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CONTENTS
CORPORATE CHAPTER
CHAPTER 1, BY-LAWS:
ARTICLE ….I, Name of Organization
ARTICLE .....II, Membership
ARTICLE .....III, Expelling or Suspending Members
ARTICLE .....IV, Annual and Special Meetings of Membership
ARTICLE ….V, Trustees
ARTICLE .....VI, Duties and Officers
ARTICLE .....VII, Regions and Their Organizations
ARTICLE .....VIII, Authority to Conduct Field Trials
ARTICLE .....IX, Amendments and Effective Date 1
CHAPTER 2, MINIMUM
REQUIREMENTS FOR FIELD TRIALS FOR ALL POINTING BREEDS
CHAPTER 3, RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR FIELD
TRIALS:
ARTICLE .....I, General Provisions
ARTICLE .....II, Definition of Professional and Amateur
ARTICLE .....III, Regional Championship
ARTICLE .....IV, One-Course Regional Championships
ARTICLE ….V, National Amateur Championship Stakes
ARTICLE .....VI, The National Amateur Free For All Shooting Dog Championship
ARTICLE ….VII, Breed Championships
ARTICLE .....VIII, Accepted Guidelines For Use of Tracking Collars in
Sanctioned AFTCA Field Trial Stakes
CORPORATE CHARTER
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:
That we, the undersigned,
all citizens of the United States, John P. Wenchel, a citizen of the
District of Columbia, Muriel S. Paul, a citizen of the District of Columbia,
John A. Rush, a citizen of the State of Florida, all being of full age,
do hereby associate ourselves and successors as a body politic and corporate,
under and by virtue of Title 29, Chapter 6, of the Code of District
of Columbia.
FIRST: The name
or title by which this association shall be known in law is
AMATEUR FIELD
TRIAL CLUBS OF AMERICA, INC.
SECOND: The term for which the association is organized is perpetual
THIRD: The particular
business and objects of the corporation are:
To restore and
perpetuate wild Upland me Birds on the North America Continent; to promote,
carry on, conduct and foster research, education, training and publication
in ornithological sciences, to make studies with reference to the enhancement
of knowledge concerning Upland Game Birds of the North American continent;
to establish, promote, assist, contribute to or otherwise encourage
the study of conservation, restoration and management of Upland Game
Birds and their habitats; and in connection therewith to grant scholarships,
prizes, and rewards; to promote, encourage, acquire or maintain refuges
for Upland Game birds and to foster and increase interest in and knowledge
of Upland Game Birds and their conservation and restoration by promoting,
regulating, controlling, advising and conducting field trials on Upland
Game Birds.
The association
is authorized to take and hold by bequest, devise, gift, purchase or
lease absolutely or in trust for any of its purposes, any property,
real or personal, without limitation as to amount or value, to transfer
and convey the same and to invest and reinvest the principal and income
thereof and to deal with and expand the principal and income of the
corporation in such manner as in the judgment of the trustees will best
promote its objects; and in order properly to prosecute the objects
and purposes set forth, the corporation shall have full power and authority
to purchase, lease, and otherwise acquire, hold, mortgage, convey and
otherwise dispose of all kinds of property, both real and personal,
and generally to perform all acts which may be deemed necessary for
the proper and successful prosecution of the objects and purposes for
which it is created.
FOURTH: The corporation
shall have no capital stock and is not organized for profit and no part
of its net earnings shall inure to the benefit of any member or individual;
and no member, director, officer, or employee of the corporation shall
receive or be lawfully entitled to receive any profit of any kind from
the operation thereof except reasonable compensation for services actually
rendered in effecting one or more of its purposes and no substantial
part of the activities of the corporation shall be to carry on propaganda
or otherwise to attempt to influence legislation.
In the event
of the dissolution and liquidation of the corporation, none of its property
or funds shall inure to the benefit or any member or individual but
shall be transferred and paid over to some organization designated by
the trustees, and which shall qualify as a corporation, association,
fund or foundation organized and operated exclusively for religious,
charitable, scientific, literary, or educational purposes, or for the
prevention of cruelty to children or animals, and no part of the net
earnings of which shall inure to the benefit of any private shareholder
or individual and no substantial part of the activity of which is to
carry on propaganda or otherwise attempt to influence legislation.
FIFTH: The Board
of Trustees shall have the power to make, alter, change and amend the
bylaws for the government of the Corporation.
SIXTH: The property
of the officers, trustees and members of this corporation shall not
be subject to, or chargeable with, the payment of any debts or obligations
of the corporation, to any extent whatsoever.
SEVENTH: The
number of its trustees, directors, or managers for the first year of
its existence shall be fifteen.
IN TESTIMONY
WHEREOF, we have hereunto set our hand and seals.
Dated this 20th
day of February, 1948.
CHAPTER 1
BY-LAWS
ARTICLE 1
The name of this
organization, incorporated under the laws of the District of Columbia,
shall be “AMATEUR FIELD TRIAL CLUBS OF AMERICA, INC.”
The purpose of
the organization shall be as set out in its charter.
ARTICLE II
Membership
Section 1. The
membership of this corporation shall be unlimited in number. Any person,
partnership, corporation or association of good character and standing
shall be eligible to membership by complying with the requirements set
forth by the Board of Trustees and agreeing to be bound by the Regulations
and By-Laws of this corporation. When their application for membership
is approved by the President and Secretary of the corporation, and the
dues are paid, they are admitted to membership. There shall be the following
classifications of membership in the corporation, viz:
(a) ACTIVE MEMBERS
shall be those clubs paying dues in an amount decided by the Board of
Trustees ($75.00 per year as of 2002), to the corporation and engaged
in fostering and increasing interest in and knowledge of Upland Game
Birds and their conservation and restoration by promoting, regulating,
controlling, supervising, and conducting field trials on Upland Game
Birds.
(b) HONORARY
MEMBERS shall be persons deemed by the membership of the corporation
to be of great national or international renown in the field or ornithology,
or who is particularly interested in the restoration and perpetuation
of Wild Upland Game Birds on the North America Continent or in field
trials generally. Honorary members may be elected posthumously. All
honorary members of the corporation shall not be entitled to vote as
honorary members of the corporation.
Section
2. Within the meaning of these Bylaws and Running Rules, the term “member”
shall in all cases mean a field trial club as a unit that is an active
member of this corporation.
ARTICLE III
Expelling or Suspending Members
Section 1. Any
member of this corporation or individual associated with such member or
anyone in attendance at an event sponsored by a member club may be expelled,
or penalized by a majority vote of the Board of Trustees for any cause
deemed sufficient by them, provided:
(a)
Such member or individual be furnished in writing a specification of
charges against him at least ten days before a hearing thereon.
(b) A hearing
be had upon such charges, the member charged to be notified of the time
and place thereof and given an opportunity to be present and present
evidence thereon.
(c) The board
of Trustees may delegate the right to hear evidence upon such charges
and report said evidence to said Board for action.
ARTICLE IV
ANNUAL AND SPECIAL MEETINGS
OF MEMBERSHIP
Annual Meeting of Membership
Section
1. The annual meeting of the members of this corporation shall be held
in June or July, with date and time determined by the President at least
90 days in advance. The fiscal year shall end on December 31.
Special Meeting of Membership
Section 2.
Special meeting of the members of this corporation may be held upon the
call of the President or by a majority of the members of the Board of
Trustees. Such call shall be in writing and shall state the time, place
and purpose of the special meeting; and shall be filed with the Secretary
of the corporation at least 20 days prior to such meeting, and the Secretary
shall immediately send a notice in writing to each member, by mail, at
its last known address, giving the time, place, and purpose of the meeting,
as provided in the call, and by additionally advertising said call in
one issue of the “The American Field.”
Quorum
Section 3.
