TRANSVAAL RACING PIGEON FEDERATION
UPDATED 14 March 2015 (including adoptions of AGM 11 March 2015)
C O N S T I T U T I O N
INTERPRETATION
1 In this constitution, the masculine includes the feminine, and the singular includes the plural.
2 Headings shall not be used in the interpretation of any provision or part of this constitution
NAME
3 The name of the federation shall be "TRANSVAAL RACING PIGEON Federation” ("the Federation").
PLACE OF ADMINISTRATION
4 The place of administration of the Federation shall be at JOHANNESBURG
OBJECTS
5 The Federation is a non-profit making organisation. Its objects are to:
5.1 encourage, advance and generally to assist and promote the interests of pigeon racing and all associated activities;
5.2 govern, and to make provisions governing, regulating, and controlling pigeon racing in those societies affiliated to the Federation, and to add to, repeal or alter such provisions from time to time, and to enforce them;
5.3 purchase, hire or otherwise acquire premises, transport facilities, rings, clocks, baskets, panniers, and other movable or immovable assets or requisites as may from time to time be necessary, and to lease, sell, or otherwise deal with them;
5.4 hold any elected or nominated officer of the Federation harmless and free of liability in respect of any matter arising from the bona fide execution of any power or duty conferred upon him.
5.5 promote legislative measures or to approach Government, or any other legislative or administrative authority on any matter directly or indirectly affecting any of these objects;
5.6 invest and re-invest funds and assets, to borrow or raise money, to pledge assets if necessary, and to make ex gratia payments or honoraria to employees or officials of the Federation;
5.7 take such steps as may be necessary to incorporate the Federation, in the event of this being considered necessary.
OFFICE BEARERS
6 The officials of the Federation shall consist of:-
6.1 An Honorary President;
6.2 a Chairman;
6.3 a Vice-Chairman;
6.4 a Secretary;
6.5 a Treasurer;
6.6 a Ring Steward;
6.7 a Race Secretary
7 The officers to whom reference is made in 6.2 and 6.3 shall be elected at the annual general meeting of the Federation.
7.1 The Chairman and Vice Chairman nominated shall have been members of the Federation
for an unbroken period of not less than four (4) years and be of good
standing.
8 The officers to whom reference is made in 6.1, 6.4, 6.5, 6.6, and 6.7, shall be appointed from time
to time by the Federation council ("the council").
MEMBERSHIP OF THE FEDERATION
9 The Federation shall consist of societies elected as members.
10 Such societies shall be subject to the authority of the Federation and be bound by this constitution, and by the Federation's rules.
11 The council, in its sole discretion, shall have the right to refuse any application for membership from any society.
AFFILIATE SOCIETIES
12 Applications by societies for affiliation shall be in writing addressed to the secretary of the Federation.
13 An application for affiliation shall contain full details regarding the names and residential addresses of its members.
14 There shall be a fee of an amount equal to the full annual Federation subscription per member, as determined from time to time, in respect of any such application, which fee shall be lodged simultaneously with it.
15 An affiliated society ("society") making such application shall consist of members, both ordinary, and junior (if any), each of whom shall have to be approved by the council.
16 There shall not be less than ten ordinary members of separate residential addresses (“members”) in any society applying for membership of the Federation. Should the membership of any society fall to less than 10 ordinary members of separate residential addresses, such society shall thereupon cease to be an affiliate society.
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17 Members of societies shall pay the Federation an annual fee.
18 The fee in 17 shall be fixed by the council from time to time.
19 The fee in 17 shall fall due and be payable by each member upon the day of the holding of the
annual general meeting, before commencement. If the fee in 17 is not paid by a member by
May 31 of each year, such member shall cease to be a member.
19.1 No person shall be a member of the Federation or be entitled to exercise any right
pertaining to membership of the Federation until such time as the fee in 17 has been paid in full
.
20 A member of a society who has not paid the fee in 17 shall not be entitled to vote on any matter at the annual general meeting.
21 No member of any society shall compete in any race until the fee in 17 has been paid.
22 Societies shall have a proper constitution and formulate or otherwise make appropriate rules. An application for affiliation to the Federation must be accompanied by the constitution of such society applying for affiliation, which constitution may not be in contradiction to the Federation’s constitution. Alternatively, a certificate signed by the executive of that society, acknowledging the Federation’s constitution as accepted and binding on all its members, must be delivered. The Federation council shall be entitled, at any time, to demand that any affiliated
society, which has neither its own constitution, nor has delivered the certificate aforesaid, deliver such constitution or certificate to the council within 14 days.
23 The constitution and rules in 22 shall not be inconsistent with this constitution or any Federation rule.
24 Each society shall keep proper financial books, records, and statements.
25 The council shall have the right to call for the documents in 24 from any society for inspection, subject to there being reasonable grounds to ask for any such information.
26 The financial year of each society shall be the calendar year from and including 1 January to 31 December.
27 If in the opinion of the council there is good cause, it may have the books, records, and statements referred to in 24 audited at the cost of such society.
28 The council must:-
28.1 Consider, review, confirm, alter, amend, modify, or set aside any regulation, law, bye-law, rule, decision, directive, ruling, or any provision of any kind, passed, adopted, accepted, implemented or applied by any society, should there be good cause to do so; provided however that:
28.1.1 Reasonable written notice of its intention to do so shall have been given to such society; and
28.1.2 Such society shall be entitled to make such relevant representations to the council as it may consider necessary.
28.2 Each affiliate society shall hold an annual general meeting before the last day of
February as a prelude to the Federation’s annual general meeting.
LIFE MEMBERSHIP
29 The council or a society may nominate a person for life membership.
30 A nomination of any person for life membership by a society shall be submitted to the council for approval.
31 The approval of any nomination in 29 shall be subject to the following conditions:
31.1 in the case of a nomination by a society, the nomination shall have been accepted at a general meeting of the society.
31.2 The nominee shall have:-
31.2.1 had unbroken membership of the Federation for not less than 20 years.
31.2.2 participated in the administration of a society in the executive capacity of chairman, or vice-chairman, or treasurer, or secretary, or race secretary, and/or participated in the administration of the Federation for a total period of not less than ten (10) years.
31.2.3 rendered outstanding service which shall be considered to be constituted by not less than a total of five (5) years’ service as a member of the council, or some particular outstanding service to the Federation or the racing of pigeons.
32 The granting of life membership shall relieve the recipient of any obligation he may have had to pay annual membership fees to the Federation.
32.1 The whole of the foregoing shall, however, be subject to approval and ratification at the immediately succeeding annual general meeting.
32. 2 The life membership of the Federation of any person to whom such life membership may have been granted, shall be subject to withdrawal at any annual general meeting, on good cause being shown.
MEMBERSHIP OF SOCIETIES
33 Any application for membership of a society shall be subject to the approval of the council.
34 The names and full particulars of an applicant for membership, on the Federation's prescribed form, accompanied by a clearance certificate in the case of a non-novice applicant, shall be submitted to and be passed by the council before acceptance by a society. It shall be the duty of the society to satisfy itself as to the validity of such certificate, or should the application be that of members flying jointly or as a partnership, then the validity of the certificates of each of them.
35 Applications for membership shall be in the hands of the Federation secretary as soon as possible after receipt by the society concerned.
36 Any applicant for membership shall appear personally before the society concerned or any person(s) delegated by it, who shall endorse the applicant's application to that effect.
37 Should the society refuse to accept the applicant, it shall forthwith inform the council, in writing, of the reasons for such refusal.
38 The application and the reasons for its refusal shall be placed on the agenda for the next meeting of the council at which this can be considered.
39 Notice of such meeting, and that representations may be made to the council at that meeting, shall be given to the secretary of the society concerned.
40 In addition notice in writing shall be given to the applicant in good time, informing the applicant that he may make such relevant representations, in writing, or orally at the meeting, as he may consider necessary.
41 No member of any society shall compete in any race if his loft is not within the Federation's boundaries unless the council's written consent has first been had and obtained.
42 Should a member have obtained such written consent, it shall fall away and be of no further force or effect forthwith upon the location of such member's loft being changed.
43 No member shall compete in races until he has applied and paid for the surveying of the distance between his loft and the liberation points then in use.
