NORTH STAFFS FEDERATION OF HOMING SOCIETIES WM381
FEDERATION HEAD QUARTERS
BERRYHILL WMC, CALVARY CRESCENT, BERRYHILL
NORTH STAFFS FEDERATION STANDARD RULES
To read in conjunction with RPRA Rules
Rule I The Federation Radius will be restricted to fanciers whose lofts are situated within 16 miles of Stoke Church coordination points Long 2.10,47 W Lat 53.00.l4
Rule 2 The Officers of the Federation shall consist of President, Chairman, Vice Presidents, Treasurer, Secretary and Committee, all of which positions shall be elected annually.
Rule 3 The committee of management shall be formed by one Delegate from each Affiliated club who shall have the voting power for his/her club.
Rule 4 All clubs of the Federation must be affiliated to the RPRA.
Rule 5 Entrance Fee. To join the Federation a Club must have a minimum of 12 Members and the entry fee of £250 be sent with the application to the Federation Secretary.
Rule 6 Resignations must be forwarded in writing to the Secretary previous to the AGM or if not the Club will he held liable for the Season’s subscriptions. A member must pay a subscription for each club in which he competes. Should any club resign and then make an application to re-join they will be deemed a new club.
Rule 7 Annual Subscriptions will be £15 for each full member and £1 for each non flying member
Rule 8 Convoying expenses shall be borne by each club according to the number of baskets sent. Clubs shall forward remittance to the Treasurer within 7 days. No minimum birds shall be convoyed.
Rule 9 Any Club retiring or being expelled from the Federation before the end of any Season, shall forfeit all rights monies etc. deposited with the Federation and will be held liable for a proportionate part of any deficits.
Rule 10 The Treasurer shall keep a correct account of all monies received and paid on behalf of the Federation. The accounts shall be submitted to at least two separate members from two separate Clubs to be audited and the Balance Sheet be presented to a General Meeting. The financial year shall end at 31st October and the balance sheet presented before the close of year.
Rule 11 Liability of the Federation. Should the Federation be in debt each Club must pay in such a sum as will make up the deficit.
Rule 12 Committee power of control. The Committee shall have the power to expel, suspend or disallow any Race Result of any Club or individual member of the Federation for breaking the Rules or found guilty of unfair, disorderly or dishonourable conduct. Any business of this nature is to be subject to 14 days notice.
Rule 13 Within one month of end of the racing season all Federation Officials and the Convoyer, to meet and draw up suggested Race Programmes for the following year – These suggestions to be sent out to all Clubs to be voted on at a General Meeting to take place in November. Failing any proposed race programmes being received, the committee will have the power to create one for the following year’s racing.
Rule 14 The Federation will insure all Race Panniers at Clubs headquarters against Fire & theft.
Rule 15 That all outstanding monies owed to the Federation to be paid in by the 30th September each year.
Rule 16 A Result shall be compiled for each Federation Race showing be best 30 velocities submitted. All ETS and Manual clock printouts to be sent to the Race Secretary via WhatsApp picture message or email scanned document. These should be received within 24 hours of the Clubs Top 6 results being published on the Federation Website.
Rule 17 That Clubs pay for their birds within 7 days of the race by sending Cheque or Postal order to the Treasurer or delivering to Transporters on basket night the sum to cover the number of full and/or half baskets sent – a fixed price will be given before racing starts (any season). The Treasurer will send Receipts for all races. Clubs failing to comply with this rule are to be fined £5.
Rule 18
Rule 19
Rule 20 Any Club or Federation who apply to join North Staffs Fed or have birds transported by the North Staffs Fed are not allowed to re-apply if they have been refused permission during the previous two years.
Rule 21 For all Inland Races all clubs must phone/message their first 6 positions to the Federation Race Secretary no later than 5pm on the day after the close of the race. This is to enable the club’s top 6 results to be published on the Federation Website.
Rule 21a For all Channel Races all clubs must phone/message their first 6 positions no later than 5pm TWO days after the close of the race. This is to enable the clubs top 6 results to be published on the Federation Website.
