Trials & Enduro mtg 3.12.05

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Mr T.Fairbrother Mr M.Wren

In attendance: Mrs ME Kerr - Secretary

Before starting the meeting, the Committee wished to pay their respects to the memory of Pam Miller who had died suddenly on 20^th November. Pam had acted as Secretary for all the ACU disciplines at one time or another, but primarily dealt with Off-Road Sport during her long employment with the ACU. Her contribution over the years to the organisation of Motorcycle Sport was considerable and she would be very much missed.

The Minutes of the 7^th Meeting held on Friday 28^th October, were approved for circulation.

Regional Licencing Seminar – South Eastern Centre.

No date had as yet been agreed for the seminar and the Secretary was to contact Colin Boniface to make progress.

Action - Secretary

2006 Bike Trial Standing Regulations had been compiled for the Handbook by representatives of the Trials & Enduro and Bike Trials Committees. It had been agreed that as these events were subject to the NSC, it was necessary to make licenced officials a requirement as in any other discipline. To assist in their training, paperwork relating to Child Protection, Environmental and Risk Assessment issues would be compiled and made available for sessions conducted by Bike Trial personnel. In addition, Committee members would produce a “bank “of questions with a selection specific to the relevant discipline. This system was also to be employed for assisting Centres in training their Centre officials. Some practical experience would be required for the Bike Trial officials, and their licence would be valid for that discipline only. However holders of Regional Stewards/Clerk of the Course licences would be considered to be qualified to officiate at Bike Trials.

Several additional amendments to the Standing Regulations, Championship Regulations and Conditions were made. The Committee would be asked to approve these before the final draft was submitted for the Handbook and circulated to organisers.

6. PERMITS

New status

With effect 1st January 2006, for events below International level, clubs would have the option of running under National, Open or Restricted permits. National status would be mandatory however, all Trials & Enduro Championships would also require the appointment of an ACU steward. The Secretary would contact those organisers of events which had unsuccessfully applied for Championships, and enquire whether they wished to retain National status and thereby remain in the calendar, or whether they would choose to cut costs and run as Open events.

Organisers would be advised that they would be required to stay in the calendar as a National event to be eligible for Championship status the following year. A request from the East Midland Centre for one of their events to retain National status without the appointment of a National Steward was declined.

It was agreed that the Committee should share the task of checking the many events which were outside the definition of the standard Trials and Enduro disciplines and this would be organised on a rotational basis.

Under the new agreement between the Forestry Commission and the ACU, all permits for events using Forestry Commission land would be issued by Head Office. Guidelines and an explanation of the change in procedure, were to be circulated to Clubs and Centres.

Briefly, it would now be a requirement for the Forest to apply for closure of the Right to Roam Act before allowing a Motorcycle event to take place on their land. This was an administrative process which the Forestry Commission would operate on behalf of ACU clubs, and for which they would charge £100.

A request for authorisation to use Forestry Commission land would need to be submitted to Rugby, together with a £25 permit fee, six months before the event and a reserved permit number would be issued in order that the application may proceed. For events running early in the year, this time limit could not apply and the Forestry Commission accepted that there would have to be a phasing in period. Permits would be issued after the Regulations had been approved by ACU Head Office.

Invoicing for all costs other than the permit would continue to be the responsibility of the Forestry Commission. A copy of the guidelines and sample application form is attached to these minutes (See Appendix A).

The Committee anticipated that discussions regarding the appointment of an employee who could assume a role similar to that held previously by David Kersey may resume, following the possible appointment of a new Chief Executive.

Essentially now, it was envisaged the levels of coaching would be split into three basic divisions which the Chairman outlined and details of which would be published by the Directors.

Arrangements for 2006 were being hampered by the lack of available dates and suitably qualified coaches. Riders had sometimes failed to respond to suggested dates. It was envisaged that the number of both Trials & Enduro squads would be reduced and support for overseas events given to selected members.

The Committee were in full agreement that the first session for both disciplines should be classroom based, instructing riders in the regulations, administrative procedure relating to entering foreign events, home events etc.

Communication regarding Trials squad matters needed to be improved as far as Head Office was concerned, as not all correspondence was being copied to the Secretariat.

Dave Luscombe would be asked to liaise directly with Mick Wren for anything relating to Trials training and also to include the T&E Dept in the circulation of information regarding Academy riders.

Application forms for squads were to be sent out without delay and reviewed at the next meeting.

Trials. The Committee discussed Mick Wrens proposals which included dividing up riders according to ability into three groups - an “Elite” squad,” a 2nd tier and a female squad, with sessions held separately, possibly before National events which riders were competing in.

Enduros. Ages of the 2005 squad would be reviewed to ensure continued eligibility.

Premiums for National and below status events had been confirmed and would remain the same as per 2005. It had been hoped that Eddie Bellars would be successful in negotiating an Annual rate for RTA cover with Devitt DA but as yet this had not been the case. The matter was ongoing.

