The president of Triathlon Ireland has always been a voluntary role, not any more it seems. The published accounts note that Jag Gunawardana (2009 TI president) was paid €29,900 in 2009. (Extract from the accounts is shown below). Two former directors of Triathlon Ireland have confirmed to me that to the best of their knoledge the role of president has always been an unpaid voluntary role. Both are surprised by both the payment and the size of it. The published 2009 accounts have to be approved by members at the EGM this Saturday.
Questions need to be asked.
What was received for the €30k?
Was the work tendered or was it just given directly to the president?
How was the work reviewed and who reviewed it?
So what will happen?
I’m quite cynical about Triathlon Ireland and it’s relevance to the sport in Ireland. In fact, while 300 or so triathletes will be racing in Slane on Saturday, I suspect fewer than 30 will be at the Triathlon Ireland egm. Put another way less than 1% of the membership.
At the last Triathlon Ireland egm in Dec’08, only 14 people attended (less than 0.5% of the membership), but the changes were significant as the Triathlon Ireland Council was essentially abolished. I expect something similar this Saturday, less than 1% of the membership will approve a set of accounts which pays 20% of the 2009 membership fees to the 2009 presedent, a role which has always been viewed as voluntary and unpaid.
Page from Triathlon ireland accounts 2009
Hi,
I for one don’t want to be paying subscriptions unless theer is being value received for them.
I think there is a lack of clarity around what the benefits of Triathlon Ireland membership offers to members. For me, I have joined so that I avoid the one day license requirement and it appears that membership of Triathlon Ireland is a necessity in this regard.
As I understand it, they assist in the running of the many races around the country and there has been very few that I have been involved in that haven’t been well run.
I am in my third year of tri – but I am an aging age grouper so my ambitions are not that big – but for the sake of the sport I would like to see some clarity as to the role of Triathlon Ireland and your role in terms of your cristism of the body.
P
Shocking news, the other Directors should be ashamed of themselves no wonder the more honourable ones have resigned. Great that their divious methods are gradually being exposed.
Will we ever here about all their expenses god only knows who else has been living of the members funds.
No wonder Capt Mannering has done so much to surpress enquires and cover things up.
Philip,
I’m the person who pointed out what was happening at the AGM last year to no avail. I then pulled all the events I’m organizing away from TI because of their actions last year. This behavior by TI is not new. What is new, is that there’s now proof in the public domain.
Brian Crinion.
look out , look out , there’s a thief about. The Bank of Scotland will be very interested in this.
Nice to finally see where your money is going,
I for one have a bee in my bonnet for years about TI and the way they carry out there business,
I would like to know why if a race has more than 150 people they look for an extra e1.00 per person WHY ?. It’s no extra work for TI.
We have two races on the same day at a cost of e150 per race, I”m sure this is more than enough to cover any cost’s for TI Ref’s and TD’S.
+ 1 day licence money, Tri Membership.
Wish i’d taught of that plan
)
As for giving assistance, That must be the night i was washing my hair, Because I HAVE NEVER SEEN IT, And i’v been with my club a long time and we have staged a Triathlon for the last 17 year’s
Any time at any AGM over the years when the accounts were questioned by Brian he was percieved as a trouble maker and nobody backed him? WHY .A blind man could see this coming ,and it is the ordinary member who will end up paying for this ,as for TI ,90% of people racing in Ireland dont know who they are ,they are a faceless organisation .As for assistance on the day ,the bus must have broken down,when you see the lovley pictures of TI gear at the races I think what have we done wrong.
Very brave of you all to speak out against the junta.
Jag G and Conal Heatley ran the Company without a Treasurer and did as they pleased until they got their chain jerked.
Shame on Conals guard up north P**** J***, Triangle, E****** H*** Olympia, T***** L***** Hi Elbow, and H*** McA****** for supporting Conal his cover up. How many more rattles has the guy got in his cage. Shame on Mark R and Matt C for not realising a full breakdown of the accounts, expenses paid, money paid to all the cherished athletes and were the 100,000 plus women in sport money went. The sports councils “chequebook control” CEO Matt is siding himself with the junta as Conal and Hugh employed him. Though why we need one at all bewilders me and overseas person during a period of high unempoylment here beggars belief.
Calling an EGM at 6pm in Dublin on a Saturday is ridiculous.
Just like our church and political lot, cover ups tend to leak. Hopefully the drip will turn into a waterfall.
The truth is out there and someday we may find it.
It may take a full formal investigation or a complete new board.
Time for a serious overall.
Wow this stinks. I joined TI to avoid one day licence fee but never realised I was paying for a lump sum for services provided by president and his wife!! What is the system for proxy votes or is there one?
Wow this stinks. I joined TI to avoid one day licence fee but never realised I was paying for a lump sum for services provided by president and his wife!! What is the system for proxy votes or is there one?
A quick note to say that this post and your comments will have a limited life. I’ve heard on the grapevine that legal options are being investigated by TI to get this true information and your comments removed from public view. I’m sure legal fees are a good use of your money!!! Put another way it could be seen as yet another example of TI using your money to protect their own reputation. Are they not meant to using it to develop Triathlon?
What’s highlighted above has been years in the making, plus there’s plenty more questions and payments that can’t be published as a breakdown of the figures has never been given, despite several requests.
Ps. Proxy votes were removed about 3 years ago, so the situation where a club captain could represent the members of their club members at an agm or egm is no longer allowed. I wounder who this benefits?
Using it’s members money to take legal advice and action against the very same members…emmm…thats interesting.
Would it not be simpler just to answer the questions asked? Unless you are using legal advice to use the law to avoid answering something? And why would you want to that?
Sounds like its time to start a new federation, let TI look after the “elites” and themselves and we can join ” le revolution”
Surely all we need is insurance, a constitution and some members.
The threat of legal advice stinks. I hope they have their house in order and no skeletons because I will not tolerate any hint of a threat or cover up.
TI have lost their way , the plot and credibility.
Using it’s members money to take legal advice and action against the very same members…emmm…thats interesting.
Would it not be simpler just to answer the questions asked? Unless you are using legal advice to use the law to avoid answering something? And why would you want to that?
I see this discussion has prompted TI to make a statement on their website, and fair play it does answer some of the questions but not all of them such as what the wife of the president got payed for but it is a start.
I find them a somewhat aluff organisation as you say it seems to be all about the elites who don’t matter a s**t to the 5000 members. maybe this discussion thread should be on their own website and they should engage their members more?
why am i not surprised . all our duathletes have to pay for everything going to the world championships in september in scotland 29,000 would go a long way for them . we have no choice but to become members. or were out of pocket . time for change.
A few observations on TI
Why did they disable the members forum from their website? Is this not a useful tool to get members feedback as well as convient way for TI members to communicate?
As somebody who went out of their way to NS races last year to qualify for the Europeans in Athlone, it is a slap in the face for me to see TI look for applicants to fill some of the age groups catergories just by paying the SAME money as i did without racking up the NS points. Whats the point of the doing the NS series if this is the case?