Joe,
I am a firm believer,and committed to, open and transparent management of our sport so have no problems addressing your questions.The National Events Working Party is established by the ANKC for each of its disciplines, in this case Retrieving and Field.
If I could, I refer you to the ANKC website (
http://www.ankc.org.au) where if you click on "about ANKC" scroll to "Regulations" and then go to Reg. 14 titled "Conditions for the use of the word National in the name of an Event"
Here you will find the answers to most of your questions as to the composition, election,aims and objectives of the NEWP and in fact most of the regulations covering the running of a National event. Please excuse this re-direction but I felt rather than type it all out it would be better for you and any other intersted party to see the official version.
The NEWP for Retrieving and Field was elected at the 2009 NRAFT conference and actually consists of more members than required by the regulations, these being myself in WA . Mrs Sue Axton of Tasmania and Mr Bob Tawton of the ACT in his capacity as chair of the NRAFT.
It is only a small working party as normally we are in the position of "rubber stamping" approval for any application for a National event(as in fact was the case with the application by NSW to conduct the 2010 Utility Field Trial National) Then merely monitoring its progress and ensuring the necessary ANKC regulations are adhered to.
I hope this answers your questions adequately, as I said in the beginning I will do my best to help.
Like you Joe, I too have limited involvement in Field Trial activities,but I hope you can understand that the NEWP is soley concerned with the application of the ANKC regulations in these events and when the organisers of the 2010UFT National failed to comply with those regulations then attempted, rather than cancel the event outright, to negotiate a special compromise so the event could come to fruition. It is indeed unfortunate that these attempted compromises(agreed to by both the ANKC and Dogs NSW) are seen as hurdles to prevent the event going ahead.
In my humble opinon our sport is too small for amimosity or grudges to exist and I fear that such will do nothing but turn people away from it.
As I commented in my previous post I write with no animosity so no apology is neccessary I just hope to clear up misconceptions.
As Gareth commented perhaps now IS a good time to stop looking backwards and start looking forwards because for me certainally the view is much better.
If you have any further queries please don't hesitate to ask, if I can help I will.
Regards
Allan