Chairman's Annual Report:

 

There are a number of reasons for holding a Regional AGM, which are contained in the Bye-Laws, available on the CPSA website. Broadly, these include promoting our sport within the Region – which we do by holding County and Regional Championships, but also by selecting Regional and County teams to represent the Region or County at the various 'national' CPSA competitions. Team (or 'discipline') managers are nominated to facilitate this, and procedures are in force to select these teams on a fair and equitable basis. Short reports are published afterwards  – either in Pull! magazine or on the North Region website of Facebook page(s).

 

There will be an overall 'round-up' of activities given by the discipline managers later on. Recognition of success in any of our Championships is by the awarding of County or Regional trophies and/or badges, purchased from the Regional bank account.

 

Additionally, success in a 'major' national competition results in the presentation of a special award in recognition of this, and several recipients will collect theirs later this evening.  (Definitions of what constitutes a 'major' or 'minor' championship can be found in the General and Technical Rules handbook – available as a download from the main website or in hard copy from HQ.)

 

Another purpose of the AGM is to elect county representatives to form a Regional Committee who then take on board the various roles and responsibilities. Additional persons may be co-opted to assist these. From the county representatives a Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer, collectively known as the 'Officers,' are chosen. It has been my honour to have been Chairman this year. Shortly, the current the Committee will stand down, and the Committee for 2019 will be elected, followed by the Officers.

 

The Regional Committee also tries to encourage the formation of County Committees but currently we only have one separate County Committee – this being Merseyside.  In the absence of any others the Regional Committee takes on their functions. This does not appear to be changing any time soon.

 

I would now like to thank the Officers, County Representatives and Team Managers who collectively form the 2018 Regional Committee.  A lot of hard work goes into the operation of the committee and they give up many hours of their free time unseen, unpaid and – sometimes – unappreciated. Taking into account time, fuel and travel costs, it actually costs money to be part of the committee but without this commitment our sport wouldn't function in the North nearly as well as it does. In particular I thank Liz Shanks who for private reasons is declining to stand next year. Liz has done a really excellent job as Skeet Manager, and her report will be given later.

 

A spreadsheet of all the 2018 Regional and County Champions and category winners is available through a link on the North Region website.

 

Special thanks go to all the North Region shooters who have attended the various team selection shoots, and County and Regional Championships – the levies generated by your support assist in ensuring that we continue to flourish year on year from a solid financial footing and I am pleased to announce that in addition to the Regional skeet, sporting and DTL Trophies, there will be new Trophies for All-Round and Sportrap, from 2019 onward. The Regional Committee also tries to encourage the formation of County Committees but currently we only have one separate County Committee – this being Merseyside.  In the absence of any others the Regional Committee takes on their functions. This does not appear to be changing any time soon.

I would now like to thank the Officers, County Representatives and Team Managers who collectively form the 2018 Regional Committee.  A lot of hard work goes into the operation of the committee and they give up many hours of their free time unseen, unpaid and – sometimes – unappreciated. Taking into account time, fuel and travel costs, it actually costs money to be part of the committee but without this commitment our sport wouldn't function in the North nearly as well as it does. In particular I thank Liz Shanks who for private reasons is declining to stand next year. Liz has done a really excellent job as Skeet Manager, and her report will be given later.

 

A spreadsheet of all the 2018 Regional and County Champions and category winners is available through a link on the North Region website shortly.

 

Special thanks go to all the North Region shooters who have attended the various team selection shoots, and County and Regional Championships – the levies generated by your support assist in ensuring that we continue to flourish year on year from a solid financial footing and I am pleased to announce that in addition to the Regional skeet, sporting and DTL Trophies, there will be new Trophies for All-Round and Sportrap, from 2019 onward.

The Regional Treasurer will provide a balance sheet and answer any questions on the Region's finances in a few moments.

 

My thanks go to all the ground operators (and their staff) for making sure we actually have worthy venues to enjoy our sport. It appears that the hiatus at Beverley Gun Club is at an end and the new management team should be up and running in the New Year.  Our appreciation must also go to the sponsors and organisations who have provided support to our events, individual shooters and teams this year. Their generosity is most welcome.

 

I want also to thank Ian Edwards for keeping the North Region website current and our Facebook presence relevant, and for all his efforts in continuing to steer the Merseyside County Committee forward.

 

One slightly sour note is the state of membership in the North; numbers have been falling in recent years, and 2018 is no different with 3105 current members, representing a fall of 51 from last year, with 60 renewals still overdue.

 

2018 has seen a few changes which I believe will have a positive future benefit to our sport; the new CPSA website appears to be a success and user friendly. Fellowes Media took over responsibility for Pull! Magazine in April. Any problems we historically had are behind us and we are now getting better coverage for the Region.

 

In closing, I would like to add that there have been many fine individual and team performances both domestically and internationally this year some of which will be recognised later. There are very many others who have achieved notable success, and while it would have been nice to have said a few words in recognition of their achievements time is against us and the business of the Region must move on.

 

 I wish everyone success – or greater success - in the coming year. Thank you.