WELSH AIRGUN AND FIELD TARGET ASSOCIATION

Minutes

OF MEETING HELD AT THE LIMES CLUB, ABERTILLERY

ON TUESDAY 11TH. SEPTEMBER 2007, Commenced at 7:35 p.m.

PRESENT

Officers

Chairman :- John Lewis

Treasurer :- Gwynne Robinson

Competition Secretary :- Dorian Falconer

Web Site Manager :- Wayne Wixey

Secretary :- Derek Winslow

Members

Pontypool - Marylin Snook, Holly Snook, Graham Snook, John Prosser

Avon Hawks - Mark Shepherd, Derek Winslow

Castleton - Pat Isaac, Mark Griffiths

Blaenau Gwent - Wayne Wixey, Vince Bowen, Rhys Bowen, Andrew Lewis , Gary Meredith

Tondu - Simon Evans, Dave Williams

Nelson - Dorian Falconer, John lewis

Quarry - Gwynne Robinson

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Howard Lloyd

ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES FOR MEETING HELD ON 20th, MARCH 2007

Proposed Pontypool, seconded Castleton - carried.

MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES

No matters arising.

CORRESPONDENCE

The chairman advised that he felt it advisable to include web-site information, and e-mails in this section.
Dorian Falconer advised that the hosts of this year's International (USA) have indicated that they would be applying a 20 foot pound limit, and his opinion no one from the UK would be likely to attend.
The recent e-mail criticisms of shoot standards was then raised by the chairman, during the discussion which followed the originator (Simon Evans) repeated his apology to Castleton. It was made clear that all clubs did the best they could with the ground and volunteers they had available, and that any criticism should be raised with the relevant club on the day of the shoot concerned. Suggestions were made that the top shooter be asked to assess each shoot, or that we should re-institute the Shoot Standards Shield. No definite decision was made.

HOME INTERNATIONALS

Team Selection - the Competition Secretary has made the selection, names will be on the web-site. Selected shooters were asked to confirm their availability as soon as possible. The CS also pointed out that Harriers were also running an open shoot on the same course, so anyone could take part.

Travel Arrangements - In view of the relatively short distance to Harriers, team members should make their own arrangements.

Caps - The treasurer suggested that to save expense, team members could utilize existing badges or caps.

SWFTA/WAFTA CHALLENGE.

This will be held at Castleton. Prizes will consist of wine for the top three shooters, and medals for the top ten. The entry fee is to be £6 for all entrants.

WINTER SHOOT DATES

28 Oct Nelson

11 Nov Blaenau Gwent

25 Nov Avon Hawks

16 Dec Tondu

30 Dec For information, there will be a shotgun shoot at Pontypool

13 Jan Quarry

10 Feb WAFTA shoot at Nelson

27 Jan Pontypool

24 Feb Castleton

9 Mar Grand Slam Final - Pontypool

SUMMER SERIES TROPHIES
Mark Bassett will be asked to obtain these, additionally he will be asked to obtain a suitable prize in recognition of Dorian Falconer's outstanding achievement in gaining close to a 100 per score in the Summer Series.

SUMMER SERIES PRESENTATION NIGHT.

This will be arranged in January; Marilyn Snook will confirm the date. She stated that it would be helpful if those attending could pay the fee when registering their intention to attend.

BFTA Meeting November 17th The secretary asked if anyone was able to accompany him, and were there any matters to be raised.

Simon Evans said he might be available, but would have to check his diary (it later developed that he was not available).

Dorian Falconer said the use of the chronograph at GPs was continuing to cause problems, he felt that he was sometimes left with the impression that the BFTA as an organization was trying to stop people shooting. The secretary asked him to discuss the matter with others who attend GPs, and provide definite proposals which could be put to the BFTA meeting.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

Castleton will provide the prize for 'Most Targets Hit - Summer Series.'

After discussion on the provision of t-shirts or sweat shirts for the team at next years World Championships, it was agreed that hats were a better option as they are more visible, and most shooters prefer to dress as they are accustomed to.

Pontypool proposed, and Castleton seconded, that 50 % of the entry fees for the next WAFTA shoot be used to fund the team  attending next year's World Championship (Ireland), the remaining 50% would remain with the Club and that no prizes would be given on that day - carried.

There was some discussion of the fact that shoots seem to be finishing earlier than had previously been the case, Dorian falconer pointed out that at the most recent shoot at Nelson, once everyone had finished the Main, and there were no further entries for the side shoot there was no alternative but to 'wind in.' A suggestion that an extra one pound be added to entrance fees to provide automatic entry to a side shoot was not carried.

There was a reiteration of the need to raise any problems with shoots on the day, the secretary pointed out that there were cases where it was appropriate to circulate items for discussion before meetings, eg possible rule changes.

Pat Isaacs said that he has a trophy for the  Annual Champion Club of WAFTA that could be reinstituted. This will be discussed at the next meeting

Simon Evans said that Tondu would be in a position to hold the 2008 Welsh GP, Vince Bowen expressed concern over the state of their access road. A decision was left to the date of the next AGM.

The meeting close at 9.14 pm.