CHIEF STEWARDS DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Transcription

1 CHIEF STEWARDS DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES As Chief Steward you are directly responsible to Governing Council for the proper conduct of the trial in accordance with the Rules and Regulations of the Association. Whilst not expected to know every Rule and Regulations in detail the Chief Steward should have an up-to-date set of Regulations and current Obedience Rule and/or Agility Rule Books available and know where to look for the relevant information. 1. The Chief Steward should arrive at least one hour before the show commences and remain in attendance for the duration of the show. It is the Chief Steward s responsibility to generally supervise the show and deal with all exhibitors queries and complaints. 2. The Chief Steward must ensure that all rings conform in size to the regulations (refer to the Rules & Regulations for the Conduct of Trials booklet for both Obedience and Agility) and that the necessary equipment is placed in the ring and properly assembled 3. It is the Chief Steward s responsibility to ensure that sufficient ring stewards are appointed and that they are fully briefed as to their duties. The Judge will further brief them as to his/her requirements. Under NO CIRCUMSTANCES are Stewards allowed to smoke or carry lighted cigarettes into the ring. 4. The Chief Steward should ensure that the trial starts at the advertised time and that the Trials Secretary has given the Gate Stewards catalogues for their classes properly marked with all scratchings and that the judge s sheets are similarly marked. 5. The Chief Steward should ensure that the location chosen for vetting is suitable and that there is someone allocated to do this job. 6. The Chief Steward should introduce each judge to his/her stewards before the commencement of the trial. A) Obedience Trials Stewards should accompany the Judges to their respective rings and ensure that the set up is approved. Ideally, there should be two stewards for the Novice and Open rings and one steward for UD. Stewards should be made aware that they are expected to pay attention to what is going on in the ring and to promptly respond to the Judge s request to enter the ring to stand at the figure eight posts, to collect and return leads and to take the handler s dumbbell into the ring. It is essential that they ensure that they competitors are marshalled so that they enter the ring at the appropriate time and do not keep the judge waiting and that each competitor s number is clearly announced to the judge as they enter the ring.

2 In the Open Ring, particular attention must be paid to the handling of the dumbbell, which should always be held by its end and never in the middle. The height of each dog MUST be conveyed to the judge before each dog enters so that the jumps can be adjusted accordingly. In the UD ring the proper measurements should be made for the placement of all equipment. Sufficient stay pegs should be placed outside each ring, together with a measuring tape for the Open and UD rings and a stopwatch. In UD an additional 5 marker pegs should also be supplied. Also ensure that you have a suitable mat for scent in UD available as well as three covered containers of different food for food refusal. B) Agility Trials There is an absolute minimum requirement of three Stewards for each ring - one scribe, one gate steward and one timer. Prior contact should be made with the judges to ascertain whether they require additional stewards. The same procedurea should be followed as outlined above for Obedience Trials. All Stewards should be informed that they have a duty to report to the Chief Steward any of the following breaches of the rules both in the ring and outside the ring: Any incidents of aggressive dogs, or dog fights. Any incidents of physical punishment by handlers on their dogs. 4. A Committee of Enquiry consisting of not less than three (3) people, with the Chief Steward as Chairman, should be appointed before the trial. The regulations recommend that one member of the committee be a judge. It is of paramount importance that the Chief Steward familiarise him/herself completely with the Regulations covering the conduct of the Committee of Enquiry. Complainants and Defendants must be informed, BEFORE the commencement of any hearing, of their right to call witnesses. Written statements MUST be obtained from all participants in the event that the matter cannot be resolved and is to be referred to the Association. However, it is advisable to obtain statements from all participants as a matter of course so that should either party appeal against the Committee of Enquiry s decision, these statements can be forwarded to the Secretary/Registrar. The decision of the Committee of Enquiry MUST be given in writing to both complainant and defendant at the conclusion of the hearing and both must be informed that they have a right to Appeal within seven days. 5. The Chief Steward must submit a report on the trial on the proper form to the Secretary/Registrar of CAWA within 10 days of the event, in accordance with regulation B25.3 with a copy to the Trials Secretary for theb s files. 2

3 6. As soon as each judging chart is received from the judge, The Chief Steward should ensure that the chart is checked before Trials Certificates are completed and handed to Judges for signing, together with the chart. Any mistakes or discrepancies should be referred immediately to the judge. Under no circumstances should judging charts be altered by anyone but the judge who should also initial the alteration. 7. The Chief Steward should remind members to attend to the cleanliness of the grounds, if necessary. 3

