Extended view

I feel it is too late in the year already to organise a club with manpower to run a separate event,as well as finding a date and venue. Next year, confirm which club will run it, where and set a date early in the year.

Last year it was the end of a long - albeit wonderful - day at Runcorn. We were shattered and kids ready to go home so not as celebratory as could have been.

On a separate date at a venue - potentially not horse related - we get chance to chat, play, catch up together cross-Zone / clubs. Also means more people will come.

Another point is that the Zone Derby still clashes with the Masters so people may be divided which they attend sadly. This has knock on of effecting numbers available for post-Derby celebrations.

The best break up today was organised by SSPC and was held at a bowls club.
The least preferred is to have the party after the zone derby. I believe it takes away from the event.
I also highly recommend that the awards and the criteria be shared with committee members of each club at the start of the year with league updates throughout the year (end of each month), then create a blackout period 3 months before the final award date. I lead annual awards for a global company and this structure works very well. If you require further information or support, do not hesitate to reach out to me.
Kind Regards Belinda House, 0422276894

This is the barebones of an idea and it would need to be fleshed out some:
Rotate the presentation/Christmas party to a different club each year. The host club only provides the venue and furniture and setting, PA audiovisual prizegiving area et cetera. Say, 6 or half of the other clubs in the zone are each given a task in respect to the holding of the event E.G.1 club provides entrée, another club provides mains and another club provides desert, another club provides drinks, another club provides entertainment which could be provided into junior and senior levels et cetera. Each club and decide how it carries out that task but there would be review and improvement process each year.

So every year a different club in the zone hosts the event and the other clubs provide the food et cetera every second year so it is spread fairly. If a club is too small then maybe more than one club would carry out one task. The event travels all round the zone and no one club has to carry too great a load.

And clubs could volunteer to host or a draw could be done at the beginning of each year e.g. at the AGM to decide the host who can then pick a convenient date for the event with plenty of time to prepare.

Gumdale and Mt Gravatt offered at zone meeting and are putting together a plan to submit to zone. We will also put lots of date options in our proposal too for your consideration. We have also found a couple of places that may be a little bit central perhaps too.

I'm evenly divided on having the Zone Break-up function and awards ceremony at either a club or a separate venue. I'm strongly against it being merely an add-on at the end of the Zone Derby. It needs to be promoted as a prestigious stand-alone event.

The secret to having a successful function is planning, especially pre-planning:
1. The date for the Zone Break-up should be set at the same time that dates for all other Zone events are set and expressions of interest called for from clubs to host or run, ie in the last quarter of the previous year.
2. A Zone sub-committee should be formed at the AGM to organise, promote and manage the event or alternatively, the host club(s) should begin planning to organise, promote and manage the event. Monthly reports on planning progress must be presented at Zone meetings.
If the above is carried out there is no reason why the break-up and awards function cannot succeed.

I think it runs well after the derby.

I also think you would have more buy in from zone 1 members if you explained at the beginning of the year what the end of year break up is all about, what awards there are and what people have to do to win those awards.

I am happy with the majority - after the Derby is easy but at a club or venue is more tailored and a bit special. At a venue means that the club volunteers don't have to "serve people" but there is still organising to be done.

Having it a club you could have activities for the younger riders i.e: Jumping castle, games etc.

I believe it should be promoted as a "stand alone" event, even though it follows the Derby. There should be a specific time, and invitations sent out so that those Zone 1 members who are not attending the Derby, will still attend the end of year Awards Presentation that same day. To make it successful, it requires promotion, with invitations sent out to clubs requiring RSVPs. Plus the promise of refreshments and a schedule so that members can know what will be happening & the time frame.