At all meetings of the members of this corporation, fifteen active club
members shall constitute a quorum.
Order of Business
Section 4.
Unless this regulation is suspended by a majority of the members, the
order of business of all meetings of the members shall be as follows:
1 Reading of the
minutes of the last preceding members meeting.
2 Reading of reports
and statements.
3 Unfinished business.
4 New or miscellaneous
business.
5 Election of
Trustees, if in order, at the meeting in question.
6 Adjournment.
Voting at Annual and Special Meetings
Of the Membership
Section 5.
At all annual and special meetings of the membership of this corporation,
each active member shall be entitled to one vote and may be represented
by its President or Secretary, or by a proxy in writing executed by the
President or Secretary of such active member; provided, that if the President
or Secretary of any active member shall execute a proxy, to different
persons, the person holding the proxy executed by the President of such
active member shall be entitled to represent such member at any annual
or special meeting of the membership. Provided, further, that neither
the Secretary-Treasurer of this corporation nor any paid employee of this
corporation may vote any proxy. Proxies issued to or in the name of any
such employee may be cast by the President of this corporation, or, in
his absence, by the ranking Vice President, present and acting.
All proxies must
be returned to the Association Secretary two weeks prior to the annual
meeting. These proxies should indicate the person to vote the proxy
and, if the club desires, the choice of nominee. The proxies are to
be tabulated and verified by the secretary and turned over to the president
of the AFTCA twenty-four hours prior to the annual meeting. Any proxies
received after the date of two weeks prior to the annual meeting will
be null and void.
ARTICLE V
Trustees
Section 1. A Board
of Trustees shall be elected by the active membership of this corporation.
They shall draw no salary. The Board of Trustees shall be representative
of the number of regions, and constituted of individuals associated with
one or more active members of this corporation. In addition, a Trustee
at Large to represent the breed clubs shall be elected.
Election or Appointment of Trustees
Section 2.
The election of Trustees shall be held at each annual meeting of the members
by a majority of the active members present and voting in person or by
proxy. Each Trustee shall be elected for a period of three years or until
his successor is duly elected and qualified.
(a) Should any
vacancies on the Board of Trustees occur between Annual Membership because
of death, resignation, or otherwise, the President of the region in
which this Trustee or these Trustees resided shall serve as Acting Trustee
until the next regular Annual Membership Meeting. Should said regional
President not desire to serve or be unable to serve, then the Secretary
of that region shall serve in his place. The un-expired terms caused
by the vacancies shall be filled by a majority vote of the membership
at the next Annual Membership Meeting.
(b) Any Trustee
who misses two consecutive Annual Trustee Meetings, (unless excused
by the Board of Trustees), shall be subject to replacement at the annual
Board of Trustees Meeting. Said Trustee shall be replaced with an Acting
Trustee in the manner outlined in
ARTICLE V, Section 2 (a).
(c) The names
of the Trustees whose terms of office expire at the next Annual Meeting
shall be sent to the member clubs of each region not later than 90 days
before the next Annual Membership Meeting. The regions, through their
member clubs, shall recommend names of individuals who they feel will
and are able to properly represent their and other regions on the Board
of Trustees. Said recommendations shall be sent to the secretary of
the Corporation within 30 days prior to the Annual Membership Meeting,
and the Secretary shall send these recommendations to the Nominating
Committee appointed by the President of the Corporation. Said Committee
shall give careful consideration to these recommendations.
(d) The number
of Trustees in a Region shall be determined by the number of member
clubs in the Region. Regions with 5 to 20 clubs shall have one Trustee;
Regions with 21 to 50 clubs shall have two Trustees and Regions with
51 or more shall have three Trustees.
e) If a Region
does not maintain the required numbers of clubs to maintain that number
of Trustees Region officers will be apprised of the situation. The Region
may request a two year extension in the matter if they feel they may
be able to increase the number of club to the required number.
Quorum and Proxies
Section 3. Twelve members of the board of Trustees shall constitute a
quorum for the transaction of business. No member of the Board of Trustees
shall ever vote at a regular or called meeting by proxy.
Annual Meetings of the Board of Trustees
Section 4.
Regular annual meetings of the Board of Trustees shall be held each year
following annual meeting of the active club membership. At each such meeting
the Board of Trustees shall elect from their number a President and Three
Vice Presidents. They shall draw no salary. Each such officer shall hold
office for a term of one year or until his respective successor shall
be duly elected and qualified. The President shall be limited to two consecutive
terms. The Board of Trustees shall also elect a Secretary Treasurer who
shall hold office at the will of said Board.
Special Meetings
Section 5.
Special meetings of the Board of Trustees may be called at any time by
the President or by a majority vote of the Board of Trustees. Such call
shall be in writing, filed with the Secretary, and shall state the time,
place and purpose of the meeting. The Secretary shall give notice of such
meeting and the substance of the call, to each member of the Board electronically
or by mail, dispatched at least ten days before said meeting. If all Trustees
waive notice of a special meeting, no notice of such meeting shall be
required.
Questions May Be Submitted By Mail
Section 6.
A vote by mail may be called at any time by the President or by a majority
vote by the Board of Trustees. All matters which may be determined by
the Board of Trustees, and any question, motion or resolution upon which
the President or Secretary may desire the decision of the Board when not
in session, may be submitted to each member of the Board in writing by
mail and each member of the Board shall, within ten days thereafter, file
his decision or vote with the Secretary. A majority vote, except as set
forth in ARTICLE IX, of the members of the Board shall determine all matters
and questions so submitted, with the same force and effect as if determined
at a called or regular Board Meeting. The Secretary shall make and keep
a permanent record of all questions submitted by mail and of the vote.
The Secretary shall send to the Board all arguments or evidence advanced
for and against the question submitted.
General Powers
Section 7.
The management of all business and affairs of this corporation subject
to its By Laws, shall be, and the same is hereby vested in the Board of
Trustees.
ARTICLE VI
Duties of Officers
Section 1. The
President, in addition to the other powers conferred upon him in these
By Laws, shall:
(a) Be the executive
officer of this corporation.
(b) Preside at
all annual and special meetings of the member clubs and at all annual
and special meetings of the Board of Trustees.
(c) Appoint a
committee to audit the Treasurer’s records, and such committee
shall report at the annual meeting of the members. Said committee shall
be appointed a least 30 days prior to annual meeting.
(d) Appoint a
nominating committee to fill the expired terms of Trustees and to replace
any Trustee who has resigned or who is unable to continue in office.
Said committee shall be appointed at least 90 days prior to the Annual
Membership meeting.
(e) Appoint a
nominating committee to fill the expired terms of the officers of the
Board of Trustees. Said committee shall be appointed at least 30 days
prior to the Annual Trustees Meeting.
(f) Appoint such
other committees as he deems necessary and delegate such power r and
authority to such committees as he may deem expedient.
(g) Interpret
the By-Laws and Running Rules when necessary.
(h) Be an ex-officio
member of all committees.
(i) Have such
other and further powers and duties as may be conferred on him from
time to time by the Board of Trustees.
Vice Presidents
Section 2.
The First Vice President shall perform all the duties of the President
in case of his absence or disability. If both the President and the First
Vice President are absent or disabled, t he Second Vice President shall
perform all the duties of the President. Should the President and both
the First and Second Vice President be absent or disabled, the Third Vice
President shall perform all the duties of the President. The Vice Presidents
shall severally have such other duties and powers as may be conferred
upon them by the President or the Board of
Trustees.
Secretary-Treasurer
Section 3.
The Secretary-Treasurer, in addition to such other duties and powers as
conferred upon him by the Board of Trustees, shall:
(a) Perform his
duties under the direction of the President and assist the President
in administering the affairs of this corporation.
(b) Keep the
President informed of the activities of the Secretary’s office.
(c) Refer matters
to the President for his decision when such matters entail corporation
policy and activities.