Rule 22 Under no circumstances are any member of the Federation to ‘phone, email, text to abuse and harass Federation Officials in the process of doing their duties on a Race Day, any breach of this and the said members will be up in front of the Federation Committee.
Rule 23 If there is to be a change in marking date due to unforeseen weather forecast, then the decision is to be made no later than 4pm the day before the planned marking day.
Rule 24 The Federation Transporter must be serviced by professional mechanics at the end of every Young Bird season and checked over by professional mechanics between every Old Bird and Young Bird Seasons to identify mechanical faults that my need rectifying
Rule 25 There are to be 2 Pick Up points for the Federation Races. Pick Up 1 is off Victoria Road, Fenton and the second Pick up at Roger Sutton’s (Bent Farm, Astbury).
Rule 26 Any member of the North Staffs Fed refusing a drugs test of their pigeons within 36 hours of being requested by an Official of the Federation, will be automatically suspended by the North Staffs Fed as per RPRA Rule 199.
Rule 27 All Clubs must fill in all paperwork correctly and legible, any deemed unreadable or incorrectly filled in will be returned to that Club at their own expense.
Rule 28 Any club whose member receives a prize in any race must provide copies of ETS sheets or Manual clock printouts plus rubbers if requested by the Race Secretary. Any clubs who do not supply their members paperwork will be omitted from the result.
Rule 29 All members receiving trophies are solely responsible for the cleanliness of all silverware and any breakages that occur whilst they are in their possession. All must be returned as you received them clean, and damages must be reported to the Fed Sec as soon as possible.
Rule 30 All liberations are to be recorded and made public/live.
Rule 31 Federation Transporter must be road run for a minimum of 30 minutes each month between the end of every YB season and the commencement of racing the following year.
RACING RULES
Rule 1 Each Club Secretary must forward to the Federation Secretary a full list of members together with their WM and CPH numbers before 1st March of each year, so that correct distances can be obtained for the year’s racing. Failure to do so may hinder the result being published.
Rule 2 Flying Distances. Each member must have distances properly measured by an official appointed and distances procured from the official RPRA calculator. If requested Club Secretaries must forward official distances of any competitor to the Federation Secretary.
Rule 3 Clocks. All clocks used must be approved by the RPRA.
Rule 4 Hours of Darkness. Hours of Darkness to be set by the organization convoying the birds.
Rule 5 Ownership of Birds. The federation shall have the power to liberate a bird at the owner’s loft, and should a bird die after homing the Federation Secretary is to be notified immediately so that the bird can be verified. All birds must fly to the owners’ loft.
Rule 6 Times of liberation. These will be ‘phoned to club headquarters by the Federation Secretary. No member is allowed to communicate with the convoyer in any way whatsoever on the day of liberation; anyone found doing so shall be disqualified from that day’s race.
Rule 7 Crates Before dispatch all Clubs must ensure that crates are in a clean and secure condition, with fresh newspaper in place on the bottom. Clubs failing to do this shall be brought before the committee.
Rule 8 Dispatching of Crates. It shall be the responsibility of each Club to see that the crates are delivered to the transporter at the time and place designated, in the event of any unforeseen delay the FederationSecretary is to be notified immediately. Crates are the property of the Federation and haulage contractor. Whilst any crates are in the possession of any Club, it shall be their responsibility to maintain strict supervision over them, under no circumstances are any individuals other than anyone authorised by the President to be in the possession of any crates. Anyone found in possession of any crates will be subject to suspension under RPRA Rule 43.
Rule 9 Time of liberation. To be left to the race controllers and convoyers discretion, all conditions relating to the best possible welfare of the birds, including weather forecasts and adequate line of flight must be considered by the person(s) responsible before any liberation.
Rule10 Close of race All races up to 200 miles from Stoke church shall close at 23.00hrs on day of liberation. Races between 200 and 450 miles shall close 23.00hrs on second day after liberation. All races over 450 miles shall close 23.00hrs on third day after liberation. In the event of no birds being timed in on the above days, the race shall be continued to the following day. In the event of insufficient birds being timed in to take the prizes by close of race, the reminder of the prizes and whatever pools the birds are entered in shall be divided pro rata amongst the winning birds.
