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Questions & Answers

 

British Show Jumping Association
Annual General Meeting – 31st August 2011

Questions and Answers
 
Richard Tesh (93887) - Worcestershire
 

Question 1: Could the Board provide the current value of the development fund and outline how this sum is to be used in the future for the benefit of members.

 
The Current Value of the Development fund is as shown on the website where the interim results for the half year to 30th June 2011 are shown. The fund currently stands at £179,543 the same as at last December.
 
Although we had budgeted to use £72,000 to cover the Development Officers costs in the first 3 months of the year, we have not needed to do so as their costs have been more than offset by other savings.
 
The balance of the Development Fund continues to be held for the Development of the sport for Members. Examples of development activities include the funding of new types of class or new shows or training focussed on particular sectors of show jumping.
 

Question 2: Could the Board quantify the added value achieved collectively by the Development Officers and explain how this is being monitored against the known cost of approaching £300k per annum in order to ensure ongoing value for money.

 
Since the implementation of the Development Officers the decline in overall Membership and Horse/Ponies has abated. An increase in membership of 2010 figures can now be seen along with increased revenue.
 
The Development Officers have enabled British Showjumping to access funding from Sport England and County Sport Partnerships to the sum of over £15000 which has been utilised at a regional level. The Development Officer’s have significantly strengthened British Showjumping’s positive working relationships with Sport England, Sport Scotland, Sport Wales and the BEF and as a result are now achieving their outcomes.
 
Through training provided by the Development Officers 648 riders have had access to British Showjumping training provided by British Showjumping coaches at accredited venues.
 
As a result of the Development Officers 18 new venues are now running British Showjumping competitions many in areas where members had limited competition opportunities.
 
Further to this the Development Officers provide an unquantifiable service facilitating the running of British Showjumping within the regions. This includes; reducing dates clashes, supporting the volunteer network, providing a communication channel and point of information for members and increasing the profile of British Showjumping. The roles have assisted in supporting British Showjumping’s UKCC programme which in 2010 saw 40 coaches achieve UKCC accreditation and in 2011 a further 70 coaches are due to gain the qualification. Without these roles the inauguration of Club membership would have been unfeasible, conversely British Showjumping are now in a position to engage with those not involved in the Governing Body form of the sport which it had previously had limited capacity to cater for.
 

Question 3: Could the Board provide an update on what measures have already been taken to develop the sport further during 2011 and indicate what are still expected. 

 

Training provision has increased dramatically and is planned to continue to grow. Through the Development Officers Junior Academies have been reinvigorated and 7 have been initiated entirely from scratch. Through adopting Clubmark minimum standards for Junior Academies, the quality and quantity of the sessions provided will be increased. Following requests from the membership Senior Academies are due to be established towards the end of 2011.NAF 5* Training awards have received further endorsement from British Showjumping to increase rewards to members. A Pony 5* Award designed to provide a progressive training system to encourage young riders development not only in their riding skills but also their horsemanship knowledge and stable management skills, has been written and trialled with a view to rolling this out imminently. 
 
There has been the introduction of a grass roots membership specifically designed to engage with individuals not currently involved with British Showjumping to provide straightforward progression into the sport.
 
2011 has seen the implementation of Clean Sport policy to adhere to BEF Anti doping and controlled medication policies.
 
Steps have been made in order to make Showjumping inclusive for Para Riders through the creation of a Para-Membership with a view to introducing a specific competition structure for these riders. Further to this plans are in place to provide training for coaches to ensure they are appropriately skilled to provide inclusive sessions and aid these individuals development.
 
Categorisation of membership is being addressed in order to make it more straightforward meaning a club, national and international category.
 
Commitment to raising officiating standards has seen regular judging and course builder conferences throughout the country along with the introduction of Two Star Judges.
 
British Showjumping’s dedication to ensuring high quality coaching provision is extending not only through holding 7 UKCC Level 2 and 3 courses in 2011 but are also a pioneer sport developing a UKCC Level 4 high performing coach award.
 
British Showjumping is embracing National Occupational Standards and by the end of 2011 is hoping to be in a position to offer its members working within the equestrian industry the opportunity to gain a modern apprenticeship. These are nationally recognised qualifications which are endorsed and recognised by employers and higher education establishments alike.
 
Developing IT system to improve service to members. Which going forward will include online system and electronic communication as well as a fully integrated results system providing a full performance record for all members
 
 

Question 4: Could the Board advise what are the latest available membership figures, prepared on a consistent basis to those published in the annual report.