44 Forms of application for measurements shall be submitted to the Federation secretary not less than 21 days before participation in any race. Should such measurements not, however, be available in good time, a member must fly to a distance of nearest disadvantage.
45 Where two or more fanciers compete jointly, or as a partnership from one loft, only one annual fee shall be payable.
45.1 For all purposes under this constitution and rules such fanciers shall be deemed
to be a single entity.
46 Notwithstanding 45.1 such fanciers shall both be members of one or more societies.
JUNIOR MEMBERS
47 Any dependant minor shall be entitled to apply for membership of a society as a junior member.
48 A junior member shall pay one quarter of the annual fee paid by an ordinary member
49 A junior member may choose to compete as an ordinary member subject to him becoming liable to pay the same fee and/or any other due as an ordinary member.
50 No junior member shall fly more than 10 birds in any race, provided that:
50.1 where a lesser limit than 10 birds has been prescribed for any race, a junior member shall be bound by such lesser limit.
51 No Federation transport fee shall be payable by junior members.
52 No junior member shall compete for Federation prize money or any other Federation prize.
52.1 Junior members competing out of the same loft as a senior member shall register
his/her pigeons.
53 No junior member shall be entitled to vote at any meeting of the Federation.
53.1 Junior members shall, at the discretion of the chairman of the society concerned, perform all such tasks and duties as are ordinarily performed by members.
AMENDMENTS TO THIS CONSTITUTION
54 This constitution shall not be amended other than at an annual general meeting, or a specially convened special general meeting.
55 No such amendment or change shall be of any force or effect unless:
55.1 A quorum as defined in 72 or 85, as the case may require is, present at any such meeting;
55.2 any such amendment or change shall have been passed by not less than a majority of three-quarters of the members present and entitled to vote.
55.3 Any proposal for an amendment or change of this constitution, included on the Annual General Meeting Agenda, may be altered subject to the approval of the proposer of such amendment.
FINANCIAL RECORDS AND OTHER FINANCIAL MATTERS.
56 The financial year of the Federation shall be the calendar year from and including 1 January to 31 December.
57 Proper books of account shall be kept.
58 Unless for good reason the audit shall not have been completed, audited financial statements in respect of the immediately preceding financial year shall be put before the annual general meeting for its consideration and approval.
59 Un-audited financial statements shall carry a note to such effect and shall be put before the annual general meeting in the same way and for the same purpose as if they had been audited.
60 The Federation books of account shall be audited as soon as possible after the financial year end by a person properly qualified to do so.
61 Any deficit shall be made good by societies, pro rata, in accordance with the relationship that the number of members of each society bears to the total number of members of the federation.
62 Save as set out in 63 all payments shall be by way of cheques or EFT (electronic funds
transfer) issued by the federation, and
62.1 made payable to the payee who shall be the creditor to whom the Federation is
directly liable and no other party, and
62.2 drawn on current account with the federation's bankers.
63 Payment by the Federation to its employees may be either by way of cheque, cash or EFT (electronic funds transfer).
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ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS
64 The annual general meeting of the Federation shall be held at Johannesburg before 20th March.
65 Written notice of such meetings and the agenda shall be given to societies and to their members not less than fourteen clear days before the annual general meeting.
66 Any society intending to submit any proposal for inclusion in the agenda shall ensure that it is received by the secretary not less than thirty days before the annual general meeting.
67 The annual general meeting shall inter alia:-
67.1 confirm the minutes of the previous annual general meeting.
67.2 receive, consider and pass the final accounts and balance sheet for the period ended the
preceding 31st December.
67.3 elect the chairman and vice-chairman for the ensuing year in accordance with the constitution.
67.4 transact such special business as may be proper.
68 Once elected at an annual general meeting or at a special general meeting, the chairman and vice Chairman may only be removed during their periods of office by a resolution of a special general meeting.
69 Until a chairman shall have been elected the incumbent chairman shall preside at the meeting.
70 In the absence of the incumbent chairman, the incumbent vice-chairman shall conduct the proceedings until a chairman for the ensuing year shall have been elected.
71 In the event of both incumbent chairman and incumbent vice-chairman not being present, the secretary, notwithstanding the order published in the agenda, shall forthwith conduct such proceedings as are required for the election of an incoming chairman, who, having been duly elected shall conduct the further proceedings of the meeting.
72 Those members present and entitled to vote shall constitute a quorum.
73 All matters requiring decision shall, save as set out in 73.1 and 74 be decided by simple majority by show of hands, provided that:
73.1 the chairman, in the exercise of his discretion, may rule or direct of his own accord or in compliance with a demand from any member entitled to vote that there be a secret ballot.
74 Should the chairman decide that there be a secret ballot, he shall give such directions as to the method of its execution, as may be required or necessary.
75 Save for the election of the incoming chairman, should there be an equal number of votes cast in favour of, and against any motion the chairman shall be entitled, but not obliged, to exercise a casting vote.
76 Should the votes cast for the election of a chairman be equally divided, the casting of votes shall start afresh and be repeated until a majority has been achieved.
77 A declaration by the chairman upon a show of hands that a motion has been carried or lost shall be conclusive, unless a count is demanded by any one or more members.
78 should there be any dispute as to the admission or rejection of a vote, the chairman shall determine it and such determination shall be conclusive.
79 With the approval by simple majority of the meeting, the chairman may adjourn it and, if necessary, change its venue.
80 Only such business as remained unfinished at any adjourned meeting may be conducted at any resumption of such meeting.
81 Each member present and entitled to vote shall have one vote only in respect of any matter put to a vote.
82 No vote shall be cast under or by way of proxy.
SPECIAL GENERAL MEETINGS
83 A special general meeting of the Federation shall be called upon:-
83.1 a motion in those terms carried at a general meeting.
83.2 a motion or resolution of the council in those terms.
84 A requisition delivered to the federation secretary signed by the duly appointed representatives of not less than three affiliated societies acting in pursuance of motions in those terms carried at duly convened meetings of each such society supported by true copies of the relevant minutes of such meetings.
85 Those members present and entitled to vote shall constitute a quorum.
86 The Federation secretary shall give fourteen day's written notice of such special general
meeting and of the business to be conducted, to each affiliated society, and to each of the members of each such society.
THE FEDERATION COUNCIL
87 The affairs of the Federation shall be managed and administered by a council.
87.1 Any member who is also a member of any other federation, union or similar organisation, shall not be permitted to be a member of the council, if he is a member of the council, executive committee, or other similar body in any such other similar organisation.
88 The council shall consist of a chairman, vice-chairman, and delegate councillors, one being nominated by each affiliated society.
88.1 The council shall appoint a secretary, treasurer, ring steward, transport manager, race secretary, publicity officer and any other officer deemed necessary.
88.2 Save as set out in 89, should such appointees not be delegates of societies they shall not have voting rights at meetings of the council.
88.3 Such officers' gratuity or remuneration shall be fixed by the council.
88.4 Each affiliated society shall, within 14 days after an annual general meeting, nominate, in writing, its delegate and an alternate to such delegate.
88.5 Should an affiliated society decide to change its delegate and/or alternate, it shall notify the secretary, in writing, not less than 14 days before implementing any such change.
89 The chairman and vice chairman shall be entitled to vote, ex officio. Should either of these officers be the representative of an affiliated society at council, such officer shall, none the less, be entitled to not more than one vote on any issue, save for the chairman’s casting vote.
89.1 In the absence at a meeting of the nominated delegate his alternate, who shall only be entitled to be present in the absence of the nominated delegate, may exercise the delegate’s power to vote.
90 The chairman and vice-chairman shall be those elected under 67.3.
90.1 The chairman and vice-chairman or their immediate family members or relatives may not be appointed to any of the following administrative positions namely: treasurer, secretary and race secretary.
91 Should the chairman and/or vice-chairman vacate his/their office/s during their period of office, the council shall appoint a member of the Federation in his place pending the election of a Federation member to that office at a special general meeting or at the next annual general meeting.
92 Save where a society has been affiliated less than 2 years all delegate councillors nominated shall have been members of the Federation for an unbroken period of not less than two years immediately preceding their nomination and be of good standing.