Rule 11 Counter stamping. The Federation are empowered to counter stamp any birds, such counter stamping to be valid race marks.
Rule 12.
Rule 13
Rule 14
Rule 15 All birds to be either wing stamped or carry an address ring for identification purposes, any bird found not to comply shall be removed from the race.
Rule 16 A result shall be compiled for each Federation race showing the best 30 Velocities submitted. Any Club result not received by the Federation in the stipulated time – within 3 days of race being flown, shall be deemed out of Time and may not be considered for inclusion in the Federation result.
CLOCK RULES
Rule 1 Any member bringing in a clock unlocked or unsealed shall be disqualified.
Rule 2 The Club master clock should be set accurately to enable the clock to be struck and locked on the last pip broadcast which will be deemed ‘Federation Greenwich time’. Any loss or gain which may be recorded by the setting and checking puncture must be recorded on the clock sheet and dealt with in the usual manner when making calculations for velocities. In the event of a toss taking place on Sunday Clubs shall check their master clocks after official notification of liberation, The master clock of any Club stopping during the course of any Federation race shall be reset to Greenwich Mean time as broadcast by the BBC at 10.00 hours and the timing of clocks of members shall be checked from it as soon as possible. So far as the original setting is concerned the master timer shall be regarded as having been set correct and any amount by which the clocks of members set from it were set fast or slow shall be taken into consideration in ascertaining the amount of their variation on Greenwich Mean time, The dials of any stopped master clock shall be sent into the Federation Secretary for that race. No master clock shall be opened until after 19.00 hours unless authorised by a Federation Inspector. The clock sheet shall be signed by at least two members witnessing the setting and the checking of the club master clock.
Rule 3 All clocks are to be set the night prior to planned liberation apart from the following 3 races: Carentan, Fougères, Messac. These clocks may be set on night of basketing (at Clubs discretion). Saints clocks still need to be set on the Thursday night.
Rule 4 Clock Ratings, Penalties, Etc All competitors using clocks shall be responsible for the rating of their own clocks, should a clock have varied more than at the rate of 8 seconds per hour in 24 hours, a fast clock shall be regarded as correct. A slow clock shall have double the proportionate lost time added. A stopped clock shall be treated as a slow clock. Should a competitor’s clock stop before timing in the same may be reset off the club master. In the event of a member’s clock stopping in a race after timing in he shall be allowed to take his clock to an available officially set clock. It shall then be run out in the presence of a witness or witnesses and the thimbles and rings intact as timed in together with the competitor’s name on a slip be timed into the substitute clock. The time as then registered on the dials of the substitute clock subject to its variation shall be taken as the time of the birds arrival. The substitute clock so used must be returned to its official setting station in such manner as the rules provide and the officials in charge notified of the circumstances. The matter must also be reported to the Club Secretary and the dials of the faulty clock handed to the Club officials for inspection and report to the Federation Secretary.
Rule 5 Tampering penalty: Should any member be proved to have tampered with his/her clock in any way what so ever for personal gain the clock and member shall be suspended for all time.
Rule 6 During long races and in the event of birds being held over the clock shall be produced to the ClubClock Committee for winding and resetting at such time as they may direct.
Rule 7 Clock Inspection: During the time a clock is under seal the Federation Committee shall have power to send an inspector to examine and check any clock. A note of introduction from the Federation Secretary will be given to each inspector and all affiliated clubs and members must, on production of this note by the inspector, allow same to examine and check their clocks. A report of such examination will be made to the Federation Secretary by the inspector and should the same be unfavourable it will be dealt with by the Federation.
Rule 8 Dial Reading: It will be distinctly understood that time registered on clocks shall be calculated from the nearest second as registered on dials, Should the puncture on the clock dial not strike the line exact it shall be recorded to the nearest second and these shall be taken into account when calculating the velocities and shall apply both in setting, checking and bird time.