 
Although membership numbers are an important performance indicator, the number of starters is probably more so. The annual report suggests a year on year fall of over 7% and a 5 year reduction of some 12%. However, the income from show affiliations during 2010 is almost 18% lower than in the previous year, a much greater decline. It is also of note that the “average” horse and pony jumped in only 20 classes during the whole of 2010, down from 24 in 2006.
 
The Membership figures in the Annual report show the total Membership renewals in the year to 31/12/2010. The latest figures prepared on the same basis showing total membership renewals in the first seven months of the year are as follows:
 
                                                            2011    2010    2009    2008    2007    2006
Full Jumping membership renewals                 4,740      4,469      4,399       4,248     4,444      4,301
Total membership Renewals                             10,590    10,504   10,668    10,588   10,609 10,119
 
It will be apparent from the above that membership, particularly Jumping membership, far from declining, is in fact increasing year on year.
 
Question 5: Could the Board indicate the number of starters so far this year compared to the figure for a similar period in 2010, 2009 and 2008.   
 
Starters for the 7 months to July                       
    2011                2010              2009              2008             2007
    242,966            238,672          254,016          258,180        249,857
 
Although lower than historical levels the number of starters in 2011 has picked up by 2% on last year despite the continued weak economy, poor weather in January and high fuel prices.
In the calendar year 2010, starters dropped by 7% but show affiliation fees dropped by 18% The reason is that show affiliation fees are based on bands of numbers of starters with both a lower and upper cap. They will also vary depending on the mix of shows and whether they are junior or senior shows. There is therefore no direct relationship between starters and affiliation fees.
 

Question 6: Could the Board explain the nature of the arrangement whereby the Chairman receives either fees or an honorarium, whether this arrangement is in the form of a written agreement and the date of any such agreement.

 
The Chairman has a contract of employment.
 

Question 7:  Could the Board inform the membership whether an Investment Committee has been established, who are its members, when it has met during the past 12 months, if minutes / notes were produced and whether they are available.

 
Under the current constitution, management of investments is handled at two levels, the strategic level and the operational level.
 
Investment Strategy is decided at the Executive Board Level. As an example at the meeting in June, the Board decided that a portion of our investment funds could be used to purchase an office building and that the balance of the cost should be borne by borrowing.
 
An “Investment Group” met in February of this year attended by Tim Forrest, Julian Trim, Richard Tesh, Charles Purser and Williams de broe and Michael Mac via conference call. At that meeting the Investment Group discussed and agreed the level of risk and spread of investments that BS felt was appropriate over the medium term with the investment managers and this was subsequently documented ina detailed report from Tim Forrest.
 
Monitoring of the performance of the Investment Managers is performed by the Management Board at half yearly meetings or if need be by working parties for specific aspects. Discussions were held on investments and the possible purchase of a building at Management Board Meetings in February, March, June and August 2011 and at the Executive Board meeting in June.
 

Question 8:   Could the Board provide an estimate of the probable financial out-turn for 2011 and a first view of 2012 given the cost of the Olympics, possible changes to grants received and the trends identified in answers to the previous questions.

 
As stated on the BS Website, the surplus for the half year of £123,704 was a significant improvement on last year’s £30,957 as a drop in income was more than offset by a significant cut back in expenditure and by exceptional items.
 
An estimate of the year end outturn will be produced in October, at which time we will also have a much clearer view of the 2012 Olympic costs and an overall budget for 2012.
 

Question 9: Could the Board explain what agreement or arrangement, whether formal or informal, existed between the Association and Scope UK Open Showjumping Championship Ltd prior to its liquidation.

 
 
 
A simple heads of agreement between The BSJA and Scope UK was confirmed on 1st October 2004 by the then Chief Executive Jacky Wood. The substance of the agreement was that the BSJA’s Festival of Showjumping and the Scope Festival should be merged to form a single Festival from September 2005 onwards, which Scope would run for 5 years with an option to extend for a further 5 years.
 
It should be noted that British Showjumping’s contractual relationship has always been with Scope Promotions UK Ltd, now listed as Scope Promotions (Equestrian) Ltd and that this company has not gone into liquidation but is still active. Scope Promotions decided to ring fence the operation of the Festival in a separate operating company, Scope Uk Open Showjumping Championships Ltd, but this did not change the contractual relationship between BS and Scope Promotions.
 
The precise arrangements for each show were agreed by mutual agreement at an annual planning meeting between BS and Scope normally held in the autumn following each year’s show.
 

Question 10: Could the Board explain what agreement or arrangement, whether formal or informal, now exists between the Association and UK Showjumping Championships Ltd (formerly Scope UK SJC Ltd), who on behalf of the Association made this agreement or arrangement and the date when this was agreed in principle.

