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Nidderdale & District Amateur Cricket League
2016 Annual General Meeting
Monday 30th November 2015 - Ripley Town Hall 7.30pm
Meeting opened at 19.30 with Sir Thomas Ingilby in the Chair.
1. A Roll call of clubs took place.
2. Apologies for Absence
Martin Blackham, Rob Allison, Ben Drummond, Erik Thompson
Jim Lindsay (Spennithorne and Harmby)
Absent – Sharow
3. The minutes of the A.G.M. held on Monday 19th January 2015 were accepted as a true and accurate record.
4. Matters arising from the minutes
None
5. Life memberships
New Life Memberships of the Nidderdale League were proposed and were duly presented to:
· Alec Houseman
· Sir Thomas Ingilby
Reports of the 2015 season
6. Honorary League Secretary – Graham Hyde
Sir Thomas, Ladies and Gentlemen.
The 2015 season began on Saturday April 18th 2015 contested by 54 clubs with 103 teams arranged into 9 divisions.
Boroughbridge and Staveley Cricket Clubs came together into one club playing 1st team games at Boroughbridge and 2nd team games at Staveley. Beckwithshaw 3rds and Pannal Ash moved closer together as clubs making use of the extended Player Loan Scheme. We welcomed Whixley Cricket Club to the league this season, who moved their 1st and 2nd teams from the Wetherby league.
We scheduled 1,123 fixtures
During the season we lost Hampsthwaite 3rds, Sharow 2nds and Newby Hall 3rds
3,049 players played at least one fixture, down slightly on 2014 where 3,086 players played at least one fixture
39 players played every week
Most players played 13 games in the season
Pannal won the Division One Title and League Championship
The most Hospitable Ground was Glasshouses, the most improved ground North Stainley and the Player of the Year was Aaron Brunner from Knaresborough Forest
Pannal will leave the Nidderdale League, to benefit from the new Yorkshire Cricket Pyramid that comes into being for 2016. This allows ambitious clubs to move towards the pinnacle of Yorkshire club cricket through a series of feeder leagues, ultimately to the ECB Premier League North.
Killinghall has taken the bold step to concentrate all their efforts on one team, playing in Division Four in 2016. Glaphay and Winksley will slot into Division Seven. There has been an exercise to reform the divisions which has been shared with all clubs.
The number of conceded fixtures was significantly up on previous years. This was attributed to both a reduction in player commitment but also the removal of the points deduction at the 2015 AGM by clubs.
In conjunction with Think Cricket, a local cricket coaching company, the League has become involved in the creation of a new cricketing product, the Harrogate Indoor Cricket League. Aimed at all ages, it aims to complement the product offered to junior players throughout the winter.
The end of season dinner was held at The Cairn Hotel in Harrogate on Friday 20th November with Mike Watkinson the guest speaker. Mike was joined by comedian Jamie Sutherland. The dinner was the largest in terms of numbers we have ever had at 342 people. A great achievement.
The 2016 season begins on Saturday 16th April. Season ends on Saturday 10th September. There will be 54 clubs entering 98 teams, in 2016.
7. League Representative Side – Graham Hyde
The League Side had two fixtures during the 2015 season.
The Ingilby Shield was hosted by Rainton towards the end of the season and was won by the Nidderdale Overseas Players. Our thanks go to Rainton for providing a wonderful day of hospitality and great wicket.
MCC – this fixture was hosted by Goldsborough and was won by the MCC. Thanks must go to the club for providing an experience fitting of such a prestigious fixture. Thanks to Sir Thomas for once again providing a wonderful celebration evening at the Castle
Chris Morrison did a fantastic job as League Team captain and thanks must be extended to him also. Drop outs on the morning of fixtures are par for the course and finding players at late notice is often challenging. Chris, with assistance from David Cummings has led his team and achieved much success.
