Annual General Meeting – Tuesday 25th February
The AGM took place at Chobham Community Hall and was attended by 37 members. This is a special News Brief report summarising the event. Formal minutes will follow.
Sara Green (Chair) reported that membership at the end of the year stood at 105 members. This was an increase from the 33 declared at the 2018 AGM.
At our 12th Charity Show in June we managed to raise £700 for the RDA and £500 for the Surrey Air Ambulance. There was also an additional £500 for the RDA thanks to Claire Valvona's employers accepting her application on behalf of Quest under their Charity fund Matched Giving scheme.
We also ran 3 other shows. The two dressage shows in April and September have now become the primary income earners for the club. The August Bank holiday show was held, though being the hottest day of the year entries were limited! From the profit of this event, we also donated a further £150 to the RDA as an appreciation of their support of the event.
The main successes of the year came from the amount of training offered and, of course, the excellent camp which was held at Boomerang Stables in Hungerford.
We would like to thank all our trainers for their time and effort in helping us all improve at the sport we love so much.
The club would also not be able to run without the support of the membership who give their time to assist at a variety of events.
Treasurer’s report
Nick Valvona reported on the club finances and shared that turnover of the club had increased significantly over the year compared to 2018. The financial report is available to all members and will be circulated with the official AGM minutes.
Nick shared that BRC were again increasing the membership costs. This means that for every member the club is only receiving £3. As a result, the committee proposed increasing the cost of Adult membership to £24 (£2 per month). We also proposed removing the non-riding member as we only have one (Nick himself). Junior membership will be £18 (£1.50 per month).
This increase was agreed by the membership and will made with immediate effect.
Team Manager’s report
Liz Hillier-Sinclair reported that the club has performed extremely well are a variety of area competitions across the year. She encourages more members to take part and reassured that it was the taking part that counts.
Liz also shared the huge amount of training that has been available to the membership and apologised for the weather, which over the past few weeks has resulted in lessons being cancelled/postponed.
Appointment of committee officers
As per the constitution a third of the committee need to stand down. Paul Dixon, Caroline Shrubb and Claire Valvona all offered to step down but were all happy to be re-elected. In the absence of any other applicants, the membership agreed and all remained on the committee.
Changes to the constitution.
There were 4 proposed changes which led to a healthy debate.
Two were updating the constitution to reflect the developments in technology, amended to refer to email opposed to post and an update of the hat regulations which have been made. These were unanimously approved.
The other two proposals related to how the Chair, Treasurer and Secretary were to be selected. The proposal was for the membership at the AGM to elect these positions rather than Committee appointment from within. This was not agreed by the membership and the current structure of these three positions being appointed by the committee members will continue.
The final change proposed was for a limited length of office for an individual to hold the Chair to a maximum of 5 years. This was also decided against by the membership.
AOB
Paul Dixon raised for discussion the opportunity of using My Riding Life application as a booking tool for training. This would result in a £1.50 additional payment for each booking using this tool. Concerns were raised about the challenges with times, horse heights etc
It was agreed that the additional charge is accepted by the membership if it makes the training manager’s life easier. The Committee will look at a trial of this proposal.
The AGM took place at Chobham Community Hall and was attended by 37 members. This is a special News Brief report summarising the event. Formal minutes will follow.
Sara Green (Chair) reported that membership at the end of the year stood at 105 members. This was an increase from the 33 declared at the 2018 AGM.
At our 12th Charity Show in June we managed to raise £700 for the RDA and £500 for the Surrey Air Ambulance. There was also an additional £500 for the RDA thanks to Claire Valvona's employers accepting her application on behalf of Quest under their Charity fund Matched Giving scheme.
We also ran 3 other shows. The two dressage shows in April and September have now become the primary income earners for the club. The August Bank holiday show was held, though being the hottest day of the year entries were limited! From the profit of this event, we also donated a further £150 to the RDA as an appreciation of their support of the event.
The main successes of the year came from the amount of training offered and, of course, the excellent camp which was held at Boomerang Stables in Hungerford.
We would like to thank all our trainers for their time and effort in helping us all improve at the sport we love so much.
The club would also not be able to run without the support of the membership who give their time to assist at a variety of events.
Treasurer’s report
Nick Valvona reported on the club finances and shared that turnover of the club had increased significantly over the year compared to 2018. The financial report is available to all members and will be circulated with the official AGM minutes.
Nick shared that BRC were again increasing the membership costs. This means that for every member the club is only receiving £3. As a result, the committee proposed increasing the cost of Adult membership to £24 (£2 per month). We also proposed removing the non-riding member as we only have one (Nick himself). Junior membership will be £18 (£1.50 per month).
This increase was agreed by the membership and will made with immediate effect.
Team Manager’s report
Liz Hillier-Sinclair reported that the club has performed extremely well are a variety of area competitions across the year. She encourages more members to take part and reassured that it was the taking part that counts.
Liz also shared the huge amount of training that has been available to the membership and apologised for the weather, which over the past few weeks has resulted in lessons being cancelled/postponed.
Appointment of committee officers
As per the constitution a third of the committee need to stand down. Paul Dixon, Caroline Shrubb and Claire Valvona all offered to step down but were all happy to be re-elected. In the absence of any other applicants, the membership agreed and all remained on the committee.
Changes to the constitution.
There were 4 proposed changes which led to a healthy debate.