(d) Attend and
keep the minutes of all annual and special meetings of the club membership,
and of all annual and special meetings of the Board of Trustees.
(e) Attend the
Field Trials and events as directed by the President.
(f) Keep a record
of all member clubs, including the name and address of the President
and Secretary, and preserve all letters and other documents pertaining
to the corporation.
(g) Carry on
the general correspondence of the corporation, and notify members of
their election, suspension, expulsion or other penalty that may be imposed
by the Board of Trustees.
(h) Send copies
of the By-Laws and Running Rules to the newly elected active members,
and to each newly elected member of the Board of Trustees.
(i) Maintain
the records, certificates of eligibility and books of the corporation,
and deliver all of the same to his successor.
(j) Maintain
and account for of all the funds and securities of the corporation which
shall come into his possession and endorse all checks, drafts, and other
commercial paper to the credit of the corporation. With the consent
of a majority of the Board of Trustees, the Secretary may invest surplus
funds of the corporation in United States Government or other satisfactory
securities.
(k) Sign all
receipts and vouchers on behalf of the corporation, and sign all checks
or drafts for the payment of bills or expenses of the corporation.
(l) Keep a full
and accurate account of all money received or paid out by him on behalf
of the corporation, and deliver all records, books, accounts and funds
to his successor.
(m) Perform such
other acts incident to the position of Treasurer of Secretary as may
be delegated to him by the President or the Board of Trustees.
(n) Give bond
for the faithful discharge of his duties, and account for the funds
that shall come into his possession in such manner as the Board of Trustees
may require.
(o) Make all
of his books, records, correspondence and similar materials pertaining
to the corporation available for inspection by the President, any Vice
President, or any member of the Board of Trustees.
Salary and Allowances
Section 4.
The Secretary-Treasurer shall receive a salary for his services, the amount
thereof to be fixed by the Board of Trustees. In addition, the Board of
Trustees may pay to him an allowance, in such amount as it deems proper,
for expenses, office maintenance and clerical and stenographic help.
ARTICLE VII
Regions and Their Organizations
Section 1. The Board of Trustees have designed geographic regions which
may be changed from time to time at the discretion of the Board. The regions
are (as of June 2007):
Region No. 1.: Connecticut, Main, Massachusetts, New
Brunswick, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont and Nova Scotia.
Region No. 2: Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania.
Region No. 3: District of Columbia, Maryland, North
Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia.
Region No. 4: Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, West
Virginia.
Region No. 5: Illinois and Missouri.
Region No. 6: Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee.
Region No. 7: Texas, Mexico.
Region No. 8: Colorado, Oklahoma
Region No. 9: Idaho, Utah, Wyoming.
Region No. 10: British Columbia, Oregon, Washington.
Region No. 11:California and Nevada.
Region No. 12: Arizona and New Mexico.
Region No. 13: Ontario and Quebec
Region No. 14: Montana, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
Region No. 15: Japan.
Region No. 16: Alabama, Florida, Georgia.
Region No. 17: Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska.
Region No. 19: North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota
and Wisconsin.
Section 2. The following procedures are set up:
(a) When there
are fewer than five member clubs in a constituted region, the member
in such a region may align themselves with the closest regional organization
that they choose to join until such time as their region may qualify
for reactivation by having five members.
(b) Any state
may petition the Board of Trustees for realignment into a different
region than the one to which they are allocated if the majority of the
members in said state vote for such realignment.
(c) When any
new region is newly constituted or reactivated, the President shall
appoint a committee of three to be responsible for organizing the region.
Regional Organizations
Section 3.
The regions shall be organized by the active club members within each
region. A minimum of five members shall be required for a region to be
recognized as active. After a region has been organized, the members shall
assume all direction and responsibility for the management and holding
of stakes and other business affairs within their region.
(a) The securing
of sanctions, supervision, and general overseeing of these regional
events shall be under the direction of a President or Chairman who is
to be selected annually in each region at a meeting called within said
region for that purpose.
(b) At the annual
meeting of the member clubs of each region, or as soon thereafter as
possible, the date and location for the regional All-Age and the regional
Shooting Dog Championships shall be chosen and this information forwarded
to the AFTCA Secretary with a request for a sanction. All regional championships
must be sanctioned by this Corporation when applied for by said regional
organization in order for wins to be recognized.
(c) The regional
President or Chairman and the member (or members) of the Board of Trustees
from the region shall be responsible for seeing that the annual meeting
of the members of the region is properly called and held, and that the
operation of the region is consistent with the By-Laws and Running Rules
of the Corporation.
(d) It is the
duty of the President or Chairman of the region or a Trustee of the
region to be present personally at each Championship event within their
region, and to insure that the rules of this Corporation are complied
with and the stakes run on a basis consistent with an event of this
caliber. In the event said President, Chairman or Trustee is unable
to attend the running of the regional championship, the President or
Chairman shall appoint, in writing, a qualified person to act in his
place.
(e) It shall
be the duty of the President or Secretary of the region to see that
the list of officers, dates for trials, and any other pertinent information
about the region be sent to the office of the Secretary-Treasurer of
the Corporation.
ARTICLE VIII
Authority to Conduct Field Trials
In order to foster
and increase interest in and knowledge of Upland Game Birds and their
conservation and restoration, the Board of Trustees of this corporation
may promote and conduct field trials and may adopt rules and regulations
for the control and supervision of field trials.
This Association
reserves unto itself the right to withdraw, for good cause, from any
member club, regional organization, or Breed Championship the privilege
of awarding any championship.
ARTICLE IX
Amendments
Section 1. Amendments:
(a) The By-Laws
of this Corporation may be amended by the Board of Trustees, by a two-thirds
vote of the Trustees voting at any annual meeting, or at any special
meeting called for that purpose, or by a vote taken of the members of
the Board of Trustees by mail as herein elsewhere provided (ARTICLE
V, Section 6); which states that a majority vote by the Board of Trustees
shall decide all other matters.
(b) The By-Laws
may also be amended at any annual meeting of the active member clubs
of this Corporation, or at any special meeting called for that purpose,
by a two -thirds vote of said active member clubs present or voting
by proxy. Running rules may be amended by a majority vote of the Board
of Trustees.
CHAPTER 2
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR FIELD
TRIALS FOR ALL POINTING BREEDS
Section 1. Wins will not be recognized and recorded unless the trial/or
each stake in which such win is made conforms to the following conditions
as adopted by Amateur Field Trial Clubs of America, Inc., the American
Field Publishing Company, and The Field Dog Stud Book:
Section 2. The
name of the club, place, and date of the trial, and the Secretary’s
name and address must be announced in an issue of “The American
Field” bearing publication date of at least fourteen days before
the trials are to be run.
RECOGNIZED STAKES
Section 3.
Recognized stakes are:
(a) Puppy Stakes:
From January 1 to July1 in each year for dogs whelped on or after January
1 of the year preceding. From July1 to December 1 of each year for dogs
whelped on or after June 1 of the year preceding.
(b) Derby Stakes:
From July 1 to December 1 in each year for dogs whelped on or after
January 1 of the year preceding, and from January 1 to July 1 in each
year for dogs whelped on or after January 1 of two years preceding.
(c) All-Age Stakes:
For dogs of any age. An “open stake” is one in which there
are no limitations with respect to either dogs or handlers. An “amateur
stake” is one in which all handlers are amateur as defined in Chapter
3, Article II, Section 1, RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR FIELD TRIALS.
(d) Winners in
Members and Gun Dog or Shooting Dog stakes shall be recorded and win
certificates issued, but winners of children’s, ladies’, brace,
and other stakes not conforming to the definitions contained under this
Section will not be recognized.
