Following an article in the Daily Gazette dated 20 December 2011, we believe it is time to respond to Mr John Hyland and also to remarks published on CAT’s website. 

For many years Mr Hyland has advocated a merger of the Clubs for the benefit of athletics and Athletes in the Colchester and District area. A large proportion of members of both Clubs support his view. Previous attempts to achieve this aim have failed and no official talks ever took place.

Following a meeting of Chairpersons a ballot was arranged, a majority of voting members agreed that talks should go ahead. A target end date 1st April 2011 was set to focus minds on the task ahead. 

A small working party from both Clubs was set up and they met on several occasions. Very quickly agreements were reached on a new Club name “The Colchester and District Athletic Club” Club colours were chosen and samples were obtained and shown to our younger members. Competitions were agreed and training days were to remain.  Both Chairpersons were pleased with the progress made and were looking forward to working together. Many athletes of both Clubs supported this aim. Like many mergers there were those who had strong opposite views and their wishes had to be addressed. 

Finance was always going to be an issue and cause of concern. Colchester Harriers Committee met and agreed a way forward in respect of finance and their agreed commitments for future bursaries to members. In 2012 Colchester Harriers celebrate their 30th Anniversary and plans were in place to celebrate this landmark with a weekend of activities. This involves a considerable cost from Club funds and it was important that the working party knew of our wishes and commitments. We were at all times willing and committed to any future plans CAT’s may have had. A merger has to be formed on agreement and complete trust. A new Committee would be formed working together with one aim.

Early in March a meeting of the working party was arranged, unfortunately due to a serious personal problem, our Chairman was unable to attend and with agreement with the Chairman of CAT’s the meeting was postponed. A new date for the meeting was set for a Thursday evening after a training session at the track.

As the meeting was being opened a member of CAT’s insisted on knowing the reason for the cancellation of the previous meeting. He was told it was for personal reasons, this did not seem to satisfy him and for a period of time he pursued this matter and waved e-mails he had allegedly received from members of Harriers. These emails were not submitted for reading.  It was very embarrassing and of the 9 persons present only two of those knew of the reason for the cancellation, one being the Chairman of CAT’s. This was totally out of order.

The meeting progressed with some agreement but there were different opinions with regard to the formation of the new Committee and finance. At this stage a member of CAT’s made an insulting remark towards our Chairman. This was totally unacceptable. The meeting terminated shortly afterwards.

The Colchester Harriers working party met and decided it would be impossible to pursue a merger, events suggested that personalities would clash and there was a fear that there would be a breakaway Club formed which would defeat the purpose of a merger. 

A full Committee meeting was arranged. Members were briefed and provided with e-mails our Chairman had received from Mr Hyland, two members of CAT’s and an email sent to Mr Hyland.  The Committee was asked to discuss the matter fully, taking into account the following. (1) The future of Athletics in Colchester. (2) The future of Colchester Harriers. (3) The future of Colchester and Tendring. The Chairman then left the meeting. A decision was made and a letter was sent to CAT’s setting out a way forward. A press release was also made available and was published. At the request of the Committee our Chairman withdrew from all further meetings with CAT’s. To this day he has done so.

It is accepted that contact was made by CAT’s but due to extended holidays etc., due to the loss of one email an early meeting was not arranged. We accept full responsibility for the delay and a personal apology has been offered. The present Chairman of CAT’s has publicly stated that many requests for a meeting have been ignored. This is untrue and not helpful. Details of contacts are readily available and known to CAT’s and no follow up enquires have been made. Emails are notoriously unreliable and although convenient not always the best way to communicate.

Late in the autumn a meeting was arranged and two members from each Club discussed a possible way forward. The meeting was for discussion only and report to the full committee.

For several seasons a composite men’s team of both Clubs has competed in the Southern Men’s League. On a Thursday training night a Club Coach produced an Athletic Magazine. An article within showed that CAT’s had entered the new Southern Combined League. We had not been informed and therefore our composite men’s team no longer existed and we were left with a serious problem.

 A hurried meeting of Club Coaches and Athletes was arranged. It was confirmed by the new League Secretary that CAT’s had applied to join the League and had been accepted. The meeting considered all our options and decided to enter that League as a stand-alone team. 

A few weeks later our Chairman was asked to contact Ian Kelly Chairman of CAT’s as they wanted to know urgently our position re participating in the new League. He contacted Mr Kelly and confirmed we had entered the League as a stand-alone team. An attempt was made to explain the reasons but he didn’t want to discuss it. No other conversation took place.

Mr Hyland in his article states and we quote “There is a feeling the Harriers look more on their Club like a family and don’t want to lose their identity.” Yes Mr Hyland, Colchester Harriers is a family club and is proud to be so. We actively support families.

 As far as a name is concerned, we agreed to change our name as part of a merger agreement. It was not an issue and the new colours would have been prominently black which just happen to be the colours of CAT’s.  We moved considerably.

Our working party consisted of 5 active members, who in principle supported a merger with CAT’s. The group had to report their findings to the main Committee and any final decision had to be agreed by them. The recommendation of the working party was that a merger at that time was not possible. Certain members of CAT’s were certainly difficult to work with.  Mr Hyland was not an active member of the working party, he was in the back ground and apart from one meeting discussing training, coaching, etc., he was absent and did not bring his coaching or management skills to the meetings. 

After many years of speculation it is obvious to all, that any merger is, if at all possible, way into the future. Many senior members of Colchester Harriers supported the idea of a combined club for the benefit of Athletics and Athletes in Colchester. We regret that due to personalities within, it is not possible to agree to, a long lasting solution. 

No further talks will take place.

13 January 2012