| Printable version here |
| Present |
| A. Barkhuysen, S. Bartlett, H. Brown, C. Constable, J. Constable, T. Dengler S. Fanning, I. George, M. Hassall, M. Hill, J. Hooker, D J Jenkins (chairman), R. Kneebone, J. Menadue, J. Moore, R. Nancarrow, J. Wilman |
| Apologies for absence |
| B. Childs, S. Cooke, I. Lewis, D. R. Jenkins, C. Sellwood, R. Smith, G. Trudeau, C. Webb, P. Williams |
| Minutes of the AGM 2013 |
| The minutes, having been circulated before the meeting, were approved (proposed S. Bartlett, seconded H. Brown). There were no matters arising. |
| Accounts and Finance |
The Treasurer presented the accounts for the year. The Napier Fund (a bequest towards junior chess in the county) had previously been incorporated into the General Reserve due to inactivity in junior chess; the Treasurer has now revived this fund because there is substantial effort and activity in junior chess.
The accounts were approved (proposed S. Bartlett, seconded A. Barkhuysen).
It was agreed that consideration of the fees and charges for the ensuing season would be deferred to the Secretaries' Meeting.
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| Officers' Reports |
| President, Junior Secretary and Publicity Officer: (R Kneebone) |
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Robin felt that it was essential for clubs to improve their venues and programmes to attract new members and juniors in particular (parents of juniors had told Robin that they would not take their children to some of the venues used at present). Robin felt that there were only two or three true clubs in the county, rather than groups of players forming teams to enter league competitions. These concerns have driven the many proposals before the meeting.
Junior chess had an extremely active year and Robin’s detailed report, circulated before the meeting, described the activity in detail and thanked the many members who had helped (in particular Jeremy Menadue, Hugh Brown and James Hooker).
Many schools would be keen to start chess clubs if an experienced player was available to help run them (a member of staff would assist). Robin asked that any volunteers contact him.
Hundreds of pounds have been given in sponsorship towards junior chess and Bude Trophies, Carnon Downs Garden Centre, DashSW, Seasons At Clowance, and two anonymous donors were thanked for their generosity.
Robin felt that clubs’ publicity was extremely poor and encouraged members to make their activities known via local libraries, schools, supermarket advertising boards, etc.
In the following discussion, Christine and John Constable agreed that attracting junior players was pivotal to developing a chess club. They described their previous highly successful club in Coulsden. The club grew over many years by offering a variety of competitions (including introducing divisions) and moving juniors up to the senior club sooner than one would expect (before secondary school). The Constables are following a similar strategy in setting up a new chess club in Bude, which those members who had attended it confirmed was a fine example.
Mark Hassall described an arrangement in Leicestershire in which there was a central venue used by all players one night a week in addition to different venues where individual matches were played.
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| Secretary: (D J Jenkins) |
| Nothing to report |
| Treasurer: (I George) |
| See above under Accounts and Finance. |
| League Secretary: (I George) |
| Nothing to report. Full details of the season's activity were on the website. |
| Grader: (I George) |
Nothing to report
There was some discussion about whether results from league matches should be submitted to the ECF for grading in the January, rather than July, lists. On balance, the membership favoured the status quo. |
| Match Captain: (D R Jenkins) |
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David circulated a detailed report before the meeting. During the meeting, the members were asked for a “steer” on three suggestions from the match captain, and these were discussed:
1. That WECU inter-county matches be played on a strict home and away basis, with 'home' matches being played in (e.g.) Truro.
The meeting was against this suggestion.
2. That the Match Captain be encouraged to seek additional matches, (e.g. with Fiji, Jersey, Brittany).
The meeting was for this suggestion.
3. That the Match Captain investigate the possibility of Cornwall, now officially a minority, entering the Chess Olympiad.
The meeting was for this suggestion.
