Archive | Newsletter

This category is for the newsletter posts – as these are automatically emailed out to mailing list subscribers, it should only be used for important announcements and updates.

Summer League AGM 26th January 2026 – Minutes

By Paul Stone on 13th April 2026 in Committee Meetings, Newsletter, Summer League Reports

Note attachments are available on request and are not included here. Apologies for the delay in publication.

Minutes from Abingdon & District Aunt Sally Association AGM held on 26th January 2026
At The Croft Bar, Abingdon

Present: Committee – P. Stone (Chairperson), R. Nichols (Treasurer), T. Woolloff (General), G. Lee (General) and C. Foster (Secretary)

Teams Represented (22 Teams) – See attachment 1

Registration & Welcome

P.Stone welcomed everyone and thanked all for attending.

1. Minutes of AGM 2025

Agreed and proposed by D. Harris and seconded by E. Reisener

2. Chair’s Report

2026 has been a good year for the league as far as the sections go as we managed 60 teams making us the biggest league in the county, and as some might say, the world!

We still have challenges with venues still having a difficult time, we are aware of a couple with issues that will affect next season, but we also know that the teams affected are looking for new locations so are keen to keep playing which is excellent news.

We are also aware of a few new teams and venues that want to take part so we may be in the position of having to instigate some byes this season. As we are a 10-team section league if we step over 60 teams we really need to leap to 66+ to avoid multiple byes in sections. Of course, many of our venues with a single pitch can support two teams so do encourage others to think about having another team. And a slight plea to think about the number of players registered – we don’t set a limit but having 16+ players registered seems a bit daft when you could probably have two teams.

As far as performances go Dave Dix who was again 1 short of the maximum in Week 16, he did total 6 sixes in the season but that was equalled with Phil Adams who also missed the maximum by one doll in Week 12! Both missing dolls in the first leg. Surely, we should be getting a max this season.

I can’t mention all the other 24 sixers here, but it was great to see both our Honorary President John Simmons get one in Week 14, nice to see him getting some form back, and our sponsor, John Pownceby got one in Week 8.

Sadly, I need to mention another sixer Andy Shipman from Harwellian B who we lost over Christmas. He was their best player (he scored 6-5-4 in Week 9) and will be sadly missed by the team and his family.

With every player that puts down their sticks, as it were, we, like a lot of pastimes, need to encourage a younger element to take up the game. There’s a lot to be said to drag some away from their screens and outside into a social gathering both for mental health and social skills. This is not without risks as we’ve seen this year with 2 incidents with behaviour which have been dealt with and for the first time in my history of the Summer League has led one player to a rest-of-season+1 ban. We are all conscious that a mix of alcohol and strong opinions can lead to heightened emotions and it’s up to teammates, and Captains, to ensure everyone’s behaviour is sensible. Two incidents out of 540 games isn’t much but any incident is shocking.

For the avoidance of doubt this league will not accept anti-social or threatening behaviour.

Which brings me on to the people that support us in the League not that they are anti-social or threatening!

Thanks to the efforts of the committee, we have the 60 teams to give us a strong league both in financial and playing terms. Roger Nichols of course puts in a great deal of effort to get us going and keep us going in the season and for Competitions, Presentation Night and of course this AGM as Treasurer.

Roger didn’t do all this on his own and Claire, Geoff & Tosh – your committee, helped us along the way.

Once again, we were grateful for John Pownceby of Thames Cable for sponsoring the League and for the new lower section pairs competitions. For which the one for the D/E/F sections was very popular in the summer with a great turnout at The Harwellian.

We’ve still not increased our fees and as we know almost everything else has gone up. We don’t intend increasing this year but there will come a time when we need to look at our income vs expenditure.

I’ve mentioned the lower section competition, and we did manage to get enough entries to run most of the competitions this year, but it was a hard slog, and Roger did his upmost to cajole and strong-arm teams to enter to get the bare 8 we need for a decent start. Unfortunately, some of those teams dropped out meaning that competition didn’t happen.

I believe the competitions are the best way to hone your match nerves and of course your skills as a player and would hope more teams will take part this year. Singles is always well supported, I’d just encourage you to take part in the other events.

