EASTERN REGION

SKI ASSOCIATION

 

MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

EASTERN REGION SKI ASSOCIATION

HELD AT WELWYN GARDEN SKI CENTRE

ON SUNDAY, 2 SEPTEMBER 2001

 

CLICK LOGO TO GO TO ERSA

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Jeremy Ayling (JA)

ERSA Chairman - VIK

Paul Fraylich

HEM Race Trainer

Hilary Whipp

ERSA Treasurer - BAS

Cheryl Eyre

WGC - Race Manager

Ros Humphrey

ERSA Secretary – HEM/SC

Pat Atkinson

HEM

Piet van Kempen

ERSA Race Manager - BAS

Sheila  & Kevin Driscoll

HEM - Race Manager

Phil Brown

ERSA Race Trainer – WGC/SC

Steven Davey

HEM

Laurence Pinkney

WGC - Race Manager

Euan Lucie-Smith

BEC

John Williams

NOR - Race Manager

Trisha Dulcamara

WGC

Colin Crisp

NOR

Graham Shorrock

VIK

Steve Taylor

BAS – Race Manager

Dermot Flahive

HEM

Thomas Paxton

HEM

Steve Lambert

ERSA Race Manager - HEM

 

There were more people in attendance; however, they did not sign the attendance list.

 

Apologies received: Alan Humphrey – ERSA Vice Chairman – HEM/SC, 

Stuart Gregory – VIK Chairman

                                    Carl Reeder – ERSA Race Manager - VIK    

 

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT

The minutes of the last AGM were approved and signed (Click to see last years minutes).

 

JA thanked all the people attending the AGM and reported that the ERSA Committee had met 4 times in the past 12 months; the Race Managers of the various Clubs met at every Summer League Race as well as at the annual pre-season meeting to discuss any relevant items. The Region organised 2 one-day race officials’ courses (at Norfolk and Hemel) as well as 1 Course Setters Course at Welwyn Garden City.

The 1st ERSA Dual Slalom Event was staged at Hemel on 8 July 2001 and any feedback concerning the format of this ‘new event’ is invited from all the Clubs.

ERSA hosted one Grand Prix event at Hemel and Hemel Ski Racing Club run a Club National Race.

Next week, 8th + 9th September 2001, The All England Championships is being held at Norfolk Ski Centre. A big Thank You must go to Norfolk Ski Club Members for all their help to stage this prestigious event.

 

Only one ERSA Team went to the Regional Team Event at Sunderland. Hopefully, we can send the usual 3 teams next year.

 

ERSA invested in a new Timing Device, which is one of the most updated in this country. The Racing Panel is planning to hold at least 2 separate training sessions for all interested in getting to know this most modern equipment. The old ERSA timing is now for sale for a very competitive price and hopefully, it can be of use to one the clubs in our Region. Welwyn have expressed an interest to buy.

 

Phil Brown was verbally co-opted onto the ESC Board – but is still waiting for an official invitation to the next Board Meeting.

 

This summer, ERSA organised and sponsored a combined Snow Race Training Camp in Austria for the young/inexperienced racers in the Eastern Region. 30 athletes with 8 trainers from 5 Clubs in our Region took part. Several parents came along. It was a successful racing camp and a similar camp is now planned for the last week in July and/or first week in August 2002 – for all abilities (new) and again all Clubs are invited to take part.

 

ERSA has now got it’s own website : http://erskia.co.uk

JA thanked Thomas Paxton and his company XENTS (xneys.co.uk) for providing ERSA with this web-space. At the same time, we should also thank Steven Lambert to keep the website up to date. Any suggestions to info@erskia.co.uk

 

The Chairman closed his report with stating ERSA’s aim to continue to get as many of our athletes invited to the various Squads and Teams at English as well as British Level and he pointed out that Race Officials from our Region now work at various events in this country and abroad.

