Rules of the Warwickshire and District Federation of Pigeon Clubs
1. This organisation shall be called the “Warwickshire and District Federation” of racing pigeon clubs with Headquarters at the Coton Sports & Social Club, 52 Henry Street, Coton, Nuneaton, Warwickshire CV11 5SQ. The members lofts of the affiliated Clubs must be situated within 37 mile radius of Atherstone Town Cricket Club, Ratcliffe Road, Atherstone, Warwickshire CV9 1LX ( Code 7650).
An existing member shall remain unaffected until such time as it’s members loft is removed to a place outside the area so defined, when its membership shall cease. All Members to be fully paid up members of the RPRA, NWHU or other Unions that are recognised.
2. Object
To train, race and show pigeons, and to associate socially in a sprit of unity for the benefit and pleasure of all members.
3. Management
The entire management of the federation is vested in the President, Vice Presidents, Chairmen, Treasurer, Auditors and Committee. The Management committee to be composed of the aforementioned Offices and Delegates appointed in accordance with Rule 4. The Management Committee shall have powers to make any regulations or conditions they consider to be to the benefit of the Federation. Sub Committees will be formed to deal with specialist activities within the organisation and their actions and recommendations will be confirmed by the Management Committee. Sub Committee minutes shall be circulated to all member clubs within 28 days of their meetings. Sub Committees will appoint their own Officers from the members and the Chairman will move his report at the Management Committee meetings.
4. Delegates
The organisation (General Committee) will consist of two delegates from each member club. With the exception of the Secretary, all officials and Committee members must be elected delegates of the member Clubs.
In the event of a named delegate(s) not being able to attend a meeting it shall be permissible for the member club to send a substitute, providing that he/she informs the chairman at the commencement of the meeting. The quorum shall be fixed at three (3) the method of voting at each meeting shall be on the basis of one (1) club one (1) vote.
5. Fees
a) Affiliated clubs to pay the federation an annual subscription for every club member or partnership. (A reduced subscription will be charged in respect of each new member for the first year only when only young birds are flown). Subscriptions will be decided by the financial committee annually.
b) Payments to be paid to the Federation by the 1st March each year. All monies sent to the Secretary must be in the form of Cheques, BACS, Postal Orders, cash will not be accepted.
c) A fee will be charged towards the transporter fund per pigeon every week, off the clubs that use the transporter and are members of the Warwickshire & District federation of Racing Pigeon Clubs and will be invoiced monthly.
This fee will be decided by the financial committee annually.
d) Cost of holdovers shall be borne by Federation clubs, i.e., cost of holdover divided by the number of birds sent and charged to club’s pro-rata.
6. Meeting Procedure
At any general or management committee meeting of the federation, in the event of a tied vote, the chairman shall have an additional or casting vote to decide the issue in question.
7. Alteration of Route from South to North or Vice Versa
A proposition to alter the route must be in writing, and will be decided by the voting of all members Clubs present at the meeting. No change will be permitted except by a two thirds majority in favour of the change.
8. Information of Club Members
All Clubs must send a complete list of names and R.P.R.A. loft numbers of all its members (excluding non flying members) to the Fed Secretary, each year by 1st March. Members joining after that date must be forwarded to the Secretary within 14 days of their joining.
9. Entrance Fees
Member Clubs will be responsible for the payment at the rate prescribed at Rule 5 per club member or partnership at the time of joining. Where the club member has membership of more than club affiliated to the Federation, he is only required to pay one fee. No club member shall be allowed to use any of the facilities of the Federation, including the use of the transporter for training or racing until the fee has been paid. Anyone not complying with this rule will be liable for suspension.
10. General
Should anything arise which is not provided for in these rules, it will be resolved by the management Committee whose decision shall be binding on all members.
Any capital expenditure of more than £1,000 must be sanctioned by the Management Committee.
11. Club Accounts
All clubs must settle their accounts within 28 days of receipt of invoice. All arrears and outstanding debts to be cleared within 28 days of the last race of the season.
12. Chairman’s free time
In order that the federation chairman has free time in which to conduct his/her business. All phone calls concerning fed matters be limited to 1 hour 3 days per week, times and days to be agreed. The chairman to refuse any communication by phone from any fed member other than fed officers or club secretaries. Any fed member wishing to air a grievance or any other business may do so through their secretary or at a fed meeting.
Racing Rules
13. Race Programme
Warwickshire & District Federation of Racing Pigeon Clubs race programme will be decided by the Federation Financial/Management committee each year.
