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Narracott Cup Competition

Sponsored by Aaron Printers, Newton Abbot

Secretary: Conrad Sutcliffe,

48 Hamilton Drive, Newton Abbot TQ12 2TL

01626 353705 + Mob 07767 622530

 Conradcopy@btinternet.com

 

Friday, March 7, 2008

 

Dear All,

 

The draw was conducted on Friday by former Babbacombe cricketer Martin Passmore on behalf of sponsors Aaron Printers. Martin has recently joined the company to run its shop at Castle Circus, Torquay.

 

This year has seen Kingskerswell withdraw from the competition to concentrate their efforts on the Newton T20 competition. The door is always open to them to return at a later date.

 

With Kingskerswell missing, the number of clubs entered in 2008 is 14, which means two byes in the first round to balance the numbers. The two teams pulled out of the hat for byes were Paignton and Torquay, who have drawn each other in round two.

 

All matches should be played on Thursdays. Iany teams have specific problems with a particular date, contact me now rather than leave it until a week or two before the match.

 

Fixed dates were brought in a number of years ago to ease the queue for umpires on midweek evenings. The Brockman Cup is played on Tuesdays, the Twenty 20 competitions on Wednesdays and the Narracott on Thursdays.

 

Last year, as you will recall, the competition was hit hard by bad weather with numerous delays all the way up to and including the final. I can't do anything about the weather, but the structure of this season ahead does give us some leeway.

 

There is a two-week gap between the last of the first round games and the start of the second round fixtures: time enough to squeeze in delayed matches. Likewise, there is a fortnight between the second round and the semi-finals.

 

One change made this year is to move one of the semi-finals from Torquay Recreation Ground to Barton CC. This has been done in recognition of the efforts put in without reward by Barton to help us out last season when Torquay's ground was not available.

 

Four times Barton tried and failed to host the much-delayed semi-final between Brixham and Dartington & Totnes. South Devon CC was also roped into service as a semi-final venue.

 

Although I have not heard from the umpires association directly, I understand this year's fee is £10 per team per match. Please ensure this fee is paid before the game commences. Umpires' fees have risen steadily over the past few years and it is to be hoped that they will level off for the time being.

 

Enclosed with this email are a copy of the competition rules (also available on the Devon Cricket Board website ( www.devoncricket.co.uk ) and a registration list. Ideally I need the registration list returned to me by April 20th for checking.

 

Entry fees, which some clubs have been somewhat tardy in paying over recent years. The only team to have paid in advance for 2008 is Ipplepen. From the rest of you, I require £5, either in cash or as a cheque made payable to South Devon CC 150 Account.

 

The subject of entry fees brings me to the administration of this competition. Thanks to the support of our sponsor, who has agreed to carry on for another three years, we are remarkably solvent. The sponsor covers the trophy costs at the moment, which leaves very little to pay. However, the competition needs a new treasurer to keep an eye on finances and to arrange the transfer of our existing balances from the old Midas Shield Account, which hasn't been touched for three or four years.

 

I took on the job of secretary almost eight years ago when the competition was in danger of folding. Admin is not my strong point, which is why we haven't had an annual meeting for at least two years. One of the last ones we had didn't attract enough people for a quorum, which is part of the reason why it isn't high on my list of priorities.

 

I have operated without a chairman virtually from the start. Committee decisions are reached by phoning round the handful of people who were elected at the last, long-ago, annual meeting. That needs to change.

 

At the end of the 2008 season I propose to call an open meeting at South Devon CC to discuss the way ahead for the Narracott Cup. Our silver jubilee is only three years away and I would like to mark it in an appropriate way. To do that needs a committee.

 

Regards

 

 

CONRAD SUTCLIFFE

 

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