MINUTES
PRESENT. Barbara Glover, Bryan Wiggans, Mal Holmes. Jenny Lloyd, Bev Weisenburger, Dave Weisenburger, Scott Weisenburger, Mike Glover, John Barter, Carol Barter, Chris Lansdowne, Sophie Lansdowne, Cath Dennison, Samantha Dennison.
Apologies from Jim Missen, Fred Miller, Phil Aldersley, Chris Aldersley, Gregg Jennings, Rachel Jennings, Robin Liptrot, Val Raynor.
Adult
Report.
With the unfortunate apology from the adult managers, Bryan Wiggans who attended the Adult Intercounties at Dunstable told the meeting that the new mens’ team of Mark Wiggans, Steve Ostiadel, Trevor Lamprell, Chris Maughan, Gary Marcus, Nick Lovell and Kevin Weatherill bowled extremely well and demonstrated a tremendous team spirit. They were ably supported on the lanes by Richard Beck. They bowled some excellent games with very high scores, Chris Maughan topping everybody with his first perfect game. Well done Chris. (See notes below regarding this). Unfortunately they lost some games by the narrowest of margins. left them on the last game with the possibility of coming anything between 5th and 2nd. They ended up just outside the medals.
The ladies bowled similarly just loosing games by 2 or 3 pins but also demonstrated an excellent team spirit. Kat Little unfortunately had to sit out the last few games through injury.
Junior Report.
Barbara Glover reported that a Good Day was had by all at the under 16’s Inter Counties at Tamworth. Jackie Batty who was there said that the girls were a young team and tried hard against tough opposition. This was good experience for the future.
They were taking the u14s team to the 6 Counties Tournament at Liverpool next week. This would be followed by the final Inter county competition at Tamworth for the under 14’s on the 7th December 2003.
YAC Report.
Bryan Wiggans confirmed in the absence of the YAC managers that Paul Wild/Rachel Jennings had sent out the forms to the YBC officials throughout the county for them to register the YAC bowlers (ex Juniors) who were interested in taking part in this remote league. From travelling round the county Mike Glover stated that there was a lot of interest and questions asked about when this league would start. It was understood that there would be something going on the web site shortly.
Senior Report.
Carol Barter reported that the Ladies team of Maureen McCarthy, Carol Barter, Irene Crabtree, Lusia Chell, Sheila Southern and Barbara Glover, who had qualified to take part in the finals at Croydon City Limits bowl had a very enjoyable and successful weekend. The first day, they struggled, winning two out of their four games ending up in sixth place. An excellent banquet and disco was provided on the Saturday night with all the right music and a very enjoyable meal. On the second day they came out fighting, winning four out of their five games. With a very tense finish they ended up winning the bronze medal. Well done the senior ladies. Carol reported that she had some difficulties with the accommodation. The County was pleased, as a result of hosting one of the senior rounds plus the seniors themselves fund raising throughout the year that they were able to contribute towards the cost of travel and hotels for each of the bowlers taking part.
Trials
The trials were all now set up to the new format accommodating the comments received mainly from the adult men. Mal Holmes and Mike Glover expressed their dismay that having implemented this change many of the complainers had not put their names down for the trials. Some complaints had been received about the short length of time the trials forms had been available. The meeting thought that three weeks was ample time if you were interested.
Bryan Wiggans stated that from the entries received there appeared to be a similar number to last year with possibly more juniors and less adults. Mike Glover pointed out that this demonstrated where the future success of Lancashire County was to be found.
Mike Glover again requested for volunteers to assist in running the trials especially now that they are over 5 weekends. It was unfair to expect the same individuals to give up all this time.
Bryan Wiggans stated he would do all 5 weekends. Mal Holmes confirmed he would be there the 2nd and 3rd weekends, Mike Glover could definitely attend 1st and 3rd weekends. Further volunteers were necessary for the two adult weekends at Worsley in November
Shirts again this year would be needed. Bev Weisenburger confirmed that last year’s process seemed to work well. She therefore requested that as soon as the trials were completed and the squad members known, could the relevant team managers let Bev know which of the new squad members wanted shirts and what sizes so she could place her bulk order
Tournaments
The Scott Banks event had been agreed with Yorkshire to take place on Sunday 30th November 2003 in Leeds. This was a six person team format one from each age group. There are 4 male and 4 female teams needed from Lancashire. Chris Lansdowne volunteered to co ordinate this and liaise with Paul Noon of Yorkshire. It was agreed that each of the team managers would supply the names of bowlers available from their section to Bev Weisenburger who would sort them into teams and give to Chris.
Bryan Wiggans stated that it was still his intention in conjunction with Ged Marcus to put on a mixed doubles tournament possibly the first weekend in February 2004 at a venue yet to be decided. Bryan would put something on the web site and email centre reps.
As previous years Morecambe were going to be hosting their usual tournaments. Jenny Lloyd confirmed that the Little and Large would be in April 2004 and the ever growing Grand Prix Doubles with the big money prizes for both scratch and handicap divisions would be in August. Jenny stated that she had not heard anything back on whether this tournament would be given Team England Merit status. Mal Holmes confirmed that he had looked into this and that the final decision was down to the Team England committee of the BTBA.
