Avon Valley Runners Annual General Meeting Tuesday 7 January 2020 Minutes and Records of Decisions 2019 committee members in attendance:; Warren Wade (Chairman); Jay Sims (Hon. Secretary); Vicky Bodman (Ast Hon. Secretary); Simon Reeves (Hon. Treasurer); Alan Button (Road Race Secretary); Anthony Hickson (Off-road Race Secretary); Holly Newman (Juniors Secretary); Sarah Barker (Newsletter Secretary); Denise Ellis (Committee Member); Carole Alston (Committee Member);David Hyde (Volunteer Coordinator); Elizabeth Morris (Multi Sport Secretary). Apologies: Dot Reeves (Assistant Treasurer); Louise Fearon (Membership Secretary); Jo Farion (Minutes Secretary) Chairman’s Welcome WW welcomed everyone and thanked the club for a good turnout. Previous AGM minutes These were agreed as an accurate record. Secretaries’ reports Membership: We had 515 members at the close of the year. 50% (260) of our members were affiliated to England Athletics. 115 of the members were brand new members with 26 lapsed members from before 2018 re-joining, the rest of the members were renewals. Juniors account for around 11% of the membership at 57 members. Road: 1
Transcript
Avon Valley Runners
Annual General Meeting
Tuesday 7 January 2020
Minutes and Records of Decisions
2019 committee members in attendance:; Warren Wade (Chairman); Jay Sims (Hon. Secretary); Vicky Bodman (Ast Hon. Secretary); Simon Reeves (Hon. Treasurer); Alan Button (Road Race Secretary); Anthony Hickson (Off-road Race Secretary); Holly Newman (Juniors Secretary); Sarah Barker (Newsletter Secretary); Denise Ellis (Committee Member); Carole Alston (Committee Member);David Hyde (Volunteer Coordinator); Elizabeth Morris (Multi Sport Secretary).
Apologies: Dot Reeves (Assistant Treasurer); Louise Fearon (Membership Secretary); Jo Farion (Minutes Secretary)Chairman’s Welcome
WW welcomed everyone and thanked the club for a good turnout.
Previous AGM minutes
These were agreed as an accurate record.
Secretaries’ reports
Membership:
We had 515 members at the close of the year.
50% (260) of our members were affiliated to England Athletics.
115 of the members were brand new members with 26 lapsed members from before 2018 re-joining, the rest of the members were renewals.
Juniors account for around 11% of the membership at 57 members.
Road:
AVR retained the Wiltshire Road Race League title with a total of 174 points, winning the majority, but not all of the 11 fixtures, narrowly edging out Calne by two points. (172) Our B team finished in 6th place with 119 points. It was fantastic that AVR won the league, but with some of our local rivals (Calne and Devizes particularly) providing some good competition. The extra fixture was the Bath Two Tunnels 10k Relay Race, and had it not been for AVR fielding 4 teams in this fixture, we would not have retained our overall WRRL title in 2019. Individually there were 71 men and 69 ladies who ran in at least one WRRL fixture in 2019 totalling 140, this was down from 163 in 2018 and 189 in 2017. Largest attendance from AVR was 61 people at the Corsham 10k.
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INDIVIDUAL SUCCESSES WRRL: Gemma Knudsen was crowned female champion overall and winning the ladies senior category. Jen Marlow finished 2nd female overall and 2nd in the senior female category. Dan Miles finished 3rd overall and was 1st senior male. Chris Suter won the MV50 age category.
CLUB RECORDS Fiona Price, having already set a club record in the FV50 category for a 10k with a time of 41.38 at Bath Two Tunnels, clearly wasn't satisfied with this as then set another new club record two months later with a new club record time of 40.50 at Cardiff 10k!Max Davis set a new 5 Mile club record at Compton Bassett with a time of 25.09! Ed Knudsen again clearly not content with a new 10k club record of 31.18 that he achieved in Belfast, as he also went on to smash the record again at Budapest with a new club record time of 30.46!Damien Spreckley set a new 5k MV40 record at the Lakeside Series with a new club record time of 16.36! Richard Harding broke the long standing club record for Marathon in the MV40 category, that had been set way back in 1986, with a new club record time of 2.47.51!
