Loddon Vale Bridge Club
Minutes of the 41st Annual General Meeting held at
Whiteknights Indoor Bowls Club 21 Beech Lane Earley RG6 5PT on 4th April 2024
1. Apologises for Absence:
Received from: Kay Quinn, Stuart Townsend, Sue Schofield, Jim Roy, Mary & Reg Watson, Marion Fleming,
Rosemary O'Donnell, Marcus Trathen, Jill Lark.
2. Minutes of 2023 AGM:
The minutes were proposed by Giorgio Jeronimidis and seconded by Mike Gordon and accepted by the Meeting.
3. Matters arising:
15 members attended today’s meeting; the quorum under the Club’s rules being reached.
Any other relevant matters dealt with below.
4. The Chairman’s Report:
Chris Hopkins delivered her report:
It has been a successful year following the adoption of joint sessions with Reading Bridge Club on Thursday evenings, and the good results of Club teams playing in various leagues. The increase in number of tables at Bridge sessions has generally improved the experience for all. Special thanks go Marcus Trathen, Jim Roy, Chris Dawe and Anthony Collins in connection with the running of the Thursday evening sessions. Thanks also to the Captains running the Club teams. Finally, thanks to Jim Roy and Simon Porter who have retired from the Committee (but see below).
The annual Bridge Weekends continue to be well supported and thanks go to the Organisers, Mary Watson and previous member, Paul Scrivener. The 2023 Weekend in Bournemouth in 2023 was very successful and arrangements for the current year in Worthing are well advanced.
Finally, thanks to all Committee members for supporting her in her new role as Chairman.
The ongoing relationship with Reading Bridge Club is discussed below.
5. The Treasurer’s Report:
Iain MacKenzie apologised that the 2023 Accounts although drafted were not yet available for circulation. This would follow after their examination by Simon Porter. Iain commented however we are currently making a small profit and have about £2000 liquid funds, with the separate Weekend Account also in the black. Following a question from the floor, the Chairman explained it was appropriate for the Club to maintain a cash reserve to fund outgoings with an additional contingency reserve. No changes to charges for playing at the Club were currently envisaged.
6. Confirmation/Election of Club Officials:
Jim Roy is retiring from the Committee but will continue as Webmaster.
Simon Porter has retired from the Committee but will continue to be the Examiner of the Club Accounts.
The remaining members of the Committee are prepared to continue, namely:
Chris Hopkins-Chairman
Iain MacKenzie-Treasurer
Chris Shambrook-Secretary
Anthony Collins and Marc Rivoira-Committee members
Chris Dawe-ex officio Committee member
No applications to join the Committee have been received and thus the above appointments confirmed.
7. Teams:
Marc Rivoira (Captain of Club’s B&B Team of 8) summed up the year;
B&B team of 8 -2nd place in the top Division is comfortably the best position the Club has attained in its history. Some notable wins over Burnham A and Reading A, and Amersham A (the Winners) were given their closest match.
Nine members have played in the team.
B&B Team of 4 -a team from our Club currently in the middle of Div.1.
Chiltern League-Team of 4 captained by Anthony Collins in first place.
2023 Spring Cup won by Anthony Collins and Marcus Trathen.
Bracknell Bridge League-our team of 4 currently in first place in Div.1. In all 10 members have played in matches, this season. Congratulations and thanks to all our members supporting these teams.
8. Ongoing relationship with Reading Bridge club:
Joint weekly sessions with Reading will continue.
On average approx. 30% of participants in Club sessions are Members of Reading Bridge Club(several of course are members of both). There continues to be a range of standards but generally the overall standard of play has improved since joining up. The point was made that Loddon members are perhaps better known to each other and therefore they fully engage with the opportunities to chat on the RealBridge platform. Reading members should be encouraged to follow Loddon’s lead.
There was full discussion on the need for more members to be able to set up RealBridge sessions and act as Directors. The point was made that RealBridge system generally removes the need for ‘Book Rulings’ to be necessary leaving only judgement rulings as the main issue. Such rulings can however be made with advice well after the end of the session and thus fully trained face-to-face Directors are not mandatory. Several members offered to receive training to set up sessions and one or two members of Reading would also be prepared to Direct.
The Club will ensure the running of joint Bridge sessions will continue not to affect the standing of Loddon and Reading as distinctly, separate Clubs, each with its own individual teams.
The meeting closed at 3.55
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