2025 MYA Annual General Meeting, Trade Show and Boat Jumble

Last Saturday was the date of the 2025 MYA Annual General Meeting, Trade Show and Boat Jumble.

I arrived at Chelford Village Hall, near Wilmslow, just before 8.00am expecting to be the first there and have time to open and a mooch around the latest venue. Turning into the car park 3 suppliers met me eager to set up and soon after 8.00am by the first of the members keen to see what was going on. With 19 tables booked the hall was just the right size, and the excellent kitchen area made for a secondary room for quieter coffee and chat. With almost 80 members signing in, we had a fantastic morning with many trades taking place with plenty of banter as well.

The introduction of the Boat Jumble a couple of years ago has brought a new dimension to the morning and by moving around the country new treasures are unearthed each year. (The Bristol area is planned for next year so get your “stuff” ready!)

With money spent, Judith and Rose called everyone into the kitchen for pre-AGM sandwiches and cake, thanks ladies. On the dot of 1.00pm Darin Ballington called the meeting to order and after a minute’s silence to remember members, the reports were read out, questions taken and reports accepted. The formalities over, Derek Priestley performed his usual superb job in presenting the annual awards to the winners.

First award went to the Rudyard RSC for their continued growth and increased competitiveness which gave them the 2025 Step Up Trophy as calculated by the excellent ACERSAIL results service run by John Smith of Gosport.

The individual winner was once again Nigel Barrow, who narrowly pipped Paul Middleton right at the end.

Derek then took delight in presenting the club award to Olly Murray and Paul Middleton of the Fleetwood MY&PBC. Well done club Fleetwood.

Following these awards Derek presented the annual awards for service to the sport and once again these were accompanied by a brief introduction, the Syan award for 2025 was presented to Judith and Peter Baldwin for heir service to the sport at Club, District and National level. Peter and Judith are a formidable race team and an invaluable asset to the sport.

The Chris Dicks Award for design went to a designer that everyone involved with the sport will have heard of, and Derek introduced the winner by way of a speech intertwined with all his designs, which took quite a while. I think that everyone had guessed after the first sentence, but for those who were not there, it was Graham Bantock.

Well done to all our winners.

For the record, the following members were nominated for the awards.

Syan Award

• John Goodyear – ROFWAC
• David Creed – Builder
• Andy Start – Huntingdon RYC
• Nigel Barrow -Datchet RS
• Alan Brown – West Wilts MYC
• John Cleave – Ryde MYC
• Peter & Judith Baldwin – Birkenhead
• Bill Green – Bournville RS&MBC
• Andrew Johnson – Huntingdon RYC
• Nathan Clark – Ryde MYC

Chris Dicks Award

• Graham Bantock – Chelmsford RYC
• Andrew Johnson – Huntingdon RYC
• Mark Dicks – Clapham MYC
• Craig Richards – Datchet RS
• John Goodyear – ROFWAC

Following the awards, Darin opened the floor to discussion, and Charles Clarke of LMYC explained the success that the club had with recruiting new younger members by providing loan boats ready during the sailing day.

The day ended at 2.00pm with Darin thanking everyone and wishing them a safe journey home.

I would like to thank our suppliers for attending. In the not too distant past the Trade Show was a good day for them with members leaving with bags of goodies for the following year, the internet and online shopping have changed the trade show, and I appreciate that the day is now more about supporting the MYA and sport with their presence. I also acknowledge that without their support it would be exceedingly difficult to get the general membership to attend the AGM, again I thank those who stayed for the meeting.

Darin Ballington
MYA Vice Chair