Cornwall County Cricket Club 2004 Annual General Meeting

l-r Canon K Rogers (Asst Sec), Mrs A George JP (Hon Sec), F Julian Williams Esq. (President), Col R Potts (Chairman), D Nance (Hon Treasurer)

Cornwall County Cricket Club Club's Annual General Meeting, held at the Municipal Buildings, Truro, on 3rd March 2004 was very much a low key affair with the business being conducted in less than half an hour. Tom Sharp was re-elected, unopposed, as skipper while all officers and committee members will continue in post for the forthcoming season.

In presenting the Committee' s Annual Report the Chairman, Col. Ronnie Potts, reflected on an excellent season with only bad weather in all three home games, preventing a possible first ever title. The County had to be content with third place, the highest since 1976. Research, regarding the hundredth anniversary on May 23rd this year of Cornwall officially entering the Championship , shows that the only other year when the county remained unbeaten throughout a season was in 1956, when all 8 games were drawn.

Col. Potts highlighted some fine individual performances. Justin Stephens passed 100 Championship wickets, David Roberts and Ryan Driver both hit two centuries with Driver sharing the fourth highest partnership for the county of 274 with James Hands, who also hit a maiden century. Gary Thomas became only the third Cornish player to hit ten centuries while Neil Ivamy enjoyed a fine all round game against Herefordshire. Skipper Tom Sharp was also praised for his leadership and for winning the MCCA Frank Edwards Bowling Trophy, presented at Lord's in December, to the bowler with the leading average in the entire Championship.

Treasurer Doug Nance, for the first time in four seasons, was able to report a profit on the season. Following losses of around £9,000 over the last three years the trend was halted with a profit of over £1900 announced. This was thanks to a financially successful C & G game with Kent at Truro. On the deficit side losses had been incurred with costly away trips to Norfolk and the Netherlands for cup games and a drop in gate monies due to half the home programme being washed out.

The President F. Julian Williams C.B.E. Esq. of Caerhays, who presided over the meeting. presented the trophies. Tom Sharp was awarded the outstanding cricketer of 2003. Neil Ivamy won the Canynge Caple Colt's Cup. The Arthur Lugg Cup for outstanding services was presented to Bob Moir. In conjunction with a contract with the Cornwall Cricket Board, he successfully handled the marketing of the C & G game with Kent.. He paid tribute to all that had helped him, especially Godfrey Adams and Truro CC. The Caerhays Cup, for the highest partnership of the season, went to Ryan Driver and James Hands for their stand of 274 against Oxfordshire at Challow & Childrey. Mr Steve Cocks presented a new trophy, in memory of his father Donald of St Austell C C , who was a long serving County Club Committee member. The inaugural "Donald Cocks Cup" for fielding was awarded to Gavin Edwards.

Trophy winners Tom Sharp, Neil Ivamy and Ryan Driver received their cups from the Club President F. Julian Williams Esq.

All Officers and General Committee were re-elected unopposed. Elected: President: F. Julian Williams C.B.E. Esq.; Chairman: Col. R.W. Potts; Hon. Secretary: Mrs Anita George; Hon. Asst. Secretary: Canon K. Rogers; Hon. Treasurer: C.D. Nance; Hon. Asst. Treasurer: C. A. Lovell; Captain: T.G. Sharp; Team Sec / Manager: G.R. Furse; Under 21's Manager: W.R. Collins; Over 50's Secretary: G. Husband; U 21's Treasurer: M. Thomas; County Women's Team Manager: D. P. Weeks Elected General Committee Members: G. Adams, B. Bennett, W.M. Buzza, M.J. Chadwick, M. Cundy, P. George, B. Laity, R. James & M.A. Weeks (Hon. Media Officer & Archivist).

Following the AGM, the General Committee made some changes to the administrative structure of the club. The selection committee, which had previously also served as an executive committee, has been reduced from seven to three members. It comprises of the Chairman, Captain and Team Manager. Messrs Brain Laity, Nigel Sanders, the treasurer and secretary (Mrs George who did not sit on selection matters) are no longer selection committee members. To deal with other matters a separate Executive Committee has been formed of six members comprising of the Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Peter George, Godfrey Adams and Dick Collins.

The County's season is due to start early, on Saturday 3rd April, with a representative XI playing Somerset County Cricket Club at Truro CC. Somerset will be spending three days in Cornwall, in aid of Keith Parsons benefit year. On the Friday, there will be a golf day at Cape Cornwall Golf Club while on the Sunday a game is planned against another select XI at St Buryan CC to mark the opening of the new cricket pavilion / community hall facility. The Championship season begins on 24th May against Shropshire at Bridgnorth.

Bob Moir            Godfrey Adams (on behalf of Gavin Edwards) and Steve Cocks

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