Notes of the meeting of the Wessex Supervets Fixtures Alliance held at the Cricketers’ Bagshot 12th March 2011 19:00 to 20:00 hrs.

 

Present: Rob Kenwrick (Wokingham), Iain Lynch (Haslemere),  Roy Furness (Polytechnic),

Paul Bloomfield (Woking), Peter Colwill and James Lane (Amersham & Chalfont) and Tim Tennent (Epsom); Jim Jarrett (Higgins Group London League), by invitation.

 

Apologies: Richard Wilsdon (Oxford Hawks), Rainer Vogt (Oxted Vintage Moonshiners), Keith Hunt (Reading),  Andy Roberts (Guildford Gondoliers), and possibly some others I have not remembered.

 

Minutes of previous meeting: these were circulated and confirmed by the author as a true record.

 

Subscriptions: Roy Furness confirmed that £5 had been paid by Poly before Christmas even though this was not shown on the record. This has since been altered, see below:

Payments made to RJK for web site

 

Date

Amersham & Chalfont Vintage

£5.00

05-Mar-11

Epsom Vagabonds

£5.00

08-Feb-11

Guildford Gondoliers

 

 

Haslemere Vets

£5.00

09-Oct-10

Havant Cavaliers

£5.00

08-Jan-11

Oxford Hawks Falcons

 

 

Oxted Vintage Moonshiners

£5.00

06-Nov-10

Polytechnic

£5.00

11-Dec-10

Reading Vets

£5.00

19-Feb-11

Winchester Wanderers

 

 

Woking Pitts

£5.00

22-Jan-11

Wokingham Vets

£5.00

15-Jan-11

 

£45.00

 

 

The outstanding payments have been promised.

 

Results: The results to 5th March were circulated. 

Wessex Supervets Fixtures Alliance

Points

Games Played

Success Index

Oxford  Hawks Falcons

38

16

2.38

Reading Vets            

38

16

2.38

Guildford  Gondoliers

40

18

2.22

Epsom  Vagabonds

32

17

1.88

Haslemere Vets

31

18

1.72

Polytechnic

26

16

1.63

Oxted  Vintage Moonshiners

19

16

1.19

Woking Pitts

16

17

0.94

Havant  Cavaliers

15

17

0.88

Winchester Wanderers

13

17

0.76

Wokingham Vets 

13

17

0.76

Amersham & Chalfont Vintage

10

17

0.59

A few fixtures were postponed due to the snow, but it is hoped that most of these games will be played before the end of April 2011, thus living up to our slogan of ‘playing regular friendly hockey’. It was reported that the planned game between Epsom Vagabonds v Reading Vets on 29 March will not be played as Reading have made conflicting arrangements.

 

Rule Change

 

There was an occasion when a club had pulled out of a fixture late on Saturday morning despite an offer from the opposition to supply extra players.  Jim Jarrett commented that the London League practice was that if a game was cancelled after 2200 hrs on Tuesday, pitch and catering  costs would be invoiced to the cancelling team.  The WSFA  agreed that if a game is cancelled after 2200 hrs on Thursday then the game would be treated as a ‘win’ for the opposition; in addition the WSFA committee would support the invoicing by the opposition of unavoidable pitch and catering costs to the cancelling club.  It would however be expected that there would be active communication in the run-up to the Thursday evening deadline, and every effort should be made to play the fixture or postpone it to a mutually convenient date rather than cancel it.

 

Potential New Members

It is assumed that all 12 clubs will remain in membership of the WSFA for at least the forthcoming season. Roy Furness (Poly) confirmed that they wanted to remain in the Alliance but that all their home games would be played at the Linford Christie Stadium, Hammersmith.

Southampton Cockburns: The decision is likely to be made over the week-end 8 - 10 April.

 Alton: Rob Kenwrick reported approaching Nigel Montgomery and he is talking to colleagues at Alton.

High Wycombe: Paul Bloomfield reported that they might be interested but not until the 2012 – 2013 season.

Wessex Masters League: Rob Kenwrick asked  if any of the existing Alliance members would like to join the Wessex League next season. However it was hoped that they would all remain in the WSFA despite the offer of free transfer between the two.

Higgins London League: Rob  Kenwrick had invited Jim Jarrett to the meeting and he was invited to say a few words.

Over 60s: Jim Jarrett explained that England Hockey were trying to expand Vets’ Hockey and had run a series of ‘roadshows’.  St Albans, Southgate, Surbiton and Richmond were members and he was hopeful that a couple of clubs from the WSFA might wish to join.

 Paul Bloomfield had been to Australia and they grouped their vets differently; 35s; 45s; 55s.  He thought this might make more sense for us, but it would go against the national plan of grouping 40s; 50s; 60s.

The age survey, whilst incomplete, demonstrated that the WSFA could, in theory, field maybe three over 60s teams, but it would decimate the WSFA.

Club

Under 50

51 - 60

61 - 70

70 plus

Total

Amersham & Chalfont Vintage

3

14

6

 

23

Epsom Vagabonds

2

15

4

2

23

Guildford Gondoliers

 4

 13

 5

 2

24

Haslemere Vets

 

 

 

 

0

Havant Cavaliers

0

9

10

3*

22

Oxford Hawks Falcons

1

16

2

1

20

Oxted Vintage Moonshiners

1

9

8

 

18

Polytechnic

2

8

2

2

14

Reading Vets

2

10

6

3

21

Winchester Wanderers

1

8

13

0

22

Woking Pitts

1

7

12

1

21

Wokingham Vets

1

10

3

 

14

 

It was suggested that we maintain contact and see how over 60s might be encouraged.

Reporting results: The Organiser had collected goals for and against throughout the season so far and pointed out that 504 goals had been scored to date.  Paul Bloomfield said that it was not in keeping with the constitution but the Chairman said it was in order for the Organiser to compile such results if he thought they were  of interest.

It was emphasised that the points scoring is to provide an indication of the success of a club within the Alliance rather than to create a “winner”.

 

Pooling Reserve players:  Some discussion took place about the feasibility of having a central pool for players who have not been selected for their home teams but who would be willing / able to play for other teams that are short.  It was felt this would need a lot of ‘managing’ and instead the current system of teams that are short looking to opposition teams to supply extra players coupled with general notification of games that have been postponed is the best way of ensuring we field full sides each week.

 

Officers: James Larcombe (Winchester Wanderers)  has agreed to take over as the WSFA Organiser for the 2011 – 2012 season as Rob Kenwrick wished to ‘retire’.  He hoped to continue to  play and offered any assistance required.   Peter Colwill agreed to remain as Chair. Tim Tennent and Keith Hunt agreed to remain as the co-opted members if a disciplinary matter was to be referred. George Oliver has agreed to continue to run the web site.

 

The Chairman proposed a vote of thanks to Rob Kenwrick for all his hard work  as Organiser and the meeting closed at 2000 hrs.

 

Rob Kenwrick

13 March  2011.