14. Races
a) In all races the birds will be liberated at the Liberators discretion.
b) In the event of a hold over being necessary, the birds will be liberated on the first suitable day, as early as possible.
c) Every effort will be made to carry out the proposed race programme.
d) Should circumstances arise, over which the Federation has no control, such as prolonged holdovers, breakdowns during transit, reduced birdage, and probable increases in costs, an emergency committee comprised of the President, Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary and Convoyer shall have the power to substitute alternative race points.
e. Verification:
The Federation chairman or secretary or any person authorised in writing by the federation chairman or secretary, may at any reasonable time visit the registered loft of any member of the federation to:-
i) Witness and record the arrival of any pigeon entered in any federation race, or
ii) Check the timing equipment used in any federation race.
For the purpose of the above provisions the authorised official may check the ring number of any bird against the recordings made by the timing equipment or records kept by the club and record details recorded by such equipment.
Any member must, at the request of the authorised official, produce any bird or timing equipment for inspection by the authorised official.
Any member who refuses or obstructs any such inspection or refuses entry to any land or building where the pigeons are kept or raced may be disqualified from that race.
15. Inland races will close at 23.00 hours on the day of liberation. In other races the close of race and hours of darkness will be that of the convoying organisation
16. a) The races will be flown on the system of velocity calculated by the division of the flying time divided into distance expressed in one sixtieth of a yard. The bird making the highest velocity to be declared the winner.
b) Improbable velocity: In instances when the committee assess that compared to other organisations and clubs flying from the same area at approximately the same time and day, that a bird or birds has recorded an improbable velocity, the committee will conduct a review of the evidence and take any necessary actions.
c) Drug testing: The federation could carry out random testing under R.P.R.A. guidelines, the sample testing will be random and chosen on the day of marking or racing by the committee.
d) Duplication is prohibited between clubs in all Federation races. A member is only allowed one (1) position per bird in all Federation races. Cards are awarded on a one (1) card per bird basis in the Federation and Sections results.
17. a) Whilst every care will be taken of the birds whilst in the charge of the Federation, it must be clearly understood that all birds will be entirely at the owners risk from the time they leave their hands.
b) Any strays going onto transporter to be handed over to other federations at liberation sites must be authorised by either Federation chairman or secretary.
18 In the Championship races all competitors must fill in their correct measurements as certified by approved calculators from race point to loft locations, on the race entry form, otherwise they may be disqualified. The Federation have the power to call on Clubs to show to the Federation the original certificate of calculation if it is considered necessary.
19 A signed vaccination declaration must be handed to the Federation Transport Driver on basketing night, before the pigeons are loaded. Also enter the basket numbers found in the top righthand corner of front flap, along with the seal numbers, sex and number of birds in each crate.
20 Clubs not intending to compete in any of the races organised by the Federation must notify the Secretary at least 24 hours before the collection time in order that the transporter is not delayed or caused to travel extra mileage.
21 Club race results must be in the hands of the Federation Secretary within 72 hours of the close of any race. Clubs failing to furnish their results will forfeit the right to any Federation positions taken by the members of their Club in that race.
22 a) Any club may ask for an enquiry into any race which they consider is a bad one.
b) No club official or club member are allowed to contact the race convoyer. Any queries in regard to the race liberation should be processed via the Federation Secretary.
23 In the event of birds escaping from the transporter at the race point, the remaining birds belonging to the Club from which the birds have escaped must be stamped by the Liberator. If the birds have been mixed prior to liberation then all birds will be stamped.
24 Spot checks that the number of birds sent by the Clubs tally with the number declared on the basket labels will be made by a Federation Official to ensure that;
i) Baskets are not overcrowded
ii) Correct charges are made to Clubs.
25 a) Specific rules to govern federation overseas or championship races will be formulated by the federation management committee.
b) Duplication from other organisations will be allowed, races to be selected by the Federation membership.
c) Federation subscriptions will not be used to support additional races; all transport and sundry costs will be at an additional cost to members sending.
Clock Rules
26 Clocks
The setting and use of all clocks used in the federation races must comply with RPRA rules.
27 Master Timers
a) All clubs must check their master timers in accordance with R.P.R.A. Rule 210.
Failure to comply with this rule may result in the loss of any Federation positions gained in that race. The club master timer from which club member’s clock are set and checked must be continuous running clocks with paper dials and must record the times when club member’s clocks are set and checked. Clubs must send master timer details to the Federation Secretary when sending in race reports. Case of necessity a competitor may use the master timer for timing in. Clubs must inform the Federation Secretary where the club master timer is kept.
b) All clubs ETS masters to be registered with federation secretary.
28 Clubs must send to the Federation Secretary all dials taken from competitors clocks where birds are entered on Federation race result sheets.
29 That the Federation officials or a elected person or person’s by the Federation may go to any club to inspect the marking of pigeons and clock setting and clock checking, and to report back to the Federation officials.
30 All Federation members agree to accept and be bound by the rules of the Warwickshire & District Federation of Racing Pigeon Clubs
Revised on 14th January 2025 at the Annual General Meeting