The Web Site
Again this method of communicating and debating bowling was discussed. Whilst some at the meeting thought that comments on the web site were sometimes stupid and occasionally disruptive and as a consequence had not been on the site, others thought that it served a purpose in getting topics and opinions, however stupid, out into the open. The fact that some were anonymous was felt to cause a problem and possibly put the sport of bowling in a bad light but it was agreed that reasonable people could discard these. The benefits were thought to out weigh the problems. Bryan Wiggans stated that the number posting comments on the forum which were now at around 2100 far exceeded his expectations when he first set it up. Mike Glover reported that on his bowling travels countrywide the Lancashire web site was commented on and read with interest by other bowlers from all over the country. Also there was a lot more to the website than just the forum. There was a variety of information available to do with Lancashire bowling. It was agreed to keep it in the same format.
Awards
Bev Weisenburger reported that all the eligible awards had been distributed. She again re iterated the requirement for verification of the achievement to be included with the application in line with the rules laid down
Chris Maughan’s 300 game at the adult Inter county competition at Dunstable was discussed. ‘Well done Chris!’ Mike Glover reported that the BTBA had made him aware that Chris, who had just turned 18 years of age, had been bowling in an adult tournament but at the time was in possession of last years junior membership card. Chris had applied for this year’s adult card. This fact made him ineligible for the BTBA 300 award. Mike Glover confirmed having written a letter to the BTBA apologising for Lancashire’s oversight in allowing him to enter the adult section of the trials whilst only in possession of a junior card. In the letter he also pointed out that the BTBA Inter county officials at Dunstable, who had checked his card on the day, also had not picked up on this point. The BTBA confirmed that an appeal was going in front of the relevant BTBA committee for consideration. The meeting felt that Chris had achieved the score at a sanctioned tournament in a sanctioned centre and hoped that the appeal committee would look favourably on his achievement and grant the award.
Communication
Mike Glover asked the meeting if the centre representative arrangements were working. The meeting thought that generally the process was working well with excellent co-operation from those involved. As a result of Julie Heaton giving birth to her new son Callum (Congratulations and best wishes went from all at the meeting to Julie and Ged) she was obviously unable to fill her role as centre rep at the moment. John and Carol Barter agreed to carry out this function from now on.
Bryan Wiggans stated that he would email all the representatives to update them with things that were going on and give them some current information sheets that they could put on their notice boards.
Mike Glover asked that they all look at their notice boards and get rid of the out of date stuff and replace it with up to date information which could be downloaded from our web site for those without computers to read.
Unfortunately with the absence of Gregg Jennings the communication manager, we could not report on any progress made with this new role.
Chairman’s Report
Mal Holmes reported that he had attended the National AGM of the BTBA in the summer. He informed the meeting of the following matters.
He was provided with reports from the Team England Manager, Chris Buck and Jose Parker Chairman of the Women’s National Committee whose job it is to promote women’s bowling. The Director of National Coaching Arthur McDonnell submitted his report along with Keith Mitchell, Chairman of the newly formed British Tenpin Bowling Coaching Association. Bernie White as Chairman of the Competitive Programme Committee, Derek Brooker Head of Technical and New Equipment Committee and Dave Godfrey, Chairman of the National Young Adults Club all produced reports about what had been going on within their sections of the BTBA. All these reports were available at the meeting. Mike Glover confirmed that he would circulate all these reports in due course to the centre representatives for display on notice boards.
Mal Holmes stated that having “Brackets” at Tournaments (a form of betting behind the lanes on the outcome of scores of randomly selected bowlers in the tournament, certain individuals ran this as a profit making business at major merit tournaments), this had been stopped by the BTBA for a number of reasons but mainly because it was in contravention of BTBA
rule 34.
He reported that the BTBA were still temporarily running the NAYBC but were in the process of looking for and appointing a new chairman as soon as possible.
Mal Holmes informed the meeting of the recent resignation of Les Grant of Yorkshire from the position of County Secretary and also his membership of the Yorkshire Executive. Mal stated that this was a disappointing loss not only to Yorkshire but also to all bowling. Les has extensive experience within bowling after years on the Executive, dedicating most of his spare time to bowling in Yorkshire. He is an instructor, he is one of the few lane/centre inspectors, a team manager not to mention a very good bowler.
The meeting discussed the poor attendance of U18 bowlers at the final practice session set up by the junior managers. It was agreed that the timing of this session had been wrong, as there were no events left for the U18’s. The meeting discussed and all agreed that the junior coach, Pete Singleton had put a tremendous amount of effort, commitment and expense into the job of coaching the junior bowlers. It was agreed that the secretary should write a letter expressing the counties appreciation on behalf of the young bowlers for the work he has done during the last year.
Finally all members present wanted it noted and thought that a letter of thanks should be sent to the centre management at Southport expressing their gratitude for the excellent buffet and refreshments provided. The secretary confirmed that he would do this.
Next Meeting.
It was suggested that the next meeting, which will be the AGM, could be held at Preston Lakeside. Mike Glover said he would contact the management to see if this would be possible. The date proposed was Saturday 10th January 2004 at 7.00pm