ENGLISH CURLING ASSOCIATION Minutes of 38th Annual General Meeting held on 6th June 2010, 14.30, Glacier Suite, ice Sheffield, Sheffield PRESENT FULL MEMBERS: Alison Arthur (London) [Doping Convenor], Adam Bermange (SECC), John Brown (London) [Secretary and WCF Representative], Caroline Cumming (Glendale), Harvey Curle (Glendale) [NE Area Representative], Ian Curle (Glendale), Andrew Dixon (Glendale), James Dixon (Glendale) [NE Area Representative], Robin Gemmell (London), James Gibb (London) [Facilities Convenor], James Hustler (London), [London and South Area Representative], Debbie Hutcheon (Glendale), Frank Kershaw (Preston), Sandra Moorcroft (London) [Treasurer], Richard Murray (Glendale), Andrew Reed (Glendale) [BC representative], Ian Sayers (Preston), Steve Scanlan (London), John Sharp (London), Susan Young (London) [Ladies’ Branch Secretary and 100 Club Convenor]. ASSOCIATE MEMBERS; Christine Black (London) NON MEMBERS: Chris Higgins TOTAL OF 20 Full Members were present. The meeting was quorate. TOTAL PRESENT: 22 Before the meeting began the secretary asked that a minute’s silence be held in memory of Past President and loyal servant of the ECA, Duncan Stewart, who had passed away in January.
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APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Alastair Fyfe (SECC), Mary Stewart (London), Jane Clark (London), Nicola Woodward (Glendale) [Ladies Branch President], Sarah McVey (Bradford) [Past President], Sam Fowler (SECC) [London and South Area Representative], Phil Barton (Preston) [Competitions’ Convenor and NW Area Representative], Jim Aitken (Preston), Caroline Reed (Glendale), Kirsty Balfour (Glendale), Michael Sutherland (Glendale), Elizabeth Atkinson (SECC), Phil Atherton (Preston) [NW Area Representative] In the absence of the President and the non-existence of a President-Elect, the Secretary proposed that the election of the Office Bearers for 2010-11 should be brought forward on the agenda so that the new President could chair the meeting. This was agreed
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ELECTION OF OFFICE BEARERS
The following office bearers were elected: President President Elect Honorary Vice Pres Secretary Treasurer WCF Representatives
Alison Arthur (Proposed (P) – Richard Murray, Seconded (S) – Candice Bell) Steve Scanlan (P – Alison Arthur, S – John Brown) Stephen Hinds has been added John Brown (P – Christine Black, S – Alison Arthur) Sandra Moorcroft (P – Alison Arthur, S – John Brown) John Brown (P – Christine Black, S – Alison Arthur) Alison Arthur (P – Sarah McVey, S – John Brown) ECF Representative Alison Arthur (P – Sarah McVey, S – John Brown) BC Representative Andrew Reed (P – Richard Murray, S – Candice Bell) NW Area Rep Phil Barton / Phil Atherton – Proposed by Preston CC NE Area Rep James Dixon / Harvey Curle – Proposed by Glendale CC South James Hustler / Sam Fowler – Proposed by SECC / London Competition’ Convenor Phil Barton Doping Convenor James Hustler 17
APPOINTMENT OF ADDITIONAL CONVENORS
Susan Young Robin Gemmell Steve Scanlan Debbie Hutcheon James Gibb
100 Club Equipment Communications and publications / website Coaching Facilities
The new President Alison Arthur took the chair for the rest of the meeting 2
REPORT ON NEW CLUBS AND THOSE WHO HAVE CEASED TO BE AFFILIATED
No clubs had applied for membership. No clubs ceased to be affiliated. 3
MINUTES OF AGM OF 31st May 2009
It was agreed that the minutes were an accurate record of the 37th AGM. 4
MATTERS ARISING
There were no matters arising 5
CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES
A proposal had been made by Adam Bermange of the SECC to amend the constitution as follows: That Rule 2 (Membership) be amended as follows:In subsection 2.5, after “and” insert –
“(save as provided by [2.6A])” Subsection 2.5 would then become: 2.5 Every member of a Club which is a member of the ECA shall be a member of the ECA and (save as provided by 2.6A) shall pay a seasonal subscription to the ECA. After subsection 2.6 insert – “[2.6A] A Member Club may elect to pay a standing charge of £100 per season to the ECA and, in return, the seasonal subscription otherwise due from any Associate Member of that Club shall be waived by the ECA.” The proposal had been discussed at the Open Meeting in the morning and when it was put to the vote at the AGM the proposal was defeated by a majority. 6
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
In the absence of the President, who had played no part in the activities of the ECA in the 2009-10 season there was no President’s report available. 7
WORLD CURLING FEDERATION AND EUROPEAN CURLING FEDERATION REPORTS
Meetings of the World Curling Federation had been attended by the ECA representatives at Aberdeen and Cortina. A new WCF Board had been elected with the following members: President - Kate Caithness (SCO), Vice President - Patrick Hurlimann (SWI), Finance - Andy Anderson (USA), Members - Graham Prouse (CAN), Young C Kim (KOR), Leif Ohman (SWE), Niels Larsen (DEN) Secretary-General - Mike Thompson, Competitions Convenor - Keith Wendorf, New Development Officer - Eeva Rothlisberger A new on – ice dress code was introduced: • • • • • • •
