Minutes of WWR Ctte. Meeting 13th Feb 2006.

Present: John Ringwood, Willie Irwin, Keith McGuirk, Martin McCarthy

Apologies: Wesley Bourke

(a) Discussion in relation to recent correspondence from competitors regarding location of selection events for National Team.

Following a lengthy debate, the committee concluded that the current policy would stand but that the rationale for the use of the Scottish selection event would be forwarded to those who had queried it. The following would form the basis for the response:

· The selection policy was published on 10th December 2005 and no difficulties with this were indicated until 6th Feb 2006. In the meantime, 5 Irish ranking events have passed, with only Aughrim (with associated water level uncertainty) and Boyne (significantly flat) events remaining. One of the reasons the Scottish events were originally chosen was due to the virtual guarantee of a reasonable water level, since the courses are lake fed and can be run at any level, including summer levels

· A number of paddlers have already made plans to attend the selection event in Scotland

· The selection event is for both World Championships and World Cup, so a reasonably challenging course is appropriate for selection purposes

· The Scottish event represents an independently timed and organised event, which removes any potential conflicts of interest from management of the selection event

· Using an event in the UK will give paddlers an opportunity to measure themselves against UK (and possibly other) paddlers, prior to competing in World Cup and World Championship events and to improve experience and expertise on reasonably good WW racing courses

· Travel to the Scottish event does represent a commitment. However, this is seen as commensurate with selection to a national team to compete in World Cup and World Championship events

(b) Discussion of clarification of selection policy in relation to C2 selection for paddlers wishing to race in two categories during separate World Cup/World Championship events.

It was agreed that the aim of the Irish Wild Water Racing Committee in sending an international Wild Water Racing team abroad in 2006, is to achieve the highest possible rankings in the World Cup, and the best results (highest possible finishing positions) in the World Championships. In order to
best ensure this, the following was agreed:

1. Anyone wishing to be considered for selection, must race in the category/class in the selection events that they intend on competing in at the World Championships & World Cups. The team will be selected as per the published selection policy.

2. In order to achieve the best possible results in the World Championships, a paddler may race Classic in one class and sprint in another, providing they are selected (by the WWR ctte. as per the selection policy) in both classes as per point 1 above. All paddlers are expected to enter in both classic and sprint events as they are selected. The paddlers intentions must be communicated to the WWR. ctte. by 17.00 on the 12th March as stated in the selection policy.

3. In the World Cups, the final ranking is decided by adding the best four results from six races in the World Cup series. Thus in order to achieve the best possible overall ranking all national team paddlers must compete in the same class in all World Cup events they compete in (up to four races). If they compete in more than four races, they may compete in a different category in races five and six, provided they have been selected to race in that category (as per point 1 above).

(c) Discussion of correspondence from Aisling ni Chuinn regarding payment for cagdecks for Juniors who represented Ireland in the Irish legs of the 2005 WWR World Cup.

Unfortunately, the matter seemed to be somewhat complicated by the following:

· The World Cup committee is separate (and maintained separate accounts) to that of the Wild Water Racing Committee, thus it is not clear if the Wild Water Racing Committee has any function in relation to this issue,

· The 2005/2005 Wild Water Racing Committee is not in possession of a full set of records from the 2004/2005 Committee, and

· There seems to be some distance between the account of events/agreements between three members of the current WWR committee who were also on the World Cup Organising Committee and one other member of last year's Wild Water Racing Committee,

As a result, it was not possible to come to a definitive conclusion on the matter. However, it was deemed important that Aisling be contacted as soon as possible in relation to this (the Aughrim WW Race might be a good opportunity).