(e) Championships,
Winner’s Stakes and Futurities: Wins will be recorded only in such
amateur events of the above character as are recognized by the Amateur
Field Trial Clubs of America, Inc. and in such open events as are recognized
by the American Field Publishing Company and the Field Dog Stud Book.
Section 4. The
minimum length of heats for all stakes other than Puppy Stakes shall
be thirty minutes, on the basis of the time that an average brace takes
to negotiate the course. In the case of one-course trials, no more than
eight minutes of the thirty shall be spent in the bird field. Minimum
length of heats for Puppy Stakes shall be fifteen minutes.
Section 5. A
stake must be drawn by lot and numbered in the order drawn, in a convenient
and approved place open to the public not later than the night before
the day the stake is due to run.
Section 6. Dogs
shall not be substituted after the draw.
Section 7. All
braces shall be run as drawn except with the prior consent of the judges
and handlers, which consent must not be given for the purpose of accommodating
owners handlers or dogs that are not available when reached in the regular
order of the draw.
(a) Should there
be a bye in the stake, the judges may, at their discretion, order it
to be run alone or with a dog selected by them for the purpose. Provided,
however, that if a dog from any regularly drawn full brace should be
withdrawn, fail to appear or be disqualified, the bye dog shall be named
by the judges to run with the dog remaining in that particular brace,
the bye moved up to fill the vacancy caused by the absent dog. In the
event there is no bye, then such dog losing its brace-mate, as previously
contemplated, must be run in its regular order of drawing, either alone
or with a dog as a running mate that is satisfactory to the judges.
In the event that there be two withdrawals from different brace, the
brace-mate of such withdrawn dogs may be run together where the first
vacancy occurs, or in their regular order, at the discretion of the
judges. This same rules applies if there be four or any even number
of dogs withdrawn from the stake.
(b) All stakes
should be so arranged that if at all possible, no more than one bye
dog is drawn or run. Except where there is an uneven number of starters
in a stake, no bye should ordinarily occur. For example, in the event
the drawing by lot has two dogs handled by the same person remaining
as the last in the stake, the bracing is rearranged with the last previous
available dog drawn not so handled, changing places with the first drawn
of the final two dogs.
Section 8. No entry shall be accepted after the stake is drawn.
Section 9. No
more than one brace of dogs shall run on a course, or any part of a
course at the same time, irrespective of whether the dogs are in the
same stake or in different stakes.
Section 10. Stakes
shall be run only on recognized game birds whose flight has not been
impaired by caging, hobbling, wing clipping, brailing, or in any other
manner.
Section 11. Bitches
in season shall not be permitted to run in one-course trials. In multiple-course
trials, they may start only if, in the opinion of the judges, it can
be accomplished under conditions which will insure absolute fairness
to other entries.
Section 12. Wins will not be recorded, or if recorded, will be cancelled
if made at a trial or in a stake not conforming to the above requirements.
Section 13. It
is recommended that courses contain sufficient bird cover and suitable
objectives to induce intelligent searching by the dogs. Bird fields, if
used, should be of adequate size to permit a dog to hunt without excessive
hacking, and with cover sufficient to hold birds. A variety of cover and
objectives is desirable. Five (5) acres is suggested as a minimum area
for a bird field.
CHAPTER 3
RULES AND REGULATIONS
FOR FIELD TRIALS
ARTICLE 1
Section 1. This
Corporation shall record the winners in stakes sponsored by active members
of the Corporation when handled by amateurs, and shall issue certificates,
signed by the President and Secretary of this Corporation, to owners of
such winning dogs, provided, however:
(a) The dog is
registered with the FDSB at the time of such placement.
(b) The sponsoring
member shall have paid to this Corporation membership dues as determined
by the Board for the year in which the trial is held ($75.00 as of June
2002); and
(c) The sponsoring
member shall have received a license from the corporation for such trial;
and
(d) The member
conforms to the “Minimum Requirements” as set out herein in
Chapter 2, in conducting said trial; and
(e) The member
appoints a Stake Manager to oversee the running of the trial; and
(f) The sponsoring
member certifies the winner, or winners of its stakes to the Secretary
of this Corporation within thirty days after the close of the trials at
which said win, or wins, was made, giving such information as may be required
by the Secretary of this Corporation; and
(g) That in stakes
with three or fewer dogs competing, one win certificate will be issued.
In stakes with four or five dogs competing, two placements only will be
recognized. In stakes with six or more dogs competing, three placements,
with no division of any place, will be recognized; and
(h) Winner’s
certificates will not be issued by this Corporation for wins in amateur
or open stakes where a cash purse is accepted by the handler, owner or
owner’s agent of a dog awarded a placement; and
(i) That win certificates
will be issued by this Corporation except as noted in (h) of this Section
for dogs and handlers winning placements in open stakes recognized by
The American Field Publishing Company if said dogs are handled by an amateur
who is associated with a member club, and any scout used by the amateur
handler during the running is also an amateur. Within the meaning of this
Section, an “All-Age Stake” shall include Open All-Age Championships
and OpenAll-Age Stakes. A “Shooting Dog Stake”
shall include Open Shooting Dog Championships and Open Shooting Dog Stakes.
A “Derby Stake” shall include all Open Derby Championships,
Open Derby Stakes and recognized Futurities, provided that the club is
a member of the AFTCA.
Section 2. Drawing
will be for order of running only and not for any particular course.
A dog or handler that is absent from the place at which he is to start
may be disqualified at the discretion of the judges. The duty to have
a dog at the time and place where he is to start rests solely upon the
owner or handler.
Section 3. Any
owner who refuses to pay an entry fee for his dog shall be subject to
being barred from competition in member club trials.
Section 4. Objectionable entries will not be allowed to start if the
following conditions prevail:
(a) Dogs afflicted
with any disease which the Stake Manager may regard as contagious will
not be permitted to start or to be handled in close proximity to other
entries.
(b) Bitches in
season will not be permitted to start unless, in the opinion of the
judges, it can be accomplished under conditions which insure absolute
fairness to other entries. Under no circumstance will they be permitted
to be kenneled or transported near other starters.
(c) Objections
to entries will be considered by the Stake Manager prior to the running.
Section 5. The
judges shall be in charge of the running and handling of the dogs, subject
only to the Rules and Regulations for Field Trials of this Corporation.
If the judges deem a second or additional series to be necessary, after
the first series has been completed, they may call the dogs wanted in
whatever manner or order and for the length of time they deem necessary.
Handlers
Section 6. A dog
must be handled by its amateur owner,; or it may be handled by any other
amateur handler.
(a) An individual
handler must be designated at the time of the drawing, and such handler,
if present and physically able to handle or scout, must handle the dog
as drawn.
(b) If two dogs
handled by the same handler should be drawn in the same brace, the second
dog drawn shall change place with the next dog to be handled by another
handler.
(c) Any person
under suspension or barred from competition in trials by this Corporation
shall not be permitted to handle or scout a dog.
(d) To compete
in regional and national championships a handler must have at some time
qualified a dog by winning an AFTCA win certificate.
(e) This corporation
recognizes bird dog field trailing as an amateur competitive sporting
event and further recognizes a handler is an integral part of these
events.
(f) No amateur
shall handle more than two (2) dogs not solely owned by him or some
member of his immediate family in any amateur stake. Should this occur,
all dogs handled by this handler in this stake shall be disqualified.
Penalty for Misconduct of Handlers
Section 7.
All handlers must conform to any and all regulations and rules and directions
of the judges which do not conflict with Rules and Regulations for Field
Trials of this Corporation. Should any such regulation be disregarded,
the judges shall have authority to disqualify such handler and/or his
dogs, or they may leave the matter to the Stake Manager for his action.
(a) The judges
are expected to direct and rigidly enforce the prohibition of the interference
by a handler, scout or dog with the bracemate’s dog.