Off-Road:
Wiltshire Off Road LeagueThe Wiltshire Off-Road League runs from September to February the following year.Last year (2018/2019) our 'A' team won the Championship with 99 points, 2 points ahead of Chippenham.Our 'B' team finished 5th with the same number of points as Chippenham 'B', but with less points (3639/3277).Current WORRL results (2019/2020) after Plain Crazy are 'A' team in 2nd place with 76 points, just 3 points behind Chippenham who have 79 points. Our 'B' are currently sitting in 6th position.The 'A' and 'B' teams consist of the first five finishers ('A' team) and the next five finishers for the 'B' team. So to have complete teams we need at least ten runners of each gender.Obviously the 'B' team consists of slower runners than the 'A' team, and to have a successful 'B' team all we need is YOURSELVES! Not all clubs are able to field full 'B' teams, so all we need to do is to take part, whether we are fast or slow.
Running is why we join the club and we run for pleasure, so even if you expect to finish near the back of the field, please come and run these Championship events with us and most importantly HAVE FUN.Selection for Wiltshire – Congratulations are due to: Veryan, Bethan and Gemma.Details of these leagues should be found at http://wiltshire-athletics.org.uk however this website does not, at present, show up-to-date results for this league.
AVR Off Road ChampionshipsFor the AVR Championships which run from January to December, but use, where possible the same events as the WAA (WORL), this year these were: 5x5 in April, Lungbuster, Brinkworth Bash (which unfortunately, once again, clashed with the Devizes 10k), the Marshfield Mudlark, Roundway Revenge and Plain Crazy.
After all the events, the top 3 men:1 Simon Taylor 2 Paul Hosking 3 Frank LamertonOnly the best five races are included, so missing one event does not spoil your chances.
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For the Ladies,1 Jen Marlow 2 Adele Cooper 3 Gemma KnudsenSomething to think about - Next year should we do the Wiltshire League, the Somerset League or 20 races selected by ourselves which include all the WORL races and all the Gwent League races, the best 8 events (only) to count?
JAVR:
Rich Ayling, Ian Isaacs, Holly Newman, Chris Brown, Hayley Bolter, Clare Wood, Veryan Cranston, Lil Morris, Sian Lythell and Sara Robert have all been part of the working group for JAVR in 2019.
Chris Brown and Clare Wood have stepped down from the Committee. However, Clare Wood is willing to continue to support JAVR with admin tasks. Rich Ayling has also stepped down from the Committee and has handed over the role of overseeing the juniors to Holly Newman.
The delivery and planning of JAVR sessions is not just limited to these individuals. There have been many others who have supported JAVR such as Fabrice Gagneaux, Dave Bagshaw, Jay Sims, Pete Veleski, Sean Price, Fiona Price, Jo Farion, Beth Francis and Jen Marlow. Steve Williams has also played a key role in helping to develop and push the older members of JAVR. We have confidence that in the future this will allow a smooth transition to AVR for these members.
Going forward JAVR is going to much more closely linked with AVR. JAVR can no longer survive as a separate branch on its own. The club will help to promote JAVR thus encouraging more members into the club, help ensure JAVR sessions are effectively delivered by promoting the volunteer workforce and will support JAVR financially if and when JAVR needs it.
