MINUTES OF EAST CORNWALL AND WEST DEVON ATHLETICS FORUM

HELD ON MONDAY 10^TH FEBRUARY 2003

Present:            N Rowe (Chair); P Ross/K Reed (EVH); M & J Elliott (IS); J Crockford

(DML); C McGhee/R Warne/P Tabener (PH); S Rose (PRR);

C & M Bunting/ B Phillips/F Elford/K O’Reilly (TT); M & A Erith (ECH); N McClung (Tav); C Carpenter/S Endacott/P Wearne (PAC)

Apologies:            F Jenkins; G Sansom; I McLeod; C & C Ede

Hoe 10:  23^rd February 2003.  Still short of marshals – names please to Amanda Erith who is co-ordinating.  Still no response from St Johns Ambulance despite having written to them in November.  300 entries to date which is well ahead of anything we have done before.  We have adopted a one-way traffic system through the car park.  We have also negotiated to open the car park at the bottom with access from Kings Road.  Please ask your club members to use this.  Raglan Road will be coned by the Police.  Road closure has been agreed.  Hoe Road closed for the duration of the event.  Where cones are on the road by the Mayflower Steps, encourage athletes to run on the pavement.  Everything else is in place.  All helpers will be provided with complimentary vouchers for a cup of tea and a pasty.

Track and Field:  C Carpenter said, re Junior Athletes League, we will be looking at putting in a composite team and will approach UKA to see if we can do this.  Bath and Yeovil are the furthest fixtures with a home fixture on 18^th March 2003.  Collective training at Brickfields needs to be pushed, Monday to Thursday and Saturday.  Charging is an issue as PAC charge more than the Forum as PAC need to generate income to subsidise travel.  There are issues with restrictions on the track, particularly throwing events.  PAC’s spring warm up will be held on Sunday 30^th March 2003.

NR said Devon Championships will be held on 10^th and 11^th May 2003.  There is a need for the Forum to pull together on this.  It is a good opportunity to show the rest of the County how the Forum has come together.  Programmes are available for 30^th March 2003.  Officials for the day would be appreciated.

Sports Hall:  K Reed said it was a great success with schools from the Ivybridge area.  However, there were no schools from the Plymouth area.  They are looking to do a league in the Ivybridge area next year.  P Ross said there was an article in the local free paper, by a teacher who co-ordinated the event in which she said what a success it was.

Coaching:  N Rowe received a letter on levels 3 and 4, phases 1 and 2.  The nearest opportunity is at the Welsh Indoor Centre in March 2003.

Devon Cross Country:  S Rose has spoken to Coombe Dean School.  Plymstock are happy to put the event on 2^nd March 2003.

Child Protection Courses:  Below are forthcoming Club Development Workshops:

The workshops are organised by the Sports Development Unit, Plymouth City Council and will be held at Windsor House.  Contact Karen Little on 307137.  The first 10 people booked on each course get £5 discount.

Brickfields:  There are one or two problems regarding programming issues for throwing.  We have been given assurances that this work will be complete before 30^th March 2003.  Because there are still football matches to be played, the posts will be put up and taken down for each game.  In future we will tell the Council when we want our season to start and finish.  The Council recognises it is our only facility throughout the City and there are plenty of football pitches available.  There is an ongoing process of buying new equipment. 

Plymouth Half Marathon:  Launched last Thursday.  Website available – www.plymouthhalfmarathon.co.uk  .  We are a little bit light on sponsorship compared to last year.  Mail shots have gone out to all on the database.  All clubs inside and outside the area will be targeted within the next week or so.  We will be going to various races to promote our race.

Officials:  K Reed said there is a conference, open to all officials, to be held at Exeter on 8^th March 2003.  Officials can focus on either health and safety or child protection.  There will also be a health and safety workshop for officials held in Windsor House, Plymouth on 17^th February 2003, 7.00 – 9.00 pm.  Officials’ course 22^nd March 2003, 10.00 am -4.00 pm.  Details available.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

C Bunting said the 3^rd Saltash Duathlon will be held on 17^th May 2003.

P Tabener thanked Plymstock for taking over the last fixture of the DML Cross Country Mini League.  He advised that Plymouth Harriers are relocating to Derriford Leisure from 5^th March 2003.  On behalf of Steve Payne and Stuart Hall he said they thought it would be a good idea to organise 5k races around Saltram with each club organising a race.  P Ross suggested that representatives ask their membership.

Plymouth Harriers’ race will be held on 10^th August 2003.

M Erith went to Bud’s conference in Exeter where there wasn’t a great attendance.  Mike is happy to host a similar event in Plymouth and asked whether anyone would be interested.  If not, he may hold an event in Cornwall.  P Ross suggested advertising in the local press to cover those athletes who do not belong to clubs.  N Rowe asked for some suitable dates.  M Erith suggested the following Mondays – 3^rd, 17^th, 24^th and 31^st March 2003.

J Crockford suggested doing a similar event for those in the Plymouth Half.  However, M Erith is starting training sessions at Brickfields for those in the half marathon.

K Reed has entry forms for the Ivybridge 10 on 10^th May 2003.

City Centre Mile:  P Ross said we have more of a chance to advertise this as it is being held the day after the half marathon.  Information will go out with the half marathon details.

Devon County Half Marathon Championships:  Bideford AC did not put it on their entry forms.  Desk for entries will be at the venue on the day.

County 10 mile championships – 30^th March 2003 at Teignbridge 10.

County Marathon Championships will be on 6^th April 2003 at Taunton.

Devon Vale Marathon, 18^th May 2003, starts and finishes at Newton Abbot race course.  Basically goes out to Chudleigh and back.

Devon AGM – 19^th February 2003.

SEAA AGM – 27^th April 2003 at Reading.  By now clubs should have received calling notice.  We were led to believe the registration scheme was to be brought up but there is no mention of it. 

N Rowe advised that a survey was undertaken on the track by UKA as part of Legacy funding.  A meeting is taking place re retexturing, edging around long jump and pole vault.  It was noted on the survey that there are no lights; a bid will be submitted for the lights.  PCC has got to put in 25% as the track is in the Devonport area.

DATE OF NEXT MEETING

Monday 10^th March 2003.