So, I think we are looking forward to another successful year of Aunt Sally.

3. Financial Report – see attachment 3 & 3A

Proposed by M. Crook and seconded by M. Samways

A query was raised on trophies and names. It was explained that some trophies had gone missing/destroyed etc during COVID. Teams to let committee know what trophies are incorrect.

4. Rule Change/Amendments.

Suggestion – could players fill in if another team is short at the same club? It would mean all players would need to sign on for 2 teams for entering scorecards??? Best option is to try and get another team?

5. Sponsorship

Thames Cable have sponsored us again and have also donated £200.00 to lower league competitions which was very much appreciated.

6. Competitions

A big dilemma – which days to hold them, are there too many etc
8’s – handicap is 2 per section at present. Is this fair? Suggestion to use players handicaps instead.
5’s – no handicap at present. Should handicap be introduced?

From the floor – Suggestion of staggering the comps, starting with the lower leagues?

Wednesday for competitions

AGREED – To leave to committee to decide handicaps

Other competitions and start of season:

22^nd April will be first round of 8’s competitions
League will run from 29^th April until 26^th August
3’s, 4’s & 5’scompetitions will be take place on 2^nd and 9^th September
Captain’s and Secretary’s to stay as individual competitions but if not enough entries, this will be combined – AGREED

7. Election of Officers

The existing committee was willing to stand for another year with no new members.

Chairman – Paul Stone
Treasurer – Roger Nichols
Secretary – Claire Foster
General – Tosh Woolloff and Geoff Lee
All nominated by J. Pownceby and seconded by P. Soden.

8. Dates

16^th March – Registration Night @ Ab Con Club from 7.30pm
16^th September – Final’s Night @ Ab United
23^rd October – Presentation Night @ Ab United

9. Recruitment

Hopefully there will be the same number of teams in the League this year as the ideal number is 60 teams. We understand pubs/clubs change hands and circumstances do change but we always welcome new teams/venues.

10. A.O.B.

Scorecards – it is not necessary for each player to sign but the captains must sign to agree scores and players.
All handicaps will be published and put into welcome packs.

The meeting closed at 9.15pm.

The Summer Season starts soon!

By Roger Nichols on 10th April 2026 in Newsletter, Summer League Reports

The 2026 Summer Season is about to get underway with friendlies already being played must have been the sunshine that got some of you out so early!

The draw for the first round of the Skol Trophy 8’s competition has already been made and will be published with those matches due to be played on Wednesday the 22nd April.

The following week the league season gets underway on Wednesday the 29th. It’s highly probable that the sunshine will have gone and the temperature will be significantly cooler by then! Hopefully though it won’t be raining!!

The Team packs including the fixture list, match cards, teams, locations and other relevant information including email addresses and telephone numbers of Captains and Secretaries will be included in your packs which should be delivered by Friday 17th April to all 66 sides who have entered this year.

A plea from the committee to everyone especially Captains and Secretaries!

Can you check your teams as listed on the website to ensure we have entered everyone who you have registered, their names are right and are spelt correctly. Also any additional players registered after the registration forms were submitted are included,

Remember you can register any additional players throughout the season at no extra cost subject to Committee approval.

Finally, e-mail addresses for Captains and Secretaries are important as that is the only way other than the website we can contact all teams throughout the season. In our first email of the season to all a small number were unable to be delivered due to the address not being recognised and we have to say some addresses may have been entered incorrectly by me and my excuse would be that may have been because some were barely legible. If, as a Captain or Secretary for your team you haven’t received an e-mail it might be worth sending a test to roger.nichols@hotmail.com to make sure we have your correct address.

A final finally from your Committee the website belongs to everyone and it is kept up top date throughout the season with results, news, league tables, individual scores and much more so please keep in touch and use it as your information centre. It also has a team support facility where any team can raise, direct with the league any concerns, issues that they experience at any time through the season.

Enjoy your season and a special welcome to all of the new locations, teams and players many of whom are new to our game in what we think is the 66th year since our formation and co-incidentally has attracted 66 teams.

SUMMER 2026!

By Paul Stone on 31st March 2026 in Competition News, Newsletter, Summer League Reports

We are here again for another season of Aunt Sally! Our 66th year since formation, despite being 66 years old the league is still younger than many of our players!!!

