MINUTES OF THE 4^th MEETING  (2006 SESSION)

OF THE ACU TRIALS & ENDURO COMMITTEE HELD AT ACU HOUSE ON WEDNESDAY  7^TH JUNE   AT  10.30 AM

___________________________________________________________________________________

Present:                                               Mr J Collins       –   Chairman

Mr D Willoughby

Mr T Fairbrother

                                                            Mr J Lightfoot                                                    

                                                            Mr A Penny

                                                            Mr A Rew                                             

                                                            Mr M Bates                              

In attendance:                                    

Mrs M E Kerr

Mrs A Devine                                                          

1.  APOLOGIES

Apologies were received from Mick Wren.

2. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING

The minutes of the Third meeting held on 22^nd April had been approved for circulation, however, it was noted that the number sequence was incorrect from item 8 onwards.  The Chairman said that the Directors had agreed that decisions and action points from the minutes of all disciplines would in future be posted on the website in bulletin format.

3. MATTERS ARISING

Following discussions between the Sporting Committees and Directors, a Company policy regarding disabled riders was to be drawn up.

Action- General Secretary

4. FORESTRY / LAND ISSUES

Centre representatives had raised the question at National Council as to why a percentage of the insurance commission on events held on Forestry land was now deducted by the ACU and not retained by the Centres.

The Directors would be asked for clarification, as although under the Agreement with the Forestry Commission it was now policy to issue all permits for Forestry based events from ACU Headquarters, the T&E Committee had not been involved in any decision that HQ should deduct Insurance Commission.

Action – J Collins

The Secretary had experienced a few problems with invoices for events being sent to the ACU and not direct to the clubs, but these were being resolved.

A “Review of England Forest Strategy “was circulated and acknowledged,

Following his appointment as ACU Sport Development Officer, Mr Burk was to be included in the circulation of any relevant paperwork, with copies sent to Mr A King and Mr G Thompson.

The Secretary was to enquire about future meetings and circulate dates.

Action- Secretary

It was understood that a Baja was due to be run in Wales later this year and the Committee were concerned that they knew very little detail. However, Mr Willoughby assured them that he had already spoken to the organisers and had advised them to join as an ACU club.

5. LARA

Mr Collins reported that Mr King had attended the last Director’s meeting and had put forward a presentation regarding the implications of the NERC Bill for Off–Road Sport.

It was agreed that such documents needed to be carefully studied with regard to their impact on the Sport and it was agreed that as Mr Burk’s role would encompass LARA issues, it would be valuable if he met with Mr King and Mr Carter to bring him up to speed with the present situation.  Mr Burk would also be invited to a future T&E Committee meeting.

Action- Secretary

6. SOLO TRIALS CHAMPIONSHIP

Mitchell Trial

Following comments from Mr J Shirt, regarding the standard of tape used in sections at the Mitchell Trial, the Importers would be thanked for their offer of providing superior tape for the Championship, and organisers addresses would be forwarded.

Action- Secretariat

Lanyards

Provision of lanyards bearing the ACU logo to all registered Trials riders would be considered for next year, and an appropriate amount applied for in the Promotions section of the budget.

Costs were to be obtained in the meantime.

Action- Secretariat

7. BRITISH SOLO ENDURO CHAMPIONSHIP

The new contact at Motul Oil - Nick Turner, had provided banners and tape to be distributed to the remaining organisers of the Championship in an effort to raise their sponsorship profile.

Stickers, 3 per bike, had previously been supplied to organisers and it would be stressed that no rider should be allowed to start without displaying them on sides and front number plates.

8. INTER CENTRE TEAM TRIALS

Lower entry fees for the 2006 event had been agreed.  An application for the 2007 ICTT had been received from Torridge and would be acknowledged.

Action- Secretary.

9. ACU HANDBOOK

It had been established that it was necessary to stipulate a point of contact for Child Protection issues in the Supplementary Regulations and a regulation would also be included in the Handbook to say that this role would be covered by the Secretary of the Meeting unless otherwise stated in the Supplementary Regulations.

Action-Secretary

Further consideration would be given to the inclusion of a 3^rd route in the 2007 Ladies Championship.

