British Canoe Union Slalom Committee “Putting Paddlers First and Valuing Volunteers” Committee Meeting Minutes BCU Headquarters, Bingham Saturday 19th October 2013 “Canoeing and Kayaking are “Assumed risk” – “contact sports” may carry attendant risks. Participants should be aware of and accept these risks, and be responsible for their own action and involvement”. British Canoe Slalom Committee Saturday 19th October 2013 Bingham 1 Present Jenny Walker [7/7] Vice Chair David Spencer [6/7] Strategic Planning Emma Aldridge [5/7] Wales Colin Woodgate [7/7] Secretary Martyn Setchell [4/7] Athlete Rep Craig Morris [4/7] GB Canoeing Andy Koszary [6/7] Treasurer Paul Tuffin [3/7] Volunteers Peter Curry [7/6] Event Management (via skype) 1.1 Also Present: Jim Croft Slalom Administrator. 1.2 Apologies Received Anne Hounslow [5/7] Chair Andy Grudzinski [4/7] Timing/Technical Chris Baillie [4/7] Scotland Jacky Brookes [3/7] Competition Andy Goodsell [1/7] BCU Hannah Burgess [3/7] Marketing & Publicity Dave Royle [5/7] England 2 Minutes of Previous Meeting The minutes of the previous meeting were accepted as a true record. In the absence of the chair the meeting was chaired by the vice chair. All were asked to check that the e-mails they use are correct. Some email addresses have changed, some are being incorrectly typed. 2.1 Matters Arising (not covered elsewhere) 2.1.1 Canoe England Competition Coaching A list of the current tutors and assessors in England will be provided, showing the level that they have achieved. ........................................................................................................................................................ Action RS 3 ACM Business A draft Agenda for the ACM had been circulated. This will continue to be developed until the closing date for club motions. Possible Committee motions were discussed and agreed. Current motions to be handled under regulation 5.9 were agreed. A notice will be put on the web site at the start of the next season to remind people that they are not allowed to compete in both ranking and officials’ events at the same competition. All reports are to be submitted for publication on the web site by 15th November. The provisional calendar will be published on the internet at the same time. Copies will not be available at the ACM. If anyone wants a copy to annotate with late entries / changes they must bring own copy. 4 Chairman’s Report 4.1 Tabled report Congratulations to David Florence on his two world championship titles and to Richard Hounslow for helping him win the 2nd. A feat not achieved for 60 years. Also congratulations to Mallory Franklin on her silver and the C2 team bronze, a fantastic race, putting GB top of the individual medal table. There was good coverage on BBC news on line and great TV coverage, at least 3 slots on the national plus highlights the following weekend hosted by Matthew Pinsent. A letter has been received from Louise Donington stepping down from International racing but will continue to race domestically. Working with the International Panel on team issues, one disciplinary matter, 3 requests for pre selection for 2014 and getting draft 2014 selection policy ready for going out to the wider community. Held discussions with Canoe England as to how the awards evening was arranged on the same weekend as a premier event. Full apologies received. Russ Smith is looking into how this can be avoided again. Liaising with Lee Valley over this year’s British Open and assisting Shaun Pearce get a race up and running on the legacy loop – entries good at this point. Page 2 of 8 “Canoeing and Kayaking are “Assumed risk” – “Water contact sports” that may carry attendant risks. Participants should be aware of and accept these risks, and be responsible for their own action and involvement”. British Canoe Slalom Committee Saturday 19th October 2013 Bingham Visited the Inter-clubs, as ever good to see so many athletes of different ages & abilities racing together. Invited to GB canoeing training day, will attend for the afternoon session. 5 Secretary’s Report 5.1 Tee Shirt Competition The T shirt that produced was different to the winning entry as the original design had been lost. The revised design had three colours and still needed professional setting. The 2014 competition will be announced at the ACM, limited to two colours (and black), each shade counting as a colour, and must be in a specified format. 5.2 Participation JC reported an increase in the number of people applying for promotion certificates. However the number of people on the ranking list has gone down. More statistics will be collated. 