2020-03-16 Immediate LV Skittles League Suspension
The LV Skittles committee have decided to suspend the league until further notice (including all upcoming cup games) on the back of today’s government advice. Multiple teams have already been in contact to say they cannot get enough players for tomorrow and ongoing fixtures.
Further updates will be given by email and this website will also be updated.
The committee will reconvene on Tuesday 14th April to review the league’s position in light of any new government advice.
Regards,
Geoff Penney, David Shearman, Bob Yardley, Chris Book, Mark Elley, John Pillinger
2020-03-16 Minutes
Present: John Pillinger, Chris Book, David Shearman, Geoff Penney, Bob Yardley, Mark Elley
We met on the evening of Monday 16th March to determine the League’s response to the updated Government advice on the course of the coronavirus pandemic that was issued that afternoon. They requested those aged over 70 to stay at home and for everyone to avoid non-essential social contact and travel. People should stay away from pubs, clubs, theatres and other social venues. They should avoid all mass gatherings.
A number of teams had already contacted committee members to report they were unable to raise a team for the Tuesday game as several of their players were over 70. We were in two minds over whether to continue with the games on Tuesday 17th but eventually decided we should suspend the League immediately to avoid exposing our players to any avoidable risk. This would also apply to outstanding cup games with the exception of the game taking place that evening.
We agreed on the content and format of an email to be sent to all captains informing them of our decision. A few captains had not provided an email address; they would be contacted by telephone later in the evening. The email was sent that evening courtesy of Mark.
A discussion ensued as to the possibility of playing the five outstanding league games and the outstanding cup games in September, and pushing the start of the 20/21 season back into October. This would cause some difficulties with finalising the results table, sorting out next season’s fixture list, engraving trophies, etc., but it should be manageable if we switch to a more online form of communication. It was suggested that the stickers-up who had been booked for the outstanding cup games should still be paid for the games they will miss this season.
It was agreed that the AGM scheduled for April 28th would have to be cancelled. Bob would amend the usual notice sent to all captains to this effect and ask they send entry forms for next season by post or email. Those with cups or trophies would be asked to return them to WESA as soon as possible and David would pass them on to Bob at a convenient time. Bob would arrange engraving, probably in the Autumn, when final positions were known.
We agreed to reconvene at WESA on Tuesday April 14th to discuss developments.
2020-04-14 Email
Dear Captains,
The Committee met online on Tuesday 14th April to plan how to conclude the 2019/20 season and to propose a format for the 20/21 season.
Proposal to finish off 2019/20 season
We propose to complete the 5 outstanding league fixtures and the 3 outstanding cup games in September this year. This means the games scheduled for 17th March will be played on Tuesday 1st September, those scheduled for 24th March on Tuesday 8th September, and so on, with the 19/20 season matches ending on 29th September.
Please see http://www.lvskittles.co.uk/?page_id=100 for details.
AGM 2020
We plan to hold the AGM on Tuesday 6th October and to start the 2020/21 season on Tuesday 20th October.
Presentation Night 2020
The Presentation Night for the 2019/20 season will be held on Wednesday 9th December.
Plan for 2020/21 Season
In order to reduce the length of the 2020/21 season we propose to drop the reserved dates for the knockout cup, nomination cup and pins cup competitions and run just a voluntary knockout competition which teams can enter if they wish much like they enter the singles and pairs competitions (which will continue as usual).
Please see http://www.lvskittles.co.uk/?page_id=1343 for details.
Team Registration
It would help greatly with our planning if you could say (as far as you can tell) if you wish to re-enter your team for the 20/21 season. You can do this online by filling out the following form by Friday 8th May:
https://forms.gle/hnCh9oJuqgaM3uDq5
It may be that the format of the 20/21 season will have to change depending on the number of teams entering; this will be discussed at the AGM.
Next Committee Meeting
The Committee will meet again in 4 weeks’ time to discuss your feedback and whether the progress of the pandemic is likely to adversely affect our plans.
With best wishes
The LV Committee
p.p. Mark Elley
2020-05-13 Minutes
Attendees
John Pillinger, Chris Book, David Shearman, Geoff Penney, Mark Elley, Bob Yardley
Team Registration Numbers
We had heard nothing from three teams in response to the League’s mailshot and request to register online for next season. These teams were Pleasant Gang, Legionnaires, Woolly Waddlers.They would be contacted individually to see if they still wished to play. Three other teams had replied but not yet filled in the registration form: Cavaliers, Trowbridge Rejects, Bless Them All. (David said that the Trowbridge Rejects would play). One team, the Downers, had said they would not play next season.
