Secretary’s Report Meath County Athletics Board Convention 2011

Convention 2011

Mr. President, Chairman, fellow Officers and Club Delegates.

It is appropriate at this our annual convention to thank all those who have contributed to our sport in Meath over the past 12 months.  To all my fellow officers a word of thanks for your continued dedication and commitment.  To our RDO Bart Rogers for facilitating the continuing development of our coaches and athletes.  I would also like to pay a particular word of thanks to our Chairman, Brendan Meade, for his tireless work in representing the county board at meetings and events throughout the county, province and country.

To our selectors, club coaches, parents and athletes who have competed on and supported county cross-country, relay and national league teams throughout the year, a special word of thanks.  In what is primarily an individual sport it is heartening to see athletes willing to compete for their county, often not in their principle event.

Thanks are also due to Sharon and her dedicated team in the Sports Development Office for all the work they do to support the many events during the year.  Equally deserving of thanks are Moira and Paul on the Primary Schools Development team.  For many children they will be their first point of contact with the sport.  The positivity and enthusiasm they bring to their work has served to enhance the experience for all involved.  Also we should not forget those landowners, clubs and venues that have taken on the responsibility of hosting athletics events over the past year.

It was good to see the increase in the number of clubs attending county board meetings.  Aside from our Convention, county board meetings are where the majority of decisions affecting athletic competition are taken.  I would encourage all clubs to consider putting forward candidates for county board positions.  The county can only benefit from the injection of new blood and talent.

With 2010 being a voting congress year I would like to thank all those who gave of their time to attend as delegates.  While not all elections or motions went our way we can be satisfied with the progress that was made.

The Road Race League has now matured and is now a permanent fixture in the athletics calendar.  I commend those host clubs who have embraced the format and who continue to work with it to make it the success that it has proved to be.  This year we have taken the decision to widen it to all open race events taking place in the county.  With the addition to the calendar of various new events this brings the number of potential events to 15.  Clubs are reminded that the success of the league is dependent on the prompt publication of full results.

The Inter-Club Track & Field League benefited from the addition of a second stream of competition.  The close finishing positions and the consistent scoring over the four legs gives testament to the renewed efforts by the competing clubs.

Finally, I would like to thank you all for coming here this evening.  Hopefully we will make good progress through the agenda and leave at a decent hour, with a job well done.