Glowing tributes paid as Rita Brady steps down as treasurer

There was “a special thanks†from the Meath Athletics Co Board chairman Brendan Meade to out-going treasurer Rita Brady who was stepping down after a lengthy stint in the position at the annual general meeting last week. Meade praised the Navan AC clubwoman for the way she has kept the Board's finances “on the straight and narrow†and for her dedication to promoting athletes. Former AAI President Michael Heery said Claremont Stadium was “a monument to her dedication.†Brady, who had previously served in various roles in the NACA, said she enjoyed her stint as treasurer, but would take a backseat for the foreseeable future. Ratoath AC's Tommy Boshell took over the purse strings while later in the meeting Brady agreed to fill the assistant-treasurer's position, maintaining her long association with the executive. There were plenty of positives for the Meath Athletics Co Board to reflect on in 2010 which included the addition of at least one new club, an increase in membership, significant achievements by county teams, the emergence of young, talented athletes and a decent profit at the end of the year. Yet invariably there are challenges that need to be faced on an on-going basis. Preventing the “poaching†of young athletes to getting in more people to help run the business of the Board - the same problems faced by many amateur sports organisations. There was only one motion passed on the night by the 30 or so club delegates in attendance and that related to preventing young athletes being lost from Meath clubs to their counterparts in neighbouring counties. The motion passed states that: “Meath County Board will not grant inter-club transfers of juvenile athletes to clubs outside the county except in the case of a change of principal residence.†Brendan Meade, who was re-elected as chairman, pointed out that various clubs in Meath have lost good young athletes to clubs, particularly in Dublin, and that the issue needed to be addressed. There was nothing as frustrating for club coaches than to spend years coaching a youngster with promise and next thing they know the athlete has moved onto another jurisdiction, many of them never to be heard of again. Much of this, the Co Board chairman pointed out, was due to the youngsters going to a third level colleges in Dublin and their friends persuading them to join up with one of the more “glamorous clubs†in the capital. A sizeable number of delegates including Dunboyne clubman Tommy McDonnell, stated their clubs had suffered in this regard and agreed it was a problem that needs to be sorted. The motion was passed by a big majority. Like any organisation, Meath Athletics is only as good as its members. So much depends on the people who fill the various positions and how much effort they put in, and in this respect athletics in the Royal County is not short of individuals willing to roll up their sleeves. Considerable chunks of the reports delivered by out-going officers such as Meade, Philip Cogavin (secretary), Ciaran Tobin (PRO), Maggie Higgins (development officer) and Tom Clinton (coaching co-ordinator) were devoted to thanking those who helped out in one way or other over the past year. All those officers were returned unopposed while Tobin held off a challenge from Bohermeen AC's Stephen Ball to retain his position in the only vote on the night, an indication that democracy is still strong at grassroots level. In her final treasurer's report, Brady thanked all those who had helped her in the role in 2010. She reported that the Meath Athletics Co Board had made a surplus of €2,034 after “income and expenditure†was totted up. A sign of the times, perhaps was indicated in the way that sponsorship only made up €180 of the funds coming in. The biggest sources of income included registration/affiliation (€5,914) and gate collection at track and field championships (€6,032). Some might think the old traditional church gate collection is outdated yet €3,362 was brought into the Co Board coffers in this way during 2010. Meade himself was unopposed as chairman, an indication of the fact that he remains highly regarded for the work he has done towards the development of the sport at local and provincial levels. He was happy to report moves were afoot to set up a club in Carnaross. “Again there are areas in the county where we need to establish an athletic club especially in the north of the county, but it seems we will get a club started in Carnaross.†He added that a new club was already up and 'running' in Slane. He proposed that the Co Board should help them financially to get established. Everybody agreed this was the way to go. Meade (pictured below) thanked all the athletes, young and not so young, who had taken part in the various competitions. There was praise for Ger Heery the senior team manager who guided the Meath team back to section A of the Inter-County Cross-Country League. Yet it wasn't all good news. “The disappointing aspect of the senior athletics was the National Track & Field League team which in 2010 did not seem to have the commitment to the competition that we had in previous years - maybe this was due to our young team that had quite a few athletes tied up with exams.†Ger Heery said he would welcome ideas to try and re-invigorate the senior track and field team. He called for more co-operation and commitment to improve matters. Registrar Moira Aston reported an increase in the number of athletes now under the aegis of the Meath Co Board with the number standing at almost 2,400 members. “Registration numbers remained strong in Meath throughout 2010. The trend nationally was for an 11 per cent increase, final figures in Meath showed a nine per cent increase overall,†Aston reported. “The largest age group registered in Meath in 2010 was 10 year old girls, this also was in keeping with the trend nationally. The gender balance was well maintained 1,291 female to 1,149 male. It is imperative that you register your members for your own protection as well as theirs.†In his report Tobin emphasised the importance of club PROs utilsing the services provided by local newspapers and other media outlets, old and new. He urged clubs to publicise achievements made by their athletes and in this way promote the sport. Children's officer, Moynalvey/Kilcloon AC's Domhnall O'Hanlon, reported there were no issues of contention on that front. Another big positive from an interesting year for Meath athletes.