MINUTES OF THE 8th MEETING (2006 SESSION)
OF THE ACU TRIALS & ENDURO COMMITTEE HELD AT ACU HOUSE ON
SATURDAY 2nd DECEMBER AT 10.30 AM
___________________________________________________________________________________
Mr J Lightfoot
Mr M Wren
Action: J Collins
4. TRAINING
Trials
Mick Wren informed the Committee of a proposal to hold a training session for women and girls at Bracken Rocks on 17th February 2007 to be taken by Katy Sunter and possibly Ian Austermuhle.
It was agreed that provided certain conditions were met, ie. the training session would be open to any ACU member, as opposed to being pre-selected. Mick Wren would talk to Terry Crabtree to take this matter forward.
Action: M Wren
In depth discussions then followed regarding the Committee’s policy for Trials and Enduro riders development in 2007. It was agreed that the optimum use for training funds would be achieved by supporting a small number of riders in Adult Youth and Women’s classes in events abroad - mostly at UEM events, but with help for selected FIM events in addition to running limited home sessions.
It was anticipated that this should alleviate the problems experienced last year when free dates for home sessions were almost impossible to find and it reflected the Committee’s belief that the European events provided excellent training at all levels.
A summary of the Committee’s intentions regarding both squads would be circulated to Centres and Clubs and put on the various websites, together with application forms.
Action: J Collins /Secretariat
Sports Psychology Session
Details of a Sports Psychology session due to be held on 7th January at ACU House had been received from Mr Luscombe and it was suggested that dependent on available funds, riders from the Trials and Enduro squads may be able to attend. The Secretary would liaise with Mr Luscombe.
Action: Secretariat
Sports Official UK
A note from Mr Luscombe regarding a newly available set of sport specific and generic qualifications created by Sports Official UK and accredited to NVQ level had been circulated to all Sporting Committee Chairmen who were asked to consider the value of encouraging officials to engage with the training. It was suggested that it may be suitable for inclusion in Clerk of the Course Seminars.
5. BRITISH SOLO TRIALS CHAMPIONSHIP
The application form for the series was amended to include The Lyn Traders Trial in the list of events from which riders’ finishing positions (Premier class only) would be used to determine the priority of entry list for the Expert class. This was to be sent out before Christmas with a closing date of 31st January 2007.
A questionnaire seeking Championship, top 15 Expert and top 5 youth riders preferred option of marking for 2007 would accompany this form. 2006 had been used as an experimental period to employ the current FIM system of marking and riders would be asked to indicate if they wished to remain with this for 2007 or to return to TSR22 – Stop permitted rules. Subsequent responses would be tabled for further discussion at the 10th February Solo Trials Organisers Forum in order that a decision could be made in good time for the first round.
The Secretary was asked to publicise the date of the forum through the normal channels.
A check would be made that all the series bibs had been returned and were in a satisfactory condition.
Action: Secretary
6. BRITISH SOLO ENDURO CHAMPIONSHIP
Sponsorship
The 3 year sponsorship deal negotiated with Motul Oils via Vic Noble expired at the end of the 2006 series and Mr Collins had written to Motul thanking them for the Company’s support over the past few years and also advised of the Committee’s intention to consider tenders for Sponsorship of the series from other quarters, in addition to any renewal of interest from Motul. Any interested parties would be asked to contact the office to receive details of the package on offer, and the Secretary was asked to publicize this through the normal channels.
Action: Secretary
7. ISDE
A meeting to review the ACU’s future participation in the ISDE at both National and Club team level would be held as early in the New Year as possible. The Chairman reiterated the fact that no plans would be made for the 2007 event until this meeting had taken place.
2006 Reports had been received from British Team Manager Dusty Martin and ACU Delegate Ted Bartlett.
Andrew (Dusty Martin) had accepted his re-appointment as British Team Manager and was to be congratulated on doing an excellent job in New Zealand. Under his management the Senior team achieved 9th place and the Junior squad 6th place.
The Committee also thanked the Logistics Co-ordinator Dave May Miller, whose consistent efforts over the years have been indispensable to the successful participation of the British contingent. The Committee agreed to the fund the participation of Mr Bartlett for future events.
In total 39 of the British riders finished and between them were awarded 6 gold, 23 silver and 10 bronze medals. The winning club team and recipient of the MCC of Wales Award were MCC of Wales Team A. Special trophies would be awarded as follows-
Tim Ward Award – Ashley Wood
Meeten Award – Tom Sagar
Arthur Prince – Euan McConnell
The date of the meeting would be finalised and then advertised in the usual manner.
Action: Secretary
8. RISK ASSESSMENT
The current requirements of the HSE regulations had been explained by Peter Gregory at recent Environmental Panel meetings, and the Committee were now aware of their responsibility to ensure that the T&E Regulations and the decisions which were taken to frame the Regulations were recorded by way of justification. This would be a process which would need to begin with the existing Regulations and it was agreed that one section at a time would need to be dealt with at forthcoming meetings. Future amendments would then be encompassed accordingly.
