VERA's Merchandise Officer, Mezcal Manners, has been working pretty hard over the last few weeks getting together the start of our VERA merchandise line. Our Webmaster, Mark Gabb, has also been burning the midnight oil to get our website updated to include a merchandise page. Go to the Merchandise page and check out the new items.
We'll add some more product lines once we have seen how successful these items are. Please note that the pricing has been kept as low as possible so that take advantage of these COVID-19 bargains.
The VERA SMC would like to advise that we will be again offering half year memberships. This membership will be available from 1 July. The Membership Application form is available on the VERA website under the Forms menu. If you have any questions regarding this membership please contact our Membership Registrar, Sandra Feil.
The AERA in conjunction with WAERA, Tom Quilty 2020 Committee, NSWERA and Tom Quilty 2021 Committee would like to advise that the 2020 Tom Quilty event has been cancelled. This is necessary due to the uncertainty of the COVID-19 situation and the impact the pandemic is having on being able to prepare for and run the Tom Quilty. The 2021 event will be held at Collie, WA and will be hosted by the WA Tom Quilty Committee. All subsequent Quilty events will be delayed by a year with the Tooraweenah NSW Quilty being run in 2022.
AERA would like to sincerely thank all the parties involved in the many discussions over the past 7 weeks. This has been a multifaceted issue, unprecedented in our endurance history. Everyone contributed to the discussion and worked towards the best outcome for the sport and the collaborative approach was very much appreciated. WAERA and the Tom Quilty 2020 Committee would like to express its deep gratitude to the Tom Quilty 2021 and NSWERA Committees for their understanding and empathy in this situation and for their co-operation. The AERA sincerely wishes the WA and NSW Quilty Committees every success with their events.
AERA, WAERA and the WA Tom Quilty Committee will be working to determine a suitable date in 2021 and a further announcement will be made once this is finalised.
Linda Tanian
AERA President
According to the latest information provided by our Premier the following changes to the COVID-19 restrictions will be implemented from 22 June:
From 11:59pm on 21 June, full-contact training and competitions may resume for people 18 years and under. Non-contact sporting competitions for all age groups can also begin from 11:59pm on 21 June. Adults can resume full-contact training from 13 July and full-contact competition from 20 July.
Gathering limits will not apply to participants and those reasonably necessary to conduct the training or competition (e.g. umpires, coaches).
It is possible that these restrictions may change if the new case numbers continue to increase but the VERA SMC have decided that we'll give it a go and start to organise some rides. Watch this space as we confirm with Ride Organisers that they will be running their rides. It will be great to see you all again.
The VERA SMC would like to share the attached information which outlines the 15 national principles for the resumption of sport and recreation. This has been provided by the Australian Institute of Sport.
The VERA SMC would like to advise of a rule clarification handed down from AERA following their meeting yesterday. This clarification is in regard to horses wearing hoods into the vet ring. AERA has determined that hoods will not be permitted to be worn in the vet ring. Could all riders competing in any endurance, intermediate or introductory rides please take note of this clarification to ensure compliance in the future?
Thank you for your cooperation with this matter.
The VERA SMC has held its emergency meeting (using digital tools to avoid face to face interactions and unnecessary travel) and voted unanimously to suspend all endurance activities until further notice as a result of the Government's advice that they will be banning all non-essential activities.
The SMC will continue to monitor the situation closely and will, when Government restrictions are lifted, review this decision and re-start the endurance season as soon as possible.