Two were updating the constitution to reflect the developments in technology, amended to refer to email opposed to post and an update of the hat regulations which have been made. These were unanimously approved.
The other two proposals related to how the Chair, Treasurer and Secretary were to be selected. The proposal was for the membership at the AGM to elect these positions rather than Committee appointment from within. This was not agreed by the membership and the current structure of these three positions being appointed by the committee members will continue.
The final change proposed was for a limited length of office for an individual to hold the Chair to a maximum of 5 years. This was also decided against by the membership.
AOB
Paul Dixon raised for discussion the opportunity of using My Riding Life application as a booking tool for training. This would result in a £1.50 additional payment for each booking using this tool. Concerns were raised about the challenges with times, horse heights etc
It was agreed that the additional charge is accepted by the membership if it makes the training manager’s life easier. The Committee will look at a trial of this proposal.
We wanted to say thank you to a few people who have helped significantly over the year.
Marci Gough - for SJ Training and Handy Pony
Sarah Leno - for Handy Pony & Health and Safety
Clare Demonte - Helping out very last minute @ Pachesham for whole day
Charlotte Knight - Setting up at both shows & helping at dressage shows
Katie Hughes - Dressage stewarding all day at both shows
Wendy Smart - helping with secretary @ the shows
Sandra Hewitt - Stewarding at dressage shows & shows and persuading her husband to print our show schedules free of charge
Martine Cooper - Judging at both dressage and shows.
Marci Gough - for SJ Training and Handy Pony
Sarah Leno - for Handy Pony & Health and Safety
Clare Demonte - Helping out very last minute @ Pachesham for whole day
Charlotte Knight - Setting up at both shows & helping at dressage shows
Katie Hughes - Dressage stewarding all day at both shows
Wendy Smart - helping with secretary @ the shows
Sandra Hewitt - Stewarding at dressage shows & shows and persuading her husband to print our show schedules free of charge
Martine Cooper - Judging at both dressage and shows.
The club trophies were awarded at the end of the meeting,
Summer Shows
Winner - James Parker (20 points)
2nd Alice Scott 17
3rd Elizabeth Hillier-Sinclair 16
3rd Eryn Kurn 16
Orienteering
Winner - Caroline Shrubb (7 points)
2nd Michelle Bainbridge 6
2nd James Parker 6
2nd Jane Tolefree 6
2nd Claire Webber 6
2nd Gill Wood 6
Dressage Shows
Winners - Siobhan James & Caroline Shrubb (10 points)
3rd Sue Childs 9
3rd Marci Gough 9 – Highest percentage 78.46%
3rd Alice Scott 9
Overall points
Winners - Alice Scott & James Parker (26 points)
3rd Elizabeth Hillier-Sinclair 21
4th Marci Gough 17
4th Caroline Shrubb 17
ROR Challenge
Winner– Elizabeth Hillier-Sinclair
Summer Shows
Winner - James Parker (20 points)
2nd Alice Scott 17
3rd Elizabeth Hillier-Sinclair 16
3rd Eryn Kurn 16
Orienteering
Winner - Caroline Shrubb (7 points)
2nd Michelle Bainbridge 6
2nd James Parker 6
2nd Jane Tolefree 6
2nd Claire Webber 6
2nd Gill Wood 6
Dressage Shows
Winners - Siobhan James & Caroline Shrubb (10 points)
3rd Sue Childs 9
3rd Marci Gough 9 – Highest percentage 78.46%
3rd Alice Scott 9
Overall points
Winners - Alice Scott & James Parker (26 points)
3rd Elizabeth Hillier-Sinclair 21
4th Marci Gough 17
4th Caroline Shrubb 17
ROR Challenge
Winner– Elizabeth Hillier-Sinclair
After the formal AGM, members were treated to pancakes, brownies, sausage rolls and a variety of other treats supplied by Claire Valvana and Paul Dixon.
Those present were remarkably generous in their purchase of raffle tickets and raised the sum of 205 for Quest RDA. The lucky prize winners went away with a range of prizes including vouchers for equine and human treatments, lessons, and other horse and human goodies.
This was then followed by an exciting game of Bingo! At which our winners were Amelia James and Claire Valvona who both took away a bottle of Prosecco.
Many thanks to all who attended the AGM. The formal minutes and a copy of the accounts will follow in due course.
Those present were remarkably generous in their purchase of raffle tickets and raised the sum of 205 for Quest RDA. The lucky prize winners went away with a range of prizes including vouchers for equine and human treatments, lessons, and other horse and human goodies.
This was then followed by an exciting game of Bingo! At which our winners were Amelia James and Claire Valvona who both took away a bottle of Prosecco.
Many thanks to all who attended the AGM. The formal minutes and a copy of the accounts will follow in due course.
The committee
Chair – Sara Green
Secretary – Amelia James
Treasurer – Nick Valvona
Membership – Claire Valvona
Teams & Training – Liz Hillier-Sinclair
Area Liaison – Caroline Shrub
Website & Communications - Paul Broadest-Dixon
Ordinary members - Malcolm Hunt
Sara Leno is the Club Safeguarding Officer.
Chair – Sara Green
Secretary – Amelia James
Treasurer – Nick Valvona
Membership – Claire Valvona
Teams & Training – Liz Hillier-Sinclair
Area Liaison – Caroline Shrub
Website & Communications - Paul Broadest-Dixon
Ordinary members - Malcolm Hunt
Sara Leno is the Club Safeguarding Officer.