CORNWALL ROAD RUNNING & RACING GROUP.

Minutes of the meeting held on Monday December 17^th.

THOSE PRESENT. Doug Alsop (Chairman & St.A.R.C.), Pete Sargent (Minutes Secretary & N.R.R.), Caroline Hemsworth (An Resek Hellys & F.R.R.), Angela Burrows, David Angilly & Alan Rowling (C.A.C.), Kevin Burnett (I.Q.Half & N.R.R.), David & Ruth Hatch (M.R.C.), Graham & Lesley Dobson (N.R.R.), Dawn Roberts (St A.R.C.), Paul Bullock (Sticker 5 & St. A.R.C.), Bill Phillips (T.T.)

APOLOGIES. Hilary Clatworthy (E.C.H.), Dave Gordon (K.R.), Sarah Herbert & Mark Heard (L.R.R.), Yvonne Turner & Ian Matthews (M.B.H.), Jan Sargent (N.R.R.), Sylvia Muller (W.R.N.)

*** At this point, DA advised the meeting that he had now joined and was representing St. Austell R.C. who are currently in the process of affiliating to England Athletics and Cornwall A.A.A.

Minutes of the last meeting 24-09-07 Agreed. Proposed by DH Seconded by GD.

Matters arising. Acquisition of signs still pending. DA is awaiting a revised quote from Mark Stephenson.

Race Clock. Mark Trebilcock has no wish to sell his clock.

Race chips. PB advised that Pete Ferlie (I.B.R.) was looking to purchase chips for the G.W.R. If the C.R.R.& R.G. group wished to do the same, early indications were that the cost would equate to around £3-50 per runner-per race, but further details etc would become available in time. With the increasing numbers in our race, and therefore runners taking longer to cross the start line, all agreed that chips would be very beneficial to ensure all runners received a correct “running” time, which at present is not an option.

Review of Events.

Newquay 10k. (432 entries 2007, 411-2006) GD reported that everything went very well. Still not 100% sure as to the best location for the “crossing” points. BP thought it an excellent event. CH said there were no signs directing you to the race, (GD “They were there, you must have missed them”), there was no marshal at either the entrance or exit to the petrol station, there was no marshal at the lane in Trevemper Hamlet, and no signs directing runners to the toilets at the Sports Centre.

Deviock 10mile. No feedback available.

Cornish Marathon. (239 entries 2007, 216-2006). DA reported the event went pretty well. Race numbers were not waterproof (contravening Rule 2.2k) resulting in many finishers not having their number. Only 200 numbers purchased, but blank spares were available (and waterproof). There was around 80 entries on the day, which is unusually high for a marathon. BP asked whether or not those runners finishing outside the 5 hour cut off time were listed as official finishers for GP purposes. DA advised they were still included, and like the Duchy marathon, even though the official timekeepers had relinquished their post, another member of the finishing team was still present to record times and award medals etc. KB reported that the medal presented to Val Hawken was “blank” with no ribbon. She paid for it to be engraved.

Redruth 10k. DAngilly advised that he enjoyed it, being a friendly low key event. High number of female runners.

Mob Match. (409 entries 2007, 350-2006) A few lost numbers at the finish, and two cases of duplicate numbers, coincidentally in both cases relating to runners with the same name. Two Newquay finishers still not listed as finishing. DA still has concerns regarding the course and volume of traffic, and the parking in and around the start and finish area. Possibility of using “no parking “ cones from the Police next year.

Turkey Trot. (220 entries 2007, 243-2006) AB reported good turn despite atrocious conditions. Race went ok. GD said it was a good race, LD said the prizes were excellent.

GRAND PRIX Presentation. DA was aware that one or two runners thought the presentation took too long. Discussion as to possible ways of speeding things up, but in the end, it was generally agreed that it was a poor show if prize winners couldn’t spare a bit of time once a year to receive their due rewards and recognition. GD thought it was the Mob Match presentation that took far too long and nobody understood what was going on.