Rule 9 In all cases the rubber ring must be enclosed in the recognised type of receptacle issued with each particular clock, complete for that purpose and must correspond in proper order with the mark registering the arrival of birds. Two or more members by arrangement if sanctioned by their Club may time in on the one clock. Thimbles or boxes are not to be put in upside down, anyone found puncturing their clock for any purpose other than timing in a bird must give explanation to the club secretary before clocks are checked.
Rule 10 The committee shall have power to detain any clock to which it may consider there is any question and immediately inform the Federation Secretary stating cause of complaint.
Rule 11 Responsibility for damage to clocks: Every care will be taken of clocks whilst in possession of the committee but neither committee or any officer shall be liable to any clock owner for any delay, damage or loss which may occur whilst the clock is in their custody.
ELECTRONIC TIMING SYSTEMS
Rule 12 All Association members are allowed to time their birds electronically at all levels of competition with an RPRA approved electronic timing system (ETS) providing the club/organisation has the required equipment and the officials are competent to use it.
Rule 13 No Association member can be compelled to use an electronic timing system. Any ETS equipment showing visible signs of damage to the casing or seal (even if caused accidentally) cannot be used to produce race entry details or strike off sheets. Officials have the power to detain any ETS they consider doubtful.
Rule 14 It is the responsibility of the member to check that each organisation he intends to compete with has both the equipment needed, and willing, competent officials necessary for him to use his ETS.
Rule 15 The necessary hardware and software for the organisation’s administration of ETS must be held under lock and key at the organisation or other approved premises, to be accessed by a minimum of two officials. The operation of the hardware and software is only permitted by authorised members who have been elected by the organisation
Rule 16 All ETS master systems must be synchronised with either GPS signal or radio time signal, with evidence produced by a strike report which states the method of synchronisation and the time of synchronisation. This must be completed by all masters before both race marking or race closing is started. Manual setting will not be allowed on all ETS master timers at marking or clock checking.
Rule 17 (a) Electronic rings must be allocated to the ring numbers of the member’s pigeons by two elected officials a minimum of 7 days prior to the use of the ETS. Allocation on marking nights will only be permitted due to a defect or loss of an electronic ring.
(b) Should a member present a bird for allocation of rings prior to the start of or during old bird or young bird racing and the electronic ring indicates another member’s loft number/details, then proof of ownership of the ring must be supplied before assigning the ring to the member’s bird. If proof of ownership cannot be furnished by the member, then action may be taken under RPRA Rules 169/70
Rule 18 After each allocation a list must be printed in duplicate, each of which must be signed by an authorised person of the organisation and countersigned by the member. One signed list is to be filed along with race entry documentation and the other handed to the member. The allocation data must be stored on a backup disk in case amendments become necessary during the season. Any organisation to which the member is affiliated may demand to see the allocation list.
Rule 19 All electronic timers set with the ETS radio clock shall deemed to be correct with TIM.
Rule 20 As part of the race entry process officials must check that the full details of the life ring on the pigeon’s leg is the same as that shown by the system when the electronic chip ring is scanned. All ETS race entry sheets and race arrival reports must be printed directly from the ETS printer and not via a PC printer. These must contain the competitor’s name, RPRA loft number, race and date. One copy must be retained by the organisation and one copy given to the competitor or his/her nominated person. Both copies must be signed by an official of the organisation and the competitor or his/her nominated person. The signed print and copies of the race entry sheets constitute the electronically produced part of the race register. Pools may be recorded on these sheets either manually or electronically. No member is permitted to take part in the race marking/entry process of his own pigeons.
Rule 21 If a day pigeon is timed in races lasting more than one day, the ETS must be taken to a clock station for a progress reading/print out. If the ETS is required for further timings, it will be struck off at a later date.
Rule 22 Should the data record of an ETS be deleted or become unusable between the pigeons’ entry to the loft and print out after the pigeons return for any reason, the entered pigeons must be eliminated from the result. Where there is a difference between the code number written into the ring during the marking and the code number stated at the return then the pigeon is to be eliminated from the result.
