KENT SRA, AGM

The Kent SRA Annual General Meeting, held at Medway Sports Park on Monday, amplified the message that the county is determined to promote the growth of the sport at all levels.

The main bullet points from the meeting are as follows:

KENT SRA DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

The programme currently includes Eight Hub Clubs, all linked to schools to attract new junior participants.

Under-11 and Under-13 feeder squads have already been established following a successful first year of the programme, with coaching from Naomi Duthie and Steve Franks 

KENT OPEN AND KENT SQUASH FESTIVAL:

The Chairman reported that the Kent Open and Kent Squash Festival served as a significant shop-window for the promotion of squash within the county and The Mote Squash Club were thanked for staging another successful tournament which generated valuable publicity and involved a large number of junior players.

KENT DEVELOPMENT OFFICER:

Following a change in policy, England Squash and Racketball decided not to renew the contracts of county development officers.

The responsibility for the post now rests with Kent SRA and, following the excellent work already undertaken by Steve Franks, the county prepared a contract offer (with support from ESR) to enable him to continue in the role of Kent Development Officer. 

WORLD SQUASH DAY: REVIVING WOMEN'S SQUASH IN KENT 

All Kent clubs are urged to support World Squash Day, which takes place on November 5th and is dedicated this year to creating a new generation of female players.

Clubs are invited to hold open days to attract new female members with the accent on fun and fitness.

Ideas for events can be found on the website: www.worldsquashday.com

With women's team squash virtually extinct in most parts of the UK, fresh ideas are being sought to develop a new combination of fun, friendly and competitive frameworks for women's squash.

JUNIOR SUCCESSES

Mention was made of the growing number of junior successes being recorded by the county, and thanks were expressed to the players, parents, clubs and coaches who have made this possible.

KENT PRIORY LEAGUE

Graham Moscrop and John Bunce have indicated their intent to retire as secretary and chairman of the Priory League. Richard Antcliff has volunteered to take on the role of Priory League secretary and is seeking others to take other roles.

LEAGUE RULES

With volunteer officials hard to come by, a working party was established to examine the rules of both the Priory League and Outer Kent League with a view to producing one set of Kent rules to be applied to both competitions.

COUNTY CUP COMPETITIONS
The rules of county cup competitions which involve clubs from both leagues are under the auspices of the Kent SRA and one set of rules shall apply.

FINANCE REPORT

The county recorded a substantial operating loss in the past 12 months, largely due to the cost of fielding county teams in inter-county competitions across a wide range of age-groups. 

It was agreed that senior age-group squads will be invited to become self-supporting, and seek their own sponsorship rather than further deplete the county's diminishing financial reserves.

COUNTY SQUADS

It was agreed that the opportunity to play in the many county squads should be open to all, and that competition for places should be open and keenly contested. It was hoped that the county Masters events will be well supported and that county ranking lists will ensue across the age groups.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS

Mike Burchell (Chairman) and Len Locke and Joe Magor (Joint Secretaries) were all unanimously re-elected. 

Treasurer Mike Sofianos tendered his resignation and Richard Antcliff (Wells) volunteered to take over subject to clarification of the role and his personal availability.

THANKS

The Chairman thanked President Alan Thatcher, Treasurer Mike Sofianos and Secretary Len Locke for their efforts in keeping the county going after the sudden and tragic death of Ian Wright. 

Medway Sports Park were thanked for the provision of the meeting room for the AGM.