Standard Rules

RULES OF THE WORCESTERSHIRE and DISTRICT FEDERATION of FLYING CLUBS

Standard Rules and Race Fixtures

1. This Federation shall be called "The Worcestershire and District Federation of flying Clubs", with headquarters at “Tipton Sports Academy” Gospel Oak Rd.Tipton or where ever the committee from time to time might decide. The headquarters of all affiliated clubs and the lofts of all affiliated Club members to be situated within a radius of Twenty Five Miles struck from the "Fountain in Dudley High Street". (Code No.1866)

2. The object of the Federation shall be to economise in the convoying of the birds and to combine with other local Federations for all Channel racing and share the cost. A qualified Convoyer shall accompany the birds at all times

3. “Affiliated Clubs shall pay an annual subscription of £10 for every club member’s loft, (partnership shall be deemed as one member.) Whether in any other club or not. The subscriptions together with the names, addresses and loft numbers must be paid on or before 28th February each year, or within 14 days after AGM should the AGM be later than 28th.. Should any Affiliated Clubs be in arrears on 28th February a 5% surcharge will be imposed

No club shall be entitled to any privileges or benefits of the Federation until the club has paid the membership fees for the current year.

4. Clubs eligible for affiliation must be members of the R.P.R.A. and shall be elected in accordance with the provisions of R.P.R.A.Rules. Affiliated clubs to be subject to these Domestic Rules of the Federation in conjunction with the Standard Rules of the R.P.R.A.

5. The officials shall Consist of President, Vice Presidents, Secretary, Management Committee and Transport and Finance Committee, to be elected annually by the representatives of each Affiliated Club.

6. The General Management of the Federation to be Vested in the Management Committee, which will consist of the Secretary of each Affiliated Club together with the Federation President and Secretary (Ex-officio). It will have power to make such levies, regulations and Conditions as it may from time to time deem necessary. Any Club Secretary unable attend a Committee Meeting is allowed to send A deputy to such meetings. 15 Clubs to form a quorum.

7. The Transport and finance Committee shall consist of Federation President, the secretary (ex-officio) together with seven elected Representatives. This committee shall be responsible for the Finance and Transport side of the Federation.

8. At least three General Meetings shall be held annually. One on the last Monday in October for arranging Race Programme for the ensuing season. One in December for the passing of the Balance Sheet. A copy of which will be sent to Affiliated Club Secretaries at least seven days before the meeting. The Final Meeting to be the Annual General Meeting in December for alterations or Additions to Rules And Election of Officials and instructions under R.P.R.A. Rule 113.

9. In the case of a tie in respect of the number of votes cast, the person presiding at the meeting shall have the casting vote.

10. Any Club found conducting its business in a careless or irregular Manner will be liable to suspension or expulsion at the discretion of the Management Committee and the same reported to the West Midland Region of the R.P.R.A.

11. The Federation Secretary, upon receipt of a requisition or copy Of resolution made by one third of the clubs affiliated to the Federation asking for a special Meeting to consider any specific subject, must call a meeting, giving at least ten days notice, within twenty-one days.(RPRA. Rule 110)

12. Should any dispute arise affecting the Federation not provided for in these rules or standard Rules of the RPRA, the matter shall be referred to the Officers and Management Committee. (RPRA. RULE 168)

13. A two-thirds majority can only dissolve the Federation Vote (RPRA. Rule 107)

14. Any Club wishing to resign must do so in writing before the AGM In December or be responsible for the following year's subscriptions.

15. Any club resigning to forfeit all claims upon Federation Assets.

16. No birds to be race marked by affiliated Clubs unless three club members are present.

17. All Clubs will be supplied with a dispatch book in which the number of birds and panniers sent in each race must be correctly entered and given to the driver when birds are collected.

18. All Clubs will be provided with a clock book in which all details must be fully completed. The day following the close of each Federation Race Club secretaries must forward the original copy of their race sheet from the Clock book, together with Clock Dials for verification to the Federation Secretary.. Three days will be allowed for postal time Sundays’ to be counted as one of these days. Any Club not Complying shall be disqualified from taking Federation positions

19. The Federation Result shall show the first thirty positions and will include the fanciers’ name, name of the club, flying time distance, velocity and metal ring number. A supplementary sheet showing the first four Positions of all Club Results will be issued giving the fanciers name velocity and metal Ring Number provided the Club has sent them in. A copy of the Federation Result will be sent for publication to the British Homing World and the Racing Pigeon.

