EAST CORNWALL AND WEST DEVON ATHLETICS FORUM

 

MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON 9 JULY 2007

 

 

Present:        P Ross/K Reed (EVH); J & M Elliott/F Jenkins (IS); J McGhee/ R Warne/R Quew (PH); B Phillips (TT); L Chatfield (ADSP); A Erith/ P Parritt  (ECH); C Carpenter (PAC);

 

Apologies:            N Rowe; J Crockford; A Herdman; S Rose; D Dane; D Hatch

 

 

MATTERS ARISING

 

The minutes of the previous meeting were agreed as being a true record.

 

PR thanked all for their wishes for a speedy recovery.  Our best wishes to go to Steve Payne who is also on the road to recovery.

 

Russell Quew, new Chair of Plymouth Harriers, was welcomed to the group.

 

At the last meting we looked at the best way forward for the Forum.  Other issues raised with linking with Marjon as a hub club.  NR was gong to talk to Harry Richardson.

 

Rules still say that your first claim club is the one you have longest association with, eg the one you first join.

 

RQ is concerned that it is difficult to move forward as individual clubs do not want to lose their identity.  CC considers this is only the case for road running.

 

PR advised that the rules are currently being looked at because from next April there will be a new rulebook.

 

Currently you would have to leave your current club and join Team Plymouth – you may even have a six month ban.

 

KR – as a group we could maybe lobby in an effort to take this forward.  We should do this as a group and individual clubs.

 

Team Bath is not working well and people are still competing under City of Bath and University of Bath.  We are not aware of how Team Dorset are formed and operate.  PR will contact NR to pass something around within the next couple of weeks.

 

PP asked how Team Plymouth would be administered?  PR considered a link with Marjons may make this easier.

 

KR asked if clubs think this is a competition thing or amalgamation thing?

 

CC sees it as being able to provide youngsters with a clear pathway to elite status.

 

Coaches Forum:  Tried to get the coaching forum started again but it did not happen.  Tried to get Karen along to the Forum meetings and DD suggested coaches visiting each other’s clubs.  No news on this.

 

If LC were provided with coaches’ email addresses, he would be happy to contact them when events come up.  This would give them the opportunity to coach at a variety of events and share good practice.

 

Development Plans:  Funding can be accessed if you have a development plan or Clubmark status.

 

Brickfields:  Two weeks ago an article appeared in Athletics Weekly pointing out how disappointing it was that it has not changed since the Navy had it.  CC sent it to Glen Jordan.  NR will speak to the Council about this article.

 

Albion have cut down the rest of the trees bar two.  L Oates says she is seeking advice about moving the long jump pits.  The long jump event at the weekend took five and a half hours as there was only one pit.  Albion were forced to move things back as it was a health and safety issue.  The track is breaking up, despite being retextured a couple of years ago.  One positive is that the ground staff seem to have improved.

 

Young Athletes Trophy Meeting:  Ended up with over 200 athletes on the day.  We aren’t doing very well in getting schools involved; there is a breakdown in getting information into schools.  No-one from Tavistock attended; concern has been raised that they are not supporting athletics events and that they have not got a structure to support promoting athletics in respect of developing coaches etc.  It wasn’t ideal for youngsters having to get around the track between events with the builders on site.

 

Composite Club:  KR – we got 2nd place in the 3rd event; if we beat Exeter in the last match we will be promoted instead of them.  TT, PAC and EVH were there.  Now getting more seniors than juniors.  Last event 2.9.07.

 

Finance:  £9,149.43 in bank and £29.69 cash.

 

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

 

RQ:  queried why the track night changed from Tuesday to Wednesday?  It was explained that this was a Forum decision and not PAC.  CC – in the summer Tuesday is a busy night and it is harder to incorporate individuals.  RQ – can PH use the track on a Tuesday during the winter?  CC - PAC has track Monday – Thursday and Saturday.  Financially, it’s the more the merrier.  Currently the opportunity is there for Wednesday track training. 

 

PAC have been putting on events with very little support.  There is a 3k tomorrow night.  Open night 2nd Tuesday in each month (except August and January).  Need to decide at the next meeting if the Forum is going to host another 3k series.  KR will contact Frank Elford about prizes for the 3k series.  We can change the competition to a Wednesday if clubs prefer it.  Take it back to your clubs and a decision will be made in September.

 

RQ:  PH’s race is filling very quickly, 250 entries so far.  22.7.07 at 10.30 am.

 

RW:  Can new club members be added to the membership scheme?  FJ sends IS’s updated spreadsheet showing new members.  AE sends details of new members on a monthly basis.

 

CC:  Get Active booklet.  Only track and field entry is DML.

 

LC:  Sports Hall Plymouth Schools League coming up at the end of September. 48 schools entered so far.  Finals 5.10.07.  All help appreciated.  LC requesting funding as last year it cost £2,000.  Last year the Forum funded £500.  It creates good schools links and promotes the sport.  From last year about 15/20 youngsters have joined clubs following the sports hall events.  LC only ever takes the winning school; not individual elite athletes!  Forum happy to support the event.

 

LC had an idea to set up a satellite club to PRR (PRR full with a waiting list in their junior section).  It will be located at Sir John Hunt Community College.  Sports hall event to kick it off.  Using set up as sports hall league.  This is part of LC’s three year plan.  Trying to keep fees to a minimum.  From a competition point of view, we could have another Devon Sports Hall League under PRR (age 8-11).  CC considers it would be more beneficial to set up as a satellite of PAC.  PRR juniors do not compete.  Why don’t we buy a minibus with the £9k in the bank and transport youngsters around?  LC - these youngsters need locally based facilities as they are not wanting to travel.  CC – if PRR has sports coaches etc why aren’t they at the track? 

 

It was generally felt it would be more beneficial for it to come under the Forum banner.

 

PR – think we need to get PRR to come along and say what they are prepared to put into it and what they consider the development of this is.  PRR have a development plan as part of their Clubmark accreditation.

 

Surprise was expressed that Sonia Oates has taken this approach.

 

PRR have not asked us for funding and obviously have plenty of coaches.

 

PR – there is nothing we can do to stop this.

 

KR – need to have a meeting between LC, PRR, PAC and Sonia Oates to look at the problem and how it can be resolved.  LC – disappointed with the reaction.

 

BP:  Magnificent 7 on Sunday is full.

 

KR:  Thanks to everyone who turned up for the relays.  Beacon Challenge and fun run forms available.  Devon League being held 19.8.07, hosted by Tavistock.  Open meeting for seniors, juniors (8+) and not just open to Devon athletes.  Track and field and road running officials courses to be held later this year - dates TBC.

 

PR:  SW Club Awards programme and England Athletics Awards night – forms available from UKA website – lots of categories.

 

You may remember Patsy Boon from BATS bouncing cheques.  She is now Patricia McKilgrew so be aware.

 

Time clock – not reading very well.  Suggest we look at buying a new one and having the old one repaired (cost of £200).  KR asked if we could look at linking it with photo finish equipment.

 

DATE OF NEXT MEETING

 

10 September 2007.