Wcra Mandatory Rules

[postman pat]

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Recently I've been hearing about these mandatory rules.

I've asked around and been told that when clubs affliate to the WCRA then these rules are added to the clubs rules. Is this true?

I've looked up what mandatory means and it's a command or a requirement. So it seems to me that these WCRA mandatory rules HAVE to be followed regardless of what the club rules are????

I've been told that one of the rules means that for an affliated clubs opens ONLY dogs holding valid WCRA passports can enter. But that didn't happen this year did it at some clubs opens?

I'm really confused about what's what and I don't know what to do so that my dog can race next year. Do I have to buy a sticker or not?

HELP!!!!!!

 

[bertha]

Just get your sticker and race where you like!!!!!!!

 

[BeeJay]

Recently I've been hearing about these mandatory rules.
I've asked around and been told that when clubs affliate to the WCRA then these rules are added to the clubs rules. Is this true?

I've looked up what mandatory means and it's a command or a requirement. So it seems to me that these WCRA mandatory rules HAVE to be followed regardless of what the club rules are????

I've been told that one of the rules means that for an affliated clubs opens ONLY dogs holding valid WCRA passports can enter. But that didn't happen this year did it at some clubs opens?

I'm really confused about what's what and I don't know what to do so that my dog can race next year. Do I have to buy a sticker or not?

HELP!!!!!!

When a club affliates to the WCRA they agree to obey the WCRA mandatory rules AND those rules are added to the clubs rules. Therefore once they affiliate then they are agreeing to ONLY allow dogs with valid WCRA passports to race at their opens.

In 2009 many affliated clubs decided NOT to run for Superstars points as they wished to be able to exclude any dogs that weren't acceptable to them. However they were breaking mandatory rule 6 by NOT asking for valid WCRA passports even though they were racing for Top Ten points only. The WCRA didn't enforce rule 6 in 2009 but they could in the future. Who knows.

 

[Mark Roberts]

I've heard all sorts of rumours over the past few months about the Mandatory rules being brought in by the WCRA but as yet the only details i've had from the WCRA secretary are the ones below (niether very damaging to whippet racing if anything they are a move forward to reunite racing in some way)

I recently recieved a letter from the WCRA which stated that clubs running to their own rules (Thus being able to exclude dogs they dont want running) can still ask for valid WCRA passports to be shown that way club officials and racers can be sure that any dogs running are cleared to race in the normal way (ie: cleared for bends/straights) but obviously these events would not count for superstar points.

it also stated that Dogs racing at WCRA Champs or opens counting for Superstar points will have to have cleared at a Club affilatedto the WCRA and have a current WCRA passport sticker for that racing season in the passport.(obtainable from the WCRA affiliated club secretary)

If common sense prevails in racing then clubs will still affiliat to the WCRA and allow their members the choice of where they run and god forbid some might even choose to run at both the WCRA & Nationals

 

[BeeJay]

It's these mandatory rules that I'm referring to. This is ONE of the reasons why Gloucester club members voted against affiliating in 2010. Read rule 6 the last one. Why would any club pay money to hand over control about who is allowed to run at it's opens????

MANDATORY RULES AS ISSUED BY THE W.C.R.A.

THESE RULES WILL BE ADDED TO THE RULES OF GLOUCESTER WHIPPET RACING CLUB AND WILL COME INTO FORCE IMMEDIATELY

1. All Whippets must be Kennel Club Registered

2. Each Affiliated Club shall have One Official who is a member of The Whippet Club.

3. RULE 4.1

Fighting - Fighting occurs when a Whippet deliberately and aggressively impedes the progress of one or more Whippets during a race by turning it’s head. It is not fighting when:-

a) A Whippet ‘lays on’ another Whippet to stop it passing.

b) A Whippet tries to jump over the Whippet ahead of it.

c) A strong and determined Whippet shoves its way through the dog/s ahead of it.

d) A whippet runs to the inside or outside (even on a straight track) e.g. so that it is on the rails ready for a bend and in doing so pushes other whippet/s out of the way

e) A Whippet barks while racing.

f) A Whippet retaliates when interfered with, because the race ends with the first offence.

The Racing Manager decides when fighting has occurred after consultation with the Track Stewards.

