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MFHA  TEAM  CHASE  COMMITTEE

 SUMMARY OF MINUTES OF THE MEETING

HELD ON Thursday 24th November  2011

 

SERIOUS INCIDENT FILE

Rosie Vestey has in conjunction with Jo and Chris Verey of the VWH put together a serious incident file which was used at the Cotswold event this autumn. She will make this available to the secretary as a PDF file and this can be utilized by other events if required.

 

COMMENTATORS

The importance of good commentary, especially for Open Classes was stressed and it was agreed events are encouraging to engage outside commentators. Commentators need up to date and interesting information about teams and riders and profiles should be provided by all open teams. The information on the web site is very out of date and teams are encouraged to update and provide relevant information to each event about their horses and riders

 

AUTUMN 2011 SEASON REVIEW

A summary of comments from the organizers of the autumn events was considered. These were all fairly positive although there remains a lack of Open entries. The number of Open teams competing this autumn has been between 6 and 9 although more had entered for the Pytchley which suffered bad ground conditions causing withdrawals. It was suggested that there were a number of intermediate teams which could upgrade and we need to encourage them to do so by :-

    1. limiting the maximum prize money in intermediate classes to the amount of the entry fee.
    2. Encouraging events to incorporate longer options for “scarey” fences and offering incentives such as a bottle of champagne for jumping the scarey fence.. which is usually a rider frightener which jumps really well.
    3. Amending the rules of the intermediate league to allow points to intermediate teams for completing an Open.

It was suggested that the top 10 intermediate teams should be invited to  participate in a forum to establish what would encourage them to up grade.

 

THE NATIONAL SPONSORS 2011/12 and ONWARDS

The 2011 -12 National Sponsorship was put together rather on the hoof. The Primary events will be joint but in relation to others in future the Goring Hotel will sponsor some and Material Change others. It is hoped that this will give us a 2-3 year window to establish how to give value for money out of a sponsorship deal and find a new more commercial sponsor who will pay £25 -£30,000 pa. We have a professionally produced brochure and powerpoint presentation. It was suggested that a PDF of the brochure should be put on the website and this can be used to try to market a sponsorship package.

 

 

THE COOMBE FARM WINES LEAGUES

This is to be renamed the Coombe Farms Wines League. It has worked well to encourage regular intermediate teams but tends to prevent them from upgrading in the Autumn. It was suggested the teams should get the same points as an intermediate win for completing an Open for up to 3 Opens – it would be easier to get points for completing an open than to win an intermediate.

 

PR

Jane Carley has been engaged to assist with the PR and is doing a fantastic job. She had produced a report which was circulated to the meeting of PR activity to date

 

TEAM CHASE WEBSITE

We are to continue a review the website to upgrade this.

 

DATES SPRING AND AUTUMN 2012

The spring dates for Open events have been approved and published. The Cattistock want to run an event on 8th April 2012.  Autumn dates were discussed and a schedule of proposed dates will be circulated to event organizers..

 

COURSE INSPECTION AND COURSE BUILDING

There was some concern that there are team chase events being run by the Avon Vale and Tetcott  Hunts which are not afflilated to the MFHA and do not follow are rules. The MFHA specify that they should affiliate.

 

            We need more course inspectors anyone interested should contact Netty Nevill or Debbie Topping

 

            We will run a course building seminar at the Fernie the Saturday before the Championship this spring for course builders, designers and potential inspectors.

 

            There had been some concern expressed about course design and the possible safety aspects and it was agreed that we should consider the use of frangible pins Philip Cowen is to chair a sub-committee to consider this specifically.

 

THE RULES

Concern has been again expressed by several event organizers that there is no rule requiring horses to be ridden in bridle. It was unanimously agreed that the rules should be amended to provide for this and also that riders should have suitable experience and stewards should have a discretion to prevent riders from competing if tack or equipment was considered dangerous.

 

THE LEVY

It was agreed that the levy should continue at the same rate for all teams at all levels, and that the funds raised should be used for the promotion of the sport and in particular to support the Open Qualifier events.

 

SAFETY, MEDICAL,RISK ASSESSMENT, INSURANCE, ACCIDENT REPORTING

Some concern had been expressed about the safety of riding in racing boots using hunting stirrups. It was agreed that no rule change was necessary specifically to deal with this as the stewards are to have an overriding ability to stop people from competing on safety grounds

 

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

Sara Metcalfe and Rowan Cope had both indicated they wished to stand down from the Committee. Suggestions for new committee members are sought

.

DATE OF NEXT MEETING

The committee meeting and AGM will again be at Cheltenham Racecourse on Wednesday, 2nd  May, 2012.