4 CONTENTS TITLE PAGE REGULATION Aggressive Dogs 4 A55 Disciplinary Action Hearings 5 A60 Referral of Disputes 5 A61 Dogs on the Association Grounds 5 A131 Damage through Exhibits 6 B9 Incorrect Entries 6 B20 Conduct of Trials - The Chief Steward 6 B People allowed in the ring 6 B Wearing of identification 6 B Footwear 6 B Protests, Disputes and other Reported Incidents 7 B28 Unsportsmanlike Conduct 8 B30 Chief Steward s Report 8 B25.3 General 8 B2 Check list for Committee of Enquiry 9 Chief Steward Report Form 10 Complainant/Defendant Statement Form 11 Details Form 12 Witness Statement Form 13 4

5 REGULATIONS PERTAINING TO CHIEF STEWARDS FUNCTIONS A55: AGGRESSIVE DOGS (Against a person or another animal) 55.1 Duty to Report. It shall be the duty of any Judge, Steward, Club or Show Office Official officiating at any form of Exhibition, Trial or Test or Training Session or any other witness, to report in writing to the Chief Steward or other person responsible for the organisation of the event, any incident which comes to his/her attention where any exhibit displays any aggressive or savage disposition towards any other animal to such an extent as to constitute a danger to any person or any other exhibit or the efficient conduct of the Show. Such report shall be made within one hour of when the alleged aggressive behaviour took place Judges Report. Where a Judge reports a dog for such behaviour then that dog shall be removed from the judging ring and the Judge will record the fact in his Judging Chart in addition to making a further written report to the Chief Steward after completion of judging Chief Steward s Action On receipt of such report, the Chief Steward will seek written statements from the Exhibitor/Handler and other witnesses before calling a meeting of the appropriate Committee as soon as practicable, but without undue interference with the efficient running of the Show, on the day of the incident The Chief Steward may order a dog to be crated or otherwise secured pending determination of a Committee of Enquiry into a report of aggressive behaviour by that dog Attendance at hearing. The owner and/or handler of the exhibit, the complainant and other witnesses shall be invited to attend the meeting Where the complaint is found to be justified. Should the Committee consider the complaint to be justified, the exhibitor will be informed that the exhibit is suspended pending a hearing by the Protests and Disputes Tribunal. This decision will be confirmed in writing as early as practicable by the Association. 5

6 A60: COMMITTEE OF ENQUIRY A Committee of Enquiry of not less than three (3) shall be appointed by the Club Committee before each Sanctioned Show, Trial or Test The Committee of Enquiry shall consist of the Chief Steward who shall be the Chairman, and two other at least one of whom, wherever possible, shall be a licenced Judge A Judge officiating on the day at the Trial or Test is eligible to be a member of the Committee of Enquiry provided that he/she was not directly involved nor was judging the class in which the alleged incident took place. A61: REFERRAL OF DISPUTES Disputes to be referred to the Investigation Committee or Protests and Disputes Tribunal or Judges Board from a Committee of Enquiry should be in the hands of, or posted before close of mail to, the Association s Secretary/Registrar by the second working day following the trial Where a dispute is not referred to the Investigation Committee, Protests and Disputes Tribunal or Judges Board within the prescribed time Governing Council reserves the right to take further action. A131: DOGS ON THE ASSOCIATION GROUNDS Dogs must be under effective control at all times The only time a dog may be allowed off the lead on the grounds is whilst it is engaged in trials or tests or training for same Affiliates or individuals inviting non-members onto the grounds are responsible for seeing that the rule is complied with Members/owners/handlers who are found to transgress this rule may be disciplined by Council or may be banned from future attendance on the grounds Dogs below the age of three (3) months are not permitted on the Association s grounds Dogs entering the Association s grounds must meet the Association s requirements relating to inoculation and vaccination and exposure to contagious and infectious diseases. B9: DAMAGE THROUGH EXHIBITS Nobody conducting a Sanctioned Show, Trial or Test shall be responsible for any accident or injury that may be caused by or to any exhibit, and it is a condition of entry that each exhibitor shall hold such body harmless and shall indemnify such body against any legal proceedings arising from such accident or injury. 6