5.3 Cancelled Events and Rankings There have been representations that with the cancellation of the Serpents Tail this should be taken into account when looking at end of season promotion. The process is that at the first meeting after the ACM the promotions and demotions are considered. The numbers promoted and demoted will be based on the size of divisions, and relative performance of those eligible for promotion and demotion. 6 Finance 6.1 Accounts Draft accounts covering the eleven months ended 30th September, showing a surplus of £8,292. Slalom Levies: Gross levies for the races up to the end of September (including estimated amounts for recent events where levy forms have not yet been submitted) total £38,459. This compares with £29,023 for the same period last year and £26,733 in 2011. Controllable costs: Excluding Payroll costs and the CESC grant; our costs for the period to September are £21,460. Whilst the figure does include estimated accruals for costs or expense claims not yet received; it compares with £24,258 for the same period last year (prepared on the same basis). Inter club Championship Finals: The accounts for the Inter-Clubs event are not yet complete. A break- even result is anticipated. CESC: The cash balance held in our accounts, due to the Canoe England Slalom Committee (CESC) was £12,351. Forecast vs. Budget: The trend of higher event levies and lower costs has continued since the July accounts were prepared. It is now reasonably certain that the budgeted break-even result will be exceeded and a surplus is now forecast. This is currently estimated at £9,000. 6.2 Canoe England Capital Grant 6.2.1 On Line Entry System The slalom committee input to this process is on hold. BCU is developing an on-line entry system which will assist in tracking participation. DS is liaising with Andy Goodsell relating to the functions and costsAction DS. 6.2.2 Results display system and PA systems The audit of the 2012 Legacy equipment is to be clarified. This will be reviewed before making proposals for enhancements. .................................................................................................................................... Action AEG 6.2.3 TUTTI replacement Options for a replacement system are being discussed with interested parties. ............................ Action AEG Page 3 of 8 “Canoeing and Kayaking are “Assumed risk” – “Water contact sports” that may carry attendant risks. Participants should be aware of and accept these risks, and be responsible for their own action and involvement”. British Canoe Slalom Committee Saturday 19th October 2013 Bingham 7 Co-ordinators’ actions 7.1 Event Management 7.1.1 Inter Clubs JC has announced that the 2014 event will be the last event that he organises. A vote of thanks was offered for the work he has undertaken. The ongoing basis for the event must be reviewed as an urgent matter for the next committee to allow the experience to be passed on. Issues include the safety of the 1,000 people on site. 7.1.2 British Open Other site users AH has met with LV staff to discuss the weekend as it is planned on Sunday to have polo on the lake plus on Saturday they will be arranging activities. No come and try it as too cold for that!! Parking on site has been arranged. Timing and section judges are arranged. The person to head up safety is still to be identified. Further volunteers are sought to assist in control and runners. Forerunners: 1 C1W demo, 1 K1M demo and 1 C1M are arranged. Further demo runners are needed, GB Canoeing have been asked to assist. It was agreed that the format will be: Saturday will run as a premier race (heats). All paddlers that have entered the British Open and got to the bottom at least once on Saturday will progress to the semi-final. The semi-final will be run in the reverse order of the heats ranking. The top ten progress in each class will progress to the A final, the rest of the paddlers will compete in the B final. To reduce confusion both days will be run to BCU rules, but with no protest fee. The event schedule will be published shortly. 7.1.3 British Open 2014 After negotiations with LV, we are able to hold 2 events on the Olympic channel in the summer months, one would be selection and the plan is to move the BO. However this information was not available until after the application deadline for premier/ones. Discussions with representatives of affected clubs have been undertaken. Running in August would allow the British Open to be a bigger event including a come and try it and opening up the possibility of sharing the site with other disciplines, and come and try it sessions. This broader base, and better weather would also allow consideration of charging spectators to keep the entry fee down. So far Tees Tigers are unwilling to compromise. Viking initially agreed to a change, but if the event includes other division they do not want to agree.