8. Knockout Cup Competitions – Graham Hyde
Atkinson Swires Cup was won by Ouseburn and was played at Burton Leonard
Barrett Cup was won by Harrogate Strays and was played at Raskelf
Wath Cup was won by Boroughbridge and Staveley and was played at Raskelf
Peter Bentley Cup was won by Burnt Yates 2nds and was played at Raskelf
9. Treasurer - Bob Skaith
As the AGM is today we are, of course, out of sync with our year end 31 December. So this report is a quick snapshot of where we are now.
Most things are pretty much as in previous years and we are very grateful to our sponsors for keeping us in a strong position financially. As we are a month early, there are still a few things to come through such as the bill for the trophies presented at the dinner and the bill from the Cairn has been paid but the cheque not presented yet. All ticket monies are in.
You will note that money paid out for courses has increased considerably- clubs have been paid £1300 towards coaching courses which is one of the main things we are here for to encourage junior players. Umpires Courses are included also.
Fines appear to be down, but £315 is still owing- I would ask all clubs to give payment of these their urgent attention. I would remind everyone that fines should be paid within 21 days of the infringement.
Telephones and Postages is higher as we've paid an outstanding claim from the end of last year and Umpire's Secretary's figure includes an honorarium of £250 which was wrestled off the League Secretary!
Monies for extra balls ordered during the season (132) are outstanding, but I have only just sent the bills out- payment by the year end would be appreciated.
The provisional balance at the bottom of the page (£37812) is mainly made up of Bank Balance £25,410 and Stock of Balls (708) £12,744, less fines owed £315 - those mathematicians amongst you will note that I have nearly balanced!
Appendix One
10. Ground Committee - Ben Drummond
There were no issues following the ground inspections and these will again take place in April. If any club wants to meet their inspector, then please get in contact with me via email.
11. Umpires Secretary – Rob Allison
Hot topics for last season were Umpiring Resource & Recruitment, The Spirit of Cricket, the amendment to Rule 21 (weather interrupted 2nd innings) piloted in Divisions 1 & 2, the new start time of 1.30pm and slow over rates.
At the last AGM we introduced the rule that Nidderdale League Panel Umpires must be members of ECB ACO or (for umpires who are ECB coaches) ECB AC. Whilst some feared this could deplete our numbers, we lost just one umpire as a direct result. The huge majority see the significant benefits arising to the League & ECB ACO members alike arising from DBS clearance, personal accident and personal liability insurances included within the annual fee of £30. Our numbers were nonetheless stretched due to retirements, poor health and the demands of everyday life affecting the availability of umpires just as it did the availability of players. Unfortunately, in 2015, 52 of the 132 matches (39%) in Division 2 didn’t have an umpire appointed. There is cause for cautious optimism for 2016, with a number of us returning after health problems, some recruitment from NY&SD League and a couple of our erstwhile playing umpires joining us to umpire on Saturdays.
We are extremely grateful to Guy Smalley and Barry Nickels for once again running the ECB ACO Level 1 Course at Ripley Castle between January & March 2015. We gained the regular weekend services of two of the delegates and the occasional weekend services, as well as midweek support, from a good number of others. Interest has already been shown by more than a handful of people to attend the 2016 course. We intend a push to recruit more new umpires. You will hear more as things progress but, in addition to the evening course at Ripley for umpires to achieve Level 1, we are looking at an Introductory Course to be run at venues in the North and South of our region on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon during the winter which players are invited to attend.
“The Spirit of the Game” is fundamental to the way we play the game. It can be found within The Laws of Cricket as a “Preamble to the Laws”. Whether players are participating in a match which has Panel umpires or the batting side is undertaking the umpires’ roles, we ignore The Spirit of Cricket at our peril. It is appended to this report and I would urge everyone who plays the game to be aware of it but particularly captains, whose responsibilities are very explicit. The very essence of umpiring is impartiality. In 2015 we have seen incidents of dissent towards Panel umpires, thankfully infrequently, and we have heard from the lower divisions of players umpiring but blatantly “favouring” their own sides. Returning to League Panel umpires, they are required to apply The Laws to the best of their ability & judgement. The umpires’ handbook, “Tom Smiths” makes it clear that umpires should not be “officious or pedantic”. I know the huge majority of my colleagues would say that they would prefer to be inconspicuous and don’t go looking for problems. Mutual respect between players and umpires is essential. It isn’t given, it is earned. Mistakes will occur but whether the decision is “right” or “wrong” it must be accepted in good grace and the game moves on. If after the game a captain feels he wishes to discuss a particular decision I’m sure that my colleagues, like me, would be happy to talk things through.
