It was a full house at the AGM yesterday – it was great to see so many of you there.
The key highlights from the Chairman’s report:
A huge thank you to our sponsors this year, you are key. Thank you
Membership is strong.
British Eventing recognise the importance of stakeholders, the EHOA representing all Owners is widely respected as one of these stakeholders. We are working with them to achieve what we set out to do.
Alex and Tor doing great job on hospitality at events and the other functions during the year.
IT project at BE is work in progress. The Event Organisers (BEOA), ERA and the EHOA now have regular meetings with BE to monitor the project, we have particularly been encouraging BE that transparency and communication is key to their members leading up to the final stages of this project, at times both support and pressure has been needed . The Website will be live in December. The entries, admin, results and scoring part of the project (known as EARS) has been the most complex . Scoring will be tested at 7 events this autumn. Results will follow. The admin section will take longer. BE are confident it will be ready for testing in March. BDWP will close in 2019 when Paul Harris retires.
There is a Strategic fixture review underway which will take effect at the start of the 2020 season. All events will need to be tendered for. The process will start with the FEI events and then National classes will follow. Adrian Ditcham from BE kindly took the time to come and outline the plan to the members present.
Adrian stressed how important owners are in the process. Viability to events is key. Events need to be at the right level, at the right time and in the right place. Final stages of consultation. It is anticipated that a few events will change hands. Tender process ends end of this year. There will be a meeting in the early part of 2019 to decide. The Sport and fixtures team will initially be involved and then there will be a summit of other interested parties including owners. (Mark Corbett sits on the sport committee) There will be a 6 year term limit, as per the suggestion of organisers.
There will need to be 2 international classes at one venue and all Championships up for tender. The process for tendering will be on a numbered week basis, i.e. Burnham Market would tender for say week 13.
Adrian then went on to talk about the changes to the FEI levels.
CIC being done away with, moving forward it will be known as either short or long format and everything is going up a level in stars.
WEG categories Jan 2019Consideration is being given to 5 stars jumping and dressage on a surface.
2020 Olympic format was trialled in Poland and Millstreet recently. Both trials threw up some interesting questions . 3 in a team. The FEI consultation taking place now and the Final plan will be confirmed at the end of the year.
Our treasurer Jonathan gave a financial report. The draft accounts were distributed and discussed. A copy is available here. The Association has had a healthy year. It has been deemed prudent to write down the loan of the ERM. We are on track to achieve budget this year. We increased the Subs rate this year, the first increase in a long time. This has enable us to provide funds to buy in consultant help.
It was proposed and seconded that we amend the articles of association to move the AGM date to September and this was unanimously agreed.
Cathy thanked the Board for their efforts.
A presentation was made to Margie and David Hall. Margie is retiring after 17 years on the board and she has been a huge help with Hospitality and the Membership and is Vice Chairman. She will be much missed.
Retiring Board members Cathy Butler and Margie Hall
Chairman Cathy Butler is also retiring at the end of 2018 – she will be an enormous loss.
