Minutes of the League Management Committee Meeting at Syston on Monday 3 July 2006

Present: Jim Bingham [JB], John Dawkins [JVD], Iain Dodds [ID], Graham Hewitt [GH], Sean Hewitt [SH], Alan Jex (AJ - Chair), Julie Johnson [JJ], Jim Miller (JNM - Secretary), John Pattinson [JP], Mike Thornton [MT], Steve Wylie [SW].

1. Apologies

Peter Harrison, Cyril Johnson.  GH and JP were welcomed.

2. Minutes

The minutes of the meeting held on 5 June 2006 were approved.

3. Matters Arising

None.

4. Allocations of Teams to Divisions for 2006-7

JNM presented the clubs' requests.  After discussion the following allocations were agreed:

Division 1 – Braunstone 1; Loughborough 1 and 2; Wigston 1 and 2; Birstall 1; Littlethorpe 1; Scraptoft Valley (formerly Thurnby) 1 (8 teams).

Division 2 – Syston 1; Ashby 1; Littlethorpe 2; Oakham School 1; Birstall 2; Shepshed Rooks; Scraptoft Valley 2; Wigston 3 (8 teams).

Division 3 – Littlethorpe 3 and 4; Wigston 4; Hinckley 1; Loughborough 3; Market Harborough; Braunstone 2 (7 teams).

Division 4 – Littlethorpe 5 and 6; Syston 2; Oadby; Wigston 5; DSS; Spinney Hill WMC 1; Braunstone 3 (8 teams).

Division 5 – Spinney Hill WMC 2; Syston 3; Littlethorpe 7 and 8; Braunstone 4 and 5; Hinckley 2; Ashby 2 (8 teams).

Division 6 – Oakham School 2; Uppingham School; Melton Mowbray; Spinney Hill WMC 3; Littlethorpe 9, 10, and 11; Leicester University? (7 or 8 teams).

5. Fixture List for 2006-7

There was a discussion about fixtures for next season.  Only minor criticisms of the 2005-6 list had been reported – (1) the need for a regular programme of matches for each team, with no long gaps; and (2) two teams sometimes played each other (home and away) in quick succession.  MT promised to do his best with these issues; JNM would send him the list of club requests.

6. Summer Cups

JNM reported smooth progress with all three cups.

7. Charity Quick-Play, 20 September

It was noted that a venue for this event was still required, but the date should be retained if possible.  JP would study the Scraptoft Valley possibilities.  JB said that SCOPE would be his chosen charity.  JNM reported that the ECF had agreed to waive the game fees, so that players' results could be counted for Rapid-Play gradings.  The waiver would be prominently publicised.

8. Open Rapid Play Event

It was agreed that (1) this event should be called the Wylie Cup; (2) JNM would consult on the provision of a trophy for it; and (3) that the format should be considered in some detail at the next meeting, alongside a review of the related Harrod Cup, for which entries were still disappointing.

9. Date of Next Meeting

Monday 6 November.

JNM – 7 July 2006