Morning all, here we go.  We are about to lift off!

Morning all, we're almost there; the league starts in just over three weeks time.

Annual General Meeting

19^th March 2024

held at the Ex Services Club, Bicester

Apologies: Sophie Thomson, John Plested, Lewis Wilson.

1. Welcome - Phil Allen (Secretary) welcomed everyone to the meeting. How encouraging it was to see so many there (31). He explained that, in the case of any voting throughout the meeting, it would be just one vote per team.

2. Minutes of the last meeting – Those in attendance were happy with the minutes of the 2023 meeting. Proposed by Nick Cherry and seconded by Amy Sheehan.

3. Finance – Phil Allen produced a copy of, and discussed, the accounts which had already been distributed. It was explained that the registration fees (£1395) and the competition entrance fees (£299) were, quite obviously, insufficient to cover the expenditure (£3164.71). And this is why he, as treasurer, was so grateful to a number of sponsors who donated another £1190. It was then further discussed that next season (2025) the registration fees should be increased to £50 per team. All members present were happy with the paperwork produced. Proposed by Billy Atwell and seconded by Ant Bradbeer.

4. Election of officers – the secretary explained that both he and the chairman, George Deans, would be happy to stand again but asked everyone in attendance to bear in mind that the time is near (like, next year!) when members should be considering a replacement for the long standing secretary.

Nomination Proposer Seconder

Chairman/MC George Deans Aimee Sheehan Billy Atwell ) Proposed, seconded

Secretary Phil Allen Aimee Sheehan Billy Atwell ) and voted for en bloc

Treasurer Phil Allen Aimee Sheehan Billy Atwell )

5. Constitution of the League

We will continue as last year, ie:

• nine players may be used in the match

• five legs

• six players per leg

• players can be changed in each leg if desired

• in the event of a drawn leg, three stickers and then one sticker (if necessary), staying on one stick

• one point for a win

Divisions cannot be formulated until completed registration forms are received by the secretary.

The only team known to be dropping out is Launton S&S Divas.

Teams known to be keen to join us are Ardley United FC, Barley Mow, Bicester Bowls Club, Crown Twyford B and Pheasant Inn B.

In the hope of finding more new teams, the secretary has written to a number of “new” pubs to see if they

would like to join us and is awaiting further response.

It was reiterated by the secretary that it wasn’t possible to say at the meeting which team would be in which division. This cannot be done, of course, until the completed registration forms have been returned. And, to amplify this, the secretary will continue to check the registration forms to see if any “higher class” player has dropped into a lower team thereby increasing that team’s potential average. Should that be the case, then consideration will be given as to whether that benefiting team should be in a higher division – and, maybe, if the losing team should drop down.

6. Fixtures/Cup Competitions

The 2024 season will commence on Wednesday 24^th April.

As in recent years, there will be no free weeks in the fixtures – unless, of course, it’s a cup week and teams have already been knocked out. The “divisional” singles and pairs competitions have proven to be a great success and every effort will be given to playing down to the final at each venue, thus eliminating any need for a semi finals night.

With teams now comprising of six players, the previous four a side competition will be replaced by a triples competition.

7. Any other business

The secretary thanked all of our sponsors for their support last season and explained we couldn’t have managed without their help.

Result reporting this coming season will continue to be via WhatsApp.

Karl Budd proposed that the secretary takes his wife out for a meal, paid for out of league funds.

If an away team cannot fulfil a fixture because of a lack of players, or intend not turning up because of

inclement weather, then they are asked to notify the opposition by midday. If the home team/hosting pub or

club have that feeling, or suspect that the visiting team will not turn up, then, to save unnecessary

expenditure, they do not have to prepare food. If cancellation is due to the weather, both teams must

understand that food is unlikely to be prepared.

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With the indoor leagues now 'done and dusted', I can concentrate on the summer league.

Sadly the indoor leagues are coming to a close - just the finals nights to come this week - but, wow, what a couple of great nights to finish off the Handicap Leagues.

Plaudits of the week have to go to Ian Cantwell for thirteen in each of his two matches, including another six (his fourth of the season).   Not a bad evening's work, 26 dolls.  Well done Ian.  A bit of a mixed bag for his team though (the Red Cow) as they whitewashed the table topping Ex Services but were then beaten by the same scoreline by Mr&MrsFits.  Not the best of weeks for an underperforming Ex Services side either.  As was said earlier, they lost all six points against the Red Cow and then another four against the RiffRaff, to then be replaced at the top of the table by Lower Heyford S&SC.  And, whilst it took Clive Lampitt until last week to get his first Tuesday league six, he came up with another this week.  Well done Clive.

A couple of encouraging attendances for the singles' competitions this week - 39 on each evening.

