposal was carried “nem con”.

11. Motions at forthcoming League AGMs

The meeting decided the club should vote as follows:

BDCL proposal from Sutton Coldfield and West Bromwich to switch default to quick play finishes: vote against.

BDCL proposal from Records Sec to make default dependant on majority club preferences expressed at registration: vote against.

BDCL proposal from Redditch to amend rule on venue for adjournments: vote against.

WDCL proposal from Kidderminster to return to 6 boards in Div 2: vote in favour.

12. Summer Schedule

The Secretary distributed a draught Summer Schedule. The date for the Tony Evers game was subject to change as confirmation of the date had not yet been received from Stourbridge. The Secretary pointed out that the Lighthouse would not permit us to bring our own food and drink for consumption on the premises. Don Curry suggested the game be switched to Stourbridge where we could still bring the refreshments. There was no objection raised to this and the Secretary agreed to put the suggestion to Stourbridge.

13 AOB

Mark Vile indicated that a team involved in the BDCL play-offs (not our opponents in Div 5) appeared to have fielded a player clearly out of order of strength. The Chairman undertook to check on this.

Bob Grimes urged that raffles be done on buzzer/simul nights in his absence.

John Edge pointed out that Tony Taylor would be playing in the final of the Div 5 Individual Competition at South Birmingham on  2 June. The meeting congratulated Tony on reaching the final and wished him well in that game.

The meeting closed at 21:48.