Meeting started at 7:30pm.
Attending clubs – Craneswater, Post Office, Waterlooville, Emsworth, Bellair, Copnor, Broadoak, Cowplain and NEBC.
CHAIRMANS REPORT
Chris welcomed everyone to the meeting and said it’s lovely to see so many people here for the 2025 AGM – even if I do accept that we have to bribe some of you by combining this with the competition prize giving. He then went through the agenda for this evening.
I think we have had a good year and am happy that, for the first time in many years, our team entries went up, hopefully a trend that will continue in future years. The leagues and competitions all seemed to run successfully, and I think that some of the recent rule changes have allowed teams to easily sign on new players and we avoided many late postponements that have previously blighted some seasons.
There are 2 main areas I wanted to focus on in my report.
Firstly handicaps. It seems we have almost annual discussions on handicaps and whether they are fair and these complaints come from all leagues. It is our intention to try and create an even playing field where handicaps are used, be that in Peter Rook Cup or other handicap competitions. That, after all is the intention of a handicap competition.
I know some div 1 players believe that giving away a large deficit at the start of a frame is unfair but the Peter Rook Cup results suggest that it isn’t actually the case. Indeed, I believe we have now reached a stage where I am happy with the differential between general players in Div 1 and Div 2, and the Peter Rook Cup this year showcased that most leagues were competitive, there were a number of ‘shocks’ in the 2nd round, and each quarter and semi final finished either 7 – 5 or 7 – 6. I can’t believe that any of us think that is a bad state of affairs for any handicap competition.
The one division that I ma still not happy with is Div 3, with most teams struggling. I intend to further tweak those handicaps in that division to try to introduce better parity for those teams going forward.
The second thing that will occupy our time over the next few months is potential changes to the Winter League. The Winter League is our showpiece league where, by some distance, the biggest participation levels are. We need this league to thrive in the future.
Previously we changed the Peter Rook Cup to a league basis to extend the Winter season, but I am aware that this isn’t universally popular, and many would like to see a return to a knockout format. If we did this without extending the normal Winter league, teams that get knocked out in the first round, may only play 15 games across the whole season. I don’t think that is healthy for us.
I am therefore looking forward at future committee meetings, to leading a debate around restructuring the Winter league format to increase its length and get the majority of our players playing for longer, and in the competitions that they want to be playing.
I am sure we will be looking for input from captains as we have those discussions and we are always looking for ideas or suggestions from you as members. Maybe you can chat with your teams about what you’d like to see going forward.
Finally, as always, I’d like to thank the Committee for their support. There is a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes to run the leagues and cups across the year and I’m sure you all agree it has run smoothly this past year. It’s also great to see some new (and younger) members joining the committee, their enthusiasm and desire to see this great sport continue to thrive in the area is really welcomed.
That is me done and any questions.
SECRETARY REPORT
Firstly, please accept my apologies for not being with you this year. You can blame my wife for booking a holiday deal last November without informing men of the date! I did however, feel obliged to go through with it so I wish you all well this evening from very warm and sunny part of the world.
Before my colleague (Steve) reads out the results from the past 12 months I just wanted to register my continued thanks to everyone involved in our leagues. When I say everyone, I mean ‘everyone’. The committee, the captains and all the players are a collective without which leaves our leagues would not take place. Year in year out I’m very humbled by the level of support everyone gives me and the committee. Such support is crucial in the delivery of a full programme of Snooker and Billiards.
A special mention to the clubs who kindly host competition finals, notably Copnor, Cowplain and Bellair. Also, thanks to Carlton club for the use of their rooms for our monthly meetings and AGM. A special shout out to Steve Toms for continuing to champion our delivery of refereeing the competitions.
Thank you everyone for all you do.
Now onto the results, a list of results was read out for Billiards 2024, league winners and high breaks. Summer season of 2024 for leagues and high breaks. The list of Winter 2024/25 will be done at the end in the prize giving.
Finally…
With heavy heart, this year is likely going to be my last secretary’s report at an AGM. I informed the committee last year that I am looking to step down mainly because my wife and I want to travel more in our retirement years. Today is a good example of those plans and I predict I won’t be around more and more at crucial times of the year to set up the leagues etc.
That said I am keen to wait until a suitable successor step forward and I will help to facilitate a smooth transition with as much support as I can.
I will remain on the committee and plan to create an archive of our league history which will certainly keep me busy given there are 114 years of records to sort through and make sense of. I’m not sure what the end result will look like but it will likely show up on the website one day.
I’ve also wanted to highlight what I feel is a significant step forward in our committee make up. Dean Bates, Grant Vernon and Adrian Pledge have joined us over the past year. Not only have they significantly reduced the average age of the Committee but have already shown themselves to be great potential for the future of the committee and therefore our leagues. I hope members will continue to support them and all the committee in future years.
