EGCA

Minutes of the Annual General Meeting of the East Glamorgan Chess

Association 2026

North Cardiff Chess Club, Rhwbina Recreation Club, Cardiff

Tuesday 17th June 2026 1930

In attendance: Anthony Baker, Bill Harle, Phil Jones, Martin Ricketts, Anthony Williams, Bob Hurn, Sarah Kett, Pete Heavan, Stefan Le Roy, Stephen Keeble, Martin Jones, Mike Gale, Roy Thomas, Bill Hunt, Kam Choo Yin, John Mcgregor, Robert Wallace, Dai James, Mark Chinnick, Jai Are

1 Apologies for Absence

Apologies were received from: Gwawr Evans, Dave Norris, Tom Brown, Tim Kett

2 Approval of the Minutes from Previous Meeting

Minutes from AGM 2025 were accepted as true record

3 Matters Arising from Previous Minutes

No matters arising from AGM 2025 minutes

4 Correspondence

No correspondence received

5 Presentation of Reports

(a)Report from the Secretary

Uneventful year. One incident at the start of the season that needed a response from the

Committee regarding this season's rule changes.The time to raise any issue is not once the

league has started and ideally any member that has concerns, ideas or opinions should be

raising them at the AGM. With a league the size of ours, rule changes being left to 10

members is not ideal and is probably not reflecting the desires and opinions of our

membership base. I'm open to suggestions on how we can get these end of season meetings

to be better attended.

(b)Report from the Treasurer

The Treasurer presented the accounts and gave a breakdown of all incomes and expenses.

Account level as predicted, with a small £340 deficit, The treasurer is planning on proposing

no increase to membership for the coming season.

There has been no Junior Spending this year with an unspent budget of £300

Currently there have only been 13 defaults and 8 postponements. This is similar to last year.

Membership continues to increase albeit slowly. Results have been received in a timely

manner with almost every result being in within 24 hours of the match being played.

I have received an indication that there may be more teams entered next season.

The only issue is around the failure to record moves. The changes made to the playing rules

last year removing the 5 minute rule has not resolved this issue. Whilst there are proposals

to change the time controls there is no reference in the proposals as to how this issue should

be dealt with.

Division Winners

Div 1 Cardiff Castles 20th Div 1 title but first since 2016/17

Div 2 Bridgend A 6th Div 2 title but first since 2016/17

Div 3 Pontypridd Argonauts 1st title

Div 4 Barry Camelots 1 st div 4 title but 4th divisional title

Next season will see 10 teams in each division after an increase in teams being entered.

(d) Report from the Ratings Officer - No report Submitted

On the topic of Ratings, The ED reminded everyone to check their matches and ratings, the

Ratings Officer does the whole of Wales and does a fantastic job but mistakes can happen,

especially with matches played out of region.

6 Reports of delegates to WCU

(a) Management Board

4/11/25

There was a meeting in November. The only issues were around the resignation of the

Treasurer, Membership Secretary and direct membership secretary. All posts were held by

Jason Garcia and the proposals to change the content and regularity of meetings.

A volunteer has been found to replace the Treasurer although according to the WCU website these

roles still appear to be vacant.

The change to meetings will be an issue for the next Management Board Meeting to be held

in late May.

26/5/26

This was a more important meeting. There were a number of issues to be discussed. There

is a new Membership Management Application, a new WCU Management Framework and a

new WCU Member Identification numbers. Whilst these matters were all discussed for them

to be adopted requires a change in the WCU Constitution. As this can only be agreed at the AGM it is anticipated that these will be in place for next season.

There was also discussion surrounding the reintroduction of a WCU national Master Title.

This will be also discussed at the AGM.

A long discussion about the Olympiad costings for this year's event in Uzbekistan with an

agreement to fund up to £2000 for team coaching.

There is an ongoing discussion for a 3 Year Sponsorship deal with the Doctor’s Academy

and a 1 year deal with ProEd. It seems that these 2 deals can run concurrently and should

be in place soon.

The Publicity team have set up the Welsh Live Chess Chat which has been viewed in

significant numbers and has increased the profile of the WCU. A volunteer has been found

to produce a new WCU website for a donation. A suggestion was made that our subscription level is

quite low. It seems possible that subscriptions may increase in 2027.

There will be an attempt to review the benefit of the FIDE “Apply to small nations”. An

approach is to be made to the Welsh Government for funding following a change in the

recent Sennedd elections. Also under consideration is an approach to the Lottery

Community Fund.

The AGM will again be held in November.