93 A nominated councillor shall forfeit his position as a member of the council irrespective of any apology:
93.1 should he absent himself from three consecutive council meetings without
acceptable apology, or
93.2 from four meetings in all within any period between immediately successive
annual general meetings.
93.3 Any councillor who has so forfeited his position shall not be permitted to attend
any further meeting of the council at any future time whatsoever, unless he is
again nominated by his society and the consent of the council has first been had
and obtained.
94 The Federation secretary shall be responsible for the maintaining of all such records as are required to facilitate the proper functioning of the Federation and council.
94.1 The chairman shall be the delegate of the Federation to all annual general meetings of
the South African National Pigeon Organisation.
94.2 Should the chairman be unable to execute this function, it shall be done by the
vice-chairman, and failing him for any reason, it shall be performed by a person nominated by the council.
94.3 Should the Federation qualify to have more than one delegate represent it, then the second delegate shall be the vice chairman, and failing him for any reason, it shall be a person nominated by the council.
COUNCIL MEETINGS
95 Ordinary meetings of the council shall be held when considered necessary by the chairman but not less than once every 3 months.
96 Extraordinary meetings of the council shall be held when considered necessary by the chairman or the executive committee.
97 Fifty percent (50%) councillors other than the chairman and vice-chairman shall constitute a quorum at ordinary or extraordinary meetings.
98 Should any application be made by any person who has a proper interest to inspect any minutes, the secretary shall arrange that such person be given reasonable access to any such minutes, provided however, that any such minutes have been approved, in the ordinary course, by council.
POWERS OF COUNCIL
99 In addition to any other powers it may have under this constitution, the council shall have the power:
99.1 to carry out all or any of the objects mentioned in 5, with the exception of the special condition regarding 5.3 as described in Rule 99.1.1",
99.1.1 with reference to 5.3, the Council may not purchase or dispose of any material assets, without approval being received at an AGM or at a specially convened special general meeting,
99.2 to delegate its powers, or any of them, to an executive committee or other sub- committee, provided that:
99.2.1 any act by the executive committee, or by any such sub-committee, under and by virtue of 99.2 shall be reported to the council at its next meeting and further provided that no penalty or other sanction shall be imposed on any member by the executive committee, or any such sub-committee, to which any powers have been delegated, as aforesaid, without the approval of the council.
99.2.2 such executive committee shall consist of the chairman, vice-chairman and three other members of the council, as nominated by the council, save that no society shall be entitled to more than one member on the executive council.
99.2.3 such other sub-committee shall be made up of as many members as are nominated by council, such sub-committee members being drawn from council members and/or other Federation members, these being seconded to any such sub-committee.
99.3 to review, confirm, amend, or set aside:
99.3.1 any clause, rule, regulation, or other provision of any constitution or other document governing or in any way controlling, or associated with the supervision or control, of the conduct of a society's affairs;
99.3.2 any decision of any affiliated society or its officials, in any matter whether such matter be brought before the council on appeal, review, or otherwise, including the power to:
99.3.3 cause any such matter or case to be remitted to a society concerned for further hearing.
99.4 to pass, amend, or rescind bye-laws for the regulation of the affairs of the Federation;
99.5 to institute, defend, carry on, abandon, compromise and settle any action or actions or
other proceedings, in the name of the Federation, in any court of law or other lawful tribunal;
99.6 to submit any claim by or against the Federation and any dispute to arbitration.
99.7 to expel or suspend any member of the Federation:-
99.7.1 for contravening any provision of this constitution, and/or
99.7.2 who, upon demand having been duly made, fails or refuses or neglects to pay moneys due and owing to the Federation, without prejudice to any other rights it may have.
99.8 to exercise the same rights as in 99.7 against any member upon whom demand having been duly made, fails or refuses or neglects to pay moneys due and owing to any society
99.9 to authorise not less than two signatories to sign all powers of attorney, contracts, agreements, or other deeds or documents requiring signature, and to open and operate banking accounts in t the name of the Federation and to draw, accept, endorse make and execute bills of exchange, promissory notes, cheques and other negotiable instruments connected with the business of the Federation, provided that:
99.9.1 one of the signatories should in the ordinary course of business be the chairman or vice- Chairman.
99.10 to appoint an auditor;
99.11 to impose, alter or refund any entrance fee from time to time.
99.12 to vote from funds at the disposal of the Federation such amounts as they may decide:
99.12.1 as honoraria or bonuses to officials or employees, or as subscriptions or donations to any charitable organisation;
99.12.2 for investment;
99.12.3 for any other purpose either specifically permitted by this constitution or for the discharge of its obligations or duties under this constitution and /or rules.
99.13 to raise or borrow moneys on the security of mortgage on the landed property or other assets or such other security and on such terms as the council may deem fit.
99.14 to deal with any condition or circumstance arising for which specific provision is not provided in the rules.
99.15 to amend, delete, or add to the rules of the Federation, provided however such powers shall be confined to matters of procedures only; such powers shall not extend to any matters of a substantive nature.
99.16 to formulate race programmes and fix entry limits, provided that:
99.16.1 in deciding upon race programmes for the immediately forthcoming series of races, the council shall have regard to any suggestions made by societies provided that such suggestions, in writing, had been received on or before the last day of the preceding calendar year.
99.17 grant honorary membership for a period of one year to any person who, in the sole discretion of the council has performed work of an exceptional nature that the council considers deserving of recognition.
FEDERATION BOUNDARIES
100 The boundaries of the Federation shall be extended and are recorded in black on a map which is to be signed for identification purposes by the chairman on 2 May 1995. All further extensions to such boundaries will be recorded in black on this same map, after approval at an annual general meeting or special general meeting of the Federation, and the map signed again, by the incumbent chairman at such time.
DISCIPLINARY ACTION
101 Should it appear, on good cause shown, that a member may be guilty of reprehensible
behaviour, breach of this constitution, or Federation rules, or any other misconduct, then:
101.1 irrespective of whether such member is an officer of the Federation or council, the council, or a duly authorised sub-committee of the council, subject to the conditions of
99.2.1, shall be entitled to suspend such member from any further participation in any
activity over which the Federation has jurisdiction, or without imposing any
suspension, shall forthwith convene an enquiry to be held at the earliest possible time.
101.2 The member subject to enquiry shall, in writing, and at the earliest possible time, be informed of the nature of the charge against him.
102 The provisions of 101, 101.1 and 101.2, shall apply equally, in the same way and to the same extent, to a society.
103 The decision in any enquiry shall be made by way of a simple majority vote.
104 Canvassing by any society or member for votes of council members in matters of enquiry shall render the society or member liable to suspension or expulsion.
105 The council, any sub-committee of the council or any person appearing before the council or any such sub-committee, shall be entitled to legal representation.
Amended Special Meeting 30 Apr 2013
106 After hearing such relevant evidence and representations as the parties may wish to present, the council may impose a further period of suspension, or expel the member or society
concerned, or otherwise impose such sanction as it may deem fit in the circumstances
107 No person presenting evidence or who may in any way, at any level, have investigated or decided upon any allegation that is relevant to the enquiry shall be a member of any panel or tribunal or sub-committee hearing any such enquiry.
108 The council shall make such rules as may be appropriate for the governing of the proceedings of any enquiries, and
108.1 in addition to, or instead of the afore going, the council shall have the right to make ad hoc rules for the governing of the proceedings of any particular enquiry.
109 The secretary shall cause a written report of the outcome of any formal enquiry to be made to the secretary of the South African National Pigeon Organisation if such outcome is adverse to any member.
110 A society shall furnish the secretary of the Federation in writing within seven days, the details of:-
110.1 the suspension by it of any member.
110.2 the expulsion by it of any member.
110.3 any other disciplinary action taken by it against any member.
APPEALS
111 Any member or society against whom there has been an adverse finding, shall have the right to appeal to the council against the correctness of such finding and/or the sanction imposed.
112 Any member shall have the right to appeal to the council against any directive or ruling of the society of which he is member, or against any decision, directive, or ruling of any officer or officers of the Federation or council in their capacity as such.
113 Any society shall have the right to appeal to the council against any decision, directive, or ruling of any officer or officers of the Federation or council in their capacity as such.