(b) Handlers shall
be at liberty to inquire of the judges at any time as to any regulations
within their province or of the Stake Manager concerning any rule beyond
the jurisdiction of the judges.
Complaints
Section 8.
A handler may make a verbal complaint to either the judges or the Stake
Manager concerning the conduct of his opponent, provided that such complaint
be made promptly upon the alleged commission of the offense, thus affording
proper official opportunity of observing the immediate situation.
Impugning Judges
Section 9. Any
person who has, in the opinion of the Stake Manager, impugned the action
of a judge officiating at any stake, or who has otherwise annoyed such
official in connection with or because of his official action in connection
with the trial either during of after the running of a trial, may be
barred from further participation in or attendance at such trial by
the Stake Manager, and such disbarment may be made permanent by subsequent
action of the Board of Trustees.
Scouting
Section 10.
No scouting shall be permitted except by another amateur.
(a) It shall
be illegal for anyone to scout for a handler unless permission of the
judges has first been obtained. Lagging behind the field trial party
for the purpose of locating dogs shall constitute scouting to the same
extent as leaving the field trial party to go in any other direction.
Scouting in Shooting Dog Stakes
(b) Scouting
is permitted in Shooting Dog Stakes provided permission from the judges
has first been obtained. The Scout should return to the gallery immediately
upon completion of his mission and not act as an outrider. Shooting
dogs should handle and excess scouting shall be regarded as a fault.
Handling Dogs
Section 11.
During the running of a heat no dog in competition shall be removed from
the ground for an appreciable length of time or placed on a leash or worked
otherwise than in
the accepted manner of handling by voice, whistle or signal.
(a) The use of
any electronic device to communicate to or influence the dog’s
action in competition in a field trial is forbidden.
(b) Any handler
violating this Section may be barred from further participation or attendance
at such trial by the Stake Manager and the dog shall be disqualified.
Field Marshall
Section 12.
One Field Marshal or more shall be appointed by the Stake Manager, and
the Field Marshall or Marshalls shall have the full authority to control
the movement of the gallery or other spectators. The Field Marshall shall
prevent interference with the judges, handlers and dogs.
Instructions to Handlers
Section 13.
No one other than the handler of a dog may give a competing dog any command
or direction except with the permission of the judges.
Backing
Section 14.
In an All-Age or Shooting Dog Stake, it is mandatory that a judge order
a dog up if that dog demonstrates conclusively that is refused to back
its bracemate.
Ammunition
Section 15.
The use of live ammunition is banned in all trials held by member clubs
and in all Amateur Championships sanctioned by the corporation. If a handler
uses live ammunition he and all his dogs shall be disqualified from the
stake. The use of open barrel .410 gauge shotguns using ½ load
specified safety blank ammunition in lieu of solid barrel blank pistols
at AFTCA sanctioned trials is permitted. At the discretion of land owners
and hosts pistols may be required.
a. Only specified safety blanks used in re-enactment events and endorsed
by AFTCA governance may be used. (1/2 load Grey) safety blanks emit
no solid material from the barrel. Judges may ask for verification of
such prior to breakaway.
b.
Shotguns (.410 ga) must be fired in a prescribed manner, i.e., skyward
and away from the direction of the gallery and judges, or the dog and
handler may be disqualified from the stake at the discretion of the
judges.
c.
The barrel of the shotgun should never be used for flushing by the handler,
thus minimizing any foreign materials from entering the open barrel.
The gun should be held in a skyward position and never pointed toward
the gallery or judges. Failure to comply could result in a dog or handler
being disqualified in that stake.
d.
The use of live ammunition is banned in all trials by member clubs and
in all Amateur Championships sanctioned by the corporation. If a handler
uses live ammunition he and all his dogs shall be disqualified from
the stake.
e.
Clubs at their discretion may provide specified safety blank ammunition
to be used. The source for approved safety blanks ammunition shall be
posed on the AFTCA website.
Section 16. The first dog drawn in each brace has the right to use the
orange reflective collar. The bracemate shall choose another color.
Conduct Detrimental to Field Trials
Section 17. Any person entering and handling a dog in a field trial
held by an active member of this Corporation or the Corporation itself,
or any member club, its officers or members found acting in a manner
contrary to good sportsmanship and detrimental to the best interests
of field trials generally, or not conducting its trial within the Minimum
Requirements for Field Trials, may be reprimanded, penalized, or barred
from any or all functions of a member club and/or the Corporation.
Any individual
observing such misconduct shall immediately notify the offending party
and attempt to resolve the problem on the spot. Should the parties involved
be unable to resolve the problem on the spot, the conflict shall immediately
be presented to an officer of the host club or stake manager as conditions
warrant. Should the officer or stake manager be unable to resolve the
problem in a manner acceptable to all concerned, a formal, written complaint
may be made.
(a) Complaint.
Any individual or active member club may file a formal, written complaint
regarding unresolved misconduct. The procedure to be followed in filing
a complaint shall be as follows:
A formal, written
complaint shall be presented to the host active member club by the accuser
as soon as possible and no more than thirty (30) days following the
incident. The president of the host club shall, upon receipt of the
complaint, schedule a hearing on the complaint by the club membership
at a called meeting of the membership. The host club shall provide the
accused and the accuser ten (10) days’ notice of the membership
meeting and the time and location of the meeting. The accused and the
accuser shall be given the opportunity to be present at the membership
meeting and to present evidence. The accused will be permitted, if he/she
chooses, to have an attorney present and/or to participate in this hearing.
Should the majority of the member club membership find the complaint
to be true, the accused may be reprimanded, penalized or barred as the
membership shall decide. Such reprimand, penalty or disbarment shall
apply only to the functions of the member club.
Should the member club membership decide the complaint warrants consideration
over and beyond the functions of the member club, the membership may
instruct its secretary to file a formal, written complaint with its
next higher affiliated organization (association, state organization
or regional organization). The secretary shall send the accused a copy
of the filing within ten (10) days.
The next higher
affiliated organization shall follow the same procedure as a member
club for processing a complaint. All findings of the next higher affiliated
organization relative to the complaint shall apply only to member clubs
of said organization. Such procedure shall be followed until the complaint
has been processed through the region in which the club member resides
before it may be forwarded to the AFTCA Board of Trustees.
Upon receipt of a complaint, the President of the AFTCA shall set a
hearing before the Board of Trustees to decide the merits of the complaint.
A copy of the complaint, the findings of all previous organizations,
and notice of the time and place of the hearing shall be provided to
the accused and the accuser at least ten (10) days prior to the hearing.
If the majority of the Board of Trustees shall find that the complaint
is true, the accused may be reprimanded, penalized or barred from any
function of the Corporation.
The AFTCA President
or the Board of Trustees may hear or delegate the right to hear evidence
upon any complaint. The Board of Trustees may act upon such evidence
as deemed appropriate, provided, however, that the accused be given
proper notification and the opportunity to defend as herein before described.
The AFTCA Board of Trustees shall be the final authority on all complaints
generated within the organization.
(b) Appeal of
Complaint. Should the resolution by a club member of any complaint not
satisfy the accused or the accuser, either party may file a written
appeal within thirty (30) days to the secretary of the next higher affiliated
organization (association, stake organization or regional organization).
Upon receipt of the appeal that organization shall request input and
information from each party. The organization President shall schedule
a hearing on the appeal at a meeting of the membership, and give ten
(10) days’ notice to the parties of the time and location of the
hearing. The majority of the membership of such next higher affiliated
organization shall decide the merits of the appeal and may abolish,
decrease or increase the reprimand, penalty or disbarment or reverse
the findings of the member club. Findings of such next higher affiliated
organization shall be provided in writing to the accuser and the accuser
within ten (10) days of such findings. Such procedure shall be followed
for the appeal of a complaint until the appeal has been processed through
the region in which the member club resides before it may be appealed
to the AFTCA Board of Trustees.
