MINUTES OF A HANG GLIDING COMPETITIONS PANEL
MEETING HELD AT HILTON, CASTLE DONINGTON ON 11th FEBRUARY 2007
670. PRESENT & APOLOGIES
The meeting opened at 11:15 with the following present: John Aldridge (Sec), Mike Armstrong, Dave Bluett, Johnny Carr, Graham Phipps, Gordon Rigg, Kathleen Rigg (Chair). Apologies: Nigel Bray, Will Greenwood, Trevor Birkbeck and Mike Stephens. NB & TB were available for consultation by telephone.
671. SELECTION OF TEAM FOR 2007 WORLDS
GP announced that he was withdrawing his name for selection. The pool of pilots for consideration was Nigel Bray, Grant Crossingham, Robin Hamilton, Bruce Kavanagh, Shaun Kimberley, Richard Lovelace, Dave Matthews, Dave Shields, Carl Wallbank, Gary Wirdnam. Carl Wallbank ranks number 25 in the WPRS at this date and is automatically selected. One place will remain available for selection after the April Florida competitions leaving 4 pilots to be selected at this meeting. In alphabetical order those selected were Robin Hamilton, Bruce Kavanagh, Dave Matthews and Gary Wirdnam. The remaining place will be allocated after taking into account all current data plus that from the Florida comps. The panel will consult by email to achieve that decision.
672. TEAM STRUCTURE & FINANCE
Carl Wallbank was selected as team captain and Bruce Kavanagh to move forward with team administration and management until a team manager can be appointed. All selected pilots except Robin are required to send a cheque for their initial pilot stake of £250 to the panel treasurer by 1st March or proof of flight purchase to Texas.
Action: CW & BK
673. MATTERS OUTSTANDING
KR ran through items from the November competitions panel meeting as follows:
a. Nationals (655a)
JA was asked to confirm that FFVL approval is in place for St Andre les Alpes. He stated that assurances had been given but that the FFVL had instituted a more formal procedure and some documents are needed in support of this; details have been forwarded to WG who will obtain the necessary documents. JA will obtain FAI Sanctioning.
Action: JA & WG
b. Class 5 (655c)
JA confirmed that FAI sanctioning would cover a Class 5 national championship as well and informed the panel that initial indications are that there will be several good quality French pilots entering. He asked how many UK pilots were required to justify awarding the title of national champion. It has been awarded on the basis of just 4 pilots in the past.
KR asked JC to bring proposal for minimum number of entries to validate a UK Class 5 Nationals for panel to vote on at the May Panel meeting.
Action: JC
c. British Open Series Scoring (656b)
KR acknowledged that she still has to edit the macro for end of year scores so that the final scores are displayed in task order.
Action: KR
d. SE Wales BOS (656c)
JA was asked to confirm that the scoring room had been booked. He was unable to do this as he has been unable to contact the Crickhowell Telecottage. JA to hand this over to GP if unable to make firm arrangements before he leaves for Australia. GP to follow up but to book the telecottage but if this was not possible the Britannia should be booked. DB will book accommodation for self and JA. GP reported that the SE Wales club had yet to formally agree the dates.
Action: JA, DB & GP
e. Dales BOS (656c)
In the absence of TB no report was available on the Dales meet
f. Long Mynd BOS (656c)
MA reported that the Inn on the Green had been booked again and that a barbeque would be supplied at the pub this time, date to be confirmed. He also reported that the LMSC had doubled their fee for competitions using the site to £100; no explanation had been given.
g. Additional meet (656d)
In view of the current LMSC fee SE Wales is the preferred venue and dates remain the weekend 30 Jun/1 Jul if the forecast is good, with an alternative of 7/8 Jul. GP confirmed that the SEWHGC had also been asked to clear these dates.
h. Pre-Europeans (657a)
JA reported that few Brits are listed in the entry and that the competition appears to now be fully subscribed. Concern was expressed that places were not allocated to nations who would compete in the Europeans the following year.
j. Bleriot Cup (657c)
Dates have been confirmed as 3 - 8 Sep and JA confirmed that Shedsy is coordinating with the French about arrangements. Team to be selected at SE Wales BOS.
Action: DS
k. Rulebook (661)
There is an outstanding action on Gordon to review our current nationals rulebook.
Action: GR
l. Pilot Development (662)
JC stated that he had prepared a first draft of the safety notes for pilots new to comps but he felt it needed further work. Johnny to circulate to panel members for comment.
KR & NB articles still out-standing. KR mentioned she might do some work on key goals for pilots.
Action:JC, KR & NB
m. Sponsorship (665)
GP stated that Wills Wing UK are unlikely to sponsor this year and that he finds it awkward to broker a deal as he is representing both sides. KR asked again that he establish what WW would like from a deal so that this might still be taken forward. However, WW were asking what we could offer them. GP to discuss options further with WG regarding WW. In the absence of WG there was no information on the major sponsor he had hoped to find; he should provide the panel with an update.
Action: GP & WG
674. FUTURE TEAM SELECTION
JA pointed out that pilots who did not quite make the team should really be entering the pre-Europeans and may have missed their chance while waiting to hear if they are in the team for Texas. It was agreed that earlier selection of the national team is desirable in future and the panel will select all but one of the team for the 2008 Europeans at the 2007 planning meeting, leaving one place available until after the April 2008 Florida competitions.
The meeting closed at 13:20.