The amount of runners attending Wednesday evening sessions at Bath University have fluctuated throughout the year thus at times making it difficult to cover track fee costs. As a result we have increased session fees from £2 to £3 – including when JAVR sessions are at TRFC. This was agreed to and approved by JAVR parents/guardians and the AVR Committee. Various members have asked why we don’t deliver on Wednesday night sessions on the TRFC track. We deliver Wednesday night sessions at Bath University track because if attendance numbers are high it is easier to deliver a session on a 8 lane track opposed to TRFC’s more narrower track. As well as this it is easier to safeguard a large group of juniors at Bath as opposed to TRFC track – JAVR members have to walk to and from the track across the car park and in case an incident occurs at Bath track liability is with University of Bath.
Steve Williams has started to coach some selected older JAVR members at Thursday speed sessions thus these runners have stopped attending Wednesday sessions. This reinforces the need to attract more junior runners into the club in order to fill the gap of runners who used to attend on a Wednesday evening. Monday session attendance numbers have stayed fairly level throughout the year and athletes have been pushed more than Wednesday sessions so they are ready for racing and competition.
The running of JAVR 2km has come to an end. Numbers started to dwindle early in the year and although the working group tried to promote the event for 7 months to re-engage interest sadly numbers were still low. Runners will be signposted to Melksham Junior Parkrun and JAVR will liaise with Melksham Junior Parkrun to see if the event would be willing to promote JAVR.
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JAVR continues to try and provide a varied offering with juniors participating recreationally, in multi-sport/track events and many juniors have competed for Wiltshire and Avon in Schools/Club competitions. The JAVR working group continue to stress the importance of having volunteers in order to deliver safe and engaging sessions. Although the number of volunteers JAVR has is not in a critical state as it has been in the past JAVR and AVR need to work closely together to ensure we succession plan for those volunteers currently in place, continue to recruit new volunteers to share the commitments JAVR brings and to protect the current volunteers we have in place so they don’t become overworked.
Multisport:
Back in 2018 Diane Hier made a move over to Zoot Athlos Triathlon club but, as we always recognise our AVR/AVT members’ great achievements, Diane has again excelled in 2019 taking second place in her category at the Ironman 70.3 in Staffordshire in June. Diane also raced at the 70.3 championships in Nice in September finishing 23rd in her age group and third Brit! Following the success of the AVT Try-a-Tri Aquathlon in 2018 a poll was ran for this years’ format with the clear winner being a Duathlon. Unfortunately, due to a lack of volunteers and entrants, this event had to be cancelled. Next year AVT have been offered the opportunity for multisport first-timers to take part in a super sprint triathlon, which will be ran by the Hot Chilli Triathlon club. More details to follow in the New Year however this is a great opportunity for newcomers to in a friendly and supportive environment. Individual multisport successes:Linda Unsworth and Anne Clark both took part in multisport events for the first time in 2019 with Anne claiming first category positions in 3 of the Castle Combe 10 mile TT’s, the super-sprint Cotswold Triathlon and also the End of Season Triathlon at Lake 32
Anna-Marie Watson was First Lady at both Calne Aquathlon events in March Richard Ayling claimed first place at the Oldbury Aquathlon, the Clevedon Aquathlon,
Long-distance Aquathlon at the Triathlon Training Centre, Cardiff Aquathlon and also the Calne Aquathlon in April
Rosemary Barber won the VF70 award at the Midsomer Norton Triathlon in September
Steve Clark claimed his first ever age group (60-64) win at the Dorney Lake Sprint Distance Triathlon in May
Sara Robert won the V50 category at the Castle Combe Duathlon in July Tim Lowrie is a European Qualifier for GB age group in Duathlon following a fantastic
finish at the Bedford Autodrome Standard Duathlon in October In 2019 we targeted key local events with a large turnout for the Calne Aquathlon series, the Castle Combe TT’s as well as the Westonbirt and Big T Triathlons. We will continue with this format again in 2020 with a list of key events being available after the presentation night.
AVT members have expressed an interest in training sessions and workshops for 2020, feedback has been gathered from the Facebook group for the working group to put together a plan for the New Year. A range of kit is now available through Halo, the tri suits have proven to be very popular with cycling kit also available.