The President
of the AFTCA shall, upon receipt of an appeal, schedule a hearing before
the Board of Trustees to decide the merits of the appeal. A copy of
the appeal, the findings of all previous organizations and notice of
the time and place of the hearing shall be provided to the accuser and
the accuser at least ten (10) days prior to the hearing. A majority
of the Board of Trustees shall decide the merits of the appeal and may
abolish, decrease or increase the reprimand, penalty or disbarment or
reverse the finding as established by the region. The AFTCA shall provide
the accused and the accuser the results of its findings in writing within
ten (10) days of the finding. The AFTCA Board of Trustees shall be the
final appeal for all complaints generated within the Corporation.
During the appeal
process, the finding of the next lower affiliated organization shall
remain in effect until such finding by the next higher affiliated organization
shall modify this finding.
(c) Nothing contained
within this amendment shall be construed to be in conflict or supersede
any article contained in the By-Laws and Running Rules other than the
article noted above.
ARTICLE II
Definition of Professional and Amateur
Section 1.
Any person who receives or has received, either directly or indirectly,
compensation for training or handling dogs (including handling of dogs
on a plantation or shooting preserve) is not an amateur. Any amateur who
handles a dog not solely owned and registered in his name or in the name
of a member of his immediate family, who is awarded a placement for such
dog’s performance shall waive payment or any division of the cash
purse or shall lose his amateur status. The funds waived shall remain
the property of the Club.
Professionalism
Section 2.
Any active club member of this Corporation is empowered, upon consideration
of evidence deemed sufficient, to declare any person who handled a dog
or dogs in stakes of an active club member, to be a professional and to
disqualify his dog or dogs, or to bar him from handling in any club stake
as an amateur.
Section 3. Any
active club member or any individual member may file a written complaint
with the Secretary of this corporation alleging that a professional
handler has handled, or attempted to handle, a dog or dogs in an amateur
field trial event.
(a) The complaint
shall state:
1. The name and
the address of the person alleged to be a professional.
2. The time,
place, name of the member club and the event in which the person alleged
to be a professional handler, or attempted to handle, in an amateur
event.
3. A concise
statement of the events upon which the complaint relies as proof to
establish such person is a professional handler.
4. Name and address
of club or individual making the complaint must be included.
(b) If, in the opinion of the Secretary of the Corporation, such complaint
has merit, he shall submit the same, and all evidence thereof, to the
Board of Trustees, whose decision thereon shall be final. Before submitting
such complaint to the Board of Trustees, the Secretary shall notify
the accused, in writing, of the nature of the charge against him, and
the Secretary shall fix a time in which the accused may file a written
answer to the charge and his complaint provide evidence thereon. The
accuser shall be given the same opportunity to substantiate his complaint.
(c) Upon expiration
of the time fixed by the Secretary, he shall submit copies of the complaint
the answer, and all evidence submitted to him by either party to each
member of the Board of Trustees for their decision. The Secretary shall
also submit any explanation or comment which he may desire. If a majority
of the Board of Trustees shall find in favor of the accused, his amateur
standing shall remain unimpaired. If the Board of Trustees decides that
the accused is a professional handler, the accused shall be barred from
handling any dog in competition in any amateur event in any stake sponsored
by an active member of this corporation, and no certificate of win made
by a dog handled by such a person shall be issued by this corporation.
The Secretary shall notify both the accused and the accusing party in
writing of the decision of the Board of Trustees.
Reinstatement to Amateur Status
Section 4.
Any person who is an admitted professional; or who has been declared to
be a professional by this Corporation; or any person who has been barred
from competition in amateur events because of professionalism; if he has
not violated either the letter or spirit of Section 1 of this Article
for three (3) years, may qualify as an amateur handler in the following
manner:
(a) Such individual
may request, in writing, a hearing by the Board of Trustees, so that his
status may be definitely established. Such individual must accompany the
request with a statement and evidence supporting his claim that he is
an amateur, as defined by these Regulations and shall prove his claim
in the manner and procedure set forth in Section 3 of this Article.
(b) If such a request
is filed by an individual who has been barred from competition in an amateur
event, the Secretary shall notify the President and Secretary of the active
member club which barred him, and request that they provide, in proper
form for presentation to the Board of Trustees, evidence on which their
action was based.
(c) If a majority
of the Board of Trustees finds that the petitioner is entitled to amateur
status, petitioner shall be declared to be an amateur and the Secretary
shall notify him and other interested parties of the Board’s decision.
ARTICLE III
Regional Championships
Section 1.
Regional All-Age, Regional Shooting Dog and Regional Walking Shooting
Dog Championships may be sanctioned by the Board of Trustees of this corporation
in such sections of the country as the Board may, in its discretion, deem
advisable.
Title Awards
Section 2.
The title awarded the dog winning these regional events shall be descriptive
of the region in which the stake was held. The winner of an event in Region
1 would be designated "Region 1 Amateur Champion," or "Region
1 Amateur Shooting Dog Champion" or "Region 1 Amateur Walking
Shooting Dog Champion," etc.
Reward to Winners
Section 3.
The rewards to go with the title of Regional Champion and Runner-Up must
be trophies or tack, or equipment, etc. Money as a reward is prohibited.
Declaring Champion
Section 4.
It is not mandatory that a champion or runner-up be named in a Regional
Championship Stake, but is left to the discretion of the judges. This
corporation will award the winner and the runner-up, if one is designated,
in such regional event a certificate commemorative of the win.
Courses and Game
Section 5.
All regional events must be held on a succession of courses under natural
conditions except as otherwise specifically designated in these Regulations
under the heading "One-Course Championships."
(a) Except as provided
under One-Course Championships, at least three courses must be used in
any regional event. There must be no bird fields on these courses and
the courses should be so arranged that no brace of dogs will have to cover
the same ground a second time in the same heat.
(b) Supplemental
birds may be liberated on the course, in widely separated areas of the
courses so as to simulate natural conditions (see Article IV, Section
1, (d) and (g) for liberating birds.
Length of Heats
Section 6. The
first-series heats must be at least one hour in length and there may be
as many additional series and for as long a time as the judges may deem
necessary.
Champions Must Be Shot Over
Section 7. No dog
shall be declared a winner or runner-up in a regional championship unless
shot over when birds are flushed to his point or as directed by the judges.
The shot is to be fired only by the handler of the pointing dog with a
gun of not less than .32 caliber. Shotgun (209) primers may be used in
lieu of .32 caliber.
Eligibility
Section 8.
To be eligible for the All-Age Championships dogs and handlers shall have
a winner's certificate from this Corporation for a win in a derby or an
all-age event. To be eligible for the Regional Shooting Dog Championship
and the Regional Walking Shooting Dog Championship, dogs and handlers
must have a winner's certificate from this corporation for a win in a
shooting dog or derby event.
ARTICLE IV
One-Course Regional Championships
Section 1.
One-course championships may be sanctioned in Regions 1 and 2 and such
other regions from time to time as may be determined by the Board of Trustees.
The same regulations shall apply to one-course championships as to other
regional events, except as follows:
(a) All dogs shall
be run over the same course.
(b) At least three
birds (pheasant, quail, Hungarian, or Chukar partridges) must be liberated
for each brace of dogs. No more than one-third of the birds liberated
for each brace may be liberated in the bird fields, and the remaining
two- thirds are to be liberated in at least two other well-separated locations
on the course.
(c) No fewer than
nine birds shall be liberated before the first brace is put down. No more
than three shall be liberated in the bird field. The balance shall be
placed in at least two widely separated locations on the course.
(d) No bird shall
be dizzied or its physical powers otherwise impaired. So far as possible,
birds shall be liberated with a minimum of handling.
(e) Birds for the
next brace shall be liberated within ten minutes after the field trial
party has passed each point of liberation so that all birds will be out
a minimum of fifty minutes before being handled by dogs.