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| Election of officers |
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There being no alternative nominations for candidates for any role, the following were elected en bloc (proposed M Hassall, seconded A Barkhuysen):
| President |
Robin Kneebone |
| Secretary |
David J Jenkins |
| Treasurer |
Ian George |
| League Secretary |
Ian George |
| Match Captain |
David R Jenkins |
| Publicity Officer |
Robin Kneebone |
| Junior Secretary |
Robin Kneebone |
| Assistant Junior Secretary |
James Hooker |
| Grader |
Ian George |
| WECU Delegate |
Robin Kneebone |
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| Consideration of Proposals Received |
| The proposals below were considered: |
Acceptability of Venues
That the following be added to the Rules applicable to all team matches as item 10:
The minimum requirements (except in exceptional circumstances) for a venue for a match are:
- Exclusive use of the room with admittance to club members and chess- related visitors only.
- Suitable tables and chairs to allow adults and juniors to play in comfort.
- Suitable access to the venue and toilets for juniors and the disabled.
- A minimum of intrusive external noise.
Proposed: Robin Kneebone, Seconded: Ian George
Carried
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That the following be added to the Rules applicable to all team matches as item 11:
"If the home venue does not meet all of 10(a), (b) and (c), the away team shall have the right to apply to the League Secretary within 48 hours following the due date of the match for an order requiring, if he sees fit, that the match be played at a venue and date to be decided by the League Secretary."
Proposed: Robin Kneebone, Seconded: Ian George
Carried
Discussion and clarification:
This Rule would only apply if a claim was made, i.e. the away team doesn't have to make the claim—it can accept the fixture as shown if it wants to. If a match had already started, then the away team would be deemed to have accepted the conditions at the venue.
In making his decision on the claim the League Secretary should take all relevant factors into account, including submissions from the home team and should not adopt an excessively narrow interpretation of the requirements
The League Secretary did not consider it appropriate to formally approve “acceptable” and “unacceptable” venues in advance.
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Start Time
- That Rule 1 of the Rules applicable to all team matches be amended to read:
“Play will start no later than 7:00 p.m.”
Proposed: Robin Kneebone, Seconded: Ian George
Alternative: That the time control be altered so that matches are played from 7.30 (prompt) to 10 p.m.
Proposed: Robin Kneebone
Defeated
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Determination of Grades
That the following be added to the Rules applicable to all team matches as rule 12:
- Where the Rules of a competition specify a grading limit, the grades to be used shall be those published in the most recent ECF list issued before the start of the season.
- The grades referred to in a) shall apply without amendment throughout the season.
- Before the commencement of the competition the League Secretary shall publish a definitive list of the grades of all eligible players
Proposed: Ian George, Seconded: Robin Kneebone
Carried
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Organisation of Competitions
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- That the County Shield be contested as a double-round all-play-all.
- That the Roberts Cup be split into East and West divisions and that the detailed arrangements be agreed at the pre-season Management Committee meeting.
Proposed: Robin Kneebone, Seconded: Ian George
Carried
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Choice of Colours
- That rule 10 of the League Rules be amended to read as follows: "The visiting team shall have white on the odd-numbered boards
Proposed: Ian George, Seconded: David J Jenkins
Carried
- That rule 8(f) of the Rules for the 500 League be amended to read as follows: "The visiting team shall have white on the odd-numbered boards in the first round of games and black on the odd-numbered boards in the second round of games."
Proposed: Ian George, Seconded: David J Jenkins
Carried
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Eligibility of Players
That Rule 3 of the League Rules be amended to read as follows:
- A player may not play for more than one club simultaneously in the same competition save as provided in b) and c).
- In the Roberts Cup only no restrictions shall apply to any ungraded player who has never had a published grade nor to any junior with a published grade lower than 100.
- Notwithstanding Rule 2 a team may include a player with a grade higher than 164 provided that the total grades of all the players does not exceed 440 points.
- For the purpose of determining the total in 3(c) ungraded juniors will be deemed to have a grade of 30 and ungraded adults will be deemed to have a grade of 50.
- A player to whom b) and c) do not apply and who wishes to transfer to another club may do so by informing the league secretary accordingly. Thereafter during that season he may not play for any other club in that competition."
