Great Britain Wild Water Racing

Attendance
Present at the meeting were Peter Schofield (Chair), Melissa Simons, Dave Belbin, John Embrey, Mike Mason, and Andy Goodsell, with Howard Blackman in attendance.
Apologies were received from Paul Anderson, Jon Royle, Jamie Christie and Martin Streeter.

Minutes of the last meeting and matters arising
The minutes were agreed as a true report of the last meeting.

Yearbook
The yearbook should be printed by 24th March, and PS hoped to use the junior squad as envelope fillers. The difficulty has been obtaining suitable advertisements and Gordon Walling has had to chase several potential advertisers himself. It was agreed that next year, the ranking list should be closed at the end of November, with any races after that to count towards the following year’s championships, and that advertisers should be identified sooner.
Action: MS to revise text of yearbook asap to try to shorten it

Junior World Championships 2002
JH has asked DB about expenses; JH’s contract is with the BCU, and this is within the contract.
Action: PS to clarify expenses situation for DB
The Exec will need to establish a management committee for the event, to include a finance director, a technical director and PS.

There is some risk to the Junior Pre-Worlds from the Foot and Mouth Disease situation. A final decision will need to be made whether or not to hold the Championship by 1st June. JH has issued information to all TeamLeaders updating them.
Action: PS to circulate to Exec and ask PF to put on website

Guided racing No further progress had been made.
Action: MS to send documentation to BCU lawyers

Competition issues
It was clear that the current outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease threatened to eliminate the whole Spring Series, although it might be possible to hold the Tour D’Ecosse and May Tryweryn. It was agreed that no Division A or B racing would take place until MAFF had declared an "All Clear". While recognising that this was not necessarily consistent with the policies of the other competitive disciplines, it was agreed that this line was necessary for WWR because of the extreme access requirements.
It was considered important for future access negotiations for WWR to be seen to be considerate towards farmers, and the risk the disease posed to their livelihoods. In view of this fact, and the fact that there appears to be a risk of the disease spreading via water, it was agreed that the Exec would recommend that people did not travel with boats, either within the UK or abroad. If anyone has to travel with boats, then the boats and all kit should be disinfected thoroughly and carefully.
Action: MS to publicise
Howard Blackman outlined options for possible events, where slaloms had been agreed, including Nottingham and Matlock. There was some consideration of whether it would be appropriate to hold any races, given the movement restrictions. HB pointed out that there were 11 Wavehoppers at HPP that could be used for an event.
Action: HB and JE to look into thepossibilities of holding non-ranking events at HPP
There had been some suggestion of travelling to some continental races. It would be necessary to investigate whether or not it would be possible to transport boats abroad via a van or sealed container, and also whether FFCK and the German Federation would welcome British paddlers.
Action: AG to investigate
If it were possible to hold the Tour D’Ecosse (and include an extra Division A event) and the May Tryweryn, then the National Championship would remain as it was currently (separate Sprint and Classic series). If both events had to be cancelled, then the Series should be combined, with four out of seven races to count, including a maximum of two sprints. If the Tour D’Ecosse were cancelled and the Tryweryn held, the Series would be combined, with four out of nine to count, including a maximum of two sprints.
Action: MS to publicise
Entry fees of cancelled races It was agreed that entry fees from the Scotland races should be refundable in full. Following the precedent set by the Dart Race, they would be held over until next year unless paddlers wrote to the organiser, enclosing an SAE, asking for their money back.
Action: PS to speak to Kelso Riddell and explain, then publicise via website

Excellence issues
Selection

There were three options for selection for this year: travelling to Monschau on 28th/29th April, the May Tryweryn, or an assessment weekend at Nottingham. It was agreed that only an assessment weekend at Nottingham could be guaranteed. If the May Tryweryn were held, the results of that could also be taken into account.
Action: AG and HB to look into possible dates, between April 21 and May 13, and AG and MS to publicise to seniors and juniors respectively

The Assessment Weekend would probably consist of a sprint, a classic and some fitness tests. Selection would be entirely be discretion. It was agreed that in view of the need to limit boat movement, only those being considered for selection would be able to paddle at the Assessment Weekend, and that they should inform Andy Goodsell in advance (for seniors). Juniors who have already informed the Exec that they wished to be considered for selection should only inform Melissa Simons if they were unable to attend.
The senior selection committee would consist of Peter Schofield, Martin Streeter, Andy Goodsell, John Embrey and Dave Belbin. The junior selection committee would consist of Melissa Simons, Kevin Bowerbank, Dave Belbin, Mike Mason and Howard Blackman. Both committees would meet at the Assessment Weekend [Post-meeting note to DB - is this going to give you a logistical problem? We could ask Paul A or Jon R instead, since both will probably be there that weekend]

English Coaching Management Committee

AG reported that he and Howard Blackman had revised the coaching syllabus in line with other disciplines. The main change was to the requirements for a First Aid qualification, where a Level 1 coach would now require a 4-hour First Aid course. There would be revalidation of coaching awards every 3 years.
Action: all to send comments to AG by the end of the week; AG to put on website

Committee issues
Treasurer post DB had been asked to become the BCU Treasurer, a post which he wished to accept. He would therefore have to resign as WWR Treasurer, although he was prepared to do the accounts this year, in order to show his replacement his systems. PS expressed the Exec’s thanks to DB for his contribution over the last 10 years.
Action: MS to publicise the needfor a new Treasurer via Focus and the website
Vice-Chairman Mike Mason was elected as Vice-Chairman.
AG reported that he was being posted to the Falklands for four months from July and would therefore be unavailable during this time.

Development issues
Development Plan This needs updatingwith new objectives for each subcommittee for 2001.
Action: PS to circulate, s/c chairs (HB and KB in case of development) to update and return to PS, who will send to BCU
Performance Plan Much of this is still valid, but it needs updating to bring it into line with the other disciplines. PS would revise, with help from MS and Martin Streeter, also AG.
Action: PS to update
Development grants Chelmsford CC stillhad not claimed their development grant.
Action: MS to contact PA to remind him

Any other business
Prizegiving
The prizegiving would now beheld at the AGM in November.
Action: MS to publicise via website

UK Canoeing Competitors Committee
Heather Corrie had approached the Exec about a new competitors’ committee that she was involved in. It was agreed that Pete Keron would be asked to approach Heather as he was in Nottingham and might be able to attend meetings.
Action: MM to speak to PK

U16 Youth Series
JE was concerned that we were giving contradictory messages to U16s, as in order to compete in the Youth Series, they had to paddle a Wavehopper, but to be selected for the team, they had to paddle a composite boat. It was agreed that the Youth Series, Youth Championships and the National Youth Champion (best junior in Division A) allowed several different people the opportunity to win prizes, which could only be helpful in encouraging juniors to compete.
Ranking lists It was agreed that GP boats in Division B races should get Wavehopper allowances and points, in order to encourage more people to race.
Wavehoppers It had previously been agreed that the Exec would order 10 Wavehoppers, to which MM’s two for Durham would be added to make an adequate order. All the boats should be marked or branded individually, preferably at source.
Action: HB to arrange pick-up to save on delivery fees, DB to negotiate branding etc.

Budgets
It was noted that no budget hadyet been received for either the senior or junior team.
Action: AG to provide and MS to ask KB to send

BCU Coaching Handbook
HB had been asked to co-ordinate WWR’s input to a new edition of the BCU Coaching Handbook. He was seeking volunteers to help.
Action: HB to ask for help via website/discussion board

Future meetings
The next meeting would be held at the selection weekend in Nottingham, between 12 and 2pm on Saturday, and the one after on 23rd June (venue to be agreed)

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