The Nidderdale League umpires met in September to review the season and to offer suggestions to the League secretary based upon their experiences of the season. A key topic is the piloted amendment to Rule 21 in Divisions 1 and 2, removing the widely-misunderstood “last hour”. The umpires’ feeling is that it isn’t perfect but subject to a further amendment should be piloted across the League as a whole in 2016. The AGM will be voting on a proposed change.
In acknowledgement that one of the strains on playing resource arises because of matches encroaching into Saturday evening plans, the 1.30pm start was widely hoped to bring about earlier finishes. Experience amongst umpires has been that it has barely made any difference, which is disappointing. You will have heard from The League Secretary that umpires propose to monitor and record over rates in 2016, encouraging captains to move things along where it is within their control (lost balls are a separate issue at some grounds). In the perfect world we would like to see the 45 overs completed within 2 hours and 40 minutes.
In conclusion, my colleagues and I will be working hard to further establish respect and rapport between the players and ourselves as we go about our duties to ensure the matches are conducted within The Laws and absolutely within The Spirit of the Game. There will always be issues which arise during the season. I’m here to listen and take matters up should captains have things they wish to raise with me at any time; as some have been in the habit of doing.
We have to retain things in perspective and I would hope that the abiding message is that players want to enjoy their cricket and umpires want to have an enjoyable afternoon or evening facilitating that aspiration.
12. Junior League Junior Indoor 6 Aside - Ken Coad
2015 was again a good year for junior cricket, with the biggest challenge being to ensure they continue playing into adult cricket to help the number of matches being conceded.
2015 began with the completion of The Indoor League, so successfully run by Bill and Val Kitson for 13 years, but now under the control of the Junior League. The 2014/15 winning Clubs were :
Studley Royal 2 Trophies
Birstwith, Harrogate and North Stainley 1 Trophy each.
Special appreciation to Mick Dawson, Judith Grange and all the umpires and scorers for making the first season, without the experienced Bill and Val, so successful.
The outdoor season began in April with 12 competitions being contested and again over 100 teams competing for these trophies.
The 2015 winning Clubs were,
Harrogate 5 Trophies
Knaresborough 3 Trophies
Beckwithshaw, North Stainley, Spofforth and Studley Royal 1 Trophy each.
We were delighted to have Yorkshire Tea as the 2015 Junior League sponsors. This was for a one year period, and we are currently negotiating a continuation of this agreement for 2016.
Mick Dawson (League Secretary) and Peter Walker (League Treasurer) are congratulated on their successful merger of the Indoor and Outdoor Leagues, while continuing their usual league duties, along with all of the Age Group Secretaries.
The Taverners representative teams, under the guidance of Emma Lyons, continue to progress, but all Age Groups were heavily affected by the rain, except for the Under 15’s.
The Joe Lumb Under 17’s and the Under 13’s both managed only one fixture, while the Under 11’s and Under 15’s both finished Runners-Up in their groups, but narrowly missed out on qualification to the semi-finals.
So 2015 was a season of consolidating the Indoor and Outdoor Leagues while ensuring that all junior cricket continued to flourish. As always I would encourage any Clubs without Junior Teams to really look at establishing one for the future benefit of cricket in the area.
13. Disciplinary Panel Chairman - Anton Lodge
Rain affected many matches this season and the Disciplinary Panel was called on to make 2 decisions on alleged breaches of Rule 21 (for Divisions 3 to 9) – Matches Delayed or Interrupted by Weather – and Rule 25 – Cancellation of matches.