Please continue to contact me if you need any support. I speak with someone in our community almost every day, so let’s keep that communication going please. It can only lead to a positive outcome.
Thanks to everyone once again and keep playing well.
Gary Curtis Hon.Sec
TREASURERS REPORT
Tony reported that this year we showed a loss of £1465.22 in our finances as compared to £1334.45 in 2024 accounts.
Last year, I said that strange as it may sound, but the loss has been planned by the Association as we have decided to continue slowly chipping away at our bank balance, well the same goes for this year. So, there is nothing to worry about.
To remind everyone, this is mainly achieved by continuing to grant free entry to all snooker and billiard competitions and not to charge for any player registrations by sticking to a one-off team entry fee, currently set at £40 with match fees at £5 per match.
However, please bare in mind nothing lasts forever, so there may be in time when we may have to reconsider some of the benefits I previously mentioned.
Remember, we are a non-profit making organisation so we are not expected to make money each financial year, just be in control of what we have.
And lastly, I’d like to thank John Wyatt who again this year personally donated £60 towards the Frank Wyatt Trophy (Individual Handicap Singles Comp) in memory of his late father Frank.
Are there any questions from the floor on the finances.
RESULTS, TROPHY and MONEY SECRETARY REPORTS
May I start by saying a huge thanks to Gary for his continued efforts in continuing to improve our website. There is more information on there now, especially as I give him weekly reports when I can to upload to our website. It can only get better in the future.
Thanks to the referees for helping out at all the finals. Ioan, Peter, John and Rob etc. Thanks to all the clubs, Copnor, Bellair and Cowplain for allowing the association to host the finals throughout the seasons. ON THAT – A special mention to Steve Scott from Bellair for preparing that tables at the club, as usual well-presented and prepared.
A huge well done to Pete and Ioan for yet again running and competition the competitions in good time and smoothly run.
Just to touch on trophies, please make sure that ALL trophies that are competed for and won by, Individuals, Pairs or Team are kept at the club of those who have won. AT NO TIME MUST THE TROPHY BE KEPT AT A HOME ADDRESS, only if special permission is given for a person to take home and not have it at the club. Also, if a trophy has been damaged, then the CLUB RESPONSIBLE will have to pay for the CLEANING, FIXING or REPLACING of that trophy.
At the end of tonight when we give out the prize giving, please can the person collecting the money sign the sheet. Thanks, are there are any questions.
COMPETITION SECRETARY REPORTS
Peter started saying that the Graham Simper competition this year with 38 entries, ran very smoothly, a couple of odd games behind but nothing that couldn’t be fixed. Final was at Bellair with Jamie Farrow beating Rob Kirby 4 – 2, and played in excellent spirit. Many thanks to all the players for their cooperation, it helped it make easier while running it during all the matches.
In this year’s billiards total entrants was 16 in the Sid Matthews Scratch competition. All competitions have run smoothly with no issues and now down to the semi-finals stage with Ben Cotton v Chris Bishop and Harry Yard v Steve Scott to be played by 2nd June 25.
Like to thank all the players who pulled together to ensure all games were played on time, so credit to everyone, for their efforts. Final to be played on 7th July with venue TBC. Thanks Pete
Ioan who looked after the handicap competitions said that the Frank Wyatt Memorial Trophy was won by Martin Richardson beating Russell Bevan 3 – 1. Entries this year was 58 compared to 55 the previous year. Thanks to Bellair for hosting the final.
The Dennis Hushley Memorial Trophy was won by Lee and Wayne Rendle who beat Kelvin Connor and Ioan Moon 3 – 2. Entries were 32 compared to 43 last year difference of 11. Thanks again to Bellair.
The Harding Cup – Billiard’s singles competition is at the semi final stage. Rob Kirby against Ben Cotton and James Curtin against Ollie Rendle. Matches to be played by 9th June 2025. Entries were 30 compared to 25 the previous year.
That was the reports from the Secretary’s so next will be the proposals.
Committee proposals
That the incumbent committee including co-opted members be re-elected en bloc. ACCEPTED
Members Proposals
- Billiards in all league and cup games the Home Team plays with the yellow and use the top score board. REJECTED
- That the top 8 players in the scratch billiard competitions (Sid Matthews Trophy) be seeded in the draw. ACCEPTED
- That the result for Snooker league matches be changed from total frames to points i.e.) 3 points for a win and 1 point for a draw with zero points for a loss. REJECTED
No other matters can be discussed.
The next thing to be done is the prize giving of all the competitions and Winter league, with trophy and cash to the winners and runners-up.
Steve then went through the list of all the winners and the relevant players came up and received the money and the trophies.
Finally, a Life Membership was given to Steve Scott. Steve Toms read out his background and history in the league. Steve Scott came up and accepted the Life membership and gave thanks to the committee.
Chris at the end thanked everyone for attending this year’s AGM.
Meeting closed at 9:15pm