114 Notice of appeal together with the grounds upon which it is based and any supporting documents shall be lodged with the secretary of the Federation within fourteen days of the decision, directive, or ruling, against which the appeal is made.
115 Should notice of appeal not be lodged within the period in 114 any right to appeal shall irrevocably lapse.
116 An amount of R100, 00 (One hundred Rand ) shall be paid simultaneously with the lodging of the notice of appeal.
116.1 The amount so paid shall not be recoverable by the appellant.
117 Any such appeal, which shall be in the nature of a full enquiry or rehearing, as the case may be, shall be heard either at a meeting of the council, or by a duly authorised sub-committee and the decision reached shall be final and binding.
118 An appellant may appear in person at the hearing of the appeal to:
118.1 present such relevant oral evidence as he may consider necessary;
118.2 present such relevant oral and/or written representations as he may wish;
118.3 subject himself to such questioning as may be relevant, put to him by the chairman or any other member permitted or appointed by him to do so.
119 At the hearing of any appeal, the council, any sub-committee of the council or any person
appearing before the council or any such sub-committee shall be entitled to legal representation.
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120 Should an appellant not appear at the time fixed for the hearing of the appeal, the council may, if it is satisfied that it is not aware of any good reason for such absence, proceed with the appeal in his absence or summarily dismiss it.
121 The final decision of any appeal shall be made by way of a simple majority vote of the council.
122 Canvassing by any society or member for votes of council members in appeal matters shall render the society or member liable to suspension or expulsion.
123 The finding of the council hearing any appeal shall be final and binding.
124 The society or member concerned shall not be entitled to have further recourse to any court of law save upon such grounds as may in law properly found review proceedings.
125 The council shall make such rules as may be appropriate for the governing of the proceedings of any appeal.
125.1 In addition to, or instead of the afore-going, the council shall have the right to make rules for the governing of the proceedings of any particular appeal.
SUCCESSION
126 The Federation:
126.1 shall have perpetual succession;
126.2 is an association capable of owning and/or leasing property;
126.3 is able to fulfil its functions separately from and independently of the members and/or affiliated societies comprising it.
LEGAL CAPACITY
127 The Federation may sue or be sued in the name of the Transvaal Racing Pigeon Federation.
128 In any action between the Federation and a society or member, such society or member shall not be entitled to plead that the Federation has no legal capacity or no standing in law.
128.1 The Federation shall not be liable, directly or indirectly, to any member or any affiliated society arising from loss of or damage to birds, howsoever caused, whether by negligence, gross negligence, or recklessness, wilful or otherwise, while in the custody and control of the Federation, any of its officers, employees, or agents, and whether in the course of being carried or conveyed by motor transport or otherwise, or, any such loss or damage howsoever caused, as aforesaid, at any time preceding any such birds being passed into the custody and control of the Federation for any purpose whatsoever.
Merger
128.2 two or more affiliated societies propose merging with one another, the details of all proposed arrangements between them shall be furnished to the council, which shall satisfy itself as to the legality and propriety thereof. The council shall have the right to be furnished with any further information it may reasonably require, and shall further have the power to disallow any such proposed merger.
WINDING UP
129 The Federation shall not be dissolved as long as not less than two societies remain affiliated.
130 Should the Federation be wound up there shall be no liability incurred by any member and/or affiliated society other than for unpaid subscriptions and moneys owing to the Federation.
PARTICIPATION IN ASSETS
131 No society or member shall participate in the sharing of the Federation's assets.
132 Upon any dissolution of the Federation, its assets shall be sold to best advantage.
133 The net proceeds of such sale shall be awarded to one or more charitable organisations to be decided upon at the meeting of dissolution.
133.1, 131, 132 and 133 shall, mutatis mutandis, apply upon the dissolution and/or sharing of affiliated society assets.
COMPLIANCE
134 Upon the acceptance by the council of any application for membership or affiliation as a society, and without notice to any such applicant, the member or society as the case may be shall forthwith become bound to comply with each and every provision of this constitution without exception.
REPEAL OF PREVIOUS CONSTITUTION, RETENTION OF RULES AND NAME
135 The previous constitution is hereby repealed.
136 This constitution shall be known as
"THE 2015 CONSTITUTION"
Changing and re-numbering of this constitution was adopted at the annual general meeting held on 15 March 2006.
TRANSVAAL RACING PIGEON FEDERATION - RULES
In these Rules the masculine includes the feminine and the singular includes the plural.
GENERAL RULES
G1 The council in it’s discretion shall decide upon the levy for the transport facility from time to time payable by individual members and/or affiliated societies.
G2 Where it is necessary to do so the Federation shall ensure that all birds entered in any race or races are fed and watered.
G3 A conveyor and/or attendant may be engaged and paid at the discretion of the council.
G4 The council may in its discretion, engage the driver of the Federation transport to be the authorised conveyor and/or attendant in terms of G3 or upon such other terms and conditions as it may deem fit.
G5 Should less than six (6) members of any society flying from six (6) differently located lofts enter any race, the chairman of any such society shall forthwith inform the council secretary of that fact.
G6 The participation of less than six (6) members as described in G5 shall disentitle such society from having the Federation vehicle load it’s race panniers at it’s ordinary basketing venue for the remainder of the current race programme.
G7 Any such society as is affected by G5 and G6 shall then be required to make arrangements, acceptable to the council, with some other society, for the basketing of birds entered by it’s members, and shall also procure the conveyance to the venue of such other society of it’s panniers.
G8 No member other than the chairman, and/or the race secretary, and/or the vice chairman, or any other person duly authorised by the chairman, shall;
G8.1 instruct, advise, make any request, impart any information, notify, relay, report, or make or have any communication of any kind whatsoever with or to any officer or employee of the Federation (including but not limited to the driver or drivers of any motor transport, any conveyer, or any other person or employee assisting in any such conveyance).
G8.2 associated with or in respect of any duty, function, obligation, responsibility, or any task whatsoever,
G8.3 arising from or connected to or with the carriage and or conveyance, and/or the liberation of birds,
G8.4 carried in or upon any transport facility provided, arranged and/or supervised by the Federation or any of its officers or employees,
G8.5 irrespective of whether or not any such birds are or were intended to be or have been conveyed to or liberated from any particular point, and,
G8.6 furthermore, irrespective of whether any such birds were or were not conveyed to any such point, or, are or are not being conveyed, to such point.
G9 Any society or member acting in contravention of G8 shall be subject to discipline by the council in terms of the constitution.
G10 No society shall be permitted to promote or in any way canvass for a race from any point, unless the consent of the council has first been had and obtained.
G11 All birds entered in the Yearling races shall be rung with the official identification ring issued by the Federation or other recognized homing society or union, issued after May 1 of the year of issue imprinted or otherwise embodied, on such ring.
G12 The official identification rings of the Federation shall be obtainable by members of each society from the person responsible for the distribution of such rings in the society, of which he is a member, subject however to:
G12.1 no identification ring of the Federation shall be issued to any member before May 1 of any calendar year, where such calendar year is the year of issue imprinted or otherwise embodied on any ring, and
G12.2 Five (5) Derby rings shall be issued to every member at the cost of a normal ring price, andeach member of the federation, and not each team, shall be entitled to five (5) Derby rings issued to him at the cost of the normal ring price by the Federation, and
G12.3 there shall be no limit on the purchase of Derby rings and Derby rings shall be transferable, subject to
G12.5 race entry for the Derby race shall be subject to the limit applicable to the race, and
G12.6 no member shall be able to obtain Federation rings unless his current dues to the Federation shall have been be paid. Amended AGM 19 March 2009.
G13 No bird shall bear an identification ring that has been stretched or otherwise tampered with, or be double rung.
G14 An infringement of G13 shall render a member liable to disciplinary proceedings and the imposition of a penalty in the discretion of the council.
G15 The open series race programme shall comprise what in the opinion of the council is not less than twenty (20) races as follows:
G15.1 Not less than 31% and not more than 35% of all races from distances between 200 km and 400 km.
G15.2 Not less than 31% and not more than 35% of all races from distances between 401 km and 600 km.
G15.3 Not less than 31% and not more than 35% of all races from distances in excess of 600 km, provided that not less than one such race shall be from Leeu Gamka, or Matjiesfontein, or Beaufort West.