(f) It is recommended
that the single course be sufficiently large and the running so arranged
that no one brace of dogs will have to cover the same ground a second
time in the same heat.
(g) The course
shall not end in a bird field. The last ten minutes of the running shall
be in open country where birds are not liberated during the running of
the stake, to enable the judges in the closing minutes of the heat to
better estimate the stamina of the dogs.
Section 2. The winner of a one-course event shall be designated
as a "One-Course Champion.”
ARTICLE V
NATIONAL AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP STAKES
Section 1.
This corporation shall hold each year,
(a) A National
Amateur Quail Championship
(b) A National
Amateur Pheasant Championship
(c) A National
Amateur Invitational Championship
(d) A National
Amateur Chicken Championship
(e) A National
Amateur Shooting Dog Championship
(f) A National
Amateur Pheasant Shooting Dog Championship
(g) A National
Amateur Grouse Championship
(h) A National
Amateur Chukar Championship
(i) An International
Amateur Woodcock Championship
(j) National Amateur
Chukar Shooting Dog Championship
(k) National Amateur
Walking Shooting Dog Championship
(1) National Amateur
Prairie Chicken Shooting Dog Championship
(m) National Amateur
Shooting Dog Invitational Championship
(n) National Amateur
Derby Championship
(o) National Amateur
Shooting Dog Derby Championship
(p) Such other
championships as the Board of Trustees may determine for dogs of all pointing
breeds, registered or eligible for registration, regardless of previous
wins, that have qualified as follows:
Section 2. To qualify for the National Amateur Quail Championship, a
dog shall have previously won a place under an amateur handler in a
one-hour multiple-course all-age stake, or a first- place win in a one-course
or thirty-minute all-age stake held by an active member club of this
Corporation in accordance with its Regulations; or be the winner or
runner-up in a Regional All-Age Championship sanctioned by this Corporation.
Section 3. To
qualify for a National Amateur Pheasant Championship, a National Amateur
Chicken Championship or a National Amateur Chukar Championship, a dog
shall have previously won a place, under an amateur handler, in a derby,
all- age or Regional All-Age Championship Stake, held by an active member
club in accordance with its Regulations, and holds a win certificate
for that placement.
Section 4. For
qualification in a National Amateur Shooting Dog Championship, a dog
shall have won a place under an amateur handler in a Shooting Dog Stake
held by an active member of this corporation, in accordance with its
Regulations.
Section 5. To
qualify for a National Amateur Pheasant Shooting Dog Championship, a
National Amateur Chukar Shooting Dog Championship, a National Amateur
Walking Shooting Dog Championship or a National Amateur Prairie Chicken
Shooting Dog Championship, a dog shall have won a place, under an amateur
handler, in a Shooting Dog Stake or a Derby Stake held by an active
member club of this corporation, and hold a winner's certificate for
the placement.
Section 6. To
qualify for a National Amateur Grouse Championship or an International
Amateur Woodcock Championship a dog shall have won a place, under an
amateur handler, in a shooting dog stake, or a derby stake, or an all-age
stake held by an active member of this Corporation, in accordance with
its Regulations.
Section 7. Eligibility
for the National Amateur Invitational Championships are based on a point
system as follows:
Points will be
awarded as follows: 3 points for 1st place dog times the number of dogs
drawn; 2 points for 2nd place dog times number of dogs drawn; 1 point
for 3rd place dog times the number of dogs drawn.
In a stake where
a qualifying series and at least an hour final series is run, the winners
receive 75% of the above listed points based on the number of dogs drawn.
Bonus points shall be awarded as follows:
All Regional
Championships: 25 points to the champion; 10 points to the runner-up.
All National
Amateur Championships: 30 points to the champion; 15 points to the runner-up.
National Amateur
Free-For-All: 75 points to the champion; 50 to the runner-up.
National Amateur
Quail Championship: 100 points to the champion; 50 to the runner-up.
Only the previous
year's winner is automatically qualified for the following year's event.
Previous year's
runner-up in the Invitational shall receive a total of 75 points.
A gun of not
less than .32 caliber shall be used in one-hour invitational qualifying
stakes. Shotgun
(209) primers may be used in lieu of .32 caliber.
Section 8. Gun Dog Stakes and Shooting Dog Stakes shall be considered
one and the same.
Championships
Section 9.
The National Amateur Quail Championship, The National Amateur Pheasant
Championship, The National Amateur Chicken Championship, The National
Amateur Invitational Championship, The National Amateur Chukar Championship,
The National Amateur Shooting Dog Championship, The National Amateur Pheasant
Shooting Dog Championship, The National Amateur Grouse Championship, The
International Amateur Woodcock Championship, The National Amateur Chukar
Shooting Dog Championship, The National Amateur Walking Shooting Dog Championship,
The National Amateur Shooting Dog Invitational Championship, the National
Amateur Derby Championship, The National Amateur Shooting Dog Derby Championship
and the National Amateur Prairie Chicken Shooting Dog Championship shall
be held annually at a place and date to be determined by the action of
the President of this corporation.
The winner of first
place in the National Amateur Quail Championship Stake shall be declared
the National Amateur Quail Champion of America for that year. The winner
of the National Amateur Chicken Championship shall be declared the National
Amateur Chicken Champion for that year. The winner of the National Amateur
Invitational Championship shall be declared the National Amateur Invitational
Champion for that year. The winner of the National Amateur Chukar Championship
shall be declared the National Amateur Chukar Champion for that year.
The winner of the National Amateur Shooting Dog Championship shall be
declared the National Amateur Shooting Dog Champion for that year. The
winner of the National Amateur Pheasant Shooting Dog Championship shall
be declared the National Amateur Pheasant Shooting Dog Champion for that
year. The winner of the National Amateur Grouse Championship shall be
declared the National Amateur Grouse Champion for that year. The winner
of the International Amateur Woodcock Championship shall be declared the
International Amateur Woodcock Champion for that year. The winner of the
National Amateur Chukar Shooting Dog Championship shall be declared the
National Amateur Chukar Shooting Dog Champion for that year. The winner
of the National Amateur Walking Shooting Dog Championship shall be declared
the National Amateur Walking Shooting Dog Champion for that year. The
winner of the National Amateur Pheasant Championship shall be declared
the National Amateur Pheasant Champion for that year. The winner of the
National Amateur Prairie Chicken Championship shall be declared the National
Amateur Prairie Chicken Champion for that year. The winner of the National
Amateur Shooting Dog Invitational shall be declared the National Amateur
Shooting Dog Invitational Champion for that year.
The winner of the National Amateur Derby Championship shall be declared
the National Amateur Derby Champion for that year. The winner of the National
Amateur Shooting Dog Derby Championship shall be declared the National
Amateur Shooting Dog Derby Champion for that year.
Section 10. A champion
must be declared in all National Amateur Championships. The naming of
a runner-up in all the championships is optional with the judges.
Section 11. To
qualify to enter the National Amateur Championship Stakes, the handler
shall have previously won a placement in an AFTCA trial and hold a certificate
for that placement.
Trophies
Section 12.
The outright award of a suitable trophy shall go the owner of the champion,
each year. If the judges declare a runner-up, his owner shall also be
awarded a suitable trophy to commemorate the win.
The following trophies are currently awarded:
(a) The Hawfield
Trophy and the Championship Trophy in the National Amateur Quail Championship;
The George C. Olive Trophy in the National Amateur Shooting Dog Championship;
The John R. (Jack) Stuart Trophy in the National Amateur Grouse Championship;
The Miss Leslie Anderson Trophy in the International Amateur Woodcock
Championship; The Gus Lurus Memorial Trophy in the National Amateur Chukar
Championship; The Gary Gaertner Trophy in the National Amateur Chukar
Shooting Dog Championship; The James V. Carter Trophy in the National
Amateur Walking Shooting Dog Championship; The Tom McNeal Trophy in the
National Amateur Derby Championship and The J. Frank "Tobe"
Stallings Trophy in the National Amateur Invitational Championship The
Brook Week's Memorial Trophy and the Chimes Mississippi Jack Trophy, are
perpetual trophies and cannot be retired
(b). All other
trophies that are now or may be in the future offered for competition,
shall, upon being won three times by the same owner, become the property
of said owner.
