HertsSQUASH
County Committee Meetings
MINUTES OF THE 2006 << AGM
>> ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
HERTS SQUASH RACKETS ASSOCIATION
HELD AT BROXBOURNE SQUASH CLUB, ON 12th JUNE 2006
Present:
Jason Foster Chairman
Paul Drakes
Treasurer
Isobel Smith
Ladies Captain
Sally Ann Webster League Secretary
Fiona McLure League Secretary
Nicky Wase
League Secretary
Derek Thorpe Webmaster and Online
League
1. Apologies: Dominic Webster
2. The 2005 Minutes
The minutes were accepted unanimously. Proposed by Alan Pedder (Gosling) and
seconded by Richard Wignall (Berkhamsted)
3. Chairman
Jason Foster introduced himself and the committee to the AGM. He thanked
everyone for their
commitment to squash and Herts squash in particular. County teams had had a
successful season. A special congratulations to the Girls U’13 team who
became National Champions the team consisted of Jemm Ockwell (Radlett), Anna
Bradly (Cannons), Brogan Lane (Bishops Stortford) and Jessica Foster
(Cannons) Boys Under 19 were runners up. The mens senior team gained
promotion to the Division 1.
Congratulations to Bishops Stortford Squash Club who won the Men’s National
Club Championships and will go on to represent England in the European
Championship. Also Bishops Stortford Ladies O35 team won the plate event and
were runners up in the main plate.
Jason also acknowledged Adrian Waller of Potters Bar who reached the boys
under 17 national final (aged 15) and who is currently ranked No.2 at U 17
and also represented England U 17 in the European Squash Championships.
Jemmo Ockwell lost in the National Girls U 13 semi final. Jason thanked the
Junior Committee for doing such an excellent job.
Well done to Elke Rubsam (Haileybury) who reached the final of Ladies O 50
event at the British Open in Manchester and also represented England in the
Home Internationals. Also congratulations to John Preston (Bishops
Stortford) who represented England in O65 Home Interationals and to Zoe
Durbach who played in the O 35 category.
4. Secretary’s Report
Jason read out a report from Dominic. All clubs are now affiliated to
England Squash but there are a few clubs which still haven’t registered
players. Clubs seem to be declaring the bare minimum of players and the ones
who are not registered are missing out on the benefits of being a member of
England Squash.
A new development of squash forums has been set up by England Squash. The
idea is that the counties are now split into local areas and general
meetings are now going to be area meetings. This will hopefully allow
counties to work closer with England Squash and addres the needs of the
county more.
5. Ladies County
Isobel Smith reported that the Ladies Team were competing in Division 1
South. At the first weekend an injury ridden squad lost all their matches
and went to the relegation weekend. However at the 2nd weekend a squash of
Zoe Durbach, Isobel Smith, Elke Rubsam, Mette Vietch and Laura Taylor
managed to come second to Oxfordshire and will remain in Division 1. Isobel
thanked all the players for their support.
.
Congratulations to Zoe Durbach who represented England at O’35.
The ladies Vets Team of Isobel Smith, Maureen Winter, Lesley Garner, Elke
Rubsam and Sally Philp enjoyed a mixed season and remain in the same
division.
6. Mens County
Remarkably the Senior team, only fielding 4 players, managed to gain
promotion to Division 1. The squad consisted of Jason Foster (Bishops
Stortford), Marc Woolhead (R3), Neil Waller (Potters Bar) and Chris Stanley
(Berkhamsted), Jason also thanked players from the first weekend, Adam and
Jonathan Fuller (Gosling), Adrian Waller (Potters Bar), Las Fernand0
(Radlett) and David Beattie (Cannons)
Mens O’35
Unfortunately we were unable to field a team due to injuries and
unavailability. The county were fined £150 for withdrawing the team.
Mens O’45
They finished second in their Stage 2 weekend at Broxbourne to remain in
Division 1.