This year we have 65, yes sixty five teams entering so we now have a G section (and are still the biggest Aunt Sally league in the world!) ) Unfortunately our growth has necessitated some byes as each section our ideal make up is 10 teams but this year with 5 additional teams it means 5 sections will only have 9 teams so 16 matches instead of 18. Our simple choice was to accept all entrants or turn away some. Turning away teams is not conducive with our objectives which are to “grow our game”, encouraging more teams and players many of whom are totally new to our game, and importantly that provides custom to our local pubs and clubs!

Sections and handicaps have been calculated and teams are being set up in the score system and in parallel we are working with the printers to get the fixture list and other necessary paperwork finalised.

Sections are determined by the Committee who establish each teams top 8 2026 registered players and, use their 2025 doll average to determine the overall team average. Teams are then placed in sections which are expected to provide competitive teams of similar ability.

NEW TEAMS this year include:- The Old Anchor Abingdon, Oxford RFC , The Seven Stars Marsh Baldon. The Red Lion Northmoor, The White Hart, Harwell Check out our Venues Map to show where we play.

Welcome back to the ‘regulars’ and to all the new teams and players and a warm Diddy welcome from me to The Wheatsheaf Didcot into the A section (Tosh Woolloff and I will look forward to walking to our away match!)

League season starts slightly earlier this year in APRIL with the first league matches taking place on Wednesday 29th April.

The week before, Wednesday 22nd April will be the first rounds of the 8s Handicap Knockout competition. We have 15 entries so far so there’s still time to enter with the closing date being next Monday April 6th. You can enter via Team Support or directly via e mail to roger.nichols@hotmail.com

This year we are adjusting the handicap system from the simple ‘2 dolls a section’ approach of previous years to a section average approach based on all registered players for 2026 which benefits teams from the middle and lower sections with a doll or so extra than the previous system.

This will all be explained in your packs (and online) when Roger has done the necessary with the printers.

2026 Registration Night Monday 16th March from 7.30pm

By Roger Nichols on 14th March 2026 in Newsletter

Just a reminder that registration Night for the forthcoming Summer season will take place on Monday evening from 7.30pm at the Abingdon Conservative Club, Ock Street Abingdon.

A few things you need to know:-

Registration fee for 2026 is unchanged at £45 and that includes up to 15 players (additional players can be added throughout the season at the Committee’s discretion).
Payment can be made only by cash or cheque on the night. At the moment, unfortunately, we do not have a bank or card transfer facility.
Receipts will be issued as proof of entry, to enable, where appropriate, fees to be recovered where necessary from pubs/clubs.
Although registration will start at 7.30pm there is no need to rush because we will be there until at least 9pm.
Please make sure you have a copy or photo of your registration document as there are no photocopying facilities available on the night.
Please make sure you have completed all of the details including (legible) telephone number and e-mail addresses of your Secretary and Captain as they will be the main point of contact through the season together with the website.
Registrations for the Skol Trophy (the team 8’s handicapped knock out competition) will also be accepted on the night (entry fee £8 per team), but as we are making some changes to the handicap system for 2026 the entry date for this competition will remain open to all registered teams until the end of March.
The league season will start on Wednesday April 29th and conclude on and will conclude at the end of August.
The 1st round of the Skol Trophy will start the Summer season on Wednesday 22nd April for competing teams.
On Monday we will take orders for essential equipment which we will then order and deliver before the season starts. Again any orders should, if possible, be paid for on Monday by cash or cheque. Current prices are £65 for a set of six sticks, £20 for dolls, £25 for irons, and £30 for swivels these prices are considerably cheaper (up to 40%) than quoted retail online prices and from the same manufacturer!
All of your information packs including section formations and fixture lists will be available both online and hard copy delivered by early April.

If you have any questions please feel free to ask them on Monday when registering your team(s).

If for any reason you are unable to make it on Monday can you please send a representative and failing that, let us know in advance, either by e-mail using the team support facility on this website or alternatively by telephone to me (07768 427268).

We will be sorting out the league structure within the next few days following Monday so if we haven’t entered or paid your registration we can’t include your team.

1 2 … 77 Next →