Held at Premier Bowl Blackpool on Saturday 4^th January 2003.

1. Team Managers Reports

ACTION

Juniors (BG & PS). BG listed the results of the u14 u16 & u18 boys and girls and confirmed that six training sessions had been held.

The point was raised that more of these training sessions were necessary to encourage team building. Everybody agreed, but it was pointed out that more volunteers/instructors would be needed to carry out more sessions.

PS confirmed that the vast majority had been carried out by himself, Tony Ashworth and Laurie Wilson with Barbara Glover doing the administration and he thanked them all for their efforts.

Last year they had carried out three sessions which were repeated at different venues making a total of six sessions altogether.

Jim Missen had confirmed that he had some time available amongst his other bowling commitments and would like to offer his services again for the training of Lancashire junior bowlers.

BG/PS to organise and co ordinate BG/PS

Cath Dennison also offered her services but pointed out that she was not a qualified instructor. Danny Booth also said he would help. BG/PS to discuss with them both how best they could help. BG/PS

BG confirmed that they would be holding a volunteers meeting shortly. She would be contacting those concerned in the near future.BG

YAC report. MG stated that he had spoken to PW who reported that the YAC ladies team had all confirmed their availability for the Inter County Tournament. He was still waiting for final confirmation from one member of the men’s team Paul was still interested in running a county YAC league either bowling at their own centres and posting their scores to him weekly or trying to set up centre YAC teams to take part in a County version of the JST tournament.

Gary Marcus stressed the need for this as there was no competitive bowling for bowlers who had just left the juniors except for adult leagues.

All those interested were asked to contact their centre representative or any member of the executive.

The issue was raised about the fact that a county could only have one under 18 in a YAC county team whereas the adults could have all the team from the juniors if they were good enough. The meeting unanimously agreed that this issue should be taken up at National level and Lancashire’s concern raised and debated.

Adult Report. Phil and Chris Aldersley tabled the list of the adult squad members from which the teams would be selected. Letters to these bowlers would be sent out shortly. They confirmed their intention of holding some 'team building get to know each other’ practice sessions.

Seniors Report. MG told the meeting that it was with regret that he had received the resignation of fellow Senior team manager Pat Clift for personal reasons. The meeting thanked her for her services over the past few years with the Seniors. Carol Barter volunteered to take on the role.

It was also with deepest sadness that the meeting was informed of the sudden death of John Larrard from Morecambe. He had bowled for many years at Morecambe and Preston and had attended some of our quarterly meetings. He had only recently taken part in the trials and was looking forward to being part of the Lancashire Seniors group.

MG confirmed that after liaising with Carol, they would be sending out the letters to the successful senior ladies and men’s squad members MG/CB

 

2. Shirts

BW produced and passed around an alternative shirt that had been obtained as per the previous minutes. The majority agreed that we should remain with the existing shirt supplier as it appeared better quality plus the cost from our existing supplier had been slightly reduced because of the omission of some of the embroidery. BW had now got some shirts in stock but the majority of these had been allocated.

Would all team managers, as soon as possible establish the number of shirts required by their Squad members and get the order to BW ASAP so that one bulk order could be placed.

The cost of purchasing a shirt will be decided once this order has been placed.

GM confirmed that the county juniors fund raising bag packing day had been arranged for Sunday 26^th January at Asda Supermarket Cherry Tree, Blackpool.

Pete Singleton agreed to look after this event. PS

GM said that when he had done these in the past for his YBC, the juniors that had taken part benefited from the money raised. The meeting agreed that those taking part should be given their county shirt instead of having to buy it.

It was pointed out that this would be a good start to the team building process and help the young bowlers to get to know each other.

 

3. Tournaments

The County Championships – MG confirmed that he had made progress. He was waiting to finalise costs before announcing the venue. It would be open for all Lancashire BTBA members with singles, doubles and probably five man team events, handicapped, with the top 16 scratch, cutting to 8, for a round robin final. Possible sponsors had been contacted and a reply was awaited. The date would probably be 10^th&11th May 2003. MG was hoping to have a good response because of all the comments about lack of tournaments in the area by the BTBA for local bowlers to compete in

Lancs v Yorks Scott Banks - PA stated that after a long discussion with Rita Wood of Yorkshire (because of the congested bowling calendar) the date had been agreed as Sunday 9^th February 2003 at Accrington Superbowl. He requested assistance at getting the sanction forms in due to the shortage of time. MG

PS/PA requested that all team managers forward the names of their team members available for this tournament so that the squading could be sorted.

All Managers

The Little and Large Tournament – JL confirmed having sent the sanction form in and was waiting for a reply.

It was anticipated that the date would be the 13^th April 2003 and held at Morecambe.