Each discipline would be tasked with looking at their individual rules whilst the NSC and Disciplinary codes would be dealt with by the General Secretary and Directors.
Action: Committee
9. AWARDS PRESENTATION
Arrangements were well under way for the 2006 Awards Ceremony, and orders for additional trophies would be placed before the Christmas break.
Action: Secretary
10. INSURANCE
It was noted that Alexander Forbes had been taken over and would henceforth be known as Locktons. Annual RTA insurance had not yet been secured.
11. FIM
FIM Enduro seminar- 10th/11th March
Details to be sent to the FIM for circulation.
Action: Secretary
Indoor Trial des Nations
Team Manager Mr Willoughby was pleased to report a successful event with the British team achieving 2nd place.
Minutes CTR/CER
Received and acknowledged.
IOM Trial des Nations/Women’s World Trial Championship/World Trial
A round of the Women’s World Trial Championship would take place in the Isle of Man on the 28th September, the day before the Trial des Nations weekend, and the World Trial at Hawkstone Park on the 29th July.
Invoices had been sent out for the necessary deposits and inscription fees, but the Secretary was to ensure that these were paid before the end of the year.
Applications for World and UEM dates were to be invited via the paper and the various websites.
Action: Secretary
12. FORESTRY ISSUES
Revised Forestry Charges which were increased in line with inflation had been received and the General Secretary would be asked to circulate them to Centres
Action: Secretary
13. ACU MAGAZINE
The next issue would include the Committee’s input on the considerable Youth competitor successes over 2006, notably Alexz Wigg, Jack Challoner and Sam Haslam. Mr Collins would talk to Keith McGhie regarding the need for initial approval of articles before they went to print. Brian George, ACU Press Officer, would be asked to keep a close eye on competitor progress throughout the year to ensure that due credit to successful riders appeared in the magazine in a timely fashion.
14. LARA
A lengthy report on Public rights of Way had been emailed to the ACU by Alan King and copies were to be circulated to the Committee. The Committee understood that it was the Director’s intention to employ the services of a Rights of Way “specialist” on a consultancy basis.
Action: Secretary
15. ACU HANDBOOK
Further changes to the Protests and Appeals Procedure flow chart in the NSC were to be put to the General Secretary for inclusion as follows-:
Title- to be reworded as -:
“PROTESTS AND APPEALS PROCEDURE- TRIALS AND ENDURO - APPENDIX B”
Second paragraph of box 2 ( Procedure and time limit for protest) to read-:
“Unless stated ……. should be 14 days from the day of issue of the results as confirmed by the postmark. Protests against results for multi-day events (e.g 2 day or 6 day) shall be made by 5pm on the day following the days results against which the protest has been made, subject to the results being displayed prior to the start of the subsequent day. If this condition is not met ………“
It was also agreed that the notes currently on the licence application form, (reference parental guidance for the regulations regarding accompaniment of minors) should be included in the Handbook. The proposal would be put through the General Secretary
Action: Secretary/General Secretary
16. BIKE TRIAL REGULATIONS
Disagreement had arisen between some members of Bike Trial UK and the ACU regarding amendments to the Bike Trial Standing Regulations. Attempts to discuss issues regarding the rule changes had not resolved the differences and Bike Trial UK wished the matter to be deferred until their AGM in January. This was not possible due to the fact that the deadline for the Handbook had now been reached and it was therefore agreed that the changes should be implemented by the relevant Committee without further consultation.
The need to licence Bike Trial Officials and the best method of effecting this was discussed, and it was agreed that provided they were restricted to Bike Trials only, it would be sufficient to send out question papers on Child Protection, Environmental and NSC matters and receive candidates answers by post. Anthony Rew would give the process further consideration before the next meeting.
Action: A Rew
17. STEWARDS REPORTS
Lochaber Trial 17th Sept John Moffat
W of England Trial 30th Sept Alan Pearce
Trials Des Nations 29th Sept/1st Oct John Collins
Otter Vale Trial 1st Oct Tom Crease
Lakes 2 Day 14th/15th Oct Penny Ludgate
Isle of Wight Youth Trial 14th Oct Alan Penny
Isle of Wight Youth Trial 15th Oct Alan Penny
Stewards comments on the West of England Trial report would be drawn to the Organisers’ attention.
An incident which had taken place over the weekend of the Isle of Wight Youth Trials Championship rounds prompted the Committee to request that a letter be sent to all Organisers who may have a Youth element at their events, to advise them to be watchful of under age drinking if they offered a licensed bar .
Action: Secretary
18. STEWARDS APPOINTMENTS
List held at ACU.
19. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
20. DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The date of the next meeting will be Tuesday 6th February 2007 commencing at 10.30am at ACU Head Office.
There being no further business the meeting closed at 5.30 pm.