EAST CORNWALL AND WEST DEVON ATHLETICS FORUM

 

MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON 14 JANUARY 2008

 

Present:         P Ross (EVH); R Warne (PH); B Phillips (TT); A Erith/ P Parritt  (ECH); C Carpenter (PAC); D Hatch (Moorhaven); S Rose/D Dane (PRR);   

                        A Herdman (Tavistock AC); L Chatfield; J Crockford (DML);

                        Louise Oates/Kevin Thomas PCC;

 

Apologies:            J Crockford, R Quew, B Soole, K Reed, M & J Elliott.

 

Previous meeting minutes agreed as a true record.

 

Louise introduced Kevin Thomas to the Forum as the head of Community, Sports and Leisure Dept.

 

The meeting was passed over to L Oates who advised that PCC Community, Sports & Leisure Unit were interested in promoting healthy activities for women and had been in discussions with Womens Running Network. Plan is to run a pilot session on 15/1 at lunchtime with PCC staff. To date 41 had signed up to attend. Further plans are to widen the scope in Plymouth.  PCC CS&LU feel that if athletes develop they can be encouraged to join established clubs. It was pointed out that this was not the case in other areas where WRN has been set up and they now have some very good athletes running events representing WRN. It was further pointed out that the majority of Forum member Clubs welcomed beginners and some clubs even had walking sections. Louise was requested to keep the forum updated on progress of the club within Plymouth    

 

Brickfields: Louise gave an update on Brickfields facilities. The track currently does not have a certificate. The saga of facilities continues with the LJ and TJ facilities hampered by Albions East Stand. Plan is to relocate the HJ and LJ in field parallel to the Pole Vault jump facility – finance for this has now been received. It may be possible to obtain further funding to polymarise the area. The pole vault needs to be marginally moved to accommodate but will not be double ended. The shot area will also be re-sited. New aluminium edging will be provided for the track and new covers for the Pole Vault &HJ.

A question was asked whether Albion will be paying for this and/or support the facility.

It will take 6 weeks to carry out the upgrade work with hopefully an early March start. Progress of the project is weather dependant.

 

CC pointed out that there were meetings planned on the facility in April and there was grave concern whether any competition events could be hosted on the facility.

He also advised that following CoPAC’s paper to the Council Leader and Council Planning Leader a meeting had taken place on site to ascertain the adverse effect that Albions development had had on athletics. The full outcome of meeting was not known. The Leader of the Council pledged support for an 8 Lane track facility.

 

The meeting advised Kevin Thomas and Louise Oates of their disappointment over the current state of the facility. The group had received promises over the last 10 years that the facility would improve and/or an 8 lane track and sportshall would be built at Brickfields. In reality the athletic facilities had been downgraded such that there is concern that competitions will no longer be able to be held.

 

A Herdman chaired the rest of the meeting.

 

MATTERS ARISING FROM PREVIOUS MINUTES       

 

Role of the Forum

Following SE’s attendance at previous meeting when she stated that she was promoting the EC&WD AF as a good example of best practice clubs were asked whether they supported some of the initiatives and ides put forward at that meeting. Disappointingly only one club reported back to PR as requested. PR outlined some of Sonya’s thoughts/ideas again. Networking between clubs with Coaches/Officials. Pull together an event diary for the Forum, produce a Forum leaflet to promote the Forum and all member clubs.

PR requested details for a Forum Diary and AH offered to look at producing a Forum leaflet and if time permitted a Forum web site. Club details to AH   

 

FINANCE - £7001-05 in bank, £29-69 Cash in hand. Hoe 10 £2491 to date

 

CLOCK – Clock received – yet to be tried - PR to read manual

 

HOE 10 – PR reported

o       Race nearly full – expect to fill next week.

o       Brickfields booked (to include lower car park and changing facility)

o       Plymouth Albion supporting event – meeting held

o       St Johns Ambulance booked – to be paid up front.

o       Letters to Sutton Harbour ( reply received) and Pcc (road closure) sent (additional form received)

o       Southside Street will be closed for repairs. Emma Place could be closed also.

o       Police discussion taken place – will have Police M/C lead

o       Volunteers required

o       Agreed awards for Peninsula Challenge

o       Asclepion Sports Physio attending.

Action point: Clubs to recruit volunteers

Action point: Steering meeting at 1900 before start of February meeting. All clubs encouraged to send a rep.

Action Point: Obtain Peninsula Challenge trophies - PR

 

FORUM OFFICERS – We need to resolve the position of the Chair and new signatory agreed as Chris Carpenter top ease access of signatories. AH and/or SR offered to chair meetings.

Action point: Clubs to consider options so that this can be resolved at next meeting. Options on table are to identify a chair from our ranks or to rotate the post around the clubs ie each club chairs at least one meeting per year.

 

BURRATOR BOXING DAY TRAINING RUN – Thanks to all who were there – bumper turn out in good weather.

 

SALTRAM 5K – 6th September - Plymstock staging this race on behalf of the Forum.

It was agreed that profits from 2008 event would be forwarded to the Stroke Association in memory of Trevor Thorne who had recently passed away. The event would be ran as a memorial event to Trevor

 

SPRING WARM-UP MEETING – Plymouth AC hosting this on 6 April 2008 at Brickfields.

 

SW CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS – Thanks to all who helped, if it hadn’t been for the Forum contingent the event would not have taken place.

 

SPORTSHALL LEAGUE – Mayflower Centre 27/1 – 1130 start – lots of help required.

 

5 TORS MOORLAND RACE – 23 March – now hosted by East Cornwall Harriers.

 

AH – Tavistock AC working toward Clubmark accreditation. West Devon Priimary Schools XC 15/1

DD – Plymstock area Schools XC event 18/1.

         Lottery grant received for £7K primarily for satellite club equipment etc. Going well

 

LC – Devon Youth Games to be held in Plymouth on 28 June – Team of people needed to support – any volunteers?

         Following last meeting Lance tried to get financial support from Plymouth Schools Network for new equipment with no luck. Agreed to discuss with Neil Parsley to see what funding could be available.

Action PR

 

Brickfields Hire – Agreed that Forum would continue to fund hire of Track on Tuesday evenings at a cost of £90-00 per month – please encourage your members to use it.

 

DH – Thanks to PR for RR Officials Course at Bodmin. Moorhaven have temporarily lost their club HQ due to Cyril the squirrel eating through the electric cable.

 

PR – Tavistock AC have offered to obtain and replace the bibs that they had lost.  

Letter of apology from Rob Willcocks – previous decision on support stands.

Two new clubs in Plymouth Area – Plymouth Muskateers and DC Bikers. It was pointed out that members of Plymouth Muskateers had not yet resigned from their old club. 

Action PR to advise Sonya Ellis

RRLG meeting at Exeter 23 January. Need to register through UKA if wishing to attend. 

EA Conference, Awards and Dinner. 1 March

Officials Conference 20/1 – contact KR

KR has stood down from SW Regional Council (iaw EA Constitution) but is seeking re-election. Please support him when voting papers are circulated to clubs.

 

Date of next Meeting – Monday 11 February  2008 at Windsor House at 1930 with Hoe 10 steering committee meting starting at 1900.