Posted: November 16, 2007

Just three rule amendments were passed at the 105th Annual General Meeting of the JCT 600 Bradford League at Pudsey Congs.

The most significant rule change relates to the covering of pitches. All clubs must now have suitable covers available for use both before and during a match. These must be used during interruptions for weather during a match. The rule amendment was passed by 32 votes to one.

All Sovereign Health Care Priestley Cup and Shield ties will now start at 1pm instead of 1.30pm and the third change affects the rule regarding player's clothing.

The words unless otherwise directed by the Management Board have been added to the rule which states that all matches under the jurisdiction of the league will be played in white clothing. This will allow, the continuing use of coloured clothing in the Sovereign Health Care Priestley Cup final

Three more rule change proposals were defeated. East Bierley to have the toss of the coin replaced by the away side having the choice of whether to bat or bowl first.This was defeated 29-3.

There were two proposals to change the points system. Saltaire were seeking support for raising the win from ten points to 12, reducing the bonus points to be won from five to four each for batting and bowling. The batting points would have been awarded at 125, 150, 175 and 200 and the bowling points would have started at three wickets, with further points gained for taking, five, seven and nine wickets. The abandoned game would have been worth four points and the tie six. This was defeated 26-6.

Baildon's proposal for 20 points to be awarded to the winning side and no bonus points. The losing side would collect batting and bonus points the same as they currently do. This was defeated 17-14, the closest vote of the night.

All of the league's officers, Keith Moss (President), Graham Reid (Chairman), Bob Shackleton (Chief Executive), Steve Raistrick (Secretary) and David Young (Treasurer) were all re-elected unopposed.

At the league meeting which followed the annual meeting, club representatives Rodney Heyhoe (Lightcliffe) and Mick Illingworth (Baildon) were re-elected unopposed.

Treasurer David Young, presenting his first financial report, said he was disappointed to have to report a loss on the year of £2,093. This was an improvement on the deficit of £5,268 was being done to rectify the position as the league clearly could not continue to sustain losses.

He pointed out that the loss had come about despite a significant increase in revenue. This was due to an improved sponsorship deal with JCT 600 and some impressive first revenues from the league's website.

The treasurer said that expenditure on postage had risen sharply and he wanted to see the league making greater use of the website and e-mail to send out its communications to clubs.

He also highlighted the fact that the annual dinner had made a £700 loss in 2006 and there was a need to put this event on a sounder footing so that it did not make a big drain on the league's finances.

He said that the Management Board would look at ways of controlling costs and indicated ways in which the league had made significant savings this year by producing all its own stationery, printing its own scoresheets and sending out more communications electronically. He vowed to ensure that further savings be made and said that the website had the potential to help deliver them as well providing a good revenue stream.