Wimborne 10. (2007 S.W.Inter-Counties Challenge). Despite all clubs agreeing to support the event, only three clubs, Carn, Tamar & Newquay responded to requests for nominations. A written request to John Knowles (County Treasurer), (which he had requested via GD), for financial aid from the County (which was given in 2006) was totally ignored. A further request to Sonya Ellis via Paul Ross as to possible financial assistance from SW Region was also ignored. With AR & PS both on holiday leading up to the event, DA was left to chase up nominations. Thanks to Peter Hillman (Carn) transport and B&B was arranged and the County had both a mens and ladies team on duty, and therefore honouring their agreement to support the event. Agreed that in future, if clubs say they are going to support such events, then they must come forward with names/nominations as evidence of that support. Arrangements are in hand for out of pocket expenses to be reimbursed to all concerned.

Treasurers Report. None available due to JS annual holiday. DA advised he had received the annual sponsorship cheque for £1000 from Sandy Hill, and he would send a letter of thanks to Jed Gilchrist.

GP Matters. Following recent examples of club members failing to wear a club vest in a GP race, the following rule has been implemented (Proposed by BP, seconded by PB.)

“G.P. club runners must wear their club vests in GP events. Failure to do so will result in their disqualification from the GP results for that race and therefore zero points. (In accordance with UKA rules they will also be disqualified from all team results.)

With reference to the new rule agreed at the AGM.ie. A runners age on the 1^st Jan each year will determine that runners age category in the GP series for the duration of the year. Awards in age categories at races will be determined by the runners age on the day (as normal). In addition to the usual set of race results, a further set dated Jan 1^st will be required for the purpose of collating the award of GP points. (This eliminates the problems that arise when a runner changes his age category when the series has started.)

Short course GP series. This idea was put forward by D.Angilly as a possible way of encouraging more younger runners to compete in road races. After much discussion, it was proposed by D.Angilly and seconded by DH that an experimental four race series comprising the Cubert 5, Sticker 5, Summer Turkey Trot and Newquay 10k would take place in 2008 for runners, both male and female, aged 15-19 on Jan 1^st. Runners will be required to complete a minimum 3 of the 4 races. Awards to be made to the 1^st three in this age group at all of the above events. Runners in this age group will also be eligible for inclusion in the overall team competition. PS to action addition to current rules.

St Austell Running Club. As advised earlier, St ARC are in the process of affiliating to both EA and CAAA. DH advised that information given at the recent SW area meeting indicated that after April 1^st 2008, it might no longer be necessary for clubs to affiliate to their County AAA.

BP advised that it will be necessary for Race Organisers to request details of a runners Racing Licence Number. At the moment though, most runners were still awaiting this information from EA.

Social Event. & GP presentation. Limited response had been received from clubs. Because the vast majority was happy with the present arrangements, therefore they will continue as now with the GP presentation taking place after the Mob Match.

AOB.

PS, AR &DA to select County teams for next years Cornwall v Devon Peninsular Challenge at the HOE 10Mile.

DH reported that a road running/endurance official’s course would be held in Jan and Feb 2008. DA to advise all clubs of exact details. (All clubs are reminded that as from Jan 1^st 2008 all races must have licenced officials on duty.)

DH reported that there is a race limit of 3500 at 2008 Plymouth Half, with 2000 places already filled.

RH reported that every County representative at the recent SW meeting was in fact the Counties Permit Secretary.

AR reported that UKA are currently considering changes to several rules relating to road running which may become effective from April 1^st 2008.

PB questioned the legality of the disclaimers on race entry forms where a runners entry had been forwarded in bulk or electronically by their club entries secretary to the Race Organiser and therefore not signed by the individual runner. PS to draft a new GP Competitors rule to cover this point.

CH queried the possibility of setting up a Countywide cross country series during the winter, similar to the Todays Runner Series in the 90,s. to encourage more road runners onto the country. Suggested that Falmouth could organise one race as a trial. Although the very crowded race diary would make this extremely difficult, all representatives to go back to their clubs to discuss and report back.

There being no other business to discuss, the meeting closed at 9-50pm.

DATE OF NEXT MEETING MONDAY FEB 18^TH 7-15PM.