Analysis: Jeffrey Donaldson is showing no intention of giving up the battle for leadership of the UUP, writes Gerry Moriarty, Northern Editor.
It was the 13th Ulster Unionist Council since the 1998 Belfast Agreement - the 13th time that David Trimble, one way or another, had to defend the agreement and his leadership.
But today, the eighth anniversary of his taking over control of the Ulster Unionist Party, he is still leader.
Yet there is no sign of an end to the internal war of attrition.
Jeffrey Donaldson, with the Rev Martin Smyth and Mr David Burnside beside him - the Three Musketeers, as Trimble loyalist Lady Hermon dismissively dubbed them - said he was disappointed at the result, but he would continue to oppose the Joint Declaration and would not resume the party whip.
Disappointed he should have been because this was probably the best chance he has had to unseat Mr Trimble. Not only did he have his consistent 45 per cent of delegates that have stood by him but, this time, there was a shift in the political climate - there was now a body of former Trimble supporters pushing for Sir Reg Empey as an alternative leader in the "dream ticket" with Mr Donaldson.
The push for Sir Reg was mentioned here a number of weeks ago but it was only in recent days that the extent of the Donaldson-Empey manoeuvring came into sharper focus.
Former MLA and pro-Belfast Agreement Ulster Unionist Danny Kennedy told the UUC that he was supporting the Donaldson motion calling for the lifting of the threat of disciplinary action against the three dissident MPs, and opposing Mr Trimble's amendment urging the three to resume the whip and abide by party decisions.
Previously Sir Reg's people spoke off the record but Mr Kennedy was upfront, attempting to stimulate even greater rebellion on the back of a potential alternative leadership that he argued could heal divisions.
However, the Trimble supporters, 55 per cent of them, didn't bite. Mr Trimble even increased a percentage point in votes on the last UUC in June.
Sir Reg attended Saturday's UUC, sitting towards the back of the Ulster Hall, but not speaking. He avoided the Donaldson and Trimble press conferences, whereas hitherto he has been side by side with Mr Trimble.
The chairman of the UUP Strangford association, David McNarry, accused him of "hatching a plan to become leader" and "working behind David's back".
Sir Reg is by instinct and intellect pro-agreement, whereas the Donaldson camp is not. The evidence on Saturday was that the Donaldson-Empey pairing may have wings but was not yet airborne and may never get off the ground.
What to do? A tough decision for Sir Reg as Mr Trimble and Mr Donaldson tempt him to remain in or join their respective camps.
Mr Trimble, recalling the hard battles they contested together, urged him to remain loyal on Saturday. "I would still believe at heart that he wants to achieve all that we have worked for over the last seven years," he said.
On Saturday, the three dissident MPs effectively challenged Mr Trimble to expel them, the strategy being that the majority of the UUC would not support forcing such high-profile MPs as Mr Donaldson, Mr Smyth and Mr Burnside out of the party.
They will oppose the new Independent Monitoring Commission as it makes its way though the British parliament next week, as they will oppose other elements of the Joint Declaration that require Westminster legislation.
Mr Trimble would not say what he would do in such an eventuality. It will be difficult for him to disregard such an affront to his authority but he could ignore them and carry on regardless.
We should get an inkling of what will happen by next weekend when party officers and the party executive meet separately over Friday and Saturday. Meanwhile, the battle for the heart and soul of Ulster Unionism continues as divisively as ever.