7. Treasurer.
Firstly, Paul Drakes thanked Dean Clayton again for his contribution to
Herts Squash and on a personal note thanked him for handing over the
accounts in such good order and for all the help he had provided in making a
smoothing transition. Paul also thanked the committee for their hard work
and for making him welcome. The accounts had not been audited but would be
so in the next two weeks. Paul said that he would be changing the end of the
financial year to fit in more with the squash season. Paul submitted and
proposed the accounts to the AGM and the accounts for seconded by Nick
Ridgeway (Bishops Stortford)
8. Herts Closed 2005
Jason said that the Closed had been moved from its normal slot of September
and was run over a weekend in January. This format had worked well, although
unfortunately the numbers of entries did drop. The event was sponsored by
Integral again and many thanks to them for their support.
Results
Mens A Marc Woolhead bt Scott Rickard 3 – 2
Mens B Gavin Noffki by Neil Newbery 3 – 2
Mens C James Clyne by Neil Stennett 3 – 0
Mens Plate Steve Lloyd bt Adam Long 3 – 2
Ladies Maureen Morrison won round robin competion – Jill Gaskell 2nd
Ladies B Natalie Laurence won round robin Fiona McLure 2nd
The Age groups were held over a separate weekend and the results were
Mens O’35 John Mcfarlane bt Jason Foster W/O
Mens O’45 Paul Ryan bt Howard Gregory
Mens O’55 Dave Cooper bt Tony Clifford 3 – 0
Mens O’65 John Preston bt Edward Hackford
Ladies Vet Elke Rubsam bt Gill Gaskell
Thanks to all that supported the event, players, officials and to Cannons
for hosting the tournament. Jason then asked whether there was any feedback
on the change of arrangements. Some people seemed in favour of the change to
a weekend whereas others liked the old formula of September over a week.
Some useful comments were made and the committee will decide whether to try
again with the weekend formula or to go back to running the tournament over
a week. We also need different venues for the event and Jason whether any
clubs would be willing to host the Herts Closed. The minimum amount of
courts would be four. Broxbourne would not mind hosting again and perhaps
Cannons or Gosling.
9. Ladies League
Fional McLure reported that Division had been won by Cannons and Division 2
by Allenburys. The usual story of needing more ladies to play was stressed
and hopefully to get a few more teams playing next season. A separate
meeting for the ladies to discuss this would be held after the AGM.
Mens League
Sally Ann reported that the new online system was working well, although
quite a number of teams were still not using it properly. When asked whether
the summer leagues could be put online, Sally Ann said that this probably
would happen but not for this season. Richard Wignall thanked Sally Ann for
all her hard work running the leagues.
The Cup Competition was held at Potters Bar Squash Club and again proved a
very enjoyable evening.
Sally Ann reported that she would be looking at the league rules and they
would be updated. These will be emailed to people for their comments.
10. Election of Officers
The committee were re-elected on bloc, proposed by Nick Ridgeway (Bishops
Stortford) and seconded by Richard Wignall (Berkhamsted). Mark Blake has
said he will join the committee and he was proposed by Jeff Long
(Broxbourne) and seconded by Nick Ridgeway (Bishops Stortford). Phil Jenkins
also said he would join the committee and was proposed by Paul Drakes (R3)
and seconded by Steve Lloyd (Harpenden).
11. Any other Business
Jason pointed out the newsletter that had been printed and asked everyone to
take some to put on
the noticeboard at their clubs.
Herts Country Club had now closed very sadly. This club used to be the
centre of squash in
Hertfordshire.
Good Luck to Len Froggitt on his retirement. He had been Manager of
Broxbourne Squash Club for many years and a valuable player to the County
and Country.
12. League Presentations
Ladies
Winner RU
Winter League Div 1 Cannons
Div 2 Allenburys
Mens
Winner RU
Summer League
Div 5
Berkhamsted Harlow
Div 4
Chantry
Gosling
Div 3
Harpenden RC 2 Haileybury
Div 2
Stevenage 1
Tring 2
Div 1
Bishops Stortford Harpenden
Winter League
Div 5
Cannons 3
Chantry
Div 4
Gosling 3
Bishops Stortford 3
Div 3
Cannons 2
Hawks 1
Div 2
Tring 2
Cannons 1
Div 1
Bishops Stortford Berkhamsted
The Wilkinson Sword was presented to Cannons St Albans for their good
results across the board in the mens and ladies leagues and also for their
strong junior section.
The meeting finished at 9.15 p.m. .
Next Meeting to be arranged.