A disqualified Whippet shall take no further part in racing on the day

Rule 4.31

At the discretion of the race manager, a disqualified whippet will be permitted to undertake one trial at the end of racing on the day and at the place of its disqualification. This trial race should contain ideally three other whippets, one of whom is able to pass the offending whippets and the offending whippet to pass another dog cleanly. If the racing manager clears the whippet, the disqualification form should be completed accordingly by the racing manager or club secretary and the form, or a duplicate, must be forwarded to the WCRA Disqualification Officer within four days of the meeting at which the disqualification took place. Failure to do so, without reasonable excuse, will result in the club being fined three times the entry fee of the first dog for the WCRA Championships. If the whippet is not cleared, or does not undertake the ‘one trial on the day’ option, for whatever reason, then rule 4.31.1 applies. The ‘one trial on the day’ option can only be taken once per whippet per racing career, regardless of the outcome of the trial. (Note: if the ‘one trial on the day’ is not taken on the day of the disqualification, should the whippet be disqualified again during the season then the ‘one trial on the day’ can be taken on that day of disqualification).

Rule 4.31.1

The owner of the whippet that is disqualified and not cleared on the day, shall be provided with a ‘disqualification form’ by the racing manager or secretary of the disqualifying club on the day of disqualification, with Part 1 completed as appropriate (see 4.31.3). When cleared, the racing manager of the WCRA affiliated club at which the clearing trials take place should complete details of the clearance trials in Part 2. This form, or duplicate, must be forwarded to the club at which the whippet offended and to the WCRA Disqualification Officer. It is the responsibility of the owner of the disqualified whippet to ensure that the necessary clearance paperwork is recorded with the WCRA Disqualification Officer, to enable the whippet to compete at future Open race meetings where WCRA passports are a requirement of entry.

Rule 4.31.2

A disqualified whippet that is not cleared on the day of disqualification shall be suspended for seven days – (the day of disqualification is day one of suspension – therefore a whippet who is disqualified on a Sunday must wait until the following Sunday – day eight – before it can re-trial). The disqualified whippet must take part in a minimum of THREE acceptable consecutive clearance trials at a WCRA affiliated club before it may compete again. All clearing trials should contain ideally three other whippets, one of whom is able to pass the offending whippet and the offending whippet to pass another dog cleanly. If the disqualification took place on a straight then the whippet must re-clear on a straight. If the disqualification took place on a curve or a bend then the whippet must re-clear on a curve or a bend.

Rule 4.31.3

The racing manager or club secretary should complete Part 1 (see 4.31.1)of the disqualification form (as appropriate), the copy sent to the WCRA Disqualification Officer must also contain a brief summary of the incident on the reverse of the form, including names of the other dogs, trap placements and handicaps.

Rule 4.31.4

The racing manager or secretary of any racing club affiliated to the WCRA, who disqualifies any whippet(s) at any Open race meeting held by them, where WCRA passports are required as a condition of entry, must inform the WCRA Disqualification Officer within four days of the meeting at which the disqualification took place. Failure to do so, without reasonable excuse, will result in the club being fined three times the entry fee of the first dog for the WCRA championships. The WCRA Disqualification Officer will record all disqualifications and ‘one trial on the day’ occurrences submitted to him/her in the Disqualification Record Book and will keep the book in his/her possession, with the only general access to it being the sole prerogative of the Racing Manager of the WCRA.

Clearance trials for disqualifications and passport signings are only to be carried out by a WCRA affiliated club at a race meeting run by their officials and under their rules.

4. No puppy shall be permitted to trial behind a mechanical lure until 6 months of age.

It is the Racing Manager/Officials responsibility to ensure that all trials are conducted with the safety and well-being of the puppy foremost.

5. If in the opinion of 3 officials a whippet is considered unfit to run, the owner will be asked to furnish the committee with a letter from a Veterinary Surgeon, declaring the whippet fit to race.

6. The condition of entry to all opens is a valid, WCRA passport, to be shown on the day of the race meeting.

WCRA Mandatory Rules Revision 1.0 Dec 2006

 

[BeeJay]

As for choice.

At the Gloucester AGM it was pointed out that if the members didn't want to give money to the WCRA ie buy stickers then those members wouldn't be able to race at the open. Affliation takes away the choice of the club to decide who can run at it's opens and also the choice of the racers who are thus forced to buy stickers.