Rule 23 The positioning of the ETS sensors/ antennae will not be allowed on any landing boards or other external surfaces in such a way that when the loft is closed no electronic chip ring may be recorded by the Electronic Timing System installed. Club Officials may make random checks at any time. Contravention of this rule will result in disciplinary action under RPRA Rule 70(a).
Rule 24 All ETS must comply with UNIVES 1.7 protocol only
THIMBLELESS CLOCKS:
The following clocks may be used without thimbles:
T2/T3 12 Bird Clock fitted with flaps
T2/T3 21 Bird Clock fitted with flaps
Junior 12 Micro Lite Front
STB (minimum 5 digits)
La Ledoise Standard 12 Bird
THIMBLELESS/FLAP LESS CLOCKS:
The following clocks may be used without thimbles or flaps:
Benzing Paloma
Benzing Computer
Benzing Quartz 6-figure STB Quartz and Manual
CLOCK INSERT: The Gerwin Basch Click ‘n Clock T3 Clock inserts may be used in conjunction with thimbles in unmodified T3 Clock slot
ETS SYSTEMS
- BENZING
- BRICON
- MEGA
- TAURIS
- TIPES UK
- UNIKON
- VICTORY
TROPHIES
SENTINEL TROPHY
- For the purposes of the competition for the trophy each competing member or partnership of members shall pay five pence. Any member or partnership of members shall in the event of competing in more than one club pay five pence entrance fee for each club. The Trophy to be won by the Best Combined Average of a member in ONE CLUB ONLY and no duplication from other clubs allowed. Only birds competing for club prizes shall be eligible to compete for the trophy and the whole of the amount received in entry fees will be allocated proportionately to such of the Hospitals in the area of the Federation as the Federation Committee may determine, with due regard to any wishes which may be expressed by the donors in this connection.
- Competition for the trophy to be on the system of net time and distance, the member or partnership of members having the best average in the whole of the races in Federation programme in any season to be the winner, no alteration which may be made here after in the Federation’s constitution rules conditions governing races or for any purpose whatever shall affect the competition for this trophy.
- In addition, the donors will give a replica of the trophy each year to the winner and a suitable medal to the member or partnership of members with the best average in each of the other two sections of the Federation apart from that in which the winner was competing.
- The trophy is to be regarded as perpetual, not to be won outright, It shall never become the property of any club or member, and must be returned to the Secretary of the competition when required. The Staffordshire Sentinel Newspapers Ltd, shall be the legal holders of the trophy.
THE DIAMOND JUBILEE CHALLENGE TROPHY
Will be awarded to the winner of the combined average, of all races in the Federation programme.
ALLARD MEMORIAL CUP
Will be awarded for the best average in the Federation Open Races.
CHEADLE AND TEAN TIMES SHIELD
Will be awarded for the best average in the old bird channel races; this was presented by the late G.A. Holmes.
C CATTERALL TROPHY
Will be awarded to the winner of the Carentan Race
T SHAW & SON POINTS TROPHY
Will be awarded to the competitor gaining most points in one club only. Points awarded 30 Points for first position 29 Points for second position going clown to one Point for 30th position.
ABBEY PET STORES “SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR” TROPHY
Awarded to any member nominated by his/her Club, In the event of more than one nomination being received the eventual winner to be decided by the committee.
OLD BIRD LAND AVERAGE TROPHY DONATED BY ABBEY PET STORES
To be awarded to the competitor with the Highest Average Velocity in the Federation.
T SHAW & SON CLUB TROPHY
To be awarded to the club, which in the Federation Secretary’s opinion, has given every satisfaction during the season.
CLAIMS FOR AVERAGES
The latest date for the acceptance of claims for Averages and for Trophies must be within 28 days of last race being flown. A member must time in in all races to compete for Averages unless a race is declared void or there are no birds home in race time when the Average will be reckoned on the remainder of the races.
North Staffordshire Federation News 