Judges
Section 13. Two or more judges shall judge each National Amateur Championship
Stake.
(a) The Grounds
Committee appointed by the President to plan the running of such championships
shall submit a list of judges to the President. The President shall
make the final selection of judges. It is suggested that the judging
assignments be rotated, i.e., that one or more judges be carried over
from the previous year, to maintain continuity of judging standards.
(b) The names
of the judges for all National Amateur Championships shall, if possible,
be announced at least thirty days prior to the running of the stake.
If any announced judge becomes unable to serve or fails to appear, a
substitute judge shall be named by (in order) the President or the Grounds
Committee, or the officers of the corporation, or the Stake Manager.
Entry Fees and Starting Fees
Section 14. Entry fees in all championship stakes run by this Corporation
shall be fixed from time to time by the Board of Trustees. Dogs which
qualify in trials held by active members of this corporation between the
date of the closing of entries of the respective National Amateur Championships
and the time of the drawing thereof, may be entered and drawn.
Entry Blanks
Section 15. The Secretary shall make entry blanks
available in advance to all owners who enter a dog in the respective championships
sponsored by this Corporation.
(a) The owner of
any and all dogs to be entered in any championship stake sponsored by
this Corporation must have his entries in the hands of the Secretary on
or before the advertised closing date.
(b) All entries
in Championship stakes are required to show the serial number of the win
certificate of the dog and handler entered. The dog entered must be described
by registered name, breed, age, color markings, sex, studbook number,
the name of the owner and such other information as may be required by
the Secretary of this Corporation.
(c) The Secretary
of this Corporation is authorized to refuse to accept the entry of any
dog in any championship stake sponsored by this Corporation unless and
until the information herein set out is supplied to him.
Stake Manager
Section 16. The entire conduct of the running of each championship stake,
subject to the Rules and Regulations for Field Trials of the corporation,
and subject also to the jurisdiction of the judges, shall be vested in
the Stake Manager. All questions not answered by the Rules and Regulations
for Field Trials of the Corporation and not within the jurisdiction of
the judges, shall be ruled on by the Stake Manager. His decision shall
be final until reviewed by the Board of Trustees. The decision of the
Board of Trustees shall be final.
(a) The President
of the Corporation shall be the Stake Manager for all Championships sponsored
by this Corporation. Should the President not attend a Championship, or
be in attendance but unable to serve as Stake Manager, then the ranking
Vice President in attendance shall be the Stake Manager. If the President
nor none of the Vice Presidents are in attendance, then the President
may appoint any other Trustee who will be in attendance to serve as Stake
Manager. Should none of the Vice Presidents be in attendance and should
the President not appoint a Stake Manager to serve in his place, then
the Secretary of the corporation shall designate a Stake Manager.
(b) The Stake Manager
is empowered to order any person in attendance at the trial removed from
the field trial grounds and to prevent his return during the stake if,
in his judgment, such person has been guilty of conduct unbecoming a gentleman
or has in any manner interfered with the running of the stake. Any such
person may be permanently barred from attending future trials of this
Corporation by subsequent action of the Board of Trustees.
Length of Heats
Section 17. In the National Amateur Quail Championship, the first-series
heats shall be one and one-half hours in length.
(a) In the National
Amateur Pheasant Championship, The National Amateur Chicken Championship,
The National Amateur Chukar Championship, The National Amateur Invitational
Championship, The National Amateur Shooting Dog Championship, The National
Amateur Grouse Championship, The International Amateur Woodcock Championship,
The National Amateur Shooting Dog Invitational Championship, The National
Amateur Prairie Chicken Shooting Dog Championship, The National Amateur
Derby Championship, The National Amateur Shooting Dog Derby Championship,
The National Amateur Chukar Shooting Dog Championship, The National
Amateur Pheasant Shooting Dog Championship, and the National Amateur
Walking Shooting Dog Championship, the first series heats shall be one
hour in length.
(b) In each stake,
the judges may run as many additional series as they deem necessary,
and the time of running therein shall be determined solely by the judges.
Shooting
Section 18.
No dog shall be placed in a National Amateur Championship Stake until
shot over when birds are flushed to his point or as directed by a judge.
Only the handler of the pointing dog may fire the shot from a gun of not
less than .32 caliber. Shotgun (209) primers may be used in lieu of .32
caliber.
ARTICLE VI
THE NATIONAL AMATEUR FREE FOR ALL
SHOOTING DOG CHAMPIONSHIP
The National Amateur Free-for-All Shooting Dog Championship is an Amateur
Free-for-All Championship sanctioned by the AFTCA to be run by the National
Free-for-All Shooting Dog Championship Association at Union Springs,
Alabama. Dogs are qualified for the championship finals in a preliminary
qualifying series. The National Amateur Free for All Championship Association
shall provide a full and complete report to the AFTCA or its representative
annually.
ARTICLE VII
BREED CHAMPIONSHIPS
For recognition
of a Breed Championship where a parent organization represents the breed
and its regions for approval to hold an Amateur Championship, the parent
organization will accept con¬duct of the event as approved by the
Board of Trustees of the Amateur Field Trial Clubs of America. Fee for
the recognition of such championship event will be an amount determined
by the Board of Trustees ($200.00 annually as of June 2002).
ARTICLE VIII
ACCEPTED GUIDELINES FOR USE OF TRACKING COLLARS IN SANCTIONED
AFTCA FIELD TRIAL STAKES
The sole purpose of using a tracking collar in
a field trial is to assist the handler in finding a dog that may be
lost or which is deemed no longer in judgment.
Use of these
collars in recognized field trial stakes is at the discretion of the
club.
The rules for
the use of a tracking collar in all recognized stakes are as follows:
(a) Transmitter,
battery and antenna placed on the dog shall weigh no more than five
(5) ounces. Transmitter will be mounted on a one-inch wide collar or
less; a regular ID tag(plate) may be affixed to the collar by an appropriate
attachment. Collar surface adjacent to the dog shall have no protrusions.
(b)
If a handler elects to use the transmitting collar on his or her dog,
only one other identification type collar is permitted to be on the
dog. The tracking collar shall remain on the dog during the entire heat;
if a handler elects to remove the tracking collar, that dog shall be
considered out of judgment.
(c)
The hand-held locating receiver can only be used after the dog is determined
to be out of judgment.
(d)
The running of a stake shall not be held up due to the lack of available
equipment.
(e)
Each club shall inform the judges of the rules and use to ensure uniform
practice.
(f)
Any person using a locating receiver to locate a dog currently in judgment,
and prior to official authorization of its use by one of the judges,
shall disqualify the dog in that stake and the offenders shall be disqualified
from field trials.
The undersigned
Secretary of this corporation hereby certifies that the above and foregoing
By-Laws, Running Rules and Regulations for the Field Trials of the Amateur
Field Trial Clubs of America, Inc., were duly adopted by unanimous vote
of the Board of Trustees at __________, in the State of __________,
at a regular meeting of said Corporation in __________, and that at
said time and place all prior existing By-Laws, Running Rules and Regulations
for Field Trials of said Corporation were expressly repealed; that such
now constitutes the accepted By-Laws, Running Rules and Regulations
for Field Trials for this Corporation.
WITNESS my hand this _______ day of _______ 200___.
(Ms.) Linda Hunt
Secretary-Treasurer
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