Trousers – all same colour but can be different brands. Leg warmers must all be the same and worn by all Kilts – can be team mixture of kilts / tights and trousers but should be the same colour Tops – all the same – if wearing long sleeves below short must be same colour for all players. If wearing jacket over shirt should be same colour. Hooded tops – hoods cannot be showing – rolled up or tucked in Hats – one or more can wear – but should all be same, peaks forward, logo of association or event. Scarves – one or more can wear – all same colour Braces must be hidden
RULE CHANGES
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Championship games remain at 10 ends Tie breaker games to remain to decide teams for play-offs Extra ends remain
Changes: Time for extra end reduced to 8 minutes (from 10) Reduce time outs to one 60 second coach “interaction” with the time clock running Allow electric wheelchairs at WCF wheelchair curling events Prohibit communications between the coach bench and anyone who is not sitting in that designated area. • Move the World Mixed Doubles Senior Championships from April to November starting from November 2012 – so no Championships in 2011-12 season Slovenia was accepted as the 46th member association of the WCF • • • •
New eligibility rule to participate in WCF competitions 1. The athlete is a national of the country they are representing – their residence can be anywhere or 2. The athlete is a resident of the country they are representing for a period of at least two consecutive years immediately prior to the start of the competition. 3. If an athlete has represented a country in any WCF competition, or played in an international qualifier for a WCF competition, that athlete may not represent another country in any WCF competition or WCF international qualifier until they fulfill one of the above criteria AND a period of two consecutive years has elapsed. The following Championships venues for 2010-11 were confirmed: European Mixed European C Group World Wheelchair Qualifying European A and B groups European Junior Challenge World Wheelchair World Junior World Womens World Mens World Mixed Doubles World Senior
Greenacres Greenacres Kisakallio (FIN) Champery Prague Prague Perth Esbjerg Regina St Paul St Paul
21/9 – 28/9 21/9 – 28/9 6/11 – 12/11 4/12 – 11/12 2/1 – 7/1 21/2 – 3/3 5/3 – 13/3 19/3 – 27/3 2/4 – 10/4 16/4 – 24/4 16/4 – 24/4
The amount of DAP funding available to each nation in 2010-11 would be increased back to $12,000. In the season just finished we had used $9,425 out of our allowance of $10,000, a big improvement on the previous year – spent on a coaching weekend at Fentons, a trip by Juniors to Lausanne, a temporary ice rink at Durham, a schools competition and some equipment in Sheffield, and brushes and other equipment for loan by the ECA.
The Annual General Assembly of the European Curling Federation was attended at Aberdeen where Andrew Ferguson Smith, the President began his campaign to extract some additional funding from the WCF. The ECA refused to sign up in support of this initiative.
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BRITISH CURLING REPORT
Now that the Olympics had been held in Vancouver with limited success for the GB teams, British Curling were reviewing the past 4 years. 9
REPORT ON COMPETITIONS AND PROGRAMME FOR 2010-11
NATONAL CHAMPIONSHIP WINNERS MEN WOMEN MIXED MIXED DOUBLES INTER-CLUB
Alan MacDougall, Andrew Reed, Andrew Woolston,Tom Jaeggi Lorna Rettig, Kirsty Balfour, Suzie Law, Nicola Woodward Alan MacDougall, Lana Watson, Andrew Reed, Suzie Law John Sharp, Jane Clark London
4 NATIONS Scotland (MEN) Scotland (WOMEN) Ireland Wales
47-40 6-18 37-27 34-25
WON LOST WON WON
GOLD MEDALS: Michael Sutherland, Gordon Lyon, Ian Curle, James Hustler International Competitions HIGHLIGHT WAS BRONZE MEDAL FOR MIXED TEAM AT EUROPEAN MIXED CHAMPIONSHIPS European Men (16th) Jamie Malton, Michael Opel, Henry Carter, Keith Wilson European Women (10th) Kirsty Balfour, Caroline Reed, Suzie Law, Nicola Woodward European Mixed (3rd) Alan MacDougall, Lana Watson, John Sharp, Suzie Law World Senior Men (12th) John Brown, John Sharp, Robin Gemmell World Mixed Doubles (13th) John Sharp, Jane Clark European Junior Women (10th) Anna Fowler, Hetty Garnier, Madeleine Tuz, Naomi Robinson, Lauren Pearce PROPOSED COMPETITION PROGRAMME FOR 2010-11
Grand Match Juniors RCCC Province Seniors Mixed Doubles
Scotland, 23 October Fenton’s Greenacres, 12-14 November Greenacres, 3-5 December Murrayfield, 10-12 December
4 Nations Nationals Mixed
Fentons, 21-23 January Greenacres 3-6 February Fentons 4-6 March
No Inter Club competition was planned but it was decided that we would still enter the RCCC Province Championships and that each club would be given the chance in turn to represent the ECA and SECC would be the nominated club for 2010-11. [POST MEETING NOTE – owing to the fact that we were not sent an entry form for the RCCC Province and the closing date for entries was 31st May, the SECC were unable to fulfil this invitation as an entry had not been made in time.] 10
