Notice of a Special General Meeting

Notice has been given that a Special General Meeting will be held at 8 o’clock on the evening of Monday 27^th September, at a venue to be announced to consider amendments to the West Midlands Pétanque Association’s Constitution.

 Introduction to the Proposed Constitutional Amendments

Following issues raised at the 2009 AGM concerning both the management structure of the Association and the timetable of activities for the AGM it was agreed to re-visit the existing Constitution for some solutions.  Some amendments are now proposed and are being put to the membership at this SGM.  The main proposals are for a new management structure that is designed to improve communication and accountability and give much more support to the Officers in carrying out their duties.

This new management structure would have the same Officers as before but proposes that the posts requiring specialist qualifications or CRB checks are not elected but are appointed.

It proposes that these Officers together with the Presidents/Chairmen of each club form the Committee, which replaces the present Executive Committee.  The Committee would work in the same manner as at present but with fewer members eligible to vote.  It would still be the prime part of the management with full responsibility for making all policy decisions and would direct the Officers accordingly.  The Officers become the executive arm of management with responsibility to implement the policies.  They would form the Executive and this Executive would form into 3 standing committees known as:

(a)  The Business Group with responsibility for finance, arranging meetings, keeping records etc.  Chaired by the President with the Deputy President, Treasurer, Secretary and Membership Secretary.

(b)  The Development Group, chaired by the Deputy President with the PRO, YDO, Coach and President.

(c)  The Playing Group, chaired by the VP (Playing) with the Umpire, YDO, Coach and President.

The Executive would be responsible for directing the Groups, which would report to each Committee Meeting seeking approval for their plans.

The Executive would meet following each AGM to form the groups and direct them on their work.  It would meet again as required.

The Groups would meet separately following the Executive’s directives and then as required to fulfil their duties and to prepare/collate their reports and recommendations for the Committee.

To download a copy of the current WMPA Constitution or a draft copy of the proposed new version click here

Northern win Inter-Regional

On Sunday the 15^th August, the Half Crown PC hosted an inter-regional match between the West Midlands and Northern Region.   It was sunny and everyone had a good and enjoyable day.  Dave Hancox as Vice President (Playing) selected the squad to give some new players for Brean and some new team combinations some inter-regional exposure.  

This was a real opportunity to play good opponents and to test their skills and bond their teams.

We unfortunately lost to Northern as the final result was 29 wins to our Northern friends with West Midlands managing only 19 wins.

The best West Midlands team was Barry and Carol Cox with Keith who won four out of the six games.  Well done.  The success of this established team demonstrates how valuable Dave’s decision on exposure may prove to be.

Click here for the results

Closely fought but lost EuroCup in Denmark

The EuroCup match against Denmark and Finland was a very tight affair where just one missed shot at a crucial point made the difference between 1^st and 3^rd place.  The whole team is to be congratulated on its performance.

We can’t better John Emberton’s report in the Half Crown’s Newsletter so please read it and see the photos.

Summer Triples

The night of Wednesday 16^th August saw 5 teams playing the last round of the Summer League in torrential rain at Whitnash.  The Pippins team of Carol and Barry Cox with Keith Turner won 2 games for the second time running finishing with 6 wins + 22 points but were pipped by the Caterpillars team of Betty and Tony Thompson with Alex Watkins who finished in second place with 6 wins + 27 points.  Outright winners were Teresa and Pete Bingham with Brian Stote who playing as Three Bees with a sting in their tail won 7 games with a +39.

Congratulations to the winners and everyone who played – especially on Wednesday.

Click here for the full results

Into Europe

In great style the Half Crown PC has won the honour of representing England in Europe as the EPA representatives in the CEP EuroCup

On the 18^th April, in brilliant sunshine at Burnham Pétanque Club, the team fought off strong opposition from two Kent teams, Tovil PC in the semi-final and Meadows PC in the final of the EPA event. The Half Crown lost just one game in the semi- final and another in the final. A convincing win.  The other semi finalist was the Southern Region’s Cobbetts Boules Club, one of the oldest established clubs in Britain.

The finalists are old rivals having met on previous occasions in this competition when Meadow played as the Plough and Chequers.  Both teams won the British leg several times under the banner of the BPA.  Both were also early supporters of this competition and helped develop it to be the challenging event it is today.  In 2000 the Half Crown lost to PC Elite Bruxelles in the first Euro round and in 2001 to Groupe Nicollin Montpellier.  Both these clubs went on to be the Euro Champions in those years. 

The team on the finals day at Burnham was Jerome Rousseau (Captain), Herve Bavazzano, Sofiane Lachini, Nic Baxter, Jamie Lewis, Marcus Hickman, Janet Kimpton and Caroline Powell.  The other club players, who helped them to reach the final, were David Kimpton, Philippe Bonnet, Martin Baker and Richard Powell.

On the weekend of the 31^st July The Half Crown has its next match in Copenhagen against the winning clubs of Denmark and Finland.  It is being played at the Club Hvidovre which hosted the first ever EuroCup final in 1988.

The Half Crown is joined in Europe by Fochabers PC from Scotland and Wheatsheaf PC from Wales.

The team would like to thank all their supporters, who attended virtually every match.  They would particularly like to thank Jim Patrick who never missed a match, John Emberton the Club President for his support and encouragement and Mary and Bill for the celebratory champagne.  And special thanks to Dave Hancox, a member of the teams back in 2000 and 2001, who sacrificed playing to umpire the home games at the Crown.  Well done everyone!  Every success in Denmark.

Sad News

It is with great sadness that we received the news of the passing of Anne Emberton of the Half Crown and Cavin Woodward from Whitnash

Cavin was invaluable in helping to establish the WWPC along with Carol and their twins.  He worked tirelessly to promote the club both regionally and nationally.  He was instrumental in setting up the junior club and was always very enthusiastic in whatever he did.  A man of great energy and commitment.

We will miss Anne and Cavin, both taken from us far too early, but will never forget their influence in the game.

Wedding Bells

Ross Woodward married his Charlotte on the 12^th December in the Lake District.  Congratulations to you both.  But Ross, when is Charlotte going to start playing pétanque with us?  2 months?  3 months?  All bets to Carol.

Player of the Year

The Player of the Year for 2009 was Keith Turner.  Well done Keith!