Comments by Captains / Review original proposals
Several teams had suggested that we drop the Cup competitions entirely for next season in order to shorten the season. We decided that this was probably the best course of action so have abandoned the original proposal for a voluntary Knockout Cup competition next season.This means there will be no Cup competitions nor Singles nor Pairs Competitions next season.
Government Guidelines
There is still no certainty as to whether pubs/clubs would be able to re-open in time for the League to re-start in September. If this is not possible we might have to decide to abandon the postponed games from the 19/20 season.
League Table Update
With the resignation of the Downers from the League before all games have been completed, all points gained in their games, by themselves and by their opponents, have been deducted in line with normal procedure, and the League Table adjusted accordingly. This procedure doesn’t appear to be specified in the Rules, so we will propose an amendment to the rules at the next AGM.
Keep everyone informed
We will post the notes from this meeting on the LV Skittles website to keep Captains informed of our proposals.
Date of next Committee Meeting
Tuesday 9th June 2020 at 8pm.
2020-05-13 Minutes
Attendees
John Pillinger, Chris Book, David Shearman, Geoff Penney, Mark Elley, Bob Yardley
Team Registration Numbers
We had heard nothing from three teams in response to the League’s mailshot and request to register online for next season. These teams were Pleasant Gang, Legionnaires, Woolly Waddlers.They would be contacted individually to see if they still wished to play. Three other teams had replied but not yet filled in the registration form: Cavaliers, Trowbridge Rejects, Bless Them All. (David said that the Trowbridge Rejects would play). One team, the Downers, had said they would not play next season.
Comments by Captains / Review original proposals
Several teams had suggested that we drop the Cup competitions entirely for next season in order to shorten the season. We decided that this was probably the best course of action so have abandoned the original proposal for a voluntary Knockout Cup competition next season.This means there will be no Cup competitions nor Singles nor Pairs Competitions next season.
Government Guidelines
There is still no certainty as to whether pubs/clubs would be able to re-open in time for the League to re-start in September. If this is not possible we might have to decide to abandon the postponed games from the 19/20 season.
League Table Update
With the resignation of the Downers from the League before all games have been completed, all points gained in their games, by themselves and by their opponents, have been deducted in line with normal procedure, and the League Table adjusted accordingly. This procedure doesn’t appear to be specified in the Rules, so we will propose an amendment to the rules at the next AGM.
Keep everyone informed
We will post the notes from this meeting on the LV Skittles website to keep Captains informed of our proposals.
Date of next Committee Meeting
Tuesday 9th June 2020 at 8pm.
2020-07-07 Minutes
The Committee met on Tuesday 7th July to consider the prospects for restarting the skittles season this year.
As you may recall, we planned to play the five outstanding fixtures from last season in September this year and then start the 20/21 season in late October. Although pubs are now allowed to open, the restrictions on gatherings inside the pub may make the attendance of skittles teams impractical. The requirements of social distancing and disinfecting surfaces may further complicate matters. It would help our decision making if you could contact your pub landlord or club steward to get their view of the viability of having skittles teams back on their premises in September.
Please let me have any feedback you get and any comments you wish to add before our next meeting on 4th August when we will decide whether to restart in September.
Thank you all for re-registering your team for next season. There has only been one resignation from the League, which is very encouraging. Let us hope that all our pubs/clubs will survive this pandemic and that we can all meet up again for skittles soon.
With best wishes,
Bob Yardley
Hon. Secretary
Please send and email correspondence to: secretary@lvskittles.co.uk
2020-07-28 Minutes
The Committee has decided to abandon its plans to resume the 2019/20 season in September. We have done this in light of the following advice received from the BANES Council Public Protection Team:
“I don’t consider that re-starting skittles is compatible with the current covid secure guidance for the following:
- Teams have 8 members, all from different households, which is currently against government guidance of a max of 6.
- Pubs are required to limit the movement of customers around the pub as much as possible other than to use the toilet facilities or place an order at the bar.
- Teams all use the same balls and there is no effective or practical way of cleaning the balls between players.
- The sticker-up would also be handling these balls.
- The game will encourage players to congregate together as it is a sociable game, as would the post skittle buffet style food.
- Social distancing may not be possible in some alleys as they all differ in size and location.
- Many teams have older players in vulnerable groups.
- It would encourage teams to move around the pubs which isn’t to be encouraged at this time.
Overall, while it is not prohibited in law, I cannot see that this can be facilitated either safely or practically within the current covid secure guidance. This in turn would be considered a breach of H&S legislation under which action could be taken. I am sure it is very disappointing that activities like this are unable to resume, but it will be some time before “normal” social activities like these will be permitted.”
