Northern Ireland Technical Officials Association 

Officials have an Association, which has Associate Membership of Athletics Northern Ireland. This provides a voice for officials and also is a method of providing financial support for members’ activities and for purchasing equipment.

The Committee members are:

Membership costs £15 with fees due at the AGM. This year’s AGM was held on 14 February and if you weren’t able to attend, please pay your fees to Robin Mack, Treasurer robinmack@which.net

Members enjoy reduced rates for clothing and equipment and financial support can sometimes be provided to members travelling to events outside NI not automatically covered by Athletics NI.

AGM

The existing committee members were re-elected at the AGM and the Secretary thanked them for their work. He went on to outline the activities of members and remarked on the successful Age Group Championships held the previous weekend at the Odyssey Arena.

He made particular mention of the students from Grosvenor High who had just completed a Level 1 (Young Officials) Course and who worked at the event.

He advised members that from 1 April all event organisers will be offering to pay travel expenses to officials. This had been negotiated by the Committee given the increase in petrol costs over recent years. Officials may choose not to claim if they wish.

Finally the Secretary referred to the low and high of the season. The low was the death of our friend Brian Downing who had served athletics so well over many years. The high was the MBE awarded to Tommy Welsh (and Phyllis!) for his tireless work over a lifetime.

Athletics NI Officials who were award winners at the annual event in October 2011.