CROYDON TABLE TENNIS LEAGUE
(Affiliated to Table Tennis England and the Surrey TTA)
President: John Barker
Hon Treasurer Chairman TT365 Administrator
Simon Fisher Chris Harper Graham Hansen
Minutes of the Annual General Meeting
held at Eldon Phab on Tuesday 30th July 2024
Present:
John Barker, President
Chris Harper, Chairman
Simon Fisher, Hon Treasurer
Harry Isaacs
Simon Narramore
Mo Istihikhar,
Roger Nichols, Committee members
Graham Rose Sam Boison
Quan Zhou Jane Barella (Surrey TTA)
Ashley Hird Ian O’Connor
Jeremy Wu Roy Thompson
Aaron Graham Gerry Mold
Richard Pratt Michelle McGovern
Lew Hodges Andrew McCarthy
Chris Posford John Dungate
Robin Faulkner Massimo De Santis
Desmond Coke
Apology for Absence: Graham Hansen
Minutes of the 2023AGM
Chris Harper said he had not copied the minutes (already circulated) as the only matter arising is the TTE appointment of Nick Donald as chairman.
Chairman/Secretary’s Report
Chris Harper said that Simon Narramore and Harry Isaacs joined the committee last season and he would like to thank them as well as the other committee members, including John, Simon Fisher, Graham Hansen, Roger Nichols and Mo for their work over the year.
The divisions ran fairly smoothly but there was again the problem of teams not having sufficient players, leading often to postponements. It can happen to any team in certain circumstances but the main culprit, as usual, was South Croydon. In addition to their normal problems, they had to withdraw their A team from the 1st Division after the season had started.
They will need to be careful thought given to the composition of their teams next season or the League will have to consider sanctions.
The Cup Competitions ran successfully with the final of the Handicap being held at Eldon and the final of the Open Cup held, for various reasons, at Sparta. Congratulations to Limpsfield B, who slightly benefited from the handicapping system and to Sparta who won an excellent match against Ballards in the 9th and final game.
Because I had to take over the cup competitions after the season had started I could not find the formula for handicapping teams based on ratings and had to rely on giving 5 points advantage or more to teams from different divisions. It worked reasonably well but hopefully the League will be able to revert to ratings next season.
Treasurer’s Report
Simon Fisher ran through the spreadsheet he had provided to the meeting. He mentioned that we have a healthy balance of £1812.05 but the cost of the trophies will reduce that figure. Chris Harper mentioned that the cost of engraving is nearly as much as the trophies and inflation has had an effect.
Simon ran through some of the payments made and referred to the compensation NatWest had paid for us being unable to access our account for a long period. Simon had borne the brunt of the work but insisted on sharing the sum with Chris.
Table Tennis England/ Surrey TTA
Chris Harper mentioned that he had already said that TTE appointed Nick Donald as chairman and they are still recruiting a new CEO. Most of the directors won’t be known to the membership apart, possibly, from Donald Parker and Ritchie Venner.
He believed that the membership fee for club players had increased to £20 but was quickly corrected by Jane Barella who said it is now £22.
We will not know the level of fees to Surrey TTA for a couple of months but they are due an increase. He said that Surrey are desperate for new committee members and at the moment everything appears to be falling on Jane Barella.
Proposals for Rule Changes
Ian O’Connor (Sparta) had proposed that the League considers using the British League format for matches, whereby teams still consist of 3 players but each only plays 2 games. As the doubles is still played the match is reduced to 7 games and so finishes in good time. Speaking to his proposal he said the intention is to stop matches finishing well after 11.00 when people have to work the next day and to encourage juniors to play in league matches.
CAH put it to the floor and there was a mixed reaction with some wanting to retain the present format and someone from Wickham Park suggesting that we drop the doubles.
After discussion, CAH agreed to circulate all clubs with the proposal and the options to remain as we are or to drop the doubles.
Harry Isaacs had proposed preventing players practising on spare tables when playing in a match as they gained an advantage. This is usually home team players but not always. There was no opposition and the meeting agreed that it be added to the League Rules.
CAH raised the matter if Rule 9 of the Cup Rules which stipulated that players in the semi-final or final of the cup competitions had to have played at least a third of league matches. He said that the current rule was created when there were settled teams of 3 or 4 regular players but that was no longer the case and the rule is obviously causing some clubs difficulty in complying.
Ian O’Connor said it was virtually impossible for Sparta to comply as they register a lot of players for each team just to get through the season and few, if any, would be eligible.
CAH asked the floor for suggestions as to how the integrity of the competitions can be maintained while preventing teams bringing in a ‘ringer’. After discussion it was agreed that the rule would be relaxed to stipulate that players must have played at least 3 league matches.
Election of League Officials
CAH said that he had notified clubs that both he and Simon Fisher would be standing down at this AGM and asked the meeting for nominations. Having been met with silence he adjourned the meeting for 10 minutes for members to discuss.
On resumption Jeremy Wu was nominated for Treasurer , seconded by Quan Zhou, and Aaron Graham volunteered to take over as League Secretary. CAH said that he and Simon would provide whatever support is required.
Harry Isaacs volunteered to become Cup Secretary and organise the competitions but declined purchasing the trophies. The new committee will have to decide whether to continue with trophies or purchase vouchers.
The new nominations and the existing committee were agreed by all.
Any Other Business
Jane Barella commanded the floor and presented Chris Harper with the Trevor Channing trophy by which Surrey mark people who have given a significant contribution to table tennis in Surrey. Chris said he was extremely honoured to have been presented with such an award.
Presentation of trophies
The chairman asked the President if he would kindly present the trophies to last year’s winners and runners up.
Division 1 Winners: Sparta A
Division 1 Runners Up: Ballard A
Division 2 Winners: Sparta B
Divisions 2 Runners Up: South Croydon B
Divisions 3 Winners: Sparta D
Division 3 Runners Up: Wickham Park D
Division 4 Winners: Limpsfield B
Division 4 Runners Up: Eldon E
The John Mullis Open Cup Winners: Sparta A
The John Mullis Open Cup Runners Up: Ballards A
The John Mullis Handicap Cup Winners: Limpsfield B
The John Mullis Handicap Cup Runners Up: Wickham Park D
The Chairman thanked everyone for their attendance and wished them a successful season.