Championship regulations for the Sammy Miller rounds in 2007 will specify that Trail bikes will run on the easy route.

10. TRAINING

Enduro training Squad

Three future sessions had been planned for the U23 squad including one with the Academy and another with Dave Thorpe. Dates as usual were a problem due to reliance on the services of so few qualified coaches.

Trials Training Squad

As Mr Wren had sent his apologies, the plans for the Training Squad remained uncertain and an update would be requested.  Lack of free dates were again a problem, with many riders abroad in the Summer months.  Mr Beardmore would liaise with Mr Wren as to the possibilities of putting on a ladies’ training session.

Mr Collins talked through his proposal to join forces with the Importers inviting them to run Trials training sessions in addition to the normal scheduled sessions. Further discussions would take place after liaison with Mr Wren.

Action- J.Collins

11. REVISED COACHING AND ASSESSMENT PROCEDURE

The Chairman outlined new procedures regarding Coaching and the assessment of Coaches;  also details of Practice permits .

12. ISDE

Mr Tony Harwood was welcomed to the meeting to present details of a fundraising Hare and Hounds event, scheduled for 12/13^th August in support of the 2006 ISDE in New Zealand.

This was to be a joint effort between Mr Harwood and Mr Steve Ireland.  Originally the committee had been looking for a replacement championship round on that weekend, but discussions between John Collins and Tony Harwood had resulted in plans for the Fundraiser instead.  Briefly the event would comprise Saturday Training sessions provided by Geraint Jones and other Professional coaches, for the first 100 applicants.

Sunday would see a 6 hour, 2 man team event with the inclusion of an Iron Man solo class.

A Trade village would be set up for sponsors, and a general Trade area also provided.

It was emphasised that all profits after reasonable costs, would go to benefit the entire British

entry, and not just the Trophy teams . Full details would appear in the Press and on ACU and Bob Mullins‘s website.

ACU Secretarial support would be given as required and the office would handle all applicants for the training day. Entries for the Sunday event would be made available on the organisers’ websites.

After full discussion of the various planning aspects, allocation of responsibilities etc; Mr Harwood was thanked for his presentation and he left the meeting.  Memos were to be sent out to the Training Squad, British Club Team Managers and the Trophy Team Manager, to encourage all concerned to support the event.

Action - Secretary

Entry Numbers

Confirmation was awaited from the NZ organisers as to how many British riders they could accept, as the Pre- entry numbers were high. An application for an increase of the entry numbers was being negotiated and the FIM’ s decision was awaited.  Club teams had been advised that the priority of entry list would be utilised if a restriction were placed on the numbers of club teams allowed from the ACU.

The selection of British Trophy teams was expected to be announced at the Welsh 2 Days Enduro later in June.

13. TRIAL DES NATIONS

Confirmation that the ACU intended to enter a Men’s and Women’s team in the Trial des Nations was to be returned to the FIM.  Discussions took place regarding potential team members.

Action - Secretary

14. BIKE TRIALS

A stewards panel was to be convened by the General Secretary to deal with a recent appeal. Further details would be conveyed to the Committee.

15. LICENSING SEMINARS HELD IN THE REGIONS

Input from each committee member for a “bank “of questions was still required.

16. INSURANCE

RTA Cover

The Committee were not convinced that it was either possible or desirable to impose compulsory RTA cover. Mr Collins had asked Mr Bellars to express the Committee’s frustration to the Brit Insurers that they had so far failed to write a suitable annual RTA policy for Trials & Enduro riders. It was agreed however that as long as the ACU continued to offer one event cover, that would be sufficient.

17. DATE APPLICATIONS 2007

Applications for 2007 National dates were shortly to be invited- deadline 1^st August. The procedure would be as last year; with organisers being asked to confirm whether or not they would be applying to run an event next year on a date corresponding to that in 2006.

Championship rounds would be awarded at a later date, and Solo Trials Championship dates would be allocated after the FIM and UEM dates were released.  Youth A&B applicants would be advised that clashes with exam times-May /June-were to be avoided, as were clashes with the Solo Trials Championships rounds. The latter would also apply to the Novogar Championships

Action- Secretariat

18. ACU WEBSITE

Details of the ISDE Fundraiser were to be posted on the website.

