Minutes of the AGM of Bath University Venturers CC, 5th October 2006

The meeting was held in the upstairs room at the Raven at 7:00 p.m.
Present were Roger, Dino, Toby, Ian, Steve, Duncan L, Rob T, Kevin, Paul S and Rob B.
It was noted that there was not enough room at the table. Richard and Alex arrived, followed by Duncan R.
It was noted that there was not nearly enough room at the table, and the meeting adjourned to a different table, with part of Poe’s poem on it. Six people were left behind, because there wasn’t enough room at that table either.

The meeting adjourned to a bigger table at O’Neill’s, where Arvind was directed when he arrived.

The meeting started in earnest at 7:35.

1. We won five out of fifteen 40-over games, a great improvement on last year’s total of one, but only five out of thirteen 20-over games. A bad start to the 20-over season made the results in that form of the game worse than last year’s.

   The captain read out a list of all batsmen who had had a score of 40 or more during the season, led by Arvind who did it eight times, and all bowlers who took 4 or more wickets in an innings, led by Kevin (four times). The names of some players who were, or were likely to be, leaving, were also read out. A rumour was circulated that Luke had discovered that there is no cricket in Alaska and was proposing to return to civilization.

2. At the start of the year the club had a credit balance of £580. This has now dropped to £380, but we also have shirts to the value of £100. There were some mutterings about the likely future behaviour of the shirt market, and a terrible joke about going short-sleeved which the poor acoustics in O’Neill’s fortunately absorbed before it could do any damage. Nevertheless the club has made a loss of about £100 this year, and it was agreed that fees for 40-over matches should rise to £5. It was noted that, with the exception of one match, all fees were actually collected.

   We discussed what would happen in the event that we were in the future charged for pitches at Sulis. However, as nobody could predict when or whether this would happen, or what the charge would be, it was impossible to quantify the likely impact on the finances of the club.

3. The proposed informal evening league suggested by BuroHappold attracted some support. There was a general feeling that being part of it would not compromise our general independence. There are two other objections: that it would take up a relatively large number of our evening fixtures, so that we should either have to drop some opponents or play more than one midweek fixture in some weeks; and that the league itself might fold. It was agreed that we should join the league if it actually happens, but it was noted that nothing much has been heard of it lately and it may well be that other clubs are not interested.

   The experiment of playing in September was a success and we shall do it again. There is no need for much change in the fixture list, but more matches against villages would be welcome. Marshfield was suggested as a possibility. The secretary explained that in the past it has proved difficult to arrange a fixture against Marshfield because they have not replied to messages until their league fixtures are finally settled, which is in March.

   The question of whether we should continue to play St Stephen’s was discussed at some length. Eventually it was agreed that we should continue to play them, but that they should be informed that we regarded their conduct as inappropriate and that the fixture would be dropped if there was any repetition; and furthermore, that our views would be made known to other clubs who also play them.

4. Duncan was elected as Captain and Team Manager, Rob B as Treasurer and Gregory as Secretary. Roger and Steve agreed to maintain the web page, and promised not to use Flash. A vice-captain will be chosen later if the need arises.

5. The nets are unusable because the roof is being damaged by the ball. We are told that something is being done, but we have no idea of when. Various suggestions were made about other possibilities, none of which seemed practical; but we shall keep looking. Richard agreed to protest to the authorities about the state of the equipment.

6. Many awards were distributed, verbally. Best Player went to Kevin, as did Best Bowler. Roger and Arvind shared Best Batsman and also shared Best Newcomer. Most people were jointly awarded Best Fieldsman. Gregory was considered Best Umpire, though someone apparently protested that he gave too many LBW decisions. He countered that the victim was usually Kevin, and that was because Kevin got his legs in the way when the rest of us would simply have been bowled. It was quickly agreed that Best Catch was off James against Rode, and the captain decided on Kevin’s catch at Sulis over Alex’s at Rode. The last serious award was for Most Improved Player, and went to James. Unfortunately James was absent. It had been intended to present him with a special award, a real one this time, in recognition of his long service to the club. We hope to do this on a future occasion before he leaves in February.

   The award for Most Deteriorated Player was abandoned because everybody nominated themselves. The captain awarded himself the Champagne Moment for his hundred, which was felt to be fair enough although calling it the Pint Of Bitter Moment might capture the spirit a bit better. The award for Most Inappropriate LBW Appeal went jointly to Paul and Arvind for their (separate) appeals against Rode; Paul won for prolixity and Arvind for being at third man. Best Dressed Player went, against the odds, to Gregory, apparently for buying a club shirt and then not wearing it. There was fierce competition for Worst Fielder: Steve P’s reverse throw won him a share of this, but Rob B’s general ability to turn ones into twos was equally admired. Duck of the Year was, as usual, also fiercely contested. The captain awarded it to himself for chasing a wide one against Bill Owen. Toby was awarded Worst Umpire. Nobody could quite remember why but probably he gave the captain out.

   The premier award is, of course, the A.J. Wolstenholme Prize for Running Between the Wickets. James was run out in his first two innings and seemed a likely winner for a long time; but only one of those was his fault and he did not approach the five run-outs, all self-inflicted, of last year’s winner. Kevin ran several of his partners out during the year; but as he bats longer than most of us do he had more opportunity. At Rode, he became the victim, when Duncan ran him out; soon after, Toby ran Duncan out, and had it not been for incompetent fielding he would have run himself out too. For this final flourish, and previous alarming behaviour, Duncan L and Toby were jointly awarded the A.J. Wolstenholme Prize.

The meeting adjourned to the Eastern Eye. As a result of allowing mathematicians to do the arithmetic we ended up with too much money. Roger and Duncan are each owed three quid, and there is an eight-pound surplus to be given to club funds.

The meeting then adjourned to a pub, where for all I know it is still going on.