On a superficial level it appears simply to be about being able to clear dogs for WCRA passports and so that the owners of those dogs can buy the necessary yearly sticker in order to make valid their passports so that those dogs can run at affliated club opens and at the WCRA championships.

BUT

The moment a club affliates then the WCRA mandatory rules become the club rules. That's what clubs are paying for to have WCRA rules added to their own rules and to give up certain powers and choices.

 

[peppermint lady]

As for choice.
At the Gloucester AGM it was pointed out that if the members didn't want to give money to the WCRA ie buy stickers then those members wouldn't be able to race at the open. Affliation takes away the choice of the club to decide who can run at it's opens and also the choice of the racers who are thus forced to buy stickers.

On a superficial level it appears simply to be about being able to clear dogs for WCRA passports and so that the owners of those dogs can buy the necessary yearly sticker in order to make valid their passports so that those dogs can run at affliated club opens and at the WCRA championships.

BUT

The moment a club affliates then the WCRA mandatory rules become the club rules. That's what clubs are paying for to have WCRA rules added to their own rules and to give up certain powers and choices.

:thumbsup:

 

[Barry Jepson]

6. The condition of entry to all opens is a valid, WCRA passport, to be shown on the day of the race meeting.

Does this not just apply if you are running for WCRA event i.e. superstars? In the Northern constitution I’m sure it doesn’t say you can affiliate to just one organisation and if it did you could just change the club’s constitution. I’ve not looked at the WCRA constitution but I don’t think it says clubs can only affiliate to them. So can’t you just affiliate to the WCRA and NPWRA and then choose which rules you are running your open under as most of the racers will have passports for both and this way both associations run side by side without any falling out.

 

[bertha]

Well said Barry. Very sensible post.

 

[Mark Roberts]

6. The condition of entry to all opens is a valid, WCRA passport, to be shown on the day of the race meeting.
Does this not just apply if you are running for WCRA event i.e. superstars? In the Northern constitution I’m sure it doesn’t say you can affiliate to just one organisation and if it did you could just change the club’s constitution. I’ve not looked at the WCRA constitution but I don’t think it says clubs can only affiliate to them. So can’t you just affiliate to the WCRA and NPWRA and then choose which rules you are running your open under as most of the racers will have passports for both and this way both associations run side by side without any falling out.

WELL SAID BARRY!

 

[June Jonigk]

6. The condition of entry to all opens is a valid, WCRA passport, to be shown on the day of the race meeting.
Does this not just apply if you are running for WCRA event i.e. superstars? In the Northern constitution I’m sure it doesn’t say you can affiliate to just one organisation and if it did you could just change the club’s constitution. I’ve not looked at the WCRA constitution but I don’t think it says clubs can only affiliate to them. So can’t you just affiliate to the WCRA and NPWRA and then choose which rules you are running your open under as most of the racers will have passports for both and this way both associations run side by side without any falling out.

If you could run your opens that way Barry, then that would be fine. But, I suspect the WCRA will try and force you to accept any dog with a WCRA passport, and if that happens, you know what happens to your entry. In fact if your open states valid WCRA passports to be shown, then there will be a lot of people who don't have that, and who will stay away from your open. We and a lot of others won't have valid WCRA passports, so any opens run under WCRA rules (which if I understand the last letter from the Secretary correctly, all of them will have to) then we won't be able to come. It certainly needs clarifying before the Northern's AGM, so members can vote accordingly.

As I see it, you are paying £50 for your club to be dictated to by a dwindling committee, who have zilch respect from pedigree racers. The WCRA brought in mandatory rules to be taken by any club that affiliates - therefore, whether you run for Superstars or not, they will tell you that you must accept any dog with a valid WCRA passport.

