South Axholme Sharks Committee Meeting
held at
The Red Lion Hotel, Epworth
on the
23rd October 2007

Present:Jeff Buxton, Jill Watson, Bev Webb, Claire Windle, Jim Cook, Simon Latham, Margaret Gray, David Gray, Julie Hirst, Sandra Temperton, Jan Simm.    

Apologies:Lynn Crawford & Stuart Starbuck.

Minutes of Last Meeting

Agreed.

Matters Arising

None.

Correspondence

Various copies of Minutes from Yorkshire ASA.

Two Scholarship applications for the Adrian Moorhouse Scholarship and the Vincent & Margaret Horner Scholarship.

Yorkshire ASA nomination paper.

Swim North East copy of Accounts.

Letter from Ian Davison, Masters swimmer, thanking everyone for their support but advising he is not able to swim at the moment.

Letter from Shirley Hinchliffe advising that she will be able to present the Club Champs trophies for us at the two Galas.

Coach’s Report

DMASA Meetings

Jeff and Simon attended the DMASA meeting on the 2nd of October and the following was noted from this meeting and the previous DMASA meeting:

  1. The level 1 teachers course has been completed with the results not yet available and they are waiting to hear if a level 2 course can be run, with the venue to be decided. The cost of the course is expensive in Doncaster and therefore South Axholme Sharks have voiced an interest in running a level 1 course in their area.
  2. No coaches report from DARTES or report for Water Polo.
  3. The DSA is to be closed due to lack of response and it is proposed that there will be a sports network, which will incorporate all pool based activities and it will no longer be part of DMBC. Proposed meeting for October, date to be confirmed, with an invitation to be sent to all Clubs. It will be up to the individual Doncaster Clubs to negotiate with their pool managers as to how this will operate.
  4. DMASA AGM on the first Tuesday in December 2007.    
  5. Running orders for Barnsley Minor Individual Champs on the 3rd of November 2007 received, also information given on the Barnsley Minor League positions for 2007. South Axholme Sharks are in Division 2 and we were placed 3rd therefore we will remain in this division for 2008.
  6. Complaint from Stocksbridge and Chapletown regarding the contents of the comments made on the SAS website, which they found offensive and not in the spirit of the sport. SAS representatives apologised for this and promised that the comments would be removed from their website and no future ‘fun articles’ recorded.

 

SAS Coach’s Report

It was felt that the recent Poolside meeting had been a success with positive feedback received from both swimmers and parents.

SAS performed exceptionally well in the DMASA Mets Championships with 35 finalists in Gala 1 and 28 finalists in Gala 2, achieving 22 golds, 17 silvers, 13 bronze medals, six 4th placings, eight 5th placings and six 6th placing medals overall.  Well done to all the swimmers who took part, we finished fourth overall as a Club. Special mention for Matthew Hirst who achieved Top boy in his age group, Anna Laird who made it to the ‘skins’ final and Chris Watson who made it to the ‘skins’ final and came second.

The Yorkshire ASA Championships at Ponds Forge saw Matthew Hirst winning gold in the 100m backstroke. Well done to Matthew who is the first YASA champion from SAS. Holly Lewis came second in the 100m breaststroke and third in the fly. Hannah Hirst who came fourth in the 100m breaststroke. The Committee thought it appropriate to look at awarding Matthew something for his achievement in the Yorkshire finals, to be presented at Christmas perhaps.

The Yorkshire Masters Championships in Harrogate saw SAS members bring home an array of medals, well done to those who took part.

Forthcoming Galas

Sharks Halloween Meet at Beverley on the 28th of October.

Barnsley Minor Individual Championships at Knottingley on the 3rd of November.

Club Championships at Gainsborough Pool on the 17th & 24th of November.

Dinsdale League at Askern on the 18th of November.

Barnsley Xmas BC Grade Open Meet at Ponds Forge on the 8th of December.

Any Other Business

We have been advised by Rob Jenkins that Epworth Pool needs to close over the Xmas period for cleaning and essential maintenance, the minimum closure period is estimated at 2 weeks.

Simon would like to thank everyone for their help, especially Jeff Buxton, for stepping in as Head Coach after Kev’s departure.

Epworth Pool and SAS way forward - a number of issues were discussed as to the possible options available to Sharks, after the proposal from the Epworth Pool Committee that SAS Club may wish to become ‘self sufficient’, these included a schedule of the income received from Sharks fees at present and the possible expenses that the Club may incur if we go solo (hiring of the Pool, insurance, subscriptions to the ASA & the DMASA, lifeguarding costs etc.). The opinion from the Epworth Pool Committee is that it could be a viable option for SAS Club to maintain itself however, David Gray pointed out that the Pool would not have been able to keep going without the Clubs contributions in the past and this is how the Pool/Club was to be run, as agreed in the beginning when the Pool was opened. Jim Cook advised that he thinks that SAS Club should be run by volunteers, which is how nearly every other Swimming Club is run at present. David advised that he had nothing against the Pool Committee’s proposal at the moment but it would have to be discussed in much more depth before a decision could be made. Simon therefore proposed that we should form a sub-committee, to discuss the details more fully, and this may need to be taken to the AGM for discussion. The Committee agreed to this and the sub-committee is to consist of Simon Latham, David Gray, Jeff Buxton and Bev Webb, who should put their proposals forward at the AGM, if possible. Jim advised that the Pool Committee’s timescale is for a decision to be made, if possible, by the 1st of April 2008, although this can be put back if necessary.

Jeff Buxton advised that he has managed to negotiate some Pool time with Rob to take forward alternative swimming related activities i.e. personal survival and life saving and he proposes to start this in January 2008, see notice on our board at the pool.

The AGM is to be held on Tuesday the 27th of November 2007 at the Red Lion Hotel commencing at 7.15pm  to be followed by a Committee meeting.

The 2008 gala calendar has been agreed and it has been decided that SAS should enter the Dinsdale League, the Barnsley Minor League and the Pocklington League for 2008, as well as various Open Meets. Pool time has been booked at Gainsborough Pool for our own 2008 Club Champs in addition to the League Galas which we are to host during the year. It has also been decided that we should arrange a ‘sprint night’ at Gainsborough Pool in January, date to be advised.

Jeff has been looking into the possibility of purchasing a Digipace Clock for use on poolside during training sessions. We will of course need to trial this before purchase, the price is being negotiated at the moment and Jeff will let us know as soon as possible.

The Committee agreed that we should look at purchasing t-shirts, tracksuits and sweatshirts for all competitive swimmers to be worn at all galas; we are looking at possibly subsidising these from Club funds. Jeff to look into the logo.

With reference to Swim 21, we have still not received our folder back and it looks as though this is unlikely to be returned, although David and Margaret are trying all contacts to see if it can be returned to us. David will try and find out the tasks, which were highlighted in the Swim 21 review, which need to be taken forward.

Margaret is collecting in the ‘name engraved’ Club Champs trophies, see notice on board and Jim is to look into ordering the 1st-6th place trophies/medals for our Club Champs this time.

It looks like everything has been organised for our Halloween Open Meet on the 28th of October, thank you to all who have given their time and effort in this respect.

Following our visit to Spalding last, it appears that the coach company were not happy with how the coach was left i.e. food left on the floor and seats. Therefore next time, we must make sure that our swimmers conduct themselves sensibly after all they are representing the Club and all parents should make sure their kids are behaving. 

Date of Next Meeting

AGM on Tuesday the 27th of November 2007 at the Red Lion Hotel, Epworth to start at 7.15pm, followed by the usual Committee meeting.