The following is now on the BBC news website.  We will wait for confirmation of arrangements from Queen Mary SC early this week.
"
Foot-and-mouth confirmed at farm  
 
The eighth infected farm is within an existing protection zone 
Foot-and-mouth disease has been confirmed at a farm in Surrey where cattle were slaughtered on suspicion of being infected. 
The government confirmed tests on cattle at the farm near Wraysbury had come back positive. "

In the meantime, your committee has been active considering our options.  Many of you will have thought of Blithfield SC as a possibility.  We had an impromptu meeting with the Blithfield management today.  They have agreed in principle to assist us in our plight and I personally thank them for their hugely constructive, positive attitude today.

The proposal is:

To transfer the Inlands 2007 event, subject to agreement from QMSC, to Blithfield SC on the weekend of October 13,14.  They also have a major youth event on Saturday but consider that we can run two late afternoon races on Saturday and three races concurrently with the scheduled Silver Tiller on the Sunday.

I believe that this is the best option, of several, available to us at this late stage in the season.

Inlands results: sat and sun
ST results: sun only
Midland Circuit results: sun only


Practicalities
notice of Inlands race etc will be made available this week
entry on the day  (non transferable from QMSC at this stage)
camping will be available on site.
bar facilities will be available
there may be a communal pig roast

I hope that you will agree that this is a positive outcome given the circumstances and I am sorry for the certain inconvenience this will cause to some of our sailing friends.

In the meantime, my further thoughts are with the unfortunate farmers who carry the brunt of this serious national situation.  Our own problems pale into insignificance by comparison.

Thank you

Steve Watson
Sunday 30 Oct 6pm

back to the future!

What about those who have already entered for the cancelled QMSC event, paid their £32 but can't make the 13/14th October at Blithfield?  Will a £32 refund be forthcoming?

refund.

Alan Fuller will be in conversation with QMSC about this.  Remember, your money was paid to them not the MROA. QMSC will have a lot on their collective commercial mind so I anticipate some short delay.  Bear with us.

Thanks for the reply Steve.  If they don't host the event at another time, is the refund of the £32 by QMSC pretty much a forgone conclusion?

i would anticipate a refund in due course

is the proposal to hold the inlands at blithfield confirmed yet??

QMSC will be refunding the entry fees to you individually. However logistically they have an issue as they can not get into the club office to access any records; so please expect a significant delay, for instance if a case is confirmed and the flock is culled, access will remain restricted for a further 28 days after the cull.