If the WCRA had anything about them at all, they would have done away with stickers, and allowed anyone with a WCRA passport to run at their events - but they have shot themselves in the foot with this latest shite, as it has just angered people more. It's only a matter of time before they crumble as far as I can see - most of the committee have walked, or intend to at the Whippet Club AGM. If they gave people a choice, they may have survived a bit longer, but they want to dictate and blackmail clubs into affiliating so they can get stickers - bad move -_-

We are looking forward to the 3 events you have planned this year, but we won't be buying a sticker, so we won't be able to come if you affiliate. Clubs need to think very carefully, and safeguard themselves against their opens having very few entries. The WCRA accused racers of blackmailing clubs to drop Superstars last year - hark at the pot calling the kettle black :lol:

 

[lynxexpress]

6. The condition of entry to all opens is a valid, WCRA passport, to be shown on the day of the race meeting.
Does this not just apply if you are running for WCRA event i.e. superstars? In the Northern constitution I’m sure it doesn’t say you can affiliate to just one organisation and if it did you could just change the club’s constitution. I’ve not looked at the WCRA constitution but I don’t think it says clubs can only affiliate to them. So can’t you just affiliate to the WCRA and NPWRA and then choose which rules you are running your open under as most of the racers will have passports for both and this way both associations run side by side without any falling out.

If you could run your opens that way Barry, then that would be fine. But, I suspect the WCRA will try and force you to accept any dog with a WCRA passport, and if that happens, you know what happens to your entry. In fact if your open states valid WCRA passports to be shown, then there will be a lot of people who don't have that, and who will stay away from your open. We and a lot of others won't have valid WCRA passports, so any opens run under WCRA rules (which if I understand the last letter from the Secretary correctly, all of them will have to) then we won't be able to come. It certainly needs clarifying before the Northern's AGM, so members can vote accordingly.

As I see it, you are paying £50 for your club to be dictated to by a dwindling committee, who have zilch respect from pedigree racers. The WCRA brought in mandatory rules to be taken by any club that affiliates - therefore, whether you run for Superstars or not, they will tell you that you must accept any dog with a valid WCRA passport.

If the WCRA had anything about them at all, they would have done away with stickers, and allowed anyone with a WCRA passport to run at their events - but they have shot themselves in the foot with this latest shite, as it has just angered people more. It's only a matter of time before they crumble as far as I can see - most of the committee have walked, or intend to at the Whippet Club AGM. If they gave people a choice, they may have survived a bit longer, but they want to dictate and blackmail clubs into affiliating so they can get stickers - bad move -_-

We are looking forward to the 3 events you have planned this year, but we won't be buying a sticker, so we won't be able to come if you affiliate. Clubs need to think very carefully, and safeguard themselves against their opens having very few entries. The WCRA accused racers of blackmailing clubs to drop Superstars last year - hark at the pot calling the kettle black :lol:

You remark about letters from the wcra i have been a member of Gloucester for many years and allways got to see the letters but this last two/three years a few of the members never get to see the letters is it because we vote the wrong way i wonder

 

[BeeJay]

6. The condition of entry to all opens is a valid, WCRA passport, to be shown on the day of the race meeting.
Does this not just apply if you are running for WCRA event i.e. superstars? In the Northern constitution I’m sure it doesn’t say you can affiliate to just one organisation and if it did you could just change the club’s constitution. I’ve not looked at the WCRA constitution but I don’t think it says clubs can only affiliate to them. So can’t you just affiliate to the WCRA and NPWRA and then choose which rules you are running your open under as most of the racers will have passports for both and this way both associations run side by side without any falling out.

I'm afraid Barry that no it doesn't. Once a club affliates it agrees to abide by the WCRA's mandatory rules and above you have quoted rule 6. It's certainly true to say that the WCRA did not choose to exercise their right to enforce that rule in 2009 and in fact it didn't do so in previous years when Gloucester ran two straights. BUt it could. Will it, won't it. Who knows?

Until I sat down and read the rules a few months ago I hadn't realised that;-

1) The mandatory rules existed.

2) Also that the affliated clubs had been allowed to get away with breaking a rule that they had agreed to abide by when they affliated. I like many (maybe most) racers thought that it only applied to opens run under Superstars rules but as we can all see this isn't the case. It in fact also applies to ALL opens that an affliated club runs. To say that I was horrified when I read mandatory rule 6 is an understatement as it takes away the power of choice from the affliated clubs.

The NPWRA have never wished to tell clubs what to do as we have always thought that clubs know what they want to do with their club and how to do it. In short that every club knows best what suits it and what is best for it. We have members who are racers rather than clubs. So clubs aren't going to be asked to affliate to the NPWRA.