G15.4 The total of races as defined in G15.1, G15, 2 and G15.3 must add up to 100% of the total of races in the open series race program.
G15.5 Races may be arranged by the council for either separate or simultaneous liberation from
the same or other liberation points. The initial liberations on all race days are not to be
released later than 07h30, weather and extenuating conditions permitting. G15.5 Adopted at the AGM 11 Mar 2015
G15.6 All races should be double races with the exception to any combine races which may be organized by the Federation from time to time. Where appropriate all double races should be from the same race point, with liberation times not less than thirty (30) minutes apart, but not more than forty five (45) minutes apart.
G16 There shall be no registration of ownership, possession or transfer of birds by members of the
Federation whether at society level or otherwise. All birds entered into any race shall be the
property of the member concerned or in the bona fide possession of such member with the
knowledge and consent of the owner provided that
G16.1: Where two or more members or two or more teams fly from the same loft/erf, registration of ownership of all competing birds on the first night of the official racing season/ basketing shall be compulsory by all members, teams and team names and shall not be transferable during the same calendar year. No single bird shall be registered more than once in the Federation and no late registrations will be accepted.
G16.2: No bird/birds entered for any race/races in another recognised homing society or union, shall be entered for races in the Federation during the same calendar year.
G16.3: Disciplinary action will be taken against any member/members who breach these rules:
G16.3.1: First offence results in the immediate disqualification of the said bird/birds and a written warning to the offending member/members.
G16.3.2: Second offence results in the immediate disqualification of the said bird/birds and the suspension of the offending member/members from any further participation in the Federation races for a two week period (four races) and the member/members will be informed in writing.
G16.3.3: Third offence results in the immediate disqualification of the said bird/birds and the suspension of the offending member/members from any further participation in the Federation aces for a calendar year and the member/members will be informed in writing.
The whole of Rule 16 adopted at Special Meeting 30 Apr 2013
G17 Each society shall appoint a loft committee to inspect lofts of applicants for membership, where it is the intention of such applicants to participate in Federation races.
G17.1 Having completed such inspection the loft committee shall record its findings and endorse the application for membership accordingly.
G17.2 No member shall be entitled to race from any loft that has not been so inspected and
approved.
G18 If directed by the council or the Federation chairman, any loft of any member may be
examined by a committee specially appointed for that purpose.
G18.1 Such committee shall furnish a report in writing to the council.
G19 Upon request from the council and within fourteen (14) days of the receipt thereof, societies shall furnish the Federation secretary with a written list of members reflecting their full names, current addresses, and telephone numbers.
G20 Any member participating in any Federation race shall participate in the Federation scheme and/or any other Federation competition relating to such race, provided that participation in any such scheme and/or competition is compulsory.
G21 No member shall be obliged to participate in any scheme by any society, provided however that any such member shall pay administrative charges levied by the society of which he is a member.
G21.1 Such administrative charges must be equal to those levied on other members of the society, provided however, that should there be no such administrative charges , per se, then such administrative charges shall not exceed an amount as determined by the Federation council from time to time.
G21.2 Any member who does not participate in any scheme of a society shall, save in respect
of such scheme, and save as is provided in G21.1, be dealt with and treated by such
society as it would any other member.
G22 No society shall refuse membership to any applicant on the sole ground that such applicant will not participate in any scheme and/or other competition arranged by any such society.
CLOCK RULES
C1 The time of arrival of birds shall be recorded either by way of mechanical or electronic clocks approved by council, or by means of an electronic timing system approved by council.
C1.1 Unless otherwise stated, “clocks” shall refer to mechanical or electronic clocks. Any references to an electronic timing system shall be referred to as such.
C1.2 Societies shall, if called upon by the council to do so, satisfy the council as to the
procedures used by it in setting, checking and reading the clocks under it’s supervision
and control.
C2 Each society shall have a clock committee constituted by not less than three (3) members.
C3 Member may deliver their clocks to their society’s clock committee for inspection not less than three (3) weeks before the first race.
C4 Such clocks shall be checked, wound if necessary, set, struck, and sealed by the clock committee concerned.
C5 Clock committees shall be responsible for the regulation and sealing of clocks and shall have the power to regulate any clock to minimise variation.
C6 The clock committee of the relevant society shall, at any reasonable and proper time, have the power to demand that any member using a clock that does not comply with the standards of operation required, take such steps as may be required to bring such clock within the proper requirements.
C7 A record shall be made in a book which shall be kept by each society (the clock book) of the details of any change made to the regulation of any clock.
C8 Members shall only use clocks approved by the council.
C9 Any competing member shall, in races declared by the council to be “special” be entitled to use two clocks. Any member electing to use two clocks shall ensure that:
i) his birds are double race rung;
ii) both clocks are struck out;
iii) both clocks are sealed;
iv) both clocks are struck in;
v) both clocks are read; and,
vi) there had been compliance with all relevant rules in respect of both clocks, failing which both clocks shall be disqualified.
C10 Save for the proviso herein, no competing member other than a member of a clock committee specifically authorised to do so shall simultaneously have in his possession or under his control more than one clock set for any race, provided that a member shall be entitled to have in his possession more than one clock, subject to his having nominated and recorded in the clock book the clock that such member intends to use.
C11 When setting clocks:-
C11.1 The clock roll shall have noted upon it:
C11.2 name of the society,
C11.3 the user’s name,
C11.4 the race point, and
C11.5 the date upon which the clock is set.
C12 The clock roll shall be signed by the member of the clock committee who sets the clock at the time that the clock is set.
C13 The “zero” or it’s equivalent shall be made to appear in the race ring box before the clock is struck out.
C14 After each clock has been set and before locking and sealing, it shall be checked and countersigned by a member of the clock committee other than the member setting the clock concerned.
C15 No member of any society shall set or check the clock he is to use in the race for which the clocks are set.
C16 At a time decided by each society, subject to C19, a strike shall be called and all clocks shall then and there be simultaneously struck out.
C17 Not less than four members competing in any particular race, one of whom shall be a member of the clock committee of the society concerned, shall be present when clocks are struck and/or opened.
C18 Not less than two clocks shall be struck at any strike.
C19 Clocks shall be struck upon the hour simultaneously with a radio time signal, provided however that:
C19.1 subject to the society official having satisfied himself that a clock, watch, or other
accurate timing device has been set in accordance with a radio time signal, a strike
using such clock, watch, or other timing device, and,
C19.2 provided further that where a clock, watch, or other timing device has been used to call a strike, the other strike, that is to say either the strike-out or the strike-in as the case may be, must be called against a radio time signal.
C20 If an error be made or if in the opinion of the society official responsible for calling the strike, any doubt arises as to the correctness of such strike, the affected clock or clocks shall be struck at the next following quarter-hour, or on the quarter hour at any reasonable time thereafter, the same procedure being followed thereafter if there again be any- or any suspected error.
C21 There shall be a second or “check” strike between one and five minutes (at the discretion of the member calling the strike) after the strike to which reference is made in C19.
C22 The loss or gain of time between the strike in C19 and the check strike shall not exceed two (2) seconds.
C23 The check strike shall be struck at a random interval at the discretion of the member calling the strike.
C24 Should the loss or gain exceed two seconds, the clock shall be reset and again struck out and check struck and a corresponding entry made in the clock book.
C25 A record shall be made in the clock book of the number of the first open box after strike and check strike.
C26 At all times, when not in the possession of the clock committee, all clocks shall be sealed with seals approved by the Federation council, provided however that between the strike-out before liberation, and the strike-in after the race has been flown, such seals shall, within each society, each bear different inscribed numbers.
C26.1 The seal numbers shall be recorded in the clock book.
C27 It shall be for the user of the clock, if called upon to do so by the responsible society official or the council, to show that the seal on his clock corresponds with the number recorded in the clock book.
C28 Should any clock be unsealed, or bear a faulty seal, at any time during which such clock should have been sealed the clock committee shall examine such clock.
C28.1 If, pursuant to such examination, the clock committee considers it necessary, such clock, shall, at the cost of the user, be sent to an expert for examination, and/or repair, and/or re-sealing.