 
From British Showjumping’s standpoint, there is no change in the contractual arrangements for the 2011 Festival as compared to the 2010 and previous shows as these continue to be with Scope Promotions (Showjumping) Ltd. As in previous years, the actual show will be operated by a Scope Promotions affiliated company.
 
The Management Board will be reviewing the operation of the show for the period up to and including 2014 before the end of the year.
 

Question 11:  Could the Board confirm, or otherwise, those elements of the above time-frame that are within its competence so that the membership has as an authoritative statement as possible of the sequence of events that culminated in two motions of no confidence in the Chairman on February 9th and March 15th 2011.

 
As the Association was neither a creditor nor member of Scope UK Open Showjumping Championships Limited, it received no notice of its insolvency and was unaware of it at the Executive Board meeting on 9th February. The Executive was made aware of the insolvency information at the meeting on 15th March and the Chairman, in answer to questions raised by members of the Executive Board, said that he had not received the notice of the Creditors Meeting on 8th February and was therefore unaware of the insolvency during the Executive Board meeting of 9thFebruary. The Association verified that the company had entered formal insolvency following that Creditors Meeting as a precursor to determining what should be done in relation to the 2011 show but any other matters relating to the insolvency are not relevant to the Association’s activities and so are outside its knowledge.  
 

Question 12: Could the Board confirm whether the Association was consulted on the use of the name UK Showjumping Championships Ltd and if any approval was given.

 
The Association was not consulted prior to the registration of the Company’s name, either by the Company or the Registrar of Companies, otherwise objections may well have been made. The Association is considering the position with its solicitors and it would be wrong to comment further at this stage.
 

Question 13: Could the Chief Executive advise whether any member of the Association’s staff recommended Murphy Salisbury to Mr Maguire.

 
Murphy Salisbury has confirmed that at no time did they act as advisors to the Scope company now in liquidation. However, they say they were recommended to Mr James Maguire who approached them for advice regarding the incorporation and VAT matters of a new company, UK Showjumping Championships Ltd following a recommendation by the liquidator of the previous company.
 

Question 14: Could the Board confirm whether any of its members recommended Murphy Salisbury to Mr Maguire.

 
When Mr Maguire commented to Mr Mac that a question about Vat had been raised by other show organisers, Mr Mac suggested to him that he should ask for the brochure that Murphy Salisbury had produced on the subject of VAT and shows. British Showjumping had approved this for circulation to any show organiser that asked for it.
 

Question 15:   Could a representative of the Association’s legal advisors outline to the membership the obligations that all members of the Executive have under the Companies Act to provide full and accurate answers to questions raised in accordance with the notice of the Annual General Meeting and indicate whether and what penalties there are in not doing so.

 
The Association has been advised that its directors are under no statutory duty to answer questions of members in a General Meeting and, in the absence of their causing any loss to the Company which is actionable or being defamatory, there are no penalties applicable to them for anything they may say. Members may, of course, evaluate any answers given or take any failure to provide answers into account in determining whether or not relevant directors should continue in office.
 

Question 16: Could the Board confirm that this doctrine of unanimity within the Executive following a majority vote is one that is accepted in all decisions and indicate whether the only option for elected members to the Executive is to resign if they believe so strongly that a course of action is not to the benefit of members.

 
There is no requirement for unanimity. The Boards of the Association discuss matters and then vote on resolutions put before them, which may be passed unanimously or by the requisite majority vote in accordance with the Association’s articles of association. Once a resolution is passed that is the end of the matter unless the resolution is put before another meeting of the board. If a director believes strongly that a resolution that has been passed is not in the best interests of the Association it is for that director to determine whether or not he should remain a director and/or try to persuade the other directors that the resolution should be overturned or, possibly, apply to the Court. A director has no other powers if a resolution is passed, or fails against his wishes.  
 

Question 17: Could the Board confirm whether the doctrine referred to in Question 16 was applied to the Executive meetings held on 9th February 2011, 15th March 2011and subsequent ones and then if not, why not.

 
Resolutions were put before the Executive Board at both meetings and voted upon in accordance with the articles of association. 
 
 

Margaret Shaw (65911) Cheshire

 Question 1: What will happen regarding the policing of shows in Area 18 when the employment of Frank Grunnill and Mike Henwood comes to an end in September?

 British Showjumping will be rolling out a recruitment and training programme for stewards around the country in the next few weeks.
 
 

Clare Bossons (47873) Cheshire

Question 1: Can you please update members on the BEF’s progress with drug testing at national shows?

 An update will be given about BEFAR at the AGM.


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