20. No objections shall be entertained against any competitor unless a club lodges it with the Federation Secretary, in writing within SEVEN DAYS after the publication of the official Federation result as sent to all club Secretaries. When possible seven clear days notice will be given for any Federation Meeting called concerning this rule.

21. All inland races to close day of liberation at 22.00 hrs. Channel races to close after 2 days at 22.00hrs. With the exception of the longest race which Closes after 3 days at 22.00hrs.

22. Hours of Darkness. Old Birds 22.00 hours to 05.00hrs

Hours of Darkness Young Birds 21.30 hours to 05.30hrs.

23 The Federation shall not be responsible for any loss, or damage caused to all club crates whilst in there care. Clubs are expected to have crates in good order and properly sealed. If any crate is found to be insecure When containing race birds or should any birds escape, the club sending them shall be allowed to take positions in that race if birds carry the conveyors secret mark, which shall be verified before any such bird shall take a Federation position.

24. All Affiliated Clubs must pay their proportionate share per pannier of the cost of convoying and liberation. All Clubs shall use the services of the Convoyer at all race points. Clubs acting otherwise, unless reasonable excuse is given, must contribute to the convoying expenses of any race in which they purposely decline the federation convoyers services.

25. Each Club will be responsible for its birds being delivered to the Federation Convoyer at the appointed time and place. Should the Convoyer, through any unforeseen circumstances arrive at his destination without the birds of any club those liberated will constitute a Federation race.

26. The Federation Secretary or whomsoever he may appoint shall have authority to visit and examine any Clubs marking, Clocks and clock register whilst in the possession of the club or individual Club member at any time he may think fit.

27. Each Club will be sent an account by post for convoying each week. Clubs must pay these invoices within fourteen days of receipt of it, if they do not the transporter will not call to collect any further birds until these arrears have been paid. All invoices must be paid by cheque or P.O., NO cash will be accepted.

Failing to comply with this rule a further 5% will be added to the invoice for every 14 days a club fails to settle the account.

28. All Master Clocks (except ETS) must be set by TIM and re-set by TIM for checking. No master clock Variation shall be allowed.

29. Every Club shall keep the clock book supplied by the Federation with all particulars as to time of setting, checking, variations, net time, clock Number.

30. The Federation secretary shall put the liberation time on the BHW LIB LINE and the Federation Answer Phone. These numbers are (BHW LIB LINE. 0891 230 189

31. The Worcester Federation clocks committee set down a standard method of calculating Master Clock Variations to be used by all clubs competing for Federation Honours. This to worked back to the clocking the bird.

32. There will be more than one Federation Official on call by phone to deal with any problems re transport on Marking Nights.

33. The secretary shall instruct the nearest committee members or other Authorised Person to verify any performance he/she so thinks requires verification.

34. Governing rules on all Championship Races apply as printed elsewhere in the hand book

35. There will be at least one Saturday left clear in Federation Race Programme between the last Old Bird Race and the First Young Bird Race.

36. All Clubs must use corrugated paper on the bottom of each crate or Grills

37. The maximum number of birds in each crate shall be 22 birds inland. 18 Channel.

38. The bird making the highest velocity shall be declared the winner, excepting when in the opinion of the management Committee, after giving it full consideration to the circumstances and conditions prevailing at the time, a pigeon returns

An improbable velocity. Then that pigeon shall be disqualified from the race.

Any Club feeling that Rule 38 should apply to any particular race must object to the Federation in accordance with Fed Rule 20. Concerning

39. Any Club Secretary who feels that there is a likelihood of a fanciers bird being disqualified by virtue of rule 38 is to verify this bird at the earliest possible time in his/hers capacity as a member of the Federation Management committee. In the event of the Club Secretary being an interested party, then the Club President. Chairman or person appointed by the Club to do the task n the event of verification being needed for any other reason or in addition to the above instruction re. Rule 38, the Authorised persons to be a Federation Official or member of the Management Committee or Transport and Finance Committee.

40. No price rises will be implemented by any officials other than a full Management meeting.

41. The Transport & Finance committee be empowered to submit Race program, to be considered at a meeting on a date and time set by the committee”

42. All federation trophies must be returned at the first federation meeting following the closure of the racing season. Persons not returning trophies will be eligible for any expenses incurred and not their club, this to include recovery and eplacement of the said trophy