2014 Annual Meeting

Published 8 June 2014

Report of Junior Director

My report includes the EPSCA County junior finals – see below – and a general round up of what has been going on this last season.

EPSCA County junior finals

Every year there are three finals held at different venues. The three competitions are for under 11s (open), Girls under 11s and under 9s (open).

In the Open under 11 event final our top MCCU team was again Notts (NPSCA) who had their worst result for man years, finishing only 6th out of 17 teams with a score of 35. The winners, Sussex, scored 50! Of the 17 finalists six teams were from the South East. The MCCU was represented by Notts (6th), Northants, 16th and Manchester 17th.

In the Girls under 11 final Notts, often the bridegroom but never the bride, won the event for the first time in its history, above Wey Valley (Surrey). Eleven teams contested this final, with two from the MCCU: Notts (1st) and Manchester 9th

The under 9s open final attracted 17 teams, with nine of these coming from the SE counties and just three from the MCCU. These were Notts. 4th, Staffs 16th and Manchester 17th

Running alongside this event is the Audio Grand Prix where results of all three competitions, including zonal results, are awarded points for their finishing positions. For the second time in the last six or seven years Nottinghamshire again finished equal first and is a tribute to the hard work put in by a dedicated team of junior coaches

In an effort to redress the balance a little I have been helping the Leicestershire juniors in a small way and fully expect them to contest at least the Under 9 section next season. Also, Christopher Dunworth and I are attempting to resurrect Derbyshire juniors and intend entering a team in the under 11s at least next season. This past season both counties contested the Midlands Counties Championships.

EPSCA England Team trials

I have already reported on this event earlier. Briefly, we had six youngsters from the MCCU fight their way through to the final trial event in Liverpool: three from Notts, one from Northants and two from Manchester. By the end of a gruelling six rounds played over two days both boys from Manchester and one from Notts, qualified to represent the England EPSCA U11 team.

I continue to strive to get more MCCU county junior teams competing; we just need more adults, with some teaching skills, willing to give up a little time to coach excited youngsters to take up our great game.

David Levens, Junior Director