Action- Secretariat

19. ACU MAGAZINE

Mr Collins had written an article on Time cards for the previous magazine which had not appeared, and he taken this up with the editor, Keith McGhie This emphasised the need for the Committee to approve the final draft.  Items for inclusion were discussed, and the deadline would be circulated to the Committee.

Action- Committee/ Secretariat

20.  FIM

2006 UK World Trial Round

The permit for the British round of the World Trials Championship was to be issued on receipt of the fee. The Secretary was to contact Jake Miller

Action- Secretary

21. UEM

Details of a UEM Quad cup to be run in 2007were received and acknowledged.

22. STEWARDS REPORTS

A newly formatted report form was to be approved by the Committee.

The following reports were received and acknowledged-:

i)          Mitchell Trial                                                           14 May 2006                 A. Rew

ii)          Lyn Traders Trial                                                   28 May 2006                 F.Sweeting

iii)         Kent Youth AB/ CD                                               3/4 June 2006                A.Penny

iv)         Powys Enduro                                                       4 June 2006                   M.Wren

v)         Bradford Youth                                                       11 June 2006                 M.Wren

vi)         Rd 5 Womens & Girls Championship               17 June 2006                 M.Bates

vii)        World Enduro Championship Italy                     17/18 June 2006            M. Wren

viii)        Mansfield Maun S/C Championship                18 June 2006                 M.Timms

ix)         West of England Trial .                                      18 June 2006                 J.Collins

x)         C&D Youth                                                           18 June 2006                 M.Bates

xi)         Welsh 2 Day Enduro                                         22/23 June 2006            J.Lightfoot

xii)        UEM Champ – Le Chatre                                 24/25 June 2006            J.Collins

xiii)       Wainwright Shield                                              25 June 2006                 I. Rewley

xiv)       ABC&D Youth -                                                  1 July 2006                    J.Lightfoot

xv)        Italian World Trial                                                1/2 July 2006                 A. Penny

xvi)       UEM Trial – Myslenice                                       8/9 July 2006                 J.Collins

xvii)       Allan Jeffries Trial                                               9 July 2006                    I Singleton

xviii)      UEM Trial Czech Republic                                 16 July 2006                  A.Penny           

Comments-

Dartmoor Trial

The Steward reported that the time allowance in this trial had been altered during the event, which it was understood was thought necessary on the grounds of safety due to adverse weather conditions.

A letter would be sent to the organising club and clerk of the Course advising them that in the circumstances they were fortunate not to receive a protest, and that in future they should carefully consider all aspects when assessing a suitable time allowance before the start of the event unless extreme circumstances prevailed.

23.  STEWARDS APPOINTMENTS/ OVERSEAS APPOINTMENTS

 Lists held at ACU.

24. CORRESPONDENCE

Alexz Wigg

Alexz had written in to update the Committee on his progress so far throughout the year. It was clear that he was riding well, but as agreed, his request to ride up a level, in the Adult Championship (for no points) would be reviewed after the West of England Trial.

Bradford & DMC Ltd

The club had asked to combine ABC&D rounds on the same day due to low entries.

Mick Wren was to steward at the event and he would be asked to make sure that the C&D’s course did not interfere with the A&B’s.

Action- Secretary

Scarborough & DMC

The club requested to have the option of running their youth events under ACU or FIM rules as an experiment was carefully considered.  It was acknowledged that a decision had already been made to allow the Adults to run a similar test event, and some Committee members were in favour of allowing the Youth the same opportunity. However , with some reservation and as an compromise, the  club would be offered the chance to run one day according to ACU rules and the next on FIM , and then to hold a secret ballot.

Action- Secretary

Powys Enduro – Rider complaint

The rider would be informed that his complaint would be sent to the organisers for their comments.

Action- Secretary

25. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

None reported.

26. DATE OF NEXT MEETING

Thursday 3^rd Aug at 10.30 am.

27. MATTERS FOR THE P.R.O

ISDE fundraising event.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 5.15pm.