AGM 27th Nov 2015SCastle Inn, Hackthorpe

Tim welcomed folk to our 3rd agm. Club now into our 4th year. Almost consider ourselves established, but still lots to develop.

Recap the last year

Entered 3 teams in national & regional leagues.

Div 4 N team, managed by Jack, finished mid table.

Div 3 NW regional, managed by Brocky finished mid table.

Div 4 NW regional, also mostly managed by Brocky finished mid table.

We then also competed in the Cumbria tournaments and started developing the ladies team.

We organised our first outdoor tournament on Derwentwater in July (article on CanoePolo.org website!)

We followed this up with organising a tournament at Distant Horizons in September thinking that was the start of great tournaments to come.

Through considerable effort, mainly from Chris, but with Jonathan & Tim helping, we received a second Sport England lottery grant of £10K.

The national park also gave us £3K to help with the outdoor venue & to encourage local youngsters to access the outdoors.

The BC Canoe Polo committee also gave us £2K to buy floating goals and pitch.

We thought we were all set up at Distant Horizons, having had training sessions there all summer on Thurs evenings, but after the tournament, were told they don’t want us back next year. Devastating news, with no real valid reason, but we need to move on.

We now have 18 composite boats in the pool with pfd’s & paddles etc

& a trailer with 18 plastic boats with pfd’s & paddles etc for use outdoors.

That is fantastic after just 3 ½ years, but we are now unlikely to attract anymore grants for the next 10 years or so, so we need to manage the equipment, which is already getting very worn out. 

Hence the new policy about borrowing club equipment for non club events eg personal training, GB trials & development squads, playing for other teams etc   

Open discussion about this policy then held, which focussed on the payment for borrowing kit. Decided to have a further open meeting about this before finalising the policy.

Decided not to keep renewing spraydecks, as membership fees can’t sustain this. ‘Reed’ deal available to buy own.

So starting this year in a healthy position.

Treasurer, Jonathan summarised the finances. Essentially all grant monies spent on equipment and now £1500 in the bank. So club is in the black, but only really covering costs. No long term capital built up.

Annual Awards The first of our hopefully annual presentation of prizes. Engraved glasses awarded as fun prizes as follows:-

Slush fund manager! (Jonathan)

Club is about canoe polo and tournaments, which as well as players, requires help and support, so loudest spectator award…………………(Brocky)

We also require referees, we had 10 do a course in January and need to get their practical assessments done before next January! Part of being a ref is learning the rules so you don’t get caught out in matches. 

…….The most yellow cards goes to (Jack)

Rolling is also a key skill in polo. We should all really practice it. Some do that more than others, but the king of the hand roll, has to go to……………(Mark)

Prince of rolling (junior) for his calmness and consistency in rolling ……………. (Ben)

Then the coveted trophies for the most improved canoe polo players of the year decided by the coaches:

The most improved junior, goes to someone who has quietly and steadily improved her skills and broken into the ladies team………. (Deborah)

In the adult category, one who trains hard and has really progressed this year……… (Dan)

On the social side, we’ve had a few good events.

The final of the dragon boat racing this year, was between the 2 penrith teams. So Penrith won!

We had a good end of summer barbeque down at distant horizons.

So I’ve got another award …….. barbeque queen  (Jo)

The Future Of The Club

So that’s a quick recap of last year, but to be a sustainable club, we need to look forward. We’ve revised the team structure for this year, & have to find and develop a new outdoor venue having lost Distant Horizons. 

We have a new website on the way and for that, another award for ……….the webmaster (Chris)

We hope to make the website the definitive source of information about the club. Dates, events etc

Election of Officers

We have to sort out the committee for the next year, but before we do a discussion was held about:-

“How long should committee members stand?”

Tim wants to avoid the politics in other clubs and that everyone feels they can get involved. The discussion concluded that we are still a small club and there aren’t people clambering to join the committee! It was made clear that all are welcome and we should keep the principle of openness to all. We are gaining a reputation of welcoming all standards of player and getting them involved at their own level. 

The secretary, hasn’t received any nominations so the following were re-elected:

Chair –Tim

Development officer (& vice Chair) – Chris

Treasurer – Jonathan

Social - Jo

Welfare officer – Twill

Equipment officer - Brocky

A team manager – Jack

B team manager – Dan

Ladies team manager – Hilary

However there are a few key places fill:-

Che has a new job and is stepping down as secretary. Caitlin was elected to take over.

We could do with a youth / novice team manager (cumbria league). Luke was elected.

We would also like a youth rep (young person) to represent those views. Katie was elected.

Finally, before the festivities began, 2 last awards were made in recognition of their efforts to ensure the future supply of polo players for the club………………. Creating their own!  ……………(Hilary & John)

A Christmas meal & social then followed.