A memo would be sent to Dawn Luby of Alaxander Forbes with a copy to Mr Bellars referring to correspondence dated 25^th November, where it had been mentioned that one event RTA cover may be dramatically reduced if the premium were included in the entry fee and therefore made mandatory for all competitors.

The Committee agreed that they wished to pursue this idea, as continued failure to secure an annual rate seemed to leave no other option. They would however require a definite price before making a decision.

Much discussion took place regarding the best method of providing riders with the necessary information and entry forms online that they would need to participate in Championship events.

It was agreed that for 2006, the standard entry form for Nationals which currently appeared on the website would also be linked with the relevant individual Championship Regulations in order that the rider could correctly identify the class he was entering when completing the entry form.

The Committee were to assist in producing a few details of a selection of award winners for the commentary. It was agreed that medals and certificates should be awarded to 1^st placed riders, and certificates to 2^nd and 3^rd in all Championship classes.

The final draft dated 6^th December 2005 had been circulated, although some updates were inevitable.

Uncertainty remained regarding the South Eastern Centre’s application to host the Inter Centre Team Trial and they would be contacted and asked to confirm whether they were in fact able to run all classes on one course. Their response would be requested within 7 days of receipt of the letter. A copy was to be sent to Alan Clarke.

Inter Centre Team Trial Classic/ Inter Centre Team Trial

The SR’s for the Classic event were discussed and amended. These would be distributed to Centres. Inter Centre Team Trial Regulations were to be amended and approved at the next meeting.

This was to take place on 10^th December and an agenda was discussed. Organisers would be informed that a sponsorship deal had been secured with Colin Appleyard for the next three years.

i. CTR. “Riders found to be accompanied on the course by mechanics (or other

Mechanics/Assistants on in order that they may be subject to the Disciplinary Codes.

ii. CER. “Any protest, for the first or second day, must be presented to the

International Jury within 30 minutes after the non - official results, signed by

the Clerk of the Course, have been posted along with the handwritten time of posting. This is providing such results are posted within 60 minutes of a pre-determined time which will be announced at the first jury meeting”

Reason - It is not logical to expect Riders, Team Managers or Delegates to wait for an undetermined time at the end of the event until the results appear, in order to meet the 30 minute protest criteria. Riders, for example, could be at the Presentation when results are posted, and this could prevent them complying with the article as it is written.

In addition, the Directors would be requested to put in a proposal to the FIM Management Committee that the details for submission of dates for the calendar be strictly adhered to.

John Collins and Dave Willoughby had met with Dawn Luby and discussed the annual and single premium rates for competitors in International Trials & Enduro events. Mrs Luby would be contacted to see what progress was being made.

The Secretary was to ensure that the Inscription fee for 2006 had been received from Jake Miller. The 2007 fee would be due shortly.

The minutes of the meeting due to be held on the 29^th November would be discussed at the next meeting. At present, the provisional number of teams/support crew and accompanying persons looked in danger of exceeding the flight and accommodation reservations. In order to confirm their serious intent to participate, club teams would be asked for a £500 deposit per team to be received at ACU Head Office by 28^th February.

In addition, the New Zealand organisers would be asked if they could provide the ACU with an estimate of the number of teams they would accept in advance of the stipulated date – ie.15^th June.

Fund raising for the 2006 event would now start in earnest and the British Team manager was asked to make his selection of the teams as soon as possible.

The addition to the Enduro Standing Regulations which would now state that a rider may be subject to possible disqualification unless Time cards are presented in a flat and legible condition was to be highlighted on the ACU Website.

18. ACU MAGAZINE

Nothing was reported for inclusion in the next edition of the Magazine. It was understood that the format for the magazine next year was to change, but items from each discipline would still be requested.

19. STEWARDS REPORTS

The Committee had fully discussed the situation with Minders in Youth trials and remained of the opinion that minders on machines should not be permitted in these events. However, in order to address some of the parents concerns for the C&D classes these Championship Conditions would stipulate that Courses would be designed in such a way to enable parents to accompany their children on foot.

On the basis of the points obtained in the B class he would be allowed to compete in the A class, but his request to compete in the youth support class of the British Solo Trials Championship would receive further discussion.

These riders would be advised of the Committee‘s decision that they should remain in the C class for 2006 and their progress within this class thereafter be reviewed.

Extension granted, but Mr Nixon would be advised to attend any suitable regional seminars that were to be held during the year.

v) Julie Short - Resignation as Sammy Miller Coordinator/Cancellation of Golden Valley Trail Bike Round

The Committee expressed their disappointment that Miss Short had decided to resign as coordinator. As far as the 2005 awards were concerned, she would be requested to confirm the arrangements for presentation. The cancellation of the club’s event was noted.

Enquiries would be made of the Technical Committee regarding the criteria for Centres to purchase and use Noise meters.

This event, which was scheduled for the 30^th April was now to run on 2^nd July as a Sammy Miller Championship round.