Season 2012

1. General.
The club will be known as the London & South East Classic Club with its headquarters at 53, Higham Road, Chesham, Buckinghamshire, HP5 2AF.
The club competes within the rules and constitution of the Royal Pigeon Racing Association.

2. Rules.
The following specific rules are laid out for the benefit of members and are dealt with under three headings.
3.0 Constitutional Rules.
13.0 Racing Rules.
14.0 Clock Rules. 15.0

3. Constitutional Rules.
The club boundaries are:
3.1 On the North: Latitude 52 - 10
3.2 On the West: Longitude 0 - 45
3.3 On the East: The East Mainland Coast of England contained in the area within the above (3.1 and 3.2).
3.4 On the South: The South Mainland Coast of England in the above area defined.
3.5 The club area will be divided pro-rata into four sections, North East, North West, South East and South West. Centre line to be Greenwich Meridian Line. Longitude East to be South East or North East. Longitude West to be South West or North West.
3.6 The North and South sections dividing line to be 51 - 28.12.60N

4. Club Objectives.
4.1 To provide South Road Classic Racing for fanciers whose lofts are situated in the area East of the 1987 Central Southern Classic Flying Club eastern boundary and south of the Midland National Flying Club southern boundary.
4.2 In the event of the London & South East Classic Club not being able to race from race points over the English Channel, the committee will form a secondary race programme of race points on the North Road. If any such ban on Continental racing is lifted then the club will revert back to the original South Road programme. The club objective is to offer a minimum of three old bird races and one young bird race annually.
4.3 All races to be early morning liberations with the objective of having the Northern sections won on the day of liberation. After 48 hours holdover the birds to be liberated at the convoyers discretion with the birds well being in mind.

5. The AGM of the club will decide by open vote:
5.1 The committee of management of the club comprising, President, four Vice Presidents (plus any Life Vice Presidents), Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer.
5.2 Two independent auditors.
5.3 Press Officers.
5.4 A race Controller and deputy.
5.5 A working committee of between ten and sixteen members.
6. Outgoing Committee.
The outgoing committee of management will recommend to the AGM:
6.1 A financial plan for the new year
6.2 A race programme for the new year.
6.3 The convoying arrangements.
6.4 Membership and entrance fees.

7. Annual General Meeting.
7.1 The AGM will vote on the recommendation and on any matter correctly tabled for consideration.
7.2 All alterations and additions to rules shall be determined by postal vote and in addition by members in attendance, no member or partnership to have more than one vote.

8. New Members.
All members must provide their Longitude and Latitude.
8.1 New members will pay a œ10 entrance fee when joining the club and the annual subscription to be œ25, except for young fanciers under the age of 16 racing solo, when their annual subscription will be œ5.

9. Assets.
The assets of the club will be owned equally by all paid up current members of the club.

10. Disputed.
All internal disputes will be dealt with by the Management Committee subject to the RPRA Appeal Procedures.

11. Results and Club News.
11.1 Diplomas will be awarded to pigeons in the first fifty in the open result of club races. Old Hens races, diplomas will be awarded to pigeons recorded in the first twenty five of the open result.
11.2 Race results and club news to be published in the British Homing World, The Racing Pigeon and on the L&SECC Internet Website. Also members can receive a race result on the Internet by supplying a valid email address to the club secretary.
11.3 L&SECC race results published on paid for pages in the fancy press shall not be bigger than two pages. Old Hens results published on paid for pages in the fancy press shall not be bigger than half a page.

12. AGM and Presentation.
The AGM and annual presentation will be arranged one year in advance at the previous years AGM.

13. Racing Rules.
RPRA standard racing rules apply to all the club races, but additionally:
13.1 All races will have an early morning liberation I.E. the race controllers will aim to have the Northern sections won on the day of liberation from all races points. After 48 hours holdover the birds to be liberated at the convoyers discretion with the birds wellbeing in mind.
13.2 All competing members in whatever race must after timing in his / her first bird from that race; telephone the number allocated to his / her section within one hour of timing his / her first bird and state your Name, and club number as it appears on the front of your rule book, the time shown on the clock for that bird and the full metal ring number. Members will be given a verification number which must be entered on the verification card. Failure to carry out this rule could entail disqualification.
13.3 The management committee shall have the power to disqualify any pigeon suspected of being assisted in any of the clubs races.
13.4 Hours of darkness; All old bird races to be 22.00hrs - 05.00hrs. All young bird races to be 21.00hrs - 05.30hrs.
13.5 All races close at a velocity of 220 ypm. 13.6 With all member-s comments and suggestions submitted taken into consideration the committee will decide the number of races, the dates and race points to be flown each season.
13.7 All entry race forms must be in the secretary-s hands at least four days prior to race marking.
13.8 Section and open pools to be paid at a ratio of 20 - 1 less 10%, all unclaimed pools to be awarded to pool winners pro-rata.
13.9 Entry fees and pools are not returnable where birds fail to arrive for race marking.
13.10 A -Diploma of Merit- will be awarded to any pigeon that is placed in the first 50 open three times from the longest old bird race. (Claims required).
13.11 The best average over six races shall win the London & South East Classic Club -Fancier of the Year- Trophy and replica. Open positions only to count.
13.12 The London & South East Classic Club shall organize an annual -GOLDEN RING- race to be flown in conjunction with the club-s young bird classic. Rings will be sold at œ5.00 per ring plus post and packing. With a maximum of 10 rings per member.
13.13 The proceeds will be paid out over the first twelve gold ring pigeons timed, less 10% to the clubs fixed asset fund.
13.14 The number of birds each member sends to each race be recorded in the race result.
13.15 The highest average velocity achieved by the same bird in the two young bird races shall win the London & South East Classic Club -Young Bird of the Year- Award.
13.16 Prize money and pools to be paid out no later than two months after the final result of that race is published.

