NORTHBROOK ATHLETIC CLUB ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
held on 28th January 2015, 8.30pm at Jaguar Sports and Social Club, Browns Lane, Coventry
- Present: 50+ members.
- Apologies – Tracy Morgan.
- Minutes of Last Year's Meeting – Last year’s minutes accepted (Proposed: Kevin Coughlan, Seconded: Tony Murphy).
- Matters Arising from Last Year's Minutues – The new Cross Country awards are for the 2014/15 season, so will be presented at the next Awards Night (2016).
- Chairman’s Report – Bob Adams – “As ever, it’s been another eventful year for Northbrook A.C. There has been renewed interest in the cross-country season, with more ladies running. The ladies were rewarded with a 3rd place in the Midland 5 Cross Country, and 4th place in the Warks Cross Country Championships. Amanda Deavy has again been selected to represent Warks in the Inter-Counties Cross Country Championships. The men are in a battle to gain promotion from division 3 of the Birmingham Cross Country League, and are currently in 4th place. there was an exciting conclusion to the season last February, when with the benefit of home advantage at Coundon Park, Northbrook finished second on the day, to secure promotion to division 2 in the Birmingham Cross Country League. Great credit goes to John Wilson and Amanda Deavy for this success. Northbrook teams also performed well in the Warks Road Race League. I would urge the ladies to enter a team in the Cotswold Hilly 100 this year. It’s been encouraging to see the number of runners in the Summer Handicap. Great credit goes to Richard French, the handicapper, and all the timekeepers. The hard work that everyone is putting into the Wednesday evening sessions is producing some great results. The decision to filter the groups before running, is working well. Also, the Sunday and Monday sessions are very popular. Last July the club again hosted the 10Km race, which continues to be a fantastic event. There was a record entry, and great support from our sponsors. £3000 was raised for charities, including £2000 for ‘Zoes place’. Once again, many thanks to the 10Km sub-committee for all their efforts. John Wilson has done an excellent job training the Myton Hospice runners for this year’s Coventry Half Marathon. This has helped Northbrook to be recognised as the Club of the Year for the Coventry Half Marathon. This will give us great publicity to attract new members. It’s been another great year on the social front, with Corinna O’Connor organising the Awards Night, and many other events. Finally, I’d like to comment on the fact that we are continuing to attract new members, and great credit for this must go to our Membership Secretary, Mark Dalton. You only have to miss a couple of Wednesdays, and there are suddenly half a dozen people there who you don’t know. Roger Ladbury also continues to do an excellent job updating the club website. I would like to ask members to volunteer for the new roles that help the club to grow in future. Tonight is your opportunity to have your say about the operation of your club, so please feel free to contribute to the discussion. I look forward to an orderly and constructive meeting ”.
- Treasurers Report – Tony Mackness presented his
report. The committee recommended that subscription fees increase
to match the England Athletics fee increases. Accepted (For 35,
Against 1) – Fees
are now due.
Existing Member Renewals:
Full rate: £27, Concessions: £19, Second Claim: £19.
New and Rejoining Members:
Full rate: £40, Concessions: £28, Second Claim: £28 (all include vest).
- Proposals Received –
- Proposal – Runner of the Month Prize
That the Runner of the Month prize be changed from a bottle of wine to a £5 gift voucher. Caveat: the existing stock of bottles of wine prizes to continue to be presented until finished, then the voucher to be introducedProposed by: John Wilson, Seconded by: Amanda Deavy.
Proposal accepted. (For 37, Against 1)
Proposed by: Tom Miller, Seconded by: Amanda Deavy.
Amendment - That there be a men's and a ladies' prize. Coventry Runner to be be approached to supply vouchers.
Amendment accepted. (For 38, Against 2) - Proposal –
Parkruns in Club Road Race Championships
That Parkruns are no longer included in the ‘5k category’ of the Northbrook Road Race Champs.
UK Athletics and Run Britain no longer classify Par runs as 5k runs but just Parkruns. It has been recognised that Parkruns in the main are not measured to UKA standards and the increase in participation has had the possible knock on effect of reducing participation in organised 5k races. The Brat 5k had fewerr than 200 participants (8 Northbrook) even though the event is in the Warwickshire Road Race League. It is proposed that they are removed from the 5k category and a new category of ‘Parkrun' is included in the Champs. It has been mentioned that the longer distance runners can run in a 20 mile and a 10 mile race which has low participation rates and gain points and it is felt that this will level the playing field.
