Triathlon England Eastern Region

 

Annual General Meeting

 

14th October 2007, 2 p.m.

 

Lord Butler Leisure Centre, Saffron Walden

 

 

 

Chair: Keith Perry (KP)

Regional Development Manager: Ceri Winter (CW)

Minutes: Simon  Perkins

 

 

Date Minutes Prepared: 15th October 2007

 

 

Present:

Keith Perry – FVS Tri

Ceri Winter – Regional Development Manager

Paul Dutton – FVS Tri

Simon Perkins – Tri-Force

Richard Fuller – East Essex Tri

Sue Fuller – East Essex Tri

Phil Trevillion – Walden Tri

Derek Jones - Walden Tri

Phil Jones – Pactrac

Mark Harman – Essex Police Tri

 

 

Apologies:

 

Denis Spashett, Wendy Staines, John Gabriel.

 

Agenda:

  1. Introductions and Apologies
  2. Matters arising from minutes.
  3. Chairman’s Report
  4. Treasurer’s report Presentation of accounts
  5. Regional Development Officer’s Report
  6. Elect Committee
  7. Any Other Business

 

2. Minutes:

 

The minutes for AGM 28th January 2007 were presented and formally accepted.

 

3. Chairman’s Report:

 

2007 has been the transition year for the three ‘Home Nations’: England, Wales and Scotland. As of 25th September Triathlon England (TE) is now a recognised body. TE has 8,498 members, and over 1500 coaches. However, it’s estimated 25,000 triathletes have taken part in races, so there needs to be a large push to promote TE membership. There is a promotion of a £15 membership fee until the end of the year, this will be promoted through 220 Magazine, London Triathlon Database as well as through the Regions and Clubs.

 

The new culture change will be to bid for any finance. A clear idea from the region is needed for any projects, funding will be available, but only for specific tasks. An example of the  government’s funding initiative coming in are 20,000 and 12  which will see £250 million split amongst 9 Olympic Sports from the 27 and Triathlon is currently bidding. If successful, each region could benefit from £600,000 but will have to find 20,000 new people to the sport. New challenges could be developed eg: inter-supermarket Triathlon challenges! Additionally  ‘Bingo Lotto’ is being considered which would see raised funds being split equally amongst 25 different sporting bodies.

 

KP announced he would be standing down as Chairman, but will stay on the committee, volunteering to become Referee Co-ordinator, which those present endorsed. He is also on the TE Council and a TE Board Member.

 

There then followed a debate regarding insurance and TE membership benefits. KP said all the points raised have been considered on the TE Board. TE’s new strategy document will be published and outlined at the AGM. It was mentioned from the floor, that marketing is a key area and must be promoted. CW ended the debate by stressing we all should be ambassadors to the sport.

 

The new TE website demo will be presented at its first AGM.

 

4. Treasurer’s Report:

 

No report was presented as the Treasurer was absent from the meeting, so the report will be circulated by email in due course and if necessary an EGM will be arranged.

 

5. Regional Development Managers Report:

 

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for 2007 were successful. Outline of KPIs for 07/08, Junior Development, Plan for 2007-2009,

 

KPIs for 2006/2007 were met.

 

The Eastern Region (ER) is the 4th largest region with 1043 members. There is a target for 1100 members affiliated to TE for 2007-2008. There are 35 affiliated clubs (an increase of 5 since Jan 07), with the University of East Anglia looking to affiliate in Jan 08.

Essex is the largest county with 17 clubs, 3 of which have successful junior sections. The number of events has increased in 2007 by 4, therefore the 2007/2008 KPI has already been met.

 

In ER there are 5 Clubmark (a Sport England quality assured club) clubs (5 of 7 junior clubs within the region), there are currently no Starmark (Adult version of Clubmark) clubs. (KP added funding streams will be targeted for accredited clubs). The KPI for 2007/2008 is 8 accredited clubs. £3000 Funding from Sport England has allowed cash incentives for clubs to gain accreditation (both Clubmark and Starmark). The committee have previously decided the 4 clubs currently working to complete accreditation before March next year will have £500 towards the cost of completing (Walden TRI, PACTRAC, FVS TRI and Tri-Anglia) another 4 clubs will have £250 for registering to complete accreditation by March 2009. This money is refundable should the club not gain accreditation by the agreed date.

 

The ER Juniors came third in the IRC’s. There was a formal thanks to Simon Edwards, Team Manager, and to all the others who helped to organise the team.

 

There was a formal thanks to Richard Fuller, Race Director, for the successful Corus ‘Kids of Steel’ event in Grays, Essex which had 300 children from local schools participating. CW has received good reports for the 2007 event and requests to be involved in the 2008 event which hopes to involve 600 children. The date for 2008 is Thursday May 22nd.

 

There is now a Schools Aquathlon Template, to introduce triathlon and its multi sports into schools to increase participation and awareness. It is hoped it will create a pathway for schools within the ER, to work alongside current initiatives and events, and to lead to a Regional Final. It is intended to culminate in a Regional Final in July 2008 fed by County finals and School Partnership finals. Schools will be supported to run events with the help of counties, CW and local Tri clubs.

 

The junior series for 2007 has gone well and plans are already in place to run the series again. (RF added there will be a Saturday Afternoon bowling social in Chelmsford for the 36 Juniors who were placed).

 

The ER Adult series will return in 2008 with 6 Olympic events.

 

‘Club & Coach’ funding award from Sport England will provide the equivalent of one Full Time, initially split in to three positions, covering Essex (1 post), Norfolk (1 post), Peterborough and Bedford (1 post). The 1st year will focus on junior development, but any ideas/vision would be welcomed by CW for the 2nd and 3rd years.

 

Workforce Development Funding provided part funding for 50 coaching courses up to March 2007. A part-funded Triathlon Development Officer post for Hertfordshire is likely be created in Jan 2008. Clubs need to return their requests for 2008-2009 in order to be considered for funding. This is an external funding source which requires CW to liaise with local Sports Partnerships for funding and to be considered Triathlon is bidding against many other sports.

 

Funding and other useful information will be sent to clubs via email, but CW reiterated that individual clubs must be proactive in responding and getting involved.

 

6. Election of Officers:

 

            Chairman: Paul Dutton

            Treasurer: Simon Edwards

            Secretary:  Simon Perkins

 

Dave Parry and Dennis Spashett retire, a formal thanks was given from KP.

 

Other Committee members:

            Keith Perry

            Richard Fuller

            Tom Cudmore

 

7. AOB :

 

It was noted and appreciated if individual clubs could have representatives at meetings.

 

There was a formal thanks to the outgoing Chairman for all his hard work in the post.

 

Meeting Closed at 16:01