C29 During the time any clock is under seal for any race, any member of the clock committee of the society of which the user of such clock is a member, or any other member properly designated by such clock committee, shall have the right to inspect such clock at any reasonable time at the residence of the user concerned or at the loft of the user if such loft is not situated at such residence. Should it be considered necessary to strike such clock, it shall be done in accordance with C18.
C29.1 Should any defect be found it shall be reported forthwith by the person who carried out the inspection to any member of the Federation council.
C30 Upon the arrival of a bird from a race point, the member participating in the race concerned shall place the rubber race ring directly into an open box in the clock being used, or, where required, first placed in a thimble and then inserted into the open box.
C31 Where a thimble is “open” it shall be inserted with it’s aperture facing down, that is to say, facing the bottom of the box.
C32 Should two or more race rings be inserted in any one box, the member concerned shall be entitled to elect the sequence in which such rings are to be read.
C33 The council shall, when necessary issue directives identifying or describing clocks and/or any one or more of the models of any such clock, and/or any modification of any such clocks or model, in which the use of thimbles shall be compulsory.
C34 It shall be the member’s obligation to ensure that he is aware of all directives issued in terms of C33.
C35 After birds participating in a race have been timed in:
C35.1 clocks shall be struck against the earliest convenient radio time signal, subject however to the provisions of C19, C19.1 and C19.2, which should be read as if inserted here.
C35.2 The strike in C35.1 shall be followed by a check strike.
C36 Unless both strikes referred to in C35 have been imprinted on the clock roll when read, the clock shall be disqualified.
C37 Should it be necessary to do so, subject to any clock concerned having remained under seal, the society chairman shall permit a second strike procedure at a time after that in C35.1.
C38 Societies shall use official clock sheets to record the results as prescribed in those sheets.
C38.1 Clock sheets shall be obtained from the Federation secretary or treasurer.
C38. 2 True copies of the results recorded upon the clock sheets shall be retained in a safe
place by societies for not less than one year after the result recorded.
C38.3 Any amendment of the clock sheet shall not be valid unless signed by the person making the amendment.
C38.4 The clock sheets, when completed, shall be signed by two members of the committee of the society.
C39 All clocks set for the timing of birds from a race and presented for reading pursuant to the strike in shall be read.
C40 The details relating to the first race ring placed in the clock at the timing of the participating bird’s return shall be recorded on the clock roll and clock sheet, and thereafter the same details in respect of any other race rings, in chronological order, shall be read and recorded to the extent that the chairman of the society considers necessary or reasonable.
C40.1 Save for Benzing computer model clocks (to be identified by the council if required in any particular case), the third strike on the clock roll of all clocks shall correspond to the box numbered “2”, the forth strike shall correspond to the box numbered “3”, and thereafter in like corresponding sequence.
C41 No member of any society may open or read the clock used by him, nor may he handle the drum or remove the race rings or the clock-roll from such clock when it is read after any race in which such member was a participant.
C42 The sequence in which each clock is presented for reading after the completion of any race, shall be the following:
C42.1 Before opening any clock it shall be examined by a member of the clock committee who shall satisfy himself that the clock is externally in order.
C42.2 The clock shall then be opened and the seal number read to ensure that it corresponds with that recorded in the clock book.
C42.3 Should a clock be presented without a seal or if the seal number on the seal does not correspond with that recorded in the clock book, the clock shall be disqualified, provided however that it shall be read and the details recorded.
C42.4 The general internal order of the clock shall be examined to ensure that it is satisfactory.
C42.5 The race ring shall be placed in its box in such manner that it is entirely within it’s box and no part of it shall protrude or extend outside of the confines of that box.
C42.6 A participating bird to which a race ring relates that has been chambered or housed in a box in any way other than C30, C31 and C42.5 shall be disqualified.
C42.7 The numbers of the boxes from which each race ring is taken shall be checked against the clock roll and noted on it.
C42.8 Subject to the provision of C42.3, only clocks duly sealed at the time of strike out and the strike in, shall be read.
C43 Each society shall ensure that the clock roll recording the timing of the three birds having made the fastest velocity in any race are received by the Federation race secretary in accordance with R15.
C44 All or any of the clock rolls of those clocks into which the first fifty (50) birds in the Federation race were timed, in any Federation race, shall be made available by the societies concerned if called for by the Federation race secretary within fourteen (14) days after any such race.
C45 Any clock that has stopped after a bird or birds has been timed in shall be disqualified.
C45.1 Should any clock stop before it is used to time in any bird, it may be reset and re-struck against the next available radio time signal, provided that:
C45.2 C35.1, C35.2 and C36 shall be read as if inserted here;
C45.3 at least two (2) other members competing in the race in question, one of whom shall be a member of the clock committee, shall be present and strike their clocks simultaneously at any such further strike, provided further that:
C45.4 if the procedure in C45.1 and C45.2 is not possible, then with the approval of the chairman of the member’s society or any person authorised by him to act in his place for that purpose, birds may be timed in using the clock of the nearest competitor in the same race who is prepared to permit this.
C45.5 Alternately to C45.4, if available, another clock that has been set by the society clock committee and recorded in the clock book (a “club spare”) may be handed to the member concerned for his use in the race in question, and no other clock shall be used.
C45.6 If a club spare is issued, the member’s clock shall forthwith be disqualified.
C46 Any clock opened before being struck-in shall be disqualified provided that:
C46.1 should the striking mechanism become jammed,
C46.2 or should the clock roll have become fully used,
C46.3 or should it be manifestly evident that the clock roll will become fully used,
C46.4 and provided further that there is no good reason to believe that any deliberate misconduct gave rise to any of the foregoing, a member of the society clock committee, shall be permitted to open such clock to endeavour to obtain a strike and/or check strike”.
C47 Should a clock gain more than 1.5 (one-and-a-half) seconds per hour the time struck at the timing in of any bird shall be deemed to be the time of arrival of such bird. If a clock loses more than 1.5 (one-and-a-half) seconds per hour, double the time shown to have been lost shall be deemed to be the time lost.
C48 A copy of the entries made in the clock book for each race shall be delivered to the Federation race secretary, simultaneously with the records referred to in race rule R2.
CLOCK RULES: ELECTRONIC TIMING SYSTEMS
C49 These clock rules shall apply only when a member participating in any race falling within the jurisdiction of the Federation, makes use of an electronic timing system to time the arrival of birds returning from the race point concerned; provided however that:
C49.1 to the extent only that there is any conflict, inconsistency, or inappropriateness between these
electronic timing system rules and any one or more of those existing at the time of the
approval of these rules, these rules shall take precedence.
C50 The use of any electronic timing system shall be subject to the approval of Council, and it shall be incumbent on any member concerned to ensure that such electronic timing system as may be used by him has such approval.
C50.1 From time to time as Council may consider appropriate, it shall publish by way of resolution passed at any ordinary meeting, the names and any other particulars of such electronic timing systems as it may approve for use.
C50.2 The Council may, at any time it may deem fit, withdraw its approval, subject however to reasonable notice having been given to all affiliated societies of its intention to do so, and inviting any member who may wish to do so, to make such oral or written representations as he may wish.
C51 Save in respect of such races as may from time to time be approved by Council, no member using any electronic timing system in any particular race shall be permitted to make use of any other timing device to time the arrival of any bird entered in any such race.
C52 Notwithstanding anything herein contained, neither the Federation nor an affiliated Society shall be obliged to make provision for the installation, operation, or cost, of any electronic timing system or any part thereof; save however,
C52.1 as may otherwise be decided by Council, , or any affiliated Society, in respect of any such obligation in this regard as it may agree to accept, and on such conditions as it may impose.
C53 The Race Secretary or a member of the Clock Committee, in each affiliated Society shall ensure that:
C53.1 rings used for the purpose of electronically recording the arrival of birds from races, at their loft (“electronic rings”) in races under its jurisdiction are not “read only”, and
C53.2 electronic rings used are properly put in place on the bird’s leg.
C53.3 In addition to the foregoing the Race Secretary or Clock Committee member, as the case may be (the officer concerned), shall cause a written record to be made of the number assigned to each such electronic ring. Such record shall be signed by both the participating member and the recording officer, the original of which shall be retained in a safe place by the Race Secretary who shall on request, immediately, be obliged to deliver any such report to the Council for its inspection or retention.