Grand Prix Doubles – This was anticipated to be in August over two Sundays held at Morecambe bowl with hopefully, the prize money through the sponsors guaranteed. JL confirmed that she intended to apply for this to be considered for a merit tournament.

JH confirmed that she had filled in a BTBA form for the past two years concerning the possibility of running a merit tournament and had heard nothing back. MH said he would enquire into who was in charge of deciding which events were merit tournaments. MH

Mixed Doubles – GM & JH stated that they would like to run this tournament at Blackpool. BrW confirmed he would assist with the scoring GM/JH

5 Man Team Tournament – PA expressed an interest in running this possibly linking it with the Seniors as a team building get together.

 

4. Communications

MG again expressed the importance of talking and keeping everybody informed as to what is going on. During his first year as secretary he had seen a number of occasions where difficulties had occurred and people been upset through lack of communication.

The web site www.lancsbtba.co.uk was discussed at length. The main points were as follows: -

The meeting strongly confirmed its wish to continue with some form of web site. The idea had been good, the web site had been extensively used and was informative and entertaining.

It was agreed that there had been some nasty and destructive messages posted and the meeting expressed concern that these might be taken as representative of the Lancashire BTBA, bearing in mind that this site can be accessed world wide. They would like to have some way of controlling and editing the contents. However it was stated that they did not want to take away the simplicity and ease in which the site could be used. It was agreed that the majority of sensible adults could filter out the rubbish and benefit from the rest.

It was pointed out to the meeting however, that children, some quite young, read the contents of the forum on the web site but do not always have the ability to distinguish what is right and wrong and may be misled by some of the contents.

MH BrW and PA agreed to get together and look at possible options for the next meeting. ; MH/BrW/PA

Centre Representatives. It was believed that the system was working quite well and that information was being distributed. It was made clear that as well as the centre reps there was also the YBC contacts for information. These might not be the same person.

Phil and Chris Aldersley confirmed that they no longer bowled at White City due to their league moving to Worsley, therefore they could no longer be the reprentative. Anthony Ashworth said he would carry out this role for the time being. AA also had heard rumours that the bowl was closing, possibly in February but could not get anything positive from the management and requested that the BTBA contact the proprietors to see if they could get any response regarding the future of the bowl. MG

The Centre reps list is as follows
Morecambe             Bev Weisenburger
Preston Lakeside      Barbara Glover
White City Manchester Anthony Ashworth
Stockport             Carl Dulson
Wigan                 Geoff Rens
Worsley               Jackie Batty
Edge Lane Liverpool   The Little family
Burnley               Andy Constantine
Preston Megabowl      Fred Timberlake
Accrington            To be confirmed


BrW confirmed that he still had to send them all a small pack of information. BrW

 

5. Chairman’s Report – MH expressed his thanks on behalf of the county to all the executive, managers and officials for all the hard work and commitment they had put in during the last year. He thought the county was starting to feel the benefits of their efforts and sensed a team spirit and enthusiasm within the extremely well attended meeting.

   He informed the meeting that Eric Harvey (Chairman), Pat Harries (Secretary)Alan Moseley (Team England Junior Manager) Dave Hempshaw and Rita Wood, all members of the National Committee of the NAYBC had resigned their positions within the NAYBC and that for the time being the junior organisation at National level was being run by the BTBA national executive.

   He thanked the bowl management for their excellent hospitality in providing a marvellous buffet and refreshments and for the use of their room.

   MH asked if anybody wanted to be the delegate for the Lancashire area at the National BTBA Annual General Meeting. MG confirmed that he would attend dependant on the date.

   6.00 Any other business - MG handed round details of

   Fred Miller’s attempt to break the world record for continuous bowling to raise funds for the Roy Castle Lung Foundation with representatives of the Guinness Book of records in attendance. He was attempting to bowl continuously for over 48 hours starting at 11.45am on Friday 28th February through Saturday and Sunday at Wigan bowl. He had arranged for the Mayor to be there to start him off, with TV and radio coverage and he was looking for people to bowl with him for short periods of time as pacers. Anybody interested please contact Fred direct or Barbara Glover. He also asked if a member of Lancashire BTBA Executive could attend. The bowl will be open all night with a disco and singer for some of the time.

   MG also read out an email received from Carl Dulson. Carl asked about the reason for the lack of Team England events in the north and especially the North West The BTBA is a national organisation and should represent the whole of the country. MH agreed to look into this.

   MG confirmed that nominations for election to the national council would be due soon.

   Next Meeting

   The date for the next meeting was agreed as Saturday 5^th April 2003 at 7.00pm with a request that we return centrally to Preston Lakeside. MG was asked to find out if this was possible with the bowl management