SROC Committee Meeting  08.06.09

 

Apologies: Karen Nash, Matt Nash, Steve McLean, Julian Lailey.

 

Present: Martyn Roome, Gavin Smith, Quentin Harding, Alex Finch, Dick Collins, Dave Hargreaves, Chris Roberts, Rowena Browne, Sarah Watkins. Guest Hamish Willis.

 

  1. Hamish Willis – British Orienteering Development Officer. HW introduced himself and his role to the committee. He believes that O should be opened up to a wider audience e.g. disabled and disadvantaged people. However he is still keen to cater for the mainstream competitor. PFO are working with disabled people and “kids with problems” and the project will extend into the summer. His main focus in the NW is schools competitions. Currently O is not on most schools’ radar and he plans to set up a progression leading up to a county championships. O needs to be in the schools structure to get more participation, and HW’s job is to integrate O in schools with O clubs. HW then fielded Qs from the committee. HW works alongside Steve Vernon on development – not just schools O but any kind of development. Where possible projects need to be self-funding. He would not ask a club to put on a particular kind of event, rather help and advise. There may be a pool of extra volunteer help connected with projects for disabled or special needs, so the club an gain that way. MR pointed out that the club has many connections with schools and local O development, including an active SSSCo in Mark Edwards. HW reiterated that O needs to fit into the existing school sports system to get more O into local schools. QH remarked that there is always a good response from school children when they are introduced to O but they very rarely move on to become regular orienteers. HW informed us that schools have PLT (= Primary Link Teacher) money which can be used to pay coaches. Sport Unlimited is a government initiative to encourage youngsters to take part in sport over a 10 week period, and is well funded (in Pendle at least). QH and GS remarked that there needs to be an enthusiast teacher to get O moving in schools. HW said that participation has to include parents to be successful. SELOC (+ later PFO) have their participation project starting up, bringing parents and younger juniors in. Working with schools can allow some “talent spotting”, inviting some children to attend club nights with their parents. TM said that O is dependant on suitable areas for events which are not always local enough. HW said that schools will expect to travel further if moving up towards a county champs, as they would with football. MR reminded us of the West Cumberland schools set up which has been successful in bringing children into the club. The downside is that Roger Jackson does most of the work to organise the whole project. HW: we need to get more teachers trained to level 1 and 2, or at least to take part in real O events. O can sit so well in different areas of the curriculum. It is an ideal subject and needs selling to more areas. The funding exists; it just needs suitable coaches to take on the work. There followed a discussion of the various people within SROC who are working in schools, such as Steve McLean, Mike Ormerod and Mark Edwards, QH likened the task to spinning plates, since there are more and more schools needing work once they have been introduced to the sport. HW has linked into some cadet detachments which treat O as an official activity. There is much potential there for further development. There is no guarantee of future funding but it all fits in with the government’s wish to reduce obesity, so look likely to continue for many years.

 

  1. Chorley Sprint O. TM: Delamere seems to be the only location for the Middle Distance possible, but has not yet been confirmed as suitable. Bigland was ruled out as wanting to avoid the Lakes because of the 5 day event that year as well. MEROC may wish to organise at Delamere, plus they would have a planner. Other help would have to come form other clubs in the NW. Matthew Cochrane will be asked to organise. Graham Nilson has agreed to plan. Action TM will ask Mike Forrest to confirm the area is OK. Action RB will contact Barry Barnes of DEE to ensure the area is OK, and Matthew Cochrane to make sure he will organise. SM has spoken to Sweatshop re sponsorship. He is well down the line on mapping. The OS base maps are available from Chorley (FOC) and Dave Peel has quoted £750 for his work.

 

  1. Club development. TM has written to 60 non-regular club members inviting them to the Summer Series. Chorley Ozone events are in early preparation. Cost of advertising will be assisted by Chorley Council. Sport England may be approached for additional financing.

 

  1. Permanent Courses. MR asked HW about assistance with new PCs. He suggested contacting Beryl Blackhall (GMOA chair) for advice and guidance. Blackpool PC needs funding for posts; we can offer expertise but have no money.

 

  1. SI Course. HW asked whether the club would have anyone interested in a course laid on by SIUK. We agreed there would be some interest.

 

  1. Minutes of last meeting – accepted as a correct record (one correction to Matt Cochrane’s name).

 

  1. Matters Arising. DH action complete. Action SW still outstanding.

 

 

  1. Events / fixtures. Eaves wood booked for the picnic. Action DH will contact Alan Ferguson to secure permissions. Summer series going well. Longridge Fell not available for the autumn event, replaced by Beacon Fell. Action AF to update the Lancaster University map. Spook O is on Halloween, in Eaves Wood again. Whitbarrow has been upgraded to a Level 2 event. Caton Moor may be a problem because of the major landowner’sobjections. Action RB to check with JL. TWT to be organised by the Nashes, Campbells planning. Chorley Ozone. Action DH will ask Brian Looker about Duxbury Park – can it be used, can he remap? Looking further ahead, Witherslack needs to be checked for continuing suitability. Could Anglezarke be used for a major event? Action JL to send a copy of the helpers database to RB and TM.

 

  1. Treasurer. 3rd quarter results now in. Projected year end surplus is £176, but there are considerable Farleton costs still to come out next quarter. Therefore the club will finish the year making a loss, but with a substantial new map (Farleton).

 

  1. Mapping. Agreed with Malcolm Campbell to upgrade the Dalton Crags map to “Farleton” standard. No reply from the Hutton Roof PC about a possible extension to better connect the two areas. Action QH has another possible (fell running) contact to pass on to AF. DH has secured a field near Dunsop Bridge for parking. One problem is an Eagle Owl in the forest!

 

  1. Secretary. A solution to the NW news situation was suggested by MR. RB to tell KN which event will be used for circulation since Roger Jackson usually informs RB when asking for details of fixtures.

 

  1. Club Captain. We have failed to get a Harvesters team together for a variety of reasons.

 

  1. Juniors. Explorer challenge badges will be presented at an event in the near future. Action QH to discuss with Ian Selby the possibility of him taking over the running of the Junior Squad.

 

  1. Social. MR trying to organise a club cycle ride, but hard to find a free weekend. Scottish 6 days BBQ to be held on the Tuesday.

 

 

  1. AOB. Date of AGM: Wednesday 16th September. QH: 4500 sheets of Pretex paper on hand, it has been used for club events using Q’s laser printer. Ripley now reached 32 sessions. More recently less well attended, but not surprising given the recent disruption. No sessions over the summer hols.

 

  1. Next meeting (if needed, depends on Chorley Sprint Champs situation) Monday 13th July