On Sunday 9th September 2001 Alan Jones, Essex County Representative on the Eastern Region Committee accompanied by Lyndon N Taylor County Chairman attended a meeting of the Region. Invited to that meeting was BFA President Keith Smith who took questions from those assembled there.
What follows is a summary of the main areas discussed these are not direct quotes from the meeting. They should not be read as official minutes of that meeting. Each County Representative or guest gave questions to Keith and in places the several questions were asked on related topics therefore composite details are shown. What follows are not just the questions posed by Essex but covers we think the main areas discussed..
Hopefully the full text of the recorded interviews will be issued in due course
Q1. The new safety clothing regulations will prove expensive for clubs and members to meet, is there funding available from BFA to assist in this re-equipment?
A1. The simple answer from Keith was no. This is tied into an EU ruling that states that at this time we have until 2006 to conform. While funding is not available from BFA there are schemes available such as Awards for All and various local initiatives.
Q2. Is there any structure in place to encourage fencers to move from competing to coaching?
A2. Currently this is not the case. While there are systems in place for both the BFA and BAF there is no organised scheme to do this.
Q3. There is an apparent shortage of referees, particularly at local level how can this be addressed?
A3. Yes each Region will have a person responsible for refereeing. For Eastern Region it is Barry Clarke. If courses are requested they will be set up. By this refereeing should improve and referees more numerous.
Q4. Will there be Centres of Excellence in this Region as set up in Durham or Loughborough?
A4. This is not the current thinking in so far as the way they are set up. There is likely to be Centres where coaches, along with their fencers can attend to get additional training. These will not be clubs or directly associated with clubs. This forms part of the Regional Development Officers mandate.
Q5. The Counties have done much to promote the profile of the sport and normally are the entry level competitions for new members to the BFA. Where does the County sit within the BFA plan?
A5. It is recognised that the Counties do much in these areas and this is where the Counties and Regions are strong as they can get to the grass roots and bring people into the sport. Again this is where the Regional Development Officer fits in.
Q6. In view of your reply to question 5 should the Counties be helped by receiving direct funding from HQ?
A6. At this time there is not the funding or structure to do this. To give each County funds just cannot be done. However the whole question of membership and the resulting funding is currently under review and this could see a change in the way funding is allocated.
Q6A. Money is not always the issue - what other support can the BFA give to the counties, who have to struggle to survive on the kindness of others/volunteers with lack of resources and expertise
A6A. All Counties are asked to look at their needs and provide ideas to the BFA on how and what support they would like from central and the ideas will be assessed
Q7. Knowing what is going on is not always clear. For example qualifying for an event but not knowing where it is to be held.
A7. This is often the case as the organising Region or group may not have finalised location etc. Also as some areas see the running of an event as a chore, the result is often less than prefect running and communication. This may change, as now National Championships will be organised centrally, for example the national Championships at RAF Cosford. It was also mentioned that the area holding the event has more recently been shown on Eastern Region entry forms.
Q8. Many people take up the sport as an adult and are unlikely to make the Olympics for example. Is there anyway that they could have their own competitions?
A8. Firstly we already have a congested calendar the introduction of any more events would take the few remaining weekends that are used by Counties and Regions. He suggested that events are already in place for such fencers these are the Regional and County Championships and also the Intermediate events.
The above is not an exhaustive list, but covers the main areas addressed.
Alan Jones Lyndon N Taylor
Essex County Regional Representative Essex County Chairman