Note - "753 5k results were recorded, only 9 results were non Parkrun from just two 5k races (BRAT 5k, Autumn Shakespeare 5k). That is just 1.2%."
Proposed by: Damian Pharoah, Seconded by: Paul Robbins.
Proposal defeated. (For 1, Against 22)
Amendment 1 - That Parkruns be removed from the Road Race Championships.Proposed by: Pete Fellows, Seconded by: Amanda Deavy.
Amendment 1 accepted. (For 35, Against 6)
Amendment 2 - That the Road Race Champs without Parkruns start on 1 January 2016.Proposed by: Tony Hughes, Seconded by: John Wilson.
Amendment 2 accepted. (For 33, Against 5) - Proposal – Best Parkrunner Prize
That an award for best Parkrunner be given that is voted for by club members.
This should not be based on times or number of races ran but a club vote for those that enter into the spirit of Parkrun with a combination of all - running, volunteering, supporting and helping others to enter the world of running.
When you look at the other clubs in Coventry we fall far behind them in number of Parkruns ran and this is a great way to increase participation by members, and introduces others to the club. As of Saturday 10 January 2015, Sphinx had 161 Runners running a total of 4776 Runs, Massey’s 118 Runners 4969 Runs, where as we fall behind by around 2000 runs with 111 Runners and 2950 Runs. Parkrun is now a major facilitator for progression of new runners into the club system and Northbrook has to be visible as much as the other clubs and it is believed this proposal will further this.Proposed by: Damian Pharoah, Seconded by: Paul Robbins
Proposal defeated, (For 2, Against 29)
- Proposal – Runner of the Month Prize
- Election of Officers -
- President - Bob Awcock
- Chairperson - Bob Adams
- Secretary - Mark Baker
- Treasurer - Tony Mackness
- Mens Captain - John Wilson
- Ladies Captain - Amanda Deavy
- Membership Secretary - Mark Dalton
- Social Secretary - Corinna O'Connor
Non committee
- Summer Handicap - Richard French
- Website - Roger Ladbury
- Kit Person - Tracy Morgan
- 10km race - Tony French, Tony Mackness, Kevin Coughlan, John Ralph, Sean Flanaghan, Bernard Blundell
- Press Officers - Tom Miller/Sarah Booker
- Club Coach - John Wilson
- Endurance Coach - Clive Horton
- Men's Team Manager (Road) - Tom Miller
- Men's Team Manager (Cross-Country) - Tom Miller
- Road Race Champs Administrator - Kevin Coughlan
- Auditor - Tom Miller
- Welfare Officer - vacant
- Ladies' Team Manager (Road) - vacant
- Ladies' Team Manager (Cross-Country) - vacant
- Awards for 2014
- Mens Road Race (overall) - Stuart Lumsden
- Ladies Road Race (overall) - Amanda Deavy
- Senior Mens Road Race - Martin Winch
- Senior Ladies Road Race - Sarah Booker
- O/40 Mens Road Race - John Wilson
- O/35 Ladies Road Race - Lyn McDonald/Jill Pittard
- O/50 Mens Road Race - Peter Fellows
- O/45 Ladies Road Race - Sarah McNaney
- Veteran of the Year - Pete Fellows
- Mens Summer Handicap - Adrain Powell
- Ladies Summer Handicap - Tara Lambert
- Paul Kelly Trophy - Spencer Davies
- Clubperson of the Year - John Wilson
- Most Improved Runner - Helen Hodge
- Any other business:
- Race Results – Please can members forward any race results and reports to the website (results@northbrookac.org.uk).
- Marketing Idea for 10K – from Simon Davies Silverstone Joggers (my previous club) are taking over a Parkrun in Daventry in February in order the promote their 10k. They will fill all marshal positions and provide a tail runner. In return they will be allowed to hand leaflets out on the day and promote their 10k. Maybe Northbrook could also consider this for Leamington and Coventry Parkruns to promote the Northbrook 10Km.
- Meeting closed at 10.15pm