Minutes of Eastern Region Triathlon England Committee Meeting held at Next Generation Cambridge 5th October

Minutes of Eastern Region Triathlon England Committee Meeting

Next Generation, Cambridge, 18^th January 2008

Present

Paul Dutton (Chair) (PD)

Simon Perkins (Secretary) (Minutes) (SP)

Simon Edwards (Treasurer) (SE)

Keith Perry (KP)

Richard Fuller ((RF)

In attendance

Ceri Winter (RDM) (CW)

Tim Williams, Cambridge Tri (TW)

Meeting start: 19:50 hr.

ITEM

MINUTE

ACTION

Apologies:

Tom Cudmore

Academy Update:

TW (needed to leave meeting early):

There had been an attempted coaches meeting, but many could not attend and the venue turned out to be double booked.

However there had been a good number of applications for the academy. Athletes picked were in the Youth/Junior Age group. Their swim & run times when put into a TE calculator all came out at the Gold/Silver level.

1 session had taken place, and further sessions booked according to availability. There would be April weekend sessions. TW said that during the season he hoped to tie in sessions with races or during evenings. Great Dunmow had been pinpointed as the most central position for the current athletes. RF mentioned that Great Dunmow had a Tri shop.

TW said an open water venue was needed, preferably an open pool for swim/bike sessions needed. Two 100 m ropes could be used to mark out a 400 m run track at any venue. He asked whether funding would be available for venue bookings. CW replied that there should be £2000 available for the academy at the start of the financial year from Mazda sponsorship.

TW not keen on combining the Time Trials with Dave Parry’s academy.

TW left the meeting.

Minutes of 16 November 2007 Meeting

Minutes of previous meeting agreed.

Matters arising:

The constitution would be reviewed at the next meeting.

Chairman’s update:

Covered in the later agenda.

RDM update:

CW reported that:

Herts Triathlon Development post has had 8 enquiries, 5 applications made.
‘Club & Coach’ has had 2 applications for 3 positions.
The workforce development funding bids for coaches training fees have to be completed during the 2nd week of February.

CW said that there were national targets for Regions to run 2 triathlons for Disabled and Women only in 2009 eg women’s training day on a Saturday & race on Sunday. Cambridge was suggested as having capacity to hold these. RF asked about safety issues for wheelchairs on courses. The rationale behind women only events was asked? CW said it was thought that these would encourage more women to participate. She also said that Triathlon England wanted each region to have a Regional Inclusion Officer (RIO) to promote participation by groups under represented in triathlon. SE welcomed wider participation but % should reflect club membership. KP pointed out that on a previous women only regional training day participants had all been existing triathletes. The nature of the goal also affected the approach: was it to increase participation in triathlon by those already in other sports or bring in those not already active? PD closed the debate and asked CW to have further clarification from Triathlon England.

Triathlon England Board Council update:

KP briefed that there has been and will be further change to the goals of Sports England. The ‘participation’ and ‘supermarket challenge’ ideas were to be put aside and the ‘competition’ ethos had returned.

The TE full membership fees for 2008/2009 had been agreed at £40 and other memberships are pro rata. There will be roadshows and consultations for:

· current memberships;

· introduction of new membership structure;

· proposal for compulsory membership of TE to participate in races.

New TE constitution will be considered by the board and adopted at next AGM. PD asked when will it be put to the Board for approval and was there opportunity to consult Regional Committees? – his preference was to see that done formally to get buy in. KP at next reporting period. Each TE region would be required to adopt a revised constitution.

Previous questions of Insurance have been ironed out: paid coaches were now covered; members could now claim against other members. However, personal members of committee were still personally liable.

The rulebook would change in 2008/9. In the first instance in 2008 championship & qualifying races drafting rule there would be penalties of 6 mins in races of 25k or less, 12 mins in 25-50 k, 20 mins in 50k +. For age group races in 2009onwards draft legal events would be possible.

The Inter Regional Championships would be held in Crawley on 30th August.

TE new website up on 1st March. TE meeting minutes will be published on website. Briefing papers will be sent out to a wider group. PD will send a brief to the ER committee.

Accounts and Financial arrangements:

SE As of end of December 2007 the present balance is at a healthy £4,313.26 There is £2 - 2,500 budgeted for clubmark/starmark payments. Approx £1800 available for other. Up to £1250 could be used for promotion. RF Flags, banners take approx 6-8 weeks to order.

PD & SE proposed 3 new banking options. After discussion it was decided the region should have 2 accounts, one for larger deposits, the other for budgeted payments. Both accounts will have 2 signatories. SE to investigate further.

SE & RF

2008/2009 Budget progress:

CW these should be approved in March by TE. However

TE is locked into Sport England Budgets, so TE are able to make bids but it takes time for confirmation. PD requested to TE phasing of payments to fit anticipated spend pattern ie concentrated in the race season.

Junior League 2008:

Races had been published on ER website.

There was a query over ‘New Hall Triathlon’ (new event), a discussion over whether both ‘Rayleigh Aquathlon’ and ‘East coast Triathlon’ (new event) should be included. SP recommended that criteria for races inclusion needs to be decided and advertised well in advance for the race series next year. KP suggested that organisers should be made to bid for place on series & geographical spread should be considered. RF suggested need minimum of 10 events for each category. SE argued that total of 5 races was enough for points. KP commented races needed to be successful organised for at least a year to gain qualification for the following year.

It was decided that the League stands as published for this year, but races must be bid for 2009.

Any member of any Eastern Region club was eligible to race in the series.

Adult League 2008:

RF said this was published on ER website. SE said categories were: under 23, Senior up to 40, 40 + Veteran. CW will email region club chairs plans of the leagues.

CW & RF

Juniors Training Camp:

Postponed until May meeting.

Regional Inclusion Officer:

CW ER needs a contact. Job description has been sent out by email.

SP Advertise on website.

PD send email to club chairs.

RF & CW

Website:

RF said that the website top banner was available for advertising. CW agreed to forward the TE sponsorship document. PD suggested leave discussion for further clarification & next meeting. RF will report back after seeing new TE website.

CW & RF

IRC Team Management:

SE Consideration for team management & selection process this year. Criteria needed for selection. PD asked if SE could provide list for selection? SE was asked to continue to manage team and accepted. KP suggested he appoint assistant? SE would but also needed a head coach, and agreed to approach Tim Williams first given his academy work. SE would advertise for any coaches interested to help, and decide the qualifying races for the IRC. RF commented that Dave Parry had a programme of races already for his athletes that might not include the IRC.

AOB:

SE said he was organising an open water swim school and asked for regional funding towards the cost. PD pointed out the region had only recently made its bid for 2008/9 funding so the timing was not good but could be considered a contender for the 2009/2010 bid later in the year. RF put on agenda in September. KP Interesting idea, but funds should not be available for committee members interests only, must have an open bidding process for all within region.

RF still waiting for membership list of whole region. CW would send it him.

Date & Venue of next meetings:

Thursday 17^th April 2008, 7:30-9.30 p.m.

Next Generation, Cambridge.

Thursday 18^th September 2008, 7.30- 9.30 p.m

Next Generation, Cambridge.

AGM, Sunday 12^th October 2008 Venue TBA

ALL

Meeting closed at 22.00 hr.