 

RACE MANAGER’S REPORT (click)

A written report by Piet van Kempen, Race Manager, is attached. PvK pointed out that racers/parents/trainers should contact him or Steven Lambert with any suggestion on how to improve racing in our Region. New ideas are always welcome.

 

REGIONAL RACE TRAINER

Phil Brown, the Regional Race Trainer, is standing down and a replacement has to be found. Various suggestions have been put to the Chairman. All Clubs are asked to think about the role of the Regional Squad and a method of combined training sessions/fitness sessions etc.

 

COACHING REPORT (click)

A written report by Ros Humphrey, Chairman of the Coaching Panel, is attached.

 

ACCOUNTS AND TREASURER’S REPORT

Prepared accounts were circulated to all the Clubs by the Chairman prior to the AGM. All people present accepted the accounts.

 

ELECTION OF THE OFFICERS for the year 2000/2001

The following people were elected onto the ERSA Committee:

CHAIRMAN

Jeremy Ayling

Vikings

VICE CHAIRMAN

Alan Humphrey

Hemel/Snow Club

TREASURER

Hilary Whipp

Bassingbourn

SECRETARY

Ros Humphrey

Hemel/Snow Club

RACE TRAINER

Vacant

 

RACE MANAGER

Piet van Kempen

Bassingbourn

COACHING PANEL

Ros Humphrey

Hemel/Snow Club

 

AOB

a)

Request for representation to ESC over ski length rules.

 

 

FIS Precision of July 2001 state that CH 1 + CH 2 skis must be at least 130 cm long. Female Junior and Senior Racers must use skis of at least 150 cm in length; Male Juniors and Seniors must use skis of at least 155 cm in length. ESC must follow these guidelines.

 

If a Club/Parent wants to protest against this ruling it must be done in writing addressed to Ian Roberts, chairman of the ESC’s Seeding and Technical Panel. Please send all your comments to RH, ERSA secretary (e-mail: ros.humphrey@ntlworld.com) and she will make sure that all messages will be send on. ESC Technical Delegates Forum meets after the British TD-Forum in early December 2001.

ALL/
RH

b)

U19 (racer) to be representative on ERSA committee.

 

 

The Chairman was approached to include a racer’s representative on the Committee. Therefore Clubs are asked to find a racer (age group J1 or J2 – born 1982 – 1986) to represent all ERSA racers on the ERSA Committee, i.e. come to one of the ERSA committee meetings.

ALL

c)

Request for definition of course inspection rules
 

 

Again, this will be discussed by the ESC’s Technical Delegates Forum in December. However, if a Club/Parent wants to have a specific case brought to the attention of the TD Forum, please submit you request in writing to RH (e-mail: ros.humphrey@ntlworld.com) and she will make sure the all messages will be send on.

ALL./
RH

d)

ESC report on closure of Harlow – ERSA comments to Harlow T.C.

 

 

JA has spoken to some of the people involved and an ERSA committee meeting will be called in the nearest future to work on a response to Harlow Town Council in support of the ESC report.

JA

e)

Why are ERSA’s workshop so expensive this year and could ERSA subsidise the various workshops, especially the 2 days Race Officials Course with more money?

 

 

The reason for the raise in participation fee comes from the fact that this year, all the Ski Centres involved asked for a per person fee which takes up 2/3 of the asked course fee. ERSA does subsidise each course with a fair amount of money as Coaches Fees, Coaches Expenses, Photocopying, Administration, etc. has to be paid. However, the committee will see if more money can be made available to that a greater participation can be achieved. Clubs will be kept informed.

 

f)

Trophies

 

 

JA thanked Penny Hedley Lewis who for years was in charge of ERSA’s trophies and made sure, they were re-called in time to be presented the following year. Penny has now retired from this job and a new Trophy-Keeper has to be found. JA asked all the Clubs to help in this matter and to put forward a name.

Also, Trophy winners are asked to look after those Cups/Shields etc. Some of them are quite old and they represent ERSA’s history over the years. Some of the returned trophies this year have been mishandled and also are not engraved.