So I'll repeat myself. Once a club decides to affliate then it also agrees to only allow dogs with valid WCRA passports to race at ANY of it's opens.

 

[springfield]

Recently I've been hearing about these mandatory rules.
I've asked around and been told that when clubs affliate to the WCRA then these rules are added to the clubs rules. Is this true?

I've looked up what mandatory means and it's a command or a requirement. So it seems to me that these WCRA mandatory rules HAVE to be followed regardless of what the club rules are????

I've been told that one of the rules means that for an affliated clubs opens ONLY dogs holding valid WCRA passports can enter. But that didn't happen this year did it at some clubs opens?

I'm really confused about what's what and I don't know what to do so that my dog can race next year. Do I have to buy a sticker or not?

HELP!!!!!!

The Wcra should of notified all of last years affiliated clubs about the a new mandatory rule,If there is one????? :wacko: , Giving clubs the option to affiliate and if the new rules would/Wouldn't work for their club. All confusing

 

[Mark Roberts]

Recently I've been hearing about these mandatory rules.
I've asked around and been told that when clubs affliate to the WCRA then these rules are added to the clubs rules. Is this true?

I've looked up what mandatory means and it's a command or a requirement. So it seems to me that these WCRA mandatory rules HAVE to be followed regardless of what the club rules are????

I've been told that one of the rules means that for an affliated clubs opens ONLY dogs holding valid WCRA passports can enter. But that didn't happen this year did it at some clubs opens?

I'm really confused about what's what and I don't know what to do so that my dog can race next year. Do I have to buy a sticker or not?

HELP!!!!!!

The Wcra should of notified all of last years affiliated clubs about the a new mandatory rule,If there is one????? :wacko: , Giving clubs the option to affiliate and if the new rules would/Wouldn't work for their club. All confusing

Lee the mandatory rules have been there for several years mate.

someone has been telling everyone the WCRA will force any club that affiliates to the WCRA to allow all dogs to run at its opens/club, that would only happen should a club run for superstar points.

I have spoken to several WCRA committee as an affiliated club secretary and they asured me that wasn't going to happen and as yet i've recieved no letter stating that it will happen (if it does then clubs can deal with it as they then see fit)

The last letter I recieved a few weeks back CLEARLY stated that the WCRA had decided that if an affiliate club wished to only run for WN top 10 points so they could choose who raced with them then that was ok and that the WCRA were happy for the clubs to still ask for WCRA passports to be shown as a form of varifying that a dog was cleared to run bends/straights and that clubs could still check with the WCRA which dogs were disqualified due to fighting (obviously to save another dog being injured or put off racing due to a fighter)

I realise that should a club take up the offer to only run for top 10 points and ask for WCRA passports to be shown then racers would have to buy a WCRA sticker which a lot seem to be against.

But the way I read the letter theres nothing stopping a club from running its open for W/N top 10 points only and as a condition of entry a dog must hold a valid passport (WCRA or NATIONAL)

NOW IS IT ME OR DOES THE ABOVE SOLVE THAT ARGUMENT!

 

[IanGerman]

NOW IS IT ME OR DOES THE ABOVE SOLVE THAT ARGUMENT!

It does mate! And I am sure that is what was meant, even if not stated categorically. And to those who are still worried that they won't be able prevent certain runners from entering, I ask this ....

What do you think the "punishment" will be if you DO? De-affiliation? Nope - your donations are too important. Suspension of SS points? You'd be running without them anyway - so what difference!

Stop looking for problems and just get on with things as you always have. Power is with the clubs - it always has been - and although I would like tradition to continue with a fully functioning WCRA, ultimately racing clubs have their own future in their own hands.

And the reference that has been made to litigation being taken by owners of dis-allowed dogs, in my opinion is laughable. There is no monetary value to whippet racing other than a possible income from the sale of puppies and/or stud fees - a value that is not possible to calculate with any accuracy and certainly not enough to cover someone's court costs. As a club is a non-profit making organisation, it cannot be sued for monetary recompense, and to try to sue individual members would clearly be impractical. I'll go further .... I'll personally pay for the defence of the first person to be sued for this "offence". Merry Christmas

 

[Barry Jepson]

I have spoken to several WCRA committee as an affiliated club secretary and they asured me that wasn't going to happen and as yet i've recieved no letter stating that it will happen (if it does then clubs can deal with it as they then see fit)

The last letter I recieved a few weeks back CLEARLY stated that the WCRA had decided that if an affiliate club wished to only run for WN top 10 points so they could choose who raced with them then that was ok and that the WCRA were happy for the clubs to still ask for WCRA passports to be shown as a form of varifying that a dog was cleared to run bends/straights and that clubs could still check with the WCRA which dogs were disqualified due to fighting (obviously to save another dog being injured or put off racing due to a fighter)

I realise that should a club take up the offer to only run for top 10 points and ask for WCRA passports to be shown then racers would have to buy a WCRA sticker which a lot seem to be against.