TUESDAY

League Champions - Bull Inn

Knockout Cup Winners - Red Cow

Knockout Plate Winners - Bull Inn

2.5prs Cup Winners - Mr&MrsFits

2.5prs Plate Winners - Red Cow

Singles Winner - Ian Cantwell

Pairs Winners - Nigel King and Kevin Powney

Triples Winners - Roger Herbert, Fred Houghton, Michelle 

Oakley

Top Doll Scorer - Karl Budd
Handicap League Winners - Red Cow

Not the best of evenings for the table topping Ex Services on Tuesday, but, with their closest rivals, Lower Heyford S&SC and the Red Cow, also dropping vital points, the Ex's remain at the top.  In their first match against Mr&MrsFits, despite Baz's six, they came second best on the end of a 4-2 defeat and then drew three each against Launton S&S.  Chasing them, Lower Heyford got the better of Launton S&S, beating them 4-2 but then lost by the same scoreline to Mr&MrsFits.  Unknowingly at the time, it was a great opportunity for the Red Cow to close the gap - but, after a very profitable 5-1 victory over the Bull Inn, they played very badly (by their standards) and lost 5-1 against the RiffRaff.  Individually, Karl Budd had a terrific evening, hitting 25 dolls (13 and 12, including a six), Tony Nichols with 21 (9 and 12), Ian Cantwell 20 (two tens) and Lee Gardiner with ten in his three legs.

A very profitable Tuesday evening for the Ex Services.  After taking four points in a low scoring match against the RiffRaff they then put together a much improved performance - with Rick Gumbert hitting 11 dolls - to whitewash a below par Red Cow team 6-0 - and to open up the gap at the top of the table.  An even better eleven points for Lower Heyford S&SC - a maximum six against the Bull Inn and five against Bell B - shoots them up into second place.  With a 'guest appearance' from last week's sickie (Tony Nichols - 9 and 10 dolls), and the team skipper's much improved performance (Phil Allen - 11 and 10), Launton S&S's nine points (five against Bell B and four against the Bull) take them up a further place 'away from relegation'!  Many congratulations to the Bell who, with only four players, hit twelve and drew a leg against Launton and thirteen and drew a leg against Lower Heyford.  Well done to Nigel King who, by his normally high standards, had a very poor evening - but still managed to hit that magical six.

Ian Cantwell's 21 dolls (including his third six of the season) and Liam Fisher's 20 on Tuesday evening, enabled the Red Cow to beat Launton S&S 5-4 and Lower Heyford S&SC 4-2.   With Rick Gumbert performing well for the Ex Services - 19 dolls in his five legs - they've pipped the Red Cow by four dolls for that top spot in the table.  The Ex's beat Bell B 6-0 in their first match followed by a 4-2 victory over a well under par Bull Inn.   In a close match between Lower Heyford S&SC and the RiffRaff, the club came out on top 4-2 but they then lost by the same scoreline to the Red Cow.  With Nigel Wakelin hitting a six (following a blob!!), the RiffRaff reversed their previous result and beat Launton S&S 4-2.

A Happy New Year to you all.

Two great evenings of triples this week.  Rather a pity that a few were unable to attend, mainly due to sickness, but still a great turnout on each evening - 17 teams on Tuesday and 16 on Wednesday.  Not surprisingly, with the averages pretty much identical, we had a few very close matches - some even going to five three stickers!  All in all, very enjoyable.

On Tuesday evening, in the final "league" fixtures, eyes were on the Bull Inn's and the RiffRaff's 'fight' for the runners up spot.  RiffRaff were up against the already crowned champions, the Red Cow, whilst the Bull were facing the challenge of the Bell.  Level on points but the Bull had a far superior dolls advantage, it really meant RiffRaff were chasing all six points.  And, with the Red Cow only having four players, RiffRaff took the first two legs fairly comfortably.  But then, with Ian Cantwell producing another five-leg, the Red Cow upped a gear and took the last 12-10.  The Bull then, with the aforementioned dolls advantage, were quite aware that four points would be sufficient - and they did that by taking the first two legs off the Bell.  Elsewhere on the night, Mr&MrsFits beat Lower Heyford S&SC by the same scoreline as did Launton S&S against the Ex Services.

On Tuesday evening, with the Bull having another poor week, the Red Cow took full advantage and are now ten points clear at the top of the table.  In their first match of the evening, against an 'over performing' Launton S&S - and under performing themselves - they dropped all six points.  Tony Nichols threw well for the S&S (12 dolls in that match, including a six (21 on the night)).  They did redeem themselves somewhat in their second match, taking all six points off Lower Heyford S&SC.  The Red Cow, on the other hand, had a very profitable evening with maximum points and 48 dolls against the Ex Services, followed by a 5-1 success over Mr&MrsFits - in fact, after half an hour of putting this report together, I've just realised they're this season's LEAGUE CHAMPIONS!  Well done chaps.  Bell B had a terrific start to the evening, hitting 14 dolls and taking the first leg off Lower Heyford S&SC - but then .....!

Tuesday KO Cup - Ex Services, Bull Inn, Lower Heyford S&SC, Mr&MrsFits

Tuesday KO Plate - Launton S&S, Red Cow, Bell, RiffRaff

Wednesday KO Cup - Misfits, Crown, Bell, The Cherries

Wednesday KO Plate - Unwanted, Ashton Club, Shakespeare, Ex Services

Once again (as last year), very pleasing attendances for this week's pairs competitions - 23 pairs on Tuesday and 25 on Wednesday.

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