Proposed: Ian George, Seconded: Robin Kneebone
Carried - sections (c) and (d) considered separately
- That the following be added to the Rules for the 500 League as Rule 7(g):
"No restrictions shall apply to any ungraded player who has never had a published grade nor to any junior with a published grade lower than 100."
Proposed: Ian George, Seconded: Robin Kneebone
Carried
- That Rule 9 of the 500 League Rules be amended to read:
"A player may play for any team in the competition. No player may play for more than one team in any season unless eligible under [new] Rule 7(g)."
Proposed: Ian George, Seconded: Robin Kneebone
Carried
Discussion and clarification:
Rule changes 8-10 were proposed to offer juniors and inexperienced players the maximum opportunity to gain experience of competition play without harming the integrity of the competition by allowing an excessively strong team to be fielded.
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Points Awarded for the Outcome of Matches
- That Rule 5 of the League Rules be amended to read:
“Three points will be awarded for a win, two for a draw and one for a loss. No points will be awarded to a team that defaults a match.”
Proposed: Hugh Brown
An amendment to this motion was proposed by Robin Kneebone: that a win be awarded 4 points, a draw 2, and a loss 1.
The amended proposal was carried
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County Congress
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- That the playing sessions in the Emigrant and Falmouth Cups be extended to four hours (40 moves in 100 minutes+20 minutes to completion).
- That, if he considers it necessary, the organiser may reduce the length of the session of an evening round.
Proposed: David J Jenkins, Seconded: Jeremy Menadue
Carried
Discussion and clarification:
No one much liked part b) of the proposal. It was included to allow for a case in which an otherwise suitable venue might not be available as late as necessary for the first round.
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County Matches |
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- That the subsidy for travel to county matches, currently paid at the rate of £2 per player be abolished.
- That the match captain should have the power to pay travel grants to individual players where he considers such payments to be beneficial to the sound management of the team, the total of such payments not to exceed £150 in a season without the authority of the Executive Committee.
Proposed: Ian George, Seconded: David R Jenkins
Carried
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Proposals 14–16 were dealt with as guidance for the match captain, rather than formal proposals and are recorded under Officers’ Reports. |
Grand Prix |
- That a sub-committee, led by Ian George, be authorised to re-establish the Cornwall Chess Grand Prix.
Proposed: Robin Kneebone
Carried
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Knock-out Cup Competitions |
That Rule 5 (under A W Busby Cup) be amended to read:
“If both participants are known before the start of the season, the match will be played before the end of December. Otherwise, the match will be played within three months of the participants qualifying.”
Proposed: Hugh Brown
Proposal withdrawn. The League Secretary undertook to propose to the Secretaries’ Meeting that all knock-out cup competitions be completed by the end of January.
That the following rule be added (under A W Busby Cup) as Rule 10: “If a team defaults after playing in the competition, its place will be offered to the last team it defeated.”
Proposed: Hugh Brown, Seconded: Anton Barkhuysen
Defeated
- That the following rule be added (under A W Busby Cup) as Rule 11:
“If there are more than four entries, a team is not permitted direct qualification for the final by way of a bye in the preliminary round and a walkover in the semi-final. If this situation arises, there will be a fresh draw for the semi-finals, with the winner(s) of the preliminary round match(es) having priority for any bye. This will not apply if the other semi-final has already taken place.”
Proposed: Hugh Brown, Seconded: Anton Barkhuysen
Defeated
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| Any Other Business |
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1. The proposal: "That in the Roger Grime Cup, the number of players per team be reduced from 5 to 4.", proposed by Terry Dengler and seconded by David J Jenkins was carried.
2. Ian George reminded the members that all the official information about the Association and its activities can be found on the website which is updated weekly. He noted that in general clubs were not supplying him with information on their activities with which to update the club pages on the site and were therefore missing an opportunity to reach potential new members. He urged clubs and members to contribute material, including games, for publication.
3. Robin Kneebone stressed the importance of publicity and invited members to distribute some printed materials he provided.
There being no other business, the chairman declared the meeting closed at 21:52.
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DAVID J JENKINS
Hon. Secretary |
