New National President of the NZ Trainers Association

[Chief Stipe]

Robert Wellwood has been elected National President of the NZ Trainers’ Association, taking over from Shaun Clotworthy who has stood down from the role.

Wellwood was elected at the Association’s National Annual General Meeting yesterday and will lead the Association as it continues to advocate for trainers and their businesses across the racing industry.

The Association sincerely thanks Shaun for his commitment and leadership over the past five years. He has given generously of his time to represent trainers and has played an important role in the Association’s engagement with industry stakeholders.

The AGM also provided an opportunity for the National Executive to have frank and honest discussions with senior representatives from across the racing industry.

Guests included Jason Fleming (TAB NZ and Establishment Board), Paul Humphries (NZTR Chair and Establishment Board), Dr Eliot Forbes (Racing Integrity Board), NZTR CEO Matt Ballesty, NZTR General Manager Racing Mitch Lamb, NZTR Head of Licensing Matthew Williamson and Victoria McArthur, OnTrack.

The National Executive welcomed the opportunity to put questions directly to industry leaders and to ensure the views and concerns of trainers were clearly heard on matters affecting the industry.

Wellwood said he was looking forward to taking on the role and working with the National Executive and industry stakeholders to ensure trainers continue to have a strong voice in the future direction of New Zealand racing.

The Association congratulates Robert on his election and looks forward to supporting him in his new role.

[Huey]

This appointment sums up nz racing , utter cringe.

[curious]

16 minutes ago, Huey said:

This appointment sums up nz racing , utter cringe.

Totally agree. They have sold out to NZTR. Perhaps understandable given NZTR provide 100% of their funding now since trainers themselves decided it wasn't worth paying a membership fee for. It's hard to think of a single thing they've accomplished in the last decade. 

Wellwood has taken charge at a time when the Establishment Board has brought together NZTR, the TAB and Harness Racing New Zealand to deliver a program of reform. “For the next 12 months, we’ve got to be focussed on supporting them to work together and make sure we’ve got a good and viable racing industry,” he said.

Great stuff. We'll just go along with what NZTR says they want.

I'll confess to having belonged to some pretty useless organisations but at worst they were 4/10 useless. This one is 10/10.

Edited September 10 by curious

[Chief Stipe]

1 hour ago, Huey said:

This appointment sums up nz racing , utter cringe.

 

1 hour ago, curious said:

Totally agree. They have sold out to NZTR. Perhaps understandable given NZTR provide 100% of their funding now since trainers themselves decided it wasn't worth paying a membership fee for. It's hard to think of a single thing they've accomplished in the last decade. 

Wellwood has taken charge at a time when the Establishment Board has brought together NZTR, the TAB and Harness Racing New Zealand to deliver a program of reform. “For the next 12 months, we’ve got to be focussed on supporting them to work together and make sure we’ve got a good and viable racing industry,” he said.

Great stuff. We'll just go along with what NZTR says they want.

I'll confess to having belonged to some pretty useless organisations but at worst they were 4/10 useless. This one is 10/10.

Neither of you have actually said what the problem you have with Wellwood being elected.

Are neither of you paid up licensed trainers?  

[curious]

No problem with Wellwood if you think I suggested that. Great someone of his caliber put his hand up. Yes, I'm a licenced trainer and TA member but was banned from the AGM so obviously didn't have a say or a vote.

[Chief Stipe]

1 hour ago, curious said:

No problem with Wellwood if you think I suggested that. Great someone of his caliber put his hand up. Yes, I'm a licenced trainer and TA member but was banned from the AGM so obviously didn't have a say or a vote.

Why were you banned?

[curious]

Because I wouldn't agree to their unspecified confidentiality requirements.

[Chief Stipe]

8 hours ago, curious said:

Because I wouldn't agree to their unspecified confidentiality requirements.

Which were?  

[Dark Beau]

37 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said:

Which were?  

Unspecified 😂

 

Edited September 10 by Dark Beau

[curious]

 "The meeting will be recorded and it is requested that to ensure trainers can be confident in expressing their views, it be kept confidential. These meetings are for the benefit of the members, and not intended for general publication." 

Edited September 10 by curious

[Chief Stipe]

1 hour ago, curious said:

 "The meeting will be recorded and it is requested that to ensure trainers can be confident in expressing their views, it be kept confidential. These meetings are for the benefit of the members, and not intended for general publication." 

Well that's fair enough.  Cabinet rules.  You have an opportunity to express your views freely at a meeting but cannot go repeating what was said outside of it.  Doesn't stop you from publishing YOUR personal opinions which you may or may not have expressed at the meeting.

[curious]

34 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said:

Well that's fair enough.  Cabinet rules.  You have an opportunity to express your views freely at a meeting but cannot go repeating what was said outside of it.  Doesn't stop you from publishing YOUR personal opinions which you may or may not have expressed at the meeting.

I  think it's unclear. Can I not go back after the meeting and tell my staff that Wellwood got elected? Or, publicly share something that say a guest speaker from NZTR said? Obviously it does mean I can't share views other trainers' may have expressed but that pretty much goes without saying.

[Chief Stipe]

18 minutes ago, curious said:

I  think it's unclear. Can I not go back after the meeting and tell my staff that Wellwood got elected? Or, publicly share something that say a guest speaker from NZTR said? Obviously it does mean I can't share views other trainers' may have expressed but that pretty much goes without saying.

Aren't you being pedantic?  You sound like a Government bureaucrat where you want to rules and regulations to cover ALL possible examples.  I doubt they would worry if you told everyone that there was a new President elected - whether you got that out publicly BEFORE the Association would be a short head.  As for a Guest Speaker - well surely that would be on a case by case basis.  One advantage of the rule in that regard is the Guest Speaker can speak their mind.  Even contest ideas without fear of someone misinterpreting what was said and publishing it online.  

[Chief Stipe]

3 hours ago, Dark Beau said:

Unspecified 😂

 

@curious didn't specify what the direction was regardless of it having in his opinion insufficient specificity.

[Huey]

15 hours ago, Chief Stipe said:

 

Neither of you have actually said what the problem you have with Wellwood being elected.

Are neither of you paid up licensed trainers?  

You're certainly not as well informed as you make yourself out to be @Chief Stipe & if you are its a real concern someone as blinded by that information is getting into politics!

[Chief Stipe]

1 hour ago, Huey said:

You're certainly not as well informed as you make yourself out to be @Chief Stipe & if you are its a real concern someone as blinded by that information is getting into politics!

Unlike you I don't listen to idle gossip which often has no relation at all to the truth.  Going on your previous comments on most topics I gather you thrive on it.

18 hours ago, Huey said:

This appointment sums up nz racing , utter cringe.

I gather you "cringe" easily!

[Huey]

3 hours ago, Chief Stipe said:

Unlike you I don't listen to idle gossip which often has no relation at all to the truth.  Going on your previous comments on most topics I gather you thrive on it.

Idle gossip , you're very poorly informed indeed.

If that doesn't maje you cringe you realky shouldn't be in politics @Chief Stipe

[Chief Stipe]

25 minutes ago, Huey said:

Idle gossip , you're very poorly informed indeed.

If that doesn't maje you cringe you realky shouldn't be in politics @Chief Stipe

Well tell us all what YOU know.