Martin Laws
(1 + 1) = 2
I always
struggle to write the Editorial for this Newsletter. One, because I don’t
find writing this kind of article easy, and two, because I know people crave
good news.
I seem to have written for an age now, that
integration with British Gymnastics is almost complete! I cannot say that the
process has been easy. However, I can now report that we are now integrated. Yes, that fateful day has arrived where we
are now fully integrated into the Gymnastics family!
I choose the title of this article for a specific reason.
It sums up so much of what we were, and now are. The BTF and British
Gymnastics were both successful organisations in their own right. The beauty
is that their success was in mainly different aspects of their respective
sports. Now we are integrated, the strong points of both organisations
compliment the whole, rather than conflict. Truly, we should now be able to
go from 1 to 2, in terms of delivery, as a unified National Governing Body.
British Gymnastics has now moved up the ladder to
become UK’s 5th
most successful National Governing Body in terms of funding, which also
relates to our International success.
Trampoline has undoubtedly been the major
contributor and has been rewarded with further enhancements to the World Class Programme, as featured
elsewhere in this Newsletter. This has been achieved without the major media
coverage that is enjoyed by the accepted “big
7” governing bodies, like football and rugby.
What is less understood,
is that British Gymnastics is far from being as wealthy. Perhaps it should be
– but it isn’t. We are ravaged by the spiraling cost of sport like Insurance,
and professional pressures on mainly voluntary sport. Yet together, we have
survived. A feat I am convinced neither body could have achieved separately
for much longer.
There are many ways to achieve the end result of
the equation in my title i.e. 1½ + ½ but this should not be our objective.
Equality, recognition and balance should be everyone’s goal for our future
plans. I am adamant that trampolining is neither swallowed nor
sidelined. However, we must also play our part
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In the
partnership. We must consider ourselves within a new family just as if we
were married into it. Care about it. Protect it, and contribute like every
other member. It is time for trampolinists to show what they can achieve in
terms of organisation, commitment and contribution to the whole.
We can no
longer sit back in the shadows, hoping to be left alone. We must make our
mark on the face of our new sport and etch it in stone. Yes, this era is more
expensive. Yes, we have to consider other disciplines now. However, there is
much to be gained.
We must ferociously route out the benefits. Reduce
problems, and display our successes. If we don’t, we will be the silent
partner, gain nothing, wilt and die. If we do, the sky is the limit…it’s the
old favourite “you have to be in it to win!”
Trampoline
heads BG Ranking Table in 2002
(World Class Supported Disciplines)
Trampolining:
4 x gold, 1 silver, 5 x bronze, 25 x finals
Tumbling: 2 x gold, 2 x silver, 5 x bronze, 13 x finals
Men’s
Artistic: 1 x gold, 1 x bronze, 16 x finals
Sports
Acrobatics: 1 x silver, 4 x bronze, 12 x finals
Women’s
Artistic: 1 x silver, 1 x bronze, 11 x finals
Rhythmic
Gymnastics: 1 x final
The
following serving members were re-elected to the National Trampoline Technical Committee (NTTC) for a further
period of two years; and until 2005, during the British Gymnastics Technical
Elections, held at the National Sports
Centre, Lilleshall on Sunday 26th
January 03:
Martin
Laws: Chair
Mike
Phillipson: Judging
John
Beeton: World Class Liaison
All three wish to thank the membership for they’re
continuing support. The NTTC continues to work towards our set objectives for
the sport and your support is greatly appreciated by all.
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