But the way I read the letter theres nothing stopping a club from running its open for W/N top 10 points only and as a condition of entry a dog must hold a valid passport (WCRA or NATIONAL)

NOW IS IT ME OR DOES THE ABOVE SOLVE THAT ARGUMENT!

Good post Mark this is how I understood the letter aswell. The club hasn't decided yet if we will be running for Superstar points or not at our Opens, but if we are obviously you will have to have a WCRA passport but if we decide not to run for Superstar points I will accept either WCRA or National passport as prove that a dog has been cleared for racing unless told by either organisation in writing that I cannot use their passport system.

 

[BeeJay]

Hmm I'm not sure how you get from this

>We have no objection to clubs running Opens under club rules.

To this Mark and Barry

>But the way I read the letter theres nothing stopping a club from running its open for W/N top 10 points only and as a condition of entry a dog must hold a valid passport (WCRA or NATIONAL)

If we look at what the WCRA HAVE said then it is clear that they have no objection to clubs running Opens under club rules. Of course they don't because IF a club affliates then one of it's club rules immediately becomes this

6. The condition of entry to all opens is a valid, WCRA passport, to be shown on the day of the race meeting.

Nope there is no mention of NPWRA passports being acceptable there. It's valid WCRA passports or nothing.

IMO we should all have learned the hard lesson that we have been taught repeatedly over the past year or so. Weasel words are flexible. We might believe that they mean one thing but it can mean something quite different. How many times did we place our faith in the weasel words only to end up disappointed.

Or course affliated clubs can still ignore the mandatory rules and simply wait to see if the WCRA decides to enforce them. Which I believe is Ian's point. After all they didn't in previous years. How much more sensible would it be just to scrap the rules if they aren't going to be enforced. Then the clubs really could run their opens in the way that they want to.

On a purely selfish point, Barry I hope that The Northern decide to allow dogs with valid NPWRA passports to run at it's opens. If not then my dogs won't be acceptable. I really, really can't be donating any more money to the WCRA. I'd feel differently if I owned the passports that I've handed over good money for and have paid yearly subscriptions for but as I don't I'm not prepared to continue shelling out and get nothing in return.

Even if you do decide to exclude dogs like mine then I still wish you all the very best with your opens. No hard feelings from my point of view. Sometimes decisions have to be made and they aren't always good for everyone. Such is life.

Just had a thought at least you all won't have to listen to my going on about 'that smell'. :x )

 

[Barry Jepson]

We have no objection to clubs running Opens under club rules. It makes sense that club

workers use rules they are familiar with week in, week out. It is however important that th

rules be posted prominently so all can read them if they wish.

We recognise that clubs pay their affiliation primarily to buy into the passport system.

Therefore we have determined that affiliated clubs have the right to ask for sight of valid

passports at Opens even if not counting for Superstars. (Affiliation and Superstars are

different issues.) It is sensible also to continue the disqualification system - the relevant

WCRA rules apply in respect of open race meetings where WCRA passports are a condition of entry - and the signing-off of dogs as fit to run on bends and straights.

Barbara

To me an open were WCRA passports are a condition of entry is when a passport has to have a passport sticker , I didn’t say a passport for condition of entry for our opens just proof that a dog has passed its proven trials.

Hope you can understand were I'm coming from and hopefully we will see you at our opens.

 

[controversial]

with the new letter today,i see it as the onus is now put on the clubs,and the wcra have wiped their hands on the matter.i,e if you run under club rules and refuse entry to a wcra passport holder ,you have to give them a reason and hold the club open to litigation.its called passing the buck.watch your backs.a canine heritage test would have solved this problen asap.