FUNDAMENTAL RULES

NOTE - Entrants are requested to read carefully the following rules, under which conditions, entries only are accepted.

1. The council reserves the right to amalgamate or cancel any class in which sufficient entries are not received. The judges shall not award a prize unless there is sufficient merit, and no second prize will be awarded unless there are three or more entries, the property of different owners.

2. Entry forms to be accurately filled up in every particular must be lodged together with the full amount of entry fees on or before the 25th of July. Any willful misinformation on an entry form will lead to disqualification. Phone entries are not accepted.

3. Printed numbers will be available for collection at the secretary’s tent on the morning of the show. All exhibits must be on the grounds at 09:30 a.m. only two persons will be admitted per animal.

4. Any objection to an award of the judges must be lodged with the secretaries within 1 hour of the judges giving their decision, and in jumping competitions, within fifteen minutes after the award has been made. Each objection to be made in writing, fully stating the reason, and must be accompanied by a fee of €50, which may be returned if the objection is sustained.

5. No person shall enter the space enclosed for the adjudication or hold any communication with the judges or stewards, and no person shall act as judge or steward in a ring who is an exhibitor in any one of the classes under adjudication in that ring.

6. Entrants are to understand that, although reasonable precautions will be taken to ensure the safety and welfare of the exhibits, the council will not be responsible for accidents or loss of any kind in connection with the show. All exhibits are entered entirely at owners’ risk.

7. The council delegates full powers to the stewards to enforce all the foregoing regulations.

10. The committee reserves the right to decline any entry and return the fee, without being liable to any claim for compensation.

12. To determine the highest number of points in any section, the following scale shall be used: first prize counts 4 points; second prize 3 points; third prize 2 points; and reserve 1 point.

13. The committee reserves the right to contact exhibitors. Contact the office directly to opt out of this agreement.

14. Cup winners shall, at the time of receiving the trophies, sign a receipt for the same and an undertaking to return those not won outright, in a clean condition, to the society, at least two weeks before the date at which they are offered for further competition.

16. Prize money will be paid to all winning competitors on show day. Exhibitors of animals will receive their winnings at the same time that they receive their rosette.

17. The show committee will not in any way be responsible should any accident occur to any person attending the show or for any loss or damage to cars, vehicles or their content.

DISCIPLINE:

The Irish Shows Association expects and will insist upon appropriate behavior from all exhibitors and others participating in any of the activities at our Member Shows and will not tolerate inappropriate behavior.

Inappropriate behavior shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

• Profanity, coarse or vulgar language or gestures towards judges, exhibitors or other Show officials
• Harassment or bullying, including using words or actions that threaten, intimidate or undermine judges or other officials before, during or following Member Show activities
• Failure to follow rules and/or obey instructions
• Abusing any animal

Disciplinary Procedures:

Complaints of misconduct against an exhibitor or other participant at a Member Show shall be investigated and adjudicated upon by a subcommittee appointed by the Irish Shows Association. The said subcommittee shall consist of three members of the board of the Irish Shows Association and shall be known as the Disciplinary Committee. The disciplinary Committee shall seek to ensure the existence of accordance with natural and constitutional justice. For further details refer to www.irishshows.org

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO ANIMAL OWNERS INVOLVED IN SHOWING ANIMALS:

The Irish Shows Association would advise ALL animal owners to have Insurance cover for their animals; this should include cover whilst showing animals at shows. We understand that it costs very little or nothing depending on whom you have insurance cover with.

This advice is to protect yourself in the event of your animal causing injury or damage to a person or