(b) Home Committee - No report Submitted

(d) Publicity Committee - No report Submitted

(e) International Committee - No report Submitted

(f) Junior Committee - No report Submitted

(g) Ladies’ Committee - No report Submitted

7 Review of membership fees

The Treasurer proposed to make no change to the fee structure and to waive the fee for EGCA

Membership for the 2026-27 season.

This proposal was passed with a Majority vote and will apply to the upcoming season.

8 Presentation of Trophies

(a) Divisional trophies

Division 1 - The Chairman presented the Cardiff Castles with the Division 1 Trophies

Division 2- The Chairman presented the Bridgend A with the Division 2 Trophies

Division 3- The Chairman presented the Pontypridd Argonauts with the Division 3 Trophies

Division 4- The Chairman presented Barry Camelots with the Division 4 Trophies

QP League - The Quick Play league is still underway

(b) The Alec Wood Trophy was awarded by the Chairman to Jai Hrithvik Adithya Are from North Cardifffor his inc rease in grade (July 2025-June 2026)

9 Election of Officers for 2025-26

(a) Chairman - Anthony Baker was duly re-elected without Opposition

(b) Vice Chairman - Bill Harle was duly re-elected without Opposition

(d) Treasurer/ Zonal membership Secretary - Martin Ricketts was duly re-elected without Opposition

(e) Executive Director - Phil Jones was duly re-elected without Opposition

(f) Rules Director - Kevin Stevely was duly re-elected without Opposition

(g) Designated Safeguarding Officer - Post was left vacant. Some clubs were unsure of The

safeguarding policy, it was suggested to recirculate this and possible co-opt a new Safeguarding Officer

10 Election of delegates to WCU

(a) Management Board - Phil Jones was duly re-elected without Opposition

(b) Home Committee - Dai James was elected without Opposition

(d) Publicity Committee (this person will be our publicity officer) - Post left Vacant after no election

(e) Junior Committee (this person is our junior organiser) - Tim Kett was duly re-elected without

Opposition

(f) International Committee (this person is automatically the rep. to the Selection Committee) - Tom

Brown was duly re-elected without Opposition

(g) Ladies’ Committee - Post left Vacant after no election

11 Election of Other Officers

(a) Quickplay League Secretary - Phil Jones was duly re-elected without Opposition

(b) Ratings Officer - David Norris was duly elected without Opposition

12 Election of Other Officers

(a) Vice President to the WCU -Roy Thomas was duly re-elected without Opposition

(b) Auditor - John Snmart was duly re-elected without Opposition

13 Association’s Junior Grant

The current Grant of £300 was approved by a majority vote for the upcoming season.

14 Honoraria

The current honoraria of £125 for the Executive Director and £50 for the Treasurer was approved by a majority vote for the upcoming season.

15 Proposals to change the Rules

(a) Proposal by John McGregor regarding time control (Motion not Carried at Pre-AGM)

Lengthy discussion was had about this proposal. Concerns were raised about this format resulting in a later finish time and could affect some venues with fixed end times. It was also raised about the

backwards step moving away from incremental time.

This proposal was passed with a Majority vote and will apply to the upcoming season.

(b) Proposal by David James regarding the recording of moves (Amended to be left for vote at AGM)

It was discussed along with the other similar proposals of a similar nature and a lot of members felt this proposal wasn't the best option on the table.

The vote failed to pass with a majority and the proposal was defeated

It was discussed along with the other similar proposals of a similar nature and a lot of members felt that this was the better version on offer at this meeting.

This proposal was passed with a Majority vote and will apply to the upcoming season.

(d) Proposal by Mark Chinnock regarding Quick Play League (Motion carried at Pre-Agm)

Several members expressed that the lack of team entries into this season's QP League could be down to the current playing format so a change might be worth exploring.

This proposal was passed with a Majority vote and will apply to next summer's QP League

(e) Proposal by Mark Chinnock regarding League Table (Motion not Carried at Pre-AGM)

Discussion was had over this type of motion and how there is always a split feeling over it. Other sports and chess leagues do run their tables differently to us but it doesn't mean our way is better or worse.

After a very close vote it failed to pass and the proposal was defeated.

(f) Proposal by Phil Jones regarding fixture rearranging (Motion carried at Pre-Agm)

As with the Pre-AGM, the members felt that no one knew the League rules and fixture planning better than the ED so a vote was held and this proposal was passed with a Majority vote and will apply to the upcoming season.

16 AOB

North Cardiff expressed a desire to enter a Junior Team that could only play Home fixtures stating there

has been precedent prior i.e Bridgend Prison. A few clubs said they could accommodate this

arrangement but they were advised by the Chair that this would need to be raised at the next AGM for it to be considered formally.

The chair called the meeting to a close at 21.00