7 B20: INCORRECT ENTRIES Dog entered in a class for which it is ineligible. When it is found, before the class has been judged, that a dog has been entered in a class for which it is ineligible, it shall be transferred to the lowest age class for which it is eligible or, in the case of Trials, to its appropriate class A dog, which is exhibited in a class for which it is ineligible, shall be disqualified as having been misrepresented and shall forfeit all awards gained at that Show or Trial It is the owner s responsibility to see that all dogs are entered in their correct class. B23: CONDUCT OF SHOWS 23.2 The Chief Steward: Is to be not less than eighteen (18) year of age, and must be a financial member of the Canine Association of Western Australia Is directly responsible to Governing Council for the proper conduct of the Show, Trial or Test in accordance with the Rules and Regulations of the Association, The Chief Steward shall be responsible to the Show, Trial or Test Committee for the conduct of the Show according to their directions subject to above Ring Control: At the time of judging, no person shall be allowed in the judging ring save the Judge, the properly appointed steward or stewards, the exhibitor or his deputy, with each dog, or other persons authorised by the Chief Steward Wearing of identification. Any form of identification, whether of name, office or position, may not be worn whilst competing in any Sanctioned event Footwear. All exhibitors must wear appropriate footwear when exhibiting their dogs. Thongs, scuffs, metal spiked shoes or bare feet are not considered appropriate. B28: PROTESTS, DISPUTES & OTHER INCIDENTS 28.1 All protests, disputes or other reports must be made in writing and lodged with the Chief Steward at the sanctioned event concerned, accompanied by twenty-five dollars, within ONE HOUR of the incident, except that reports of aggressive dogs lodged in accordance with Regulations A55.1 do not require a deposit of twenty five dollars Protests, disputes or other reports shall be heard as soon as possible after the lodgment thereof without undue interference with the efficient running of the show, on the day of the incident Protests, disputes or other reports in regard to Judge s decisions shall be dealt with in accordance with rule B Evidence from ALL persons directly involved shall be heard by the Committee of Enquiry in the following manner:- 7

8 The plaintiff and the defendant shall BOTH be present during the hearing The written complaint shall be read and witnesses called individually to speak for the plaintiff The defendant responds and calls his witnesses The plaintiff may reply The defendant may sum up his case but must NOT introduce any new evidence Plaintiff and defendant are asked to leave while the committee makes its findings Where a witness is unable to remain at the show or trial for the hearing of protest that witness may submit a written statement as evidence The Committee of Enquiry shall, wherever possible, either uphold or dismiss the protest, dispute or other reported incident When it is upheld the Committee of Enquiry shall refer the matter, with its findings, to the Association Where, for any reason, the evidence required to reach a decision is not available to the Committee of Enquiry then the matter should be referred to the Association for further action if necessary Where the Committee of Enquiry refers the matter to the Association, statements will be taken from ALL persons involved and forwarded to the Association s office in accordance with Regulation A The findings of the Committee of Enquiry shall be in writing, signed by the Chief Steward and a copy handed to each the plaintiff and the defendant The money lodged with the protest, dispute or other report shall be disposed of at the discretion of the Committee of Enquiry if the protest is dismissed, but shall be returned if the protest is upheld Right of Appeal. Should the decision of the Committee of Enquiry be regarded by the person who lodged the protest as unsatisfactory, he shall have the right of appeal to the Association within seven days Not withstanding any non observance of this Regulation in whole or in part, any incident which is an evident breach of the Association s Regulations and is notified in writing to the Association s Executive Officer within seven (7) days of the event including the reason why it was not reported on the day of the incident may be referred to the Protests and Disputes Tribunal for investigation and action as it considers appropriate. B30: UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT If a person causes annoyance by loud comments regarding a judge s decision or if a person is, in the opinion of the Show Committee guilty of unsportsmanlike conduct while within the precincts of the Show, he may be cautioned by a member or the Show Committee of some other official of the Show and, if thereafter, he further offends, he may be removed from the Showground and may be charged with misconduct under Regulation A44. 8

9 B25: RETURNS AFTER SANCTIONED SHOWS TRIALS OR TESTS. B25.3 Chief Steward s Report The Chief Steward of each and every Sanctioned Show, Trial or Test shall write a Report on the conduct of the event which shall include, where applicable: Commencement and finishing times Protest as prescribed in Regulation A71.1 (including a copy of the written findings of the Committee of Enquiry which has also been handed to the person submitting the Protest and the Defendant) Accidents Misdemeanours Aggressive Dogs Any other incidents worthy of comment The Chief Steward shall forward his Report direct to the Administrator of the Association as soon as possible, but no later than ten (10) days after the conclusion of the event except that any matter dealt with by the Committee of Enquiry and referred to the Association shall be subject to Regulation A71.1 and should be in the hands of, or posted before the close of mail to the Association s Administrator by the second working day following the show The Chief Steward shall forward a copy of his report to the Secretary of the Club conducting the event no later than ten (10) days after the conclusion of the event B2: GENERAL Any matter affecting the conduct and management of a Sanctioned Show, Trial or Test, and not specifically provided for under these Regulations, shall be decided by the Council, whose ruling shall be final and binding. NOTE: Sanctioned Show, Trial or Test means any Championship Show, Open Show, Parade, Retrieving Trial, Obedience Trial, Agility Trial, Endurance or Tracking Test. It does NOT include Members Competition for which exhibitors must be members of the Club conducting the competition but need not necessarily be a member of the CAWA.. 9