C53.4 Any member whose birds are recorded in terms of C53.3 shall be entitled to receive a copy of such record certified as a true copy of the original by the officer concerned.
C53.5 The officer concerned shall ensure that all the numbers to which reference is made in C53.3 are entered in the data bank of the appropriate computer.
C54 The basketing procedure shall be carried out as follows:
C54.1 The competing member shall hand each participating pigeon to a handler deputed by the Chairman or Race Secretary of the affiliated Society, who shall present the electronic ring to the sensor for scanning and thereafter hand such pigeon back to the competing member.
C54.2 The person who would otherwise have acted as ringer shall then call the number on the bird’s identity ring to the person who would otherwise have been the scribe, who shall then compare such identity number with that appearing on the data bank screen.
C54.3 The competing member shall place each bird in the basket allocated to it by the scribe.
C55 Upon the completion of this process in respect of all such birds in all races in which such member may have entered birds, the scribe shall cause a printout to be made of all such birds and the races for which they have been entered.
C55.1 The scribe shall cause such number of copies of the printout to be made as may be required and shall hand a signed copy to the member concerned.
C5 In the course of that procedure to which reference is made in C54.1 to C55.1inclusive, the scribe shall ensure that:
C56.1 no less than two of the characters pre-programmed in the electronic ring are
reprogrammed, and
C56.2 the electronic rings are such as have been approved by the Council.
C57 Should any data become corrupted or otherwise defective, it shall fall away and cease to be of any further force or effect. All birds to which the original intact but subsequently corrupted or otherwise defective data applied, shall be disqualified, save that if the Council is satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that any such corrupted or defective data can properly be recaptured, it may consider admitting such recaptured data for such purposes as the Council in its sole discretion may deem fit, and/or, after inviting representations, issuing such directive/s as it may see fit to any affiliated Society that may be concerned.
C58 On completion of any race the Race Secretary or any person appointed by him for the task, shall do all such actions and take all such steps as will ensure that a proper record is kept of all such data as was processed by way of any electronic system set up to perform any of the tasks to which reference is made in these rules.
C59 The following requirements shall be applicable to the installation and use of electronic sensors for purposes of timing the arrival of birds at members lofts:
C59.1 Any electronic timing sensor must be so installed as will enable it to operate its timing mechanism or device only at that time at which any bird, the time of arrival of which it is intended to record, is within the inside perimeter line of the loft structure at that place at which such bird, by crossing that perimeter, would pass into its loft.
C59.2 The sensor shall be placed and be only capable of operation at a time when in the absence of any such electronic system, the bird would have been sufficiently under control, and within the perimeter line as prescribed in C59.1, as, notionally, to have had a race ring removed.
RACE RULES
R1.1 Only the race entry forms prescribed by the council shall be used.
R1.2 Entry forms must be completed in duplicate and signed by the member concerned.
R1.2.1 Where appropriate, “ditto” marks may be used for repetitive identical entries.
R1.3 Any alteration, which shall include deletions and additions, must be signed by the member or in appropriate circumstances by the scribe.
R1.4 Any such alteration and signature must appear on both race entry forms.
R1.5 In giving effect to R1.1, R1.2, R1.2.1, R1.3, and R1.4, unless otherwise specially permitted by the chairman of any society concerned in consultation with the council, carbon paper or carbonised paper shall be used so as to ensure that the duplicate race entry form, with or without alterations and additional signatures as the case may be, shall be and constitute an exact physical replica of the original.
R1.6 The original and duplicate race entry forms duly completed, shall constitute the official record of a member’s participation in the race concerned.
R1.7 The duplicate race entry forms shall be retained by societies for not less than eight (8) weeks after the race to which they refer.
R1.8 Where the letter “ZA T.R.P.F.” are inscribed on the identification ring, the letters “ZA” may be omitted from the race entry form. In any other case all the details inscribed on the ring shall be entered on the race entry form. Amended Special Meeting 30 Apr 2013
R1.9 Each and every detail appearing on, and nothing other than such details as actually are inscribed, on the identification ring, of any competing bird in any Federation race shall be completely and correctly recorded in the relevant race entry form, where provision is made therefore. Failure to comply will lead to disqualification.
R2 All original race entry forms shall be delivered to the Federation race secretary by no later than the published time of liberation in the relevant race.
R3 All the participating members of any society not observing the procedure in R2 may be
disqualified from the race concerned.
R4 All birds in any race shall bear a race ring approved by the council.
R5 No bird shall be rung or basketed unless there are at least six (6) members present and competing in the race concerned.
R6 No member shall, save as set out in C49 to C59.2:
R6.1 handle his own birds for the purpose of ringing, or
R6.2 place such bird in any pannier, or
R6.3 read and calls the identification ring number.
R6.4 Notwithstanding R6, R6.1 and R6.2 should a society prefer that members handle their own birds, then
:
R6.5 The member shall present his bird with identification ring exposed to a scrutineer who shall inform a scribe of the number inscribed upon the ring.
R6.6 The member shall then insert one of the legs of the bird in the ringing device whereupon the ringer shall ensure that a race ring is properly placed on the bird’s leg.
R6.7 Should the ring, once on the leg of the bird, require adjustment, only the ringer or basket scrutineer shall make any such adjustment.
R6.8 The scribe shall enter such details as are required on the member’s race entry forms.
R6.9 The scribe shall inform the scrutineer of the pannier into which the bird is to be placed.
R6.10 The member shall then present the bird’s leg, so rung, to the scrutineer who shall ensure that the member places the bird in the correct pannier.
R6.11 The member shall then show both empty hands to the scrutineer.
R7 Unless otherwise specifically provided, a race or any other competition associated directly with
that race, shall be won by the bird making the greatest velocity in number of metres per minute,
the following positions falling in immediate descending sequence of velocities.
R7.1 The time of the closing of races shall be ascertained and fixed as follows:
R7.1.1 Races between 150 and 700 kilometres inclusive: by calculation based on the winner’s distance and time of arrival of the winning bird, plus 12 hours excluding the hours of darkness.
R7.1.2 Races exceeding 700 kilometres up to 950 kilometres inclusive: by calculation based on the winners distance and time of arrival of the winning bird, plus 24 hours, including the hours of darkness.
R7.1.3 Races exceeding 950 kilometres: by calculation based on the winner’s distance and time of arrival of the winning bird, plus 48 hours including the hours of darkness.
R7.2 Should only one bird be timed during race time it shall win the whole of the prize money for that
race, provided that such bird has been nominated to participate in any applicable scheme.
R8 If the velocity of the first bird timed in any race is less than 400 metres per minute the race shall
be declared null and void.
R9 The member/members flying the winning bird/birds in each society must upon request by a duly
authorised member of each of the societies, within 24 hours of the societies race results being published, produce such bird/birds for the purposes of identification. Verification of such winning bird/birds must be done after each and every race by each society. R9 adopted at the AGM 12 Mar 2014
R9.1 All the particulars on such birds’ identification ring must have been correctly recorded on the member’s race entry form, failing which the pigeon concerned may be disqualified.
R10 In considering any matter arising from R6.8, the council shall take into account, in addition to any
other evidence it may properly consider relevant, the following:
R10.1 Whether the numbers on the outside of the race ring and the outside of the tag correspond;
R10.2 Whether the numbers on the inside of the race ring and the inside of the tag correspond;
R10.3 Whether the discrepancy between the particulars on the entry form and the actual details concerned is an error of the kind that could easily be made;
R10.4 Whether an acceptable explanation has been advanced for the error having been made;
R10.5 Whether there is any proper reason to believe that there has been dishonesty.
R11 Members to whom the provisions of R9 apply shall cause or permit the bird in question to be
“tossed” from within the immediate vicinity of its loft, in the presence of the duly authorised
member.
R12 Any appeal arising from any dispute as to distance, velocity, identification of any bird, or any other dispute, shall be decided by the council whose decision shall be final and binding.
R13 No bird in any race shall bear any ring, stamp, or other device, from which, ex facie any such ring, and/or stamp, and/or device, the identity of the owner can be ascertained.