In our view, that advice rules out a restart in September. Therefore we have decided to deem the 2019/20 season as over and League positions will stand as they were after the 3rd March. The Knockout and Nomination Cup competitions were completed. The two remaining teams in the Pins Cup would be declared joint winners. The Singles Competition was completed. The two Pairs competitions would be voided as there are too many outstanding games. It will not be possible to hold a normal AGM or Presentation Night owing to social distancing requirements. The existing Committee will remain in office until a normal AGM can be held. Prize monies will be sent by post by the treasurer. If possible, could cup holders retrieve their trophies from their pub or club for safe keeping until further notice. Please see the abridged results list below, taken from the Registrar’s report.
Season 20/21
We previously planned to start the 20/21 season in late October, as a League only season with no cup competitions. The feasibility of this start is uncertain at this time and the Committee will meet again on the 8th of September to make a decision on an October start. If October is not possible, we are considering a possible start on January 5th with a short season based on 3 Divisions to conclude in April or May. This would need to be decided at a further Committee meeting in November. If none of these options is viable we would have to cancel 20/21 and start a new season in September 2021.
Extract from the Registrar’s report for the 2019/20 Season
Division One top three: Ron’s Eight, Hadley Arms, Cavaliers
Division One bottom three:Dynamoes, Downers, Pleasant Gang
Division Two top three: Larkhall Eight, Trowbridge Rejects, Bless ’em All
Nomination Cup Winners: Cavaliers. Runners-Up: Ron’s Eight
Knockout Cup Winners: M Taverners A. Runners-Up: Slottie Giraffes
Pins Cup Joint Winners: Larkhall Eight and Rangers
Home Spares Cup Winner: K.Compton (Pleasant Gang)
Away Spares Cup Winner: D.Wiltshire (Trowbridge Rejects)
Roy Hancock Trophy Winner: Tim Walker (Dynamoes)
Highest Average Score: A.Webb (Slottie Giraffes)
Singles Competition Winner: B.Derrick (Rangers)
Singles Competition Runner-Up: D.Brown (Legionairs)
That is all for now! Please get in touch with one of the Committee members if you have any questions or comments to make.
Best wishes,
Bob Yardley(Hon. Secretary)
2020-09-09 Email
Dear Captain,
The Committee met online last night and agreed that it would not be possible to restart skittles matches in October as there had been no change in the relevant Government advice.
We will meet again on November 3rd to discuss any developments and to decide whether a shortened and rearranged season could start in January as we had considered earlier.However, given the strengthening of restrictions on social gatherings announced after our meeting, it is hard to be optimistic that that will be possible either.
We remain hopeful that a full season of matches will be able to start in September 2021.
With best wishes,
Bob Yardley
(Hon. Secretary)
2020-10-07 Email
The committee has decided to cancel the 2020/21 skittles season owing to the continuing uncertainty over the coronavirus pandemic and the restrictions on social gatherings.
The committee will meet again on 23rd March 2021 to make plans for the 2021/22 season which we hope will be able to go ahead next September.
With best wishes,
Bob Yardley (Hon. Secretary)
2021-05-15 President’s Letter
2021-05-25 Minutes
Notes from the LV Committee Meeting at WESA on 25 May 2021
ATTENDEES
David, John, Geoff, Chris, Mark, Bob
GOVERNMENT LATEST COVID POSITION
The Government has now postponed the final stage of lockdown easing to July 19th.
SEASON 21/22
League teams/format:
Our poll of all the teams from the 19/20 season determined that the following teams would not be registering for 21/22 – Prodigal Suns, Codgers, Hadley Arms, and Downers. This would leave 12 teams in each Division One and Two. The fixture list would be reconfigured based on 12 teams per division.
Finance:
The League has sufficient funds to maintain entry and registration fees, prize monies and honoraria as at present, at least for next season. We will make a useful saving by not producing the usual folded fixture cards, instead an A4 sheet will be provided for each captain. Score cards will be provided as usual.
Rule Changes:
The current Rule 4 is that teams comprise 8 players but we need to be more flexible in the event that teams cannot get 8 players on the night. Rule 10 tries to address this but could lead to very unbalanced games and is probably routinely ignored. We will propose possible amendments at the AGM (play one down, give 3’s across the board or 1’s for nomination games, repeat the lowest score in the leg, etc).
Cup competitions:
We will run all the usual cup competitions with fixed dates for the early rounds as in previous years.
Dates:
We will delay the start of the 21/22 season to 21 September. The Pins Cup will start on 4 January and the League resumes after Christmas on 11 January.
Letters/Website update for teams:
Relevant parts of these notes (when agreed) will be posted on the LV website. Invitation letters for the AGM will be sent as usual with our suggested amendments to Rule 10.
DATE OF NEXT MEETING/AGM
We will meet again on Tuesday 20th July.
The AGM will be held on Tuesday 10th August.