I attended the AGM of the Midland Veterans Track & Field League (MVT&FL) last night where there were items on the Agenda to be discussed that affected MMAC. Without going into detail, these items were unnecessary and were deliberately aimed at MMAC, making us out as different to any of the other Clubs in the MVT&FL. The proposals put us under the heading of “joint clubs”, thus inferring that we are made up from more than one Club! And other proposals sought to change what in effect are the UKA Rules on second claim members.
Needless to say I defended our position as a “proper” Club saying that we affiliated to England Athletics the same as any other UKA Club and that we register members with EA as 1st Claim Members if they wish to compete but not belong to a UKA Club. Further more, we can use members who belong to a Club NOT affiliated for track & field who wish (their choice) to compete for us at track & field. Other Clubs admitted to using athletes in the MVT&FL under this rule, so we are no exception.
I’m glad to say that MMAC received plenty of support and these ridiculous proposals; all aimed at MMAC were dropped. I did point out that athletes from road running clubs wishing to compete in track & field for another club MUST fill in the UKA Form, “Other Discipline Application” for them to be eligible and this should be done pre-season. All MMAC members in this position will go through this procedure.
I now hope we can go into a third season in the MVT&FL without this underlying vendetta against us and we can allow our team managers to get on with it and for the athletes involved to compete and enjoy it, which is what it all should be about.
(I must point out that the above views are purely my personal ones and not necessarily those of the MMAC also the Midland Veterans T&F League is a completely different organization to MMAC)
The MMAC team manager for 2010 will be Tony Crocker assisted by Alan Mellett. Tony is also taking over the role of Divisional Secretary for the South and will be assisted by Eric Horwill and I wish them all well.
Provisional details of the dates for the 2010 season appear on the “Vets League” Page. Please keep returning for further updates as I get them.
The “Other Discipline Application” Form can be downloaded here: – http://www.midlandathletics.org.uk/PDFS/ELIGIBILITY_NA_Other_Disciplines_2NDClaimform.pdf