ALL

 

The meeting closed and the Summer League Race continued.

 

 

Race Panel Report

 

 

We have now reached the 5th race of the season with one more race to follow. 

 

Races have been well attended over the season with an average attendance of 135 racers per race.

 

We are now in possession of the new Alge timing equipment and learning as we go. 

It was put to good use in dual slalom day at Hemel when some time differences were 100th of a second apart.

 

The dual slalom day was a success and enjoyed by those who attended.  Thanks to Carol Hunt, Barend ter Haar and Daphne Van Kempen for sorting all the paperwork out on the day.

 

We sent a team to Sunderland to take part in the inter-regional dual slalom.  The team consisted of Sam Sage, Shanna Prince, Kerri Prince, Georgie Hunt, Matthew Eyres, Martin Driscole and David Driscole.  Unfortunately they were knocked out in the morning and did not get through to the final in the afternoon despite a valiant effort by all.  Thanks also to Kevin Driscole for acting as race manager for the day.

 

I would like to thank all the slopes, and the slope managers for making the season so successful.  Also Steve Lambert and Carl Reader for all their help and support as regional race managers.          

Also all the racers and their families for competing in the events.

 

Finally I would ask that if anyone has any comments, or suggestions to please speak to their race manager or talk to Steve, Carl or myself.   We rely on feedback from people to enable us to make improvements. 

 

Piet Van Kempen

Chair of Race Panel

 

 

REPORT – COACHING PANEL

 

In the past 12 months, ERSA organised two 1-day Race Officials Courses (one at Hemel and one at Norfolk) as well as one Course Setters Course at Welwyn Garden City.

 

The reports from the participants were very encouraging and for this autumn, ERSA plans another 3 workshops for its members. All courses are subsidised by ERSA and we hope you all take advantage of this offer.

 

 

Date

Venue

Workshop

Cost

Sunday

7th Oct. 2001

Welwyn Garden City Ski Centre (Gosling Stadium)

Course Setters Course

 

£ 20.00

10h – 16.30h

This workshop will deal with all aspects on course setting. Beginners as well as participants with some knowledge on the subject are invited. You will work partly on the slope and partly indoors.

Saturday

13th Oct. 2001

Suffolk Ski Centre

1 day Race Officials Course for the Beginner.

£ 15.00

10h – 16.30h

Mike Creasor, the course leader, will introduce you to most of the jobs, which make a race possible.

Sunday

4th Nov. 2001

Hemel Ski Centre

Race Trainers Course

£ 20.00

10h – 16.30h

This workshop will give you the chance to

  • Either compare and discuss your already accumulated knowledge with race trainers from other slopes in our Region and try out new ideas
  • Or you may want to find out more about ‘the art of race training’ to expand your knowledge of training/coaching.

You will work partly on the slope and partly indoors.

 

Also, for the 1st time, the ESC will be holding the 2 days National Race Officials Course in our Region – at Hemel Ski Centre on 17th + 18th Nov. 2001 (Contact Alan West email alan.west@dataflair.co.uk). Again ERSA wants to help participants from our Region by sponsoring its members with at least £ 5,00. When you have booked your place on this course, contact me and our treasurer will forward ERSA’s contribution to you.

 

Beginning of July, I contacted all the registered Coaches in our Region to find out, who should be ERSA’s Coaches Representative on ESC’s Coaching Panel (representing all regional Coaching Scheme members). The response from the Coaches was not encouraging and I still have not got a name to put forward to ESC.

 

In August, ERSA had a successful Race Training Camp on snow – with 5 Clubs from our Region taking part. A thank you to Bassingbourn Ski Club for the loan of their Slalom Poles and 1 drill with key and to the Snow Club who provided some 70 Slalom and GS Poles, 3 keys, 3 drills, different sporting aids for the afternoon activities.

A similar camp is planned for next year for one or two weeks duration, for all abilities during the last week in July –first week in August 2002. All Clubs are invited to take part.