Present: Ray, Ron, Simon, Dudley, Julian, John Dixon, Dave Kerr.

Apologies: Steve Lloyd, Dave Sciberras, Jason Foster, Dave Richards.

Finances: We start the season with  £2538.00

Awards: Ron to find out dates that submissions will next be considered. Since the meeting the form has been completed and I will be signing it over the weekend of the 2nd/3rd^h Oct. Jason Foster will be supporting the application as a regional child protection officer. We have been advised that Richard Coleman no longer works for Squash England. A new person has been appointed and Dave Sciberras is finding out who this is.

Inter Club – Ron is on top of this and games should start late October. ‘B’ team league was discussed but it was felt that this could prove problematical. Only change for this year is the fact that games must be played on the dates advised. Play it or lose the points!.

Rankings – These are mainly resulting from the County closed but if you beat a person above you in other events you move above them. This is the simplest way to work. Team Managers should advise Ron of any major anomalies in the rankings of the age group they are responsible for.

Herts Closed – Since the meeting U 11, U17 and U13 has all been held. Total entries are running at very similar levels to last year (approx 154). 40 turned up for the U11. Congrats to Julian.

U13 winner was Philip Waller runner up Tim Dixon, U17 Winner Adrian Waller runner up Jonathan Fuller.

Prizes of Rackets were supplied by Dunlop. 100 Shirts were purchased.

Dean Clayton refereed the finals.

Presentation of the Inter Club prizes to be carried out on the 3/10/04 at HCC after the U19 Final.

Girls Squash – on 27^th June 16 -18 Girls attended training. Jenna Shrub assisted in coaching. New dates to be set for the coming season.

County Training – Must aim for at least 2 training sessions over the season for the u11 – u15 age groups. Older age groups subject to availability.

Inter- County – 24^th Oct  U15 and U19. We are hosting U19. Dudley has all in hand.

Dave Sciberas is aware of U15 venue.

7^th Nov – U13 we are hosting. U17 playing away at Middlesex.

All matches are over 1 day. (The second rounds are 30/1/05 and 6/2/05)

Coaching – Our funds are getting low to fund coaching of willing squash helpers. Whilst the initial part 1 is costing around pounds 90 the part two cost is committing the Junior section to a liability we will not be able to meet unless further funding is received.

It was felt that the senior committee be approached with the request for them to consider funding some of the coaching costs. The fact that these coaches will not eventually only benefit juniors but squash in general the senior committee should look at allocating some of their lottery funds to this cause. All coaches who are accepted for payment must pay themselves and it is only refunded when they have completed 10 hours of ‘free’ coaching. It is not necessary to always award 100% of the cost but also 50%. Under these guides I hope the senior committee will give this serious thought. £ 1500 should fund 5 - 7 coaches up to part 2.

Elite Training – With several Junior players now Nationally ranked it was discussed that these players will in the future be asked to play for the County and on this basis maybe a training day funded by the seniors could incorporate the top Juniors. If the Seniors have a training session arranged then perhaps they could consider this.

Area Squash Development – Ron will continue to expand this and look at areas we have not yet assisted. Good results have been achieved from our initiative in Harpenden. With money becoming tight Ron should report back to the committee before committing to funding school training sessions. Any training sessions should be attached to a ‘club’ (one preferably with a junior section) so that any new junior players have a route to continue should they enjoy the taster sessions.

A.O.B.

Congrats to Bishops Stortford on getting the British Closed U17 and U13. This is a real coup and hopefully the first of many such events in the South East.

In September Adrian Waller won the u15 Connaught Open. The u17 final was contended by Neil Waller and Jonathan Fuller, Neil winning 3 -2. Well done Herts. Boys.