TREASURER’S REPORT
The Final Accounts for 2008-09 which showed an overall deficit for the year of £1430.68 were signed off. The Final Accounts for 2009-10 were presented – these showed a deficit of £343.01. The ECA had total funds available of £18,356.89. The accounts had been discussed in some detail at the Open Meeting and, there being no further discussions, the final accounts for 2009-10 were duly signed off. Subscriptions for 2010-11 The Council’s proposal of maintaining subscriptions at the existing level of £25.00 (Full) and £10 (Associate) was carried unanimously. It was also agreed that the teams going forward to the Europeans would receive £1200.00 per team. In addition the ECA would be paying the entry fees. It was noted that the total entry fees to the European and European Mixed Championships now exceeded £1400. Adam Bermange was looking at ways in which the Trust Fund could bring in some more money for the ECA than it presently does. 11
APPROVAL OF ACCOUNTS
See Item 10 12
LADIES’ BRANCH REPORT
The Ladies Branch had met and it had been decided that Alison Arthur would carry out a survey of all the members of the lady members of the ECA offering them three options – carry on as at present, disband the Ladies Branch or let the Ladies Branch continue to exist in a dormant state until it was thought necessary to revive it. She would report on the results of the survey to Council and to the members at the AGM in 2011. 13
DEVELOPMENT REPORT
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Update from Solihull – Tremendously good news from Solihull as they prepare for another come and try day on 24th July with intent to make it a regular event from next season. There is even talks of leagues and training sessions next season too.
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Update from Durham – using half size stones for short curling on a Monday morning. Good relationship with schools; held a successful open day with support of Glendale and Borders Development which 5 teams entered. The TV coverage and general publicity was very good.
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Sheffield continue with Monday sessions with half weight stones. Have held a successful schools event. Post AGM have had confirmation that they will be holding sessions on Saturday evening at 7pm albeit still with the short game but another positive step forward
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Bracknell: Following the Olympics, interest was expressed by Bracknell Ice Rink to start providing Curling but this has died off since Easter. They were looking to do day-time sessions for schools with the possibility of a club session one evening. They also have a sister rink in Bristol. Bristol approached Kays for costs of equipment etc. John Brown has written to Bristol but has had no response.
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Somerset: The Burnham project: Stephen Hinds was in touch with them a number of years ago. They are now looking at going for planning application. Currently, they are drawing up plans – hoping to provide a 4 lane curling rink.
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Blackburn: Preston announced at the meeting that Blackburn Ice Rink had approached them to look at providing curling. A meeting has been arranged
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Kent: Now running own leagues. Juniors, and in particular the girls, are making good progress under the coaching of Iain Baxter. 120 people attended Come and Try events at the end of March. A novice league will be held on Monday evenings next season OTHER CONVENORS’ REPORTS
100 Club – Susan Young will be sending out a reminder to those who might want to subscribe – we still need new members to ensure that we can continue to support the ECA. Doping – we had had no visits from UKSport drug testers at our Championships this past season. 15
AREA REPRESENTATIVES’ REPORTS
London and the South – Now that the Ice Rink were running the leagues and not the SECC, the club was finding it difficult to justify its existence. However it had been decided to carry on for another season and to approach Ernest Fenton to see how they could get involved in helping to run the novice leagues etc. The president said that she and the President Elect would be arranging a meeting with Ernest Fenton to discuss how the ECA and Fenton’s Rink could work together. North East – another successful season with membership staying at the same levels.
North West – nothing exceptional to report. The I’Anson was growing in popularity and it was good to see teams from London and the SECC coming up to Stranraer. 18 MATTERS OF GENERAL BUSINESS INCLUDING ANY ACTIONS FOLLOWING OPEN MEETING 19
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ANY OTHER COMPETENT BUSINESS
PLACE AND DATE OF NEXT ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The date is to be confirmed, but the venue will remain the same and the possibility of a game of curling would be investigated..