14. Clock Rules.
RPRA standard clock rules apply, but additionally:
14.1 Clocks must be set at the official Clock Stations, approved in advance by the management committee.
14.2 All dials and rolls must be signed by two independent officials.
14.3 Each competitor must have at least one clock set specifically for the classic race. A clock fee of œ1.00 to be paid to the IC of the clock station for each set.
14.4 Clocks must be sealed in an approved RPRA manner with string and seals.
14.5 After clocking, the clock must be checked and opened on the day of timing in. Clocks may be reset on payment of an additional fee.
14.6 All dials, rolls, rubbers and completed clock verification cards must be in the Classic Secretary-s hands within 72 hours of clocking (postmarked two days after clocking at the latest or three days if Bank Holidays are involved).
14.7 Master timer rolls or dials must accompany the competitor-s own dials and rubbers in the master timer envelope. 14.8 To safeguard the safe arrival of clock dials and rubbers, members are advised to use recorded delivery or registered post.
14.9 Clocks to be available for setting for 20.30 hours up to 48 hours before the proposed liberation date and checking for 20.30 hours on the day of the arrival or within 2 hours of arrival, or by prior arrangement with the IC of the clock station.
14.10 The London & South East Classic Club is not insured and will not accept responsibility for loss or damage to member-s clocks or equipment.
14.11 Clock setters to be reimbursed actual expenses incurred for recoded deliveries, telephone calls, master timer requisites etc.
14.12 All Master Timers used for classic racing must be struck against GMT or TIM prior to setting members clocks. Before clock checking the Master Timer to be struck against TIM or GMT and used to check clocks. After clock checking the Master Timer to be stripped down and the dials returned to the Secretary in the normal manner. Should the Master Timer be needed for birds clocked in the longer races the procedure above should be carried out for birds clocked on other days until the close of the race.
14.13 Members may use RPRA approved ETS for all races. Strict compliance with RPRA rules for such systems will apply.
14.14 Only birds correctly entered on the verification card will be entered into the official result.

15. Only those members who have paid their current years fees will be sent a Rule Book, race sheets ect. Receipts will be sent with the members rule book.

16. The Club arrange a Dinner and Dance in conjunction with the prize presentation. Venue to be in keeping with the Classic Club.

17. The London & South East Classic Club to become members of the Alliance of Specialist Clubs.

18. The London & South East Classic Club shall annually form an emergency Committee, to consist of five committee members: The President, The Chairman, The Secretary and two committee members. In addition one other committee member to act as a reserve.

19. That a Club News Telephone Line be set up when details of committee meeting and general news of interest to members will be updated as required. All profits from this to be equally divided between the cost of engraving the trophies, and any loss from the annual Dinner and Prize Presentation.

20. All birds competing in the L&SECC races will be sent through the club and no nominations in will be allowed. Members of the L&SECC will be allowed to nominate out.

21. In the event of the club organizing a Breeder / Buyer sale, the first young bird race will be the Breeder / Buyer event and prize money raised from the sale will be flown for from that race. Member will be limited to donating a maximum of two birds per sale, with the first bird going in to the general auction and the second birds going in to the general auction after the member being given the offer of buying back his second bird for œ30. The proceeds of the sale will be paid out in prizes to the first ten Breeder / Buyer pigeons in the open result, less 10% to the clubs fixed asset fund. Breeder / Buyer prizes will be divided in to 50% to the donor and 50% to the purchaser.

Notice of the Annual General Meeting.
The Annual General Meeting of the London & South East Classic Club will be held at the North Leatherhead Community Association, Kingston Road, Leatherhead on Monday 21st January 2013 at 8pm. Any member wishing for alteration or additions to the local or domestic rules must give notice in writing of the proposed alterations or additions, in accordance with RPRA rule 115 (b), or it will not be considered. Propositions must state the rule to which they refer, with any deletions and the proposed new wording of the rule; otherwise they could be ruled out of order. Propositions to be received by the Secretary no later than 11th December 2012.