New rule:

The League Controller shall have the discretion at the request of a club to reallocate a player from the team for which he was registered at the start of the season to a team in a lower division if there is a genuine reason why this would be fair in the circumstances. Rule 3(b) shall continue to apply at all times so the higher team must continue to have at least four allocated players.

Other agreed actions for next season:

• League structure for next season – It was agreed that Division 1 will have 7 teams with 12 matches to be played over 14 rounds. There will be 2 teams relegated at the end of the season.
• Dates of the League matches for next season: These are likely to start a week or two earlier in September and may end a week or two later in May to accommodate the extra matches in Division 1. Team secretaries will therefore also be contacted a little earlier to determine club teams and their allocations for next season.
• Website fees: A discussion will be held between the B&DCL and DCCA to cover a fair allocation.
• Safeguarding matters: To use the DCCA policy. Clubs are to be responsible.
• Team fees: Team league fees to remain at £5 per team.
• 2 Towns match: Scheduled for Monday 8th September at the Poole Centenary Club.

Presentation of trophies & awards:

League divisional trophies were presented to the captains / representatives:

From top to bottom above: Division 1 – Highcliffe A, Division 2 – New Milton A, Division 3 – Poole C, Division 4 – Bournemouth D, Division 5 – Bournemouth E.

Individual divisional trophies were presented to the winners / representatives:

From top to bottom above: Division 1 – Peter Anderson (Ringwood A), Division 2 – Peter Wilcock (Wimborne B), Division 3 – Michal Orszulak (Southbourne D), Division 4 – Jake Grubb (Bournemouth D), Division 5 – Azhar Ghose (Bournemouth E).

Team Handicap Knockout Cup:

Winners – Highcliffe Fischers

Two Towns Match:

Winners – Poole & Bournemouth jointly shared.

Super Cup

This covers the match between the winners of the B&DCL Division 1 & DCL Division 1:

Winners – Highcliffe A

Summer League:

Winners – Highcliffe

League Officers elected:

John Belinger was elected as the B&DCL President replacing Alan Dommett who has been in the role for 22 years. Alan was given a big thank you and a couple of gifts for his tremendous work and loyal service to the B&DCL for over 30 years which has also included long spells as the Bournemouth Echo Chess Correspondent and Newsknight Editor.

Other Officers elected:

Martin Simons (Chairman), Richard Ursell (Treasurer), John Belinger (Rating Officer), Nikki Forster (Junior Chess Coordinator) & Martin Simons (League Controller) were all re-elected.

Vacancies for Secretary and Webmaster remain unfilled.

Subsequent to the meeting, James Forster has offered to be the Auditor and he will be appointed subject to Committee approval.