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Volunteers:
2019 has been yet another fantastic year for Volunteering! This year there has been a staggering 478 volunteering positions covering all club events including JAVR I must admit that I have had some disappointment that the volunteering ratio still sits under 50% of the club membership numbers and I am always trying to think of new ways to encourage people to support their club. So if there is anyone who has any concerns or worries preventing them from volunteering or there is another reason why you have not yet volunteered then please please come and talk to the team and me in 2020. We released a reward scheme this year where anyone volunteering at an event up to a 10K event earns 1 point, up to a half marathon 2 points and from a half and above 3 points.Once that person reaches 10 points that they will earn a one off AVR Volunteer Hero reward T-shirt - something to wear with great pride. This year 12 people have very deservedly earned their T-shirt and the names of these will be announced at the presentation night. These amazing T-Shirts are like gold dust; believe me you will all want one in 2020/2021. The main thing at end of the day is that every single event has happened and we have had some fantastic praise from our own club members and from members of other clubs so we really need to be proud of this. The AVR Run Directors love me but my club mates often tell me that they wouldn’t want my job and I know it must get frustrating when all I do is keep on asking for your help, but I promise I am only doing this because I am so passionate about AVR and in the hope that together we can carry on delivering excellent events AVR produces year on year.
You may have seen my many requests for more help within the volunteering team and in January we will be finally able to extend our working group to 4 or 5 people and really try to spread the load a little, I feel that by pooling more people’s thoughts and ideas we can increase our ability to recruit more volunteers in 2020. Thank you to Carole Alston for her assistance this year and also to Claire Langdon who also has helped in 2019 but stood down from the team in July.
AVR successes of 2019
• AVR Westbury 5K series in the 2020 WRRL (Ian Isaac plus working group) • AVR Half Marathon (Warren Wade plus working group)• Imber Ultra (Richard Hudson, Westbury Rotary plus working group)• 5x5 event (Anthony Hickson & working group) series• Over the Hills (Jay Sims plus working group)• Avon Valley Relay (Holly and Richard Newman plus others)• Beginners, improvers & 5-10K group.• Valley News (Sarah Barker)• Social Working group events • GoalcGetters Scheme (Sean Price plus group)• Coached sessions now including Wednesdays
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AVR Goalgetters
2019 Of the 27 members that attempted all three of the distances in the Goal Getters 2019: 22 of them achieved a GG medal (21 Gold and 1 Silver).
Goal Getters 2020 For next year, after feedback received from the Goal Getters, we would like the project to split into two sections: -Non time based challenge described as Compleaters, known as “AVR Goal Getters Challenge”.Championship, time based described as Competers, known as “AVR Goal Getters Championship”. AVR Goal Getters Challenge The challenge is to complete a certain amount of challenges at least half should be from the Non-Run based category and half from Run based category. All challenges count once (except those marked #). Awards as follows: -10 challenges = Bronze15 challenges = Silver20 challenges = Gold
Non-Run based Challenges (# first three challenges can be performed twice): -Volunteer for AVR open event #Volunteer for AVR closed event #Volunteer for JAVR event #Attend an AVR social eventJoin an AVR working groupPost on the AVR members only groupContribute to the AVR Valley NewsVolunteer for Southwick parkrunVolunteer for Melksham parkrunVolunteer at King George V Junior parkrun
Run based Challenges: -Run a off road league raceRun a road race leagueRun your home parkrunRun an AVR closed eventRun a tourist parkrunRun a half marathonRun a 5 mile eventRun a 10 mile eventLead an AVR club runRun an event outside Wilts/SomersetTake part in multi-sport event for AVTRun at an AVR coached sessionPace at parkrun Enter Club ChampionshipRun a Gwent XC League race
The aim is to encourage more engagement with the AVR and the local running community.
