The Minor Counties Championship 1903

5 The Distribution of Test Match Profits – The Hon Secretary went on to announce that each of the minor counties would receive between £45 and £50 arising from the profits of the Test Matches with Australia earlier in the year, under the scheme for distribution adopted by the Board of Control. The precise amount was likely to be around £47. The wording of the scheme provided that only those teams competing in the Championship would be beneficiaries, and that the first-class county second eleven teams would not be eligible. A prolonged discussion then followed. Cambridgeshire regarded it as a hardship that they should not benefit because they unfortunately had not been represented at the 1901 Annual Meeting and had been unable subsequently to secure the necessary home and away fixtures with four other counties. Cornwall also advocated their claim, though they admitted that they had not played any inter-county matches in 1902. Norfolk explained that they had not been able to compete in 1902, nor could they in 1903, as their two professionals would not be qualified until the end of August. Eventually, on the motion of ‘Pat’ Darnell (Northamptonshire), seconded by Dr Earl Norman (Hertfordshire), it was resolved to recommend to the Board of Control that a grant of £20 be made to the following three counties – Cambridgeshire, Cornwall and Norfolk – with a proviso proposed by Foster Stedman (Monmouthshire), that the three counties compete in the 1903 Championship. In the event only Cambridgeshire were to benefit. The Election of Officers and the Emergency Committee – Harry Mallett had expressed the wish to stand down as Hon Secretary because of the claims of business. However, he was persuaded to stay on when it was agreed that he should share the duties with Earl Norman as joint Hon Secretaries. The membership of the Emergency Committee was agreed as R W Allen (Bedfordshire), Capt J W St L Wheble (Berkshire), P J de Paravicini (Buckinghamshire), A J Darnell (Northamptonshire), H M Turner (Oxfordshire) and A M Miller (Wiltshire), together with the two joint Hon Secretaries. The Rules of the Association – Earl Norman had looked at the rules of the Association and thought they would benefit from some redrafting. He tabled a revised version and discussion focused on three areas: 1 The basis for calculating the percentages in the Championship Table – It was agreed as proposed by ‘Pat’ Darnell in relation to Rule 3 that matches in which no play took place should be ignored. 2 Reporting the results – It was agreed on the proposition of Audley Miller, seconded by Percy de Paravicini that the responsibility for reporting the result at the end of each match by wire to the Hon Secretaries of the Association should rest with the Hon Secretary of the home side, 3 First-class county championship rules – it was resolved that these rules, especially regarding county qualifications should generally apply to the Minor Counties Championship as well, except in cases where they were inconsistent with the revised rules of the Association. Promotion to the First-Class County Championship – ‘Pat’ Darnell proposed “That the Emergency Committee do approach Mr F E Lacey, the MCC Secretary, to see if a scheme whereby promotion may be secured can be decided on.” He mentioned that he brought it forward from a disinterested position as his county, Northamptonshire, were not now head of the Table. He thought that the cricketing public desired some such scheme and merit should be given the chance of being recognised. Percy de Paravicini seconded the motion which was carried without dissent.