R14 The race entry fees, clock sheets, all members clock rolls and/or clock registers, as well as the rubber race rings and tags of all pigeons featuring in the race results for each race shall be in the hands of the Federation race secretary not later than the Tuesday after the close of the race, at 12h00, failing which any defaulting society may be disqualified and it’s entry fees forfeited to the Federation.
R15 Save for the entry fees which may be dealt with in the ordinary course of business, the items named in R14 shall be retained by the Federation race secretary until the annual audit has been completed.
R16 Each society shall keep a record of the Federation pannier numbers into which each bird participating in any race is placed.
R17 In addition to the record in R16 each society shall record the number of each bird placed in each pannier.
R18 Societies may use their own numbering systems for basketing provided these correlate with the actual numbers on the panniers.
R19 The Federation pannier numbers and corresponding society numbers shall be submitted to the
race secretary with those items in R2.
R20 Each society shall send members’ birds to Federation races in panniers provided by the Federation.
R20.1 Sufficient straw or other suitable material shall be placed by the societies in the panniers, which panniers shall be cleaned as necessary.
R20.2 Panniers shall be secured with three properly placed seals.
R20.3 Should any pannier containing birds be left unsealed or damaged in any way so as to be
or become insecure, the conveyor or attendant shall note the identification numbers of
the birds in it and hand such notes to the Federation race secretary forthwith upon his
return.
R20.4 Should birds escape from any such pannier described in R20.3, the conveyor or attendant shall record the identification numbers of the birds remaining in the pannier,
if any and hand such notes to the Federation race secretary forthwith upon his return.
R21 The responsibility for the expeditious loading of panniers onto the Federation vehicle shall be
that of each society in respect of it’s panniers.
R22 The council, or the executive committee acting alone, on good cause, and at it’s sole discretion as to the existence of such good cause, shall have the power to cancel any race at any time.
R23 No member shall be entitled to a refund of any moneys paid by him or due to be paid by him in respect of any race which may be or have been cancelled in terms of R22.
R24 The council, or the executive committee acting alone, on good cause, including adverse weather conditions, and at its sole discretion as to the existence of such good cause, shall have the power to:
R24.1 hold over the liberation of birds at any race point, for any period of time that it in its sole discretion may deem fit, or,
R24.2 cause the birds to be transported and liberated from an alternative race point, which race will then replace the official race of the race program. Amended AGM 16 March 2011
R25 The names of prize winners, velocities, ring numbers, colours, and sexes of birds, including those of “nomination” winners, shall be published as soon as possible after each race.
R26 The conveyor, or if there be no conveyor then transport driver, shall, if the weather conditions are adverse to liberation at a given time, have the discretion to liberate at any time later than such given time, save however when he has been instructed by telephone or otherwise by the Federation council or executive committee to liberate at a specific time notwithstanding any prevailing adverse weather conditions; provided further, however, that there shall be no liberation unless the conveyer or the transport driver, as the case may be, is satisfied that the sun, or any part thereof, has risen above the horizon at the point of liberation or, if conditions are such that he is not able to see the sun, or any part thereof, he is satisfied that the state of light is sufficient to ensure a proper liberation.
R27 When necessary the Federation shall make provision for panniers to be provided with troughs for feeding and watering.
R28 Prize moneys shall be paid within fourteen (14) days of the publication of the result of the race unless in the opinion of the executive committee there is good reason to delay such payment, in which event societies shall be informed of the reason for such delay and payment shall be made as soon as possible thereafter.
R29 Certificates signed by the Federation chairman or vice-chairman, and the Federation race secretary, shall at some time after the conclusion of the racing in any year and before the commencement of racing in the year following, be awarded to the members flying birds scoring Federation positions as determined by the council.
R29.1 Such certificates shall reflect such details as the council may from time to time decide.
R30 The council shall determine:
R30.1 the form and operation of compulsory and/or optional schemes;
R30.2 the terms of payment for such schemes;
R30.3 the allocation of prize money for such schemes.
R31 The council shall have the right to agree to the participation of the Federation and it's members in and co-ordination of special races and/or optional schemes, with any other racing pigeon organisation.
R32 Unless otherwise stipulated by the council all races shall be on a “loft to loft” basis.
R33 The council shall have the right to decide, from time to time, on the amount of Federation pools.
R34 Should only one pooled bird be timed in any particular pool, the whole of such nominated pool prize money shall be paid to the member having entered such bird.
R35 Should no nominated pool bird be timed in any particular pool the whole of the moneys in that pool shall be retained by the Federation to be used as the council may deem fit.
R36 Pool prize moneys shall be paid within fourteen (14) days after publication of race result, unless the council considers that there is good reason not to do so, in which event it shall inform the societies accordingly and payment shall be made as soon as possible thereafter.
R37 Nominations for pools shall be clearly marked on the race entry forms failing which they shall not be accepted.
R38 “Hours of darkness” shall be the period between 30 minutes after sunset and 15 minutes before sunrise, that is to say: the hours of darkness shall not begin before the elapse of 30 minutes after sunset and shall end at the commencement of the fifteenth minute before sunrise. The time of sunset or sunrise, as the case may be, determined by reference to the time of sunrise or sunset at Johannesburg based on longitude 28 degrees East.
R39 Should there be only one bird timed in before midnight on the day of liberation in any given race, it shall qualify for the “page of honour” in the publication of the Federation’s annual programme.
R40 Photographs of winning birds shall be presented to the members concerned, the Federation bearing the charges of the photographer.
R41 The council shall from time to time determine the limits of the number of birds that may be entered by members in any race.
R42 The council may decide on the place or places of basketing for any race should it consider this necessary.
R42.1 There shall be an annual “Derby” race.
R42.2 Only yearlings shall participate in the Derby.
R42.3 The race point for the Derby shall be determined by the council from time to time,
provided that the distance to be flown shall be in the order of 600 km.
R43 Subject to the council’s powers set out in the constitution and the whole of these rules:
R43.1 There shall be a compulsory “pontoon” at Federation level in all races other than those that might from time to time be excluded by the council.
R43.2 Only one bird may be nominated per team of birds entered.
R43.3 The pontoon prize shall only be won by a bird that makes the greatest velocity in a race and has been nominated as the pontoon bird.
R43.4 Should the pontoon not be won in any race, the total prize shall be carried forward from race to race, and, if necessary, from year to year, until it has been won, after which it shall be re-instituted and implemented as before.
R43.5 Should a member not nominate a pontoon bird, the first bird on his race entry form shall be deemed to be the pontoon bird.
R43.6 Where there are two Federation races on the same day, both won by “pontoon birds”, all pontoon prize monies, save for the “pontoon monies” staked in the shorter of the two races on that day, shall be awarded to the winner of the longer of the two races, unless the shorter of the two races is a “Classic” race, in which event the said prize monies shall be awarded to the winner of such “Classic” race.
R44 Where two or more members fly in two or more separate societies within the Federation, from the same loft, a separate clock shall be used by each such member in each such society.
R45 Subject to council approval, a member may fly two or more teams from the same loft in Federation races and shall be entitled to use one clock to time birds from both teams, provided that teams are entered as teams A, B, C, etc.
45.1 A member who enters two or more teams from the same loft number in the
Federation shall utilise the same initials and name with the suffix A, B or C. Each team shall have consecutive letter of the alphabet attached, commencing with the letter A. Amended AGM 12 March 2012
R46 For the purposes of R45, a “team” shall consist of any number of birds up to a maximum number to be decided by the council from time to time.
R46.1 Such member shall make known the number of teams with which he intends to participate in Federation races at a time in advance of the first race in which he intends to enter more than one team.
R47 No member shall be permitted to race to more than one loft unless there is not more than thirty (30) metres between the points of entry to each separate loft.
R48 No member shall be permitted to enter his pigeons in any race being conducted which is in any way connected with the Federation, while such pigeons are being administered one or more of the following classes of drugs: corticosteroids, anabolic steroids, beta-agonists.
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Race rules renumbered from R7 to R48. The original Race Rule 7 (Only on overnight races, fanciers to report their 1st pigeon home) was amended (deleted) on the Special Meeting of 30 April 2013. Numbers R7 to R48 adjusted accordingly.