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AVR Goal Getters ChampionshipThe goal is to compete against yourself and beat your 2019 5k, 10k and/or half marathon road race times in 2020 to achieve a bronze, silver or gold award. Awards are as follows:Improvement in any 1 distance = BronzeImprovement in any 2 distances = SilverImprovement in all three distances = Gold Everyone who wishes to participate in the Championship must submit their 2019 best times for 5k, 10k and/or HM. Parkrun times will NOT be accepted for 5k times. Pseudo times maybe used where distances were not raced.
Goal Getters 2020 (Timescale)From 1st Jan 2020 to 31st Dec 2020. All stats must be submitted by New Year’s Eve latest. January is for recruiting Mentors and February for recruiting Goal Getters, but you can start on the challenges/races from 1st Jan. Mentors assigned first week of March.
New Club Records
Conclusion
This year we have started the steps to collecting information from the club members with a Club Development Survey, the response to this has been brilliant so far and this information will help to guide us as we move forward.In 2019 AVR made a commitment to increasing the coaching team and we now have 7 qualified CIRFs with two more who will complete their final assessment day in 2020. We still have work to do but believe we have put the foundations in place and continue to invest in our LIRF’s, CIRF’s and volunteering team moving forward.
The working groups have gone from strength the strength and the AVR events have in the majority been well received with the volunteers receiving high praise from other club runners. The Social events have also been popular and we have raised money for many charities including Alzheimer’s support, Wiltshire mind and Hope for tomorrow to name a few. Next year will see the club focus on several areas including:
Club Development Plan JAVR gaining greater support from the main committee Volunteers reward scheme being progressed CIRF’s and LIRF’s bring developed further Current Working groups:
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Social JAVR AVT AVR Half Over the Hills AVR Westbury 5K Volunteers 5x5x5 Goal Getters
The full table of accounts is included at Annex A.
Budgets were set for different areas and most spent less than budgeted except coaching and the presentation evening.
Proposed Conditional Amendments
1, Amendment to 8. Eligibility Amending of the wording “any member who has won a club ballot in the previous year will be excluded from the ballot for the same event”. - ACCEPTED
2, Amendment to 4. Management Committee will meet after club training on the first Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday of each month, the addition of “unless in extenuating circumstances when it will be arranged no later than the second week of that month”. ACCEPTED
Non-Constitutional Amendments
None
Membership fees
The committee proposed to keep the membership fees for 20/21 the same as agreed since 19/20.
Junior/Student - £12.50Adult - £25
EA membership will remain optional for those people who require or wish to sign up for it.
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Life memberships
Rich Ayling
Presidential Roles
As it is an Olympic year, the presidential roles were reviewed.
Current roles are: President Ted Rockliffe Vice President Andrew Hoddinott Vice President Bob Washbourne Vice President Denise Ellis Vice President Darren Wrintmore
Following the election process the roles are now fulfilled by:
President Denise Ellis Vice President Andrew Hoddinott Vice President Bob Washbourne Vice President Ted Rockliffe Vice President Darren Wrintmore
WW stated that the committee and the whole club thank them for their contribution. Their continued support in other roles within the club will continue and is much appreciated.
Election of Committee
WW welcomed Denise Ellis to introduce the 2020 committee who areName Role
Warren Wade Chairman
Vicky Bodman (New) Honorary Secretary
Simon Reeves Honorary Treasurer
Vicky Ody (New to role) Assistant Treasurer
Holly Newman JAVR Secretary
Alan Button Road Race Secretary
Anthony Hickson Off Road Race Secretary
Jo Farion Off Road Race Assistant
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Louise Fearon Membership Secretary (Admin)
Elizabeth Morris Multi Sport Secretary
Jay Sims (New Role) Safeguarding Lead
Carole Alston Committee Member
Sarah Barker Newsletter
David Hyde Volunteer Coordinator
Presentation Night
WW outlined the arrangements for the Presentation Night on 1 Feb. Tickets are currently on sale until 25 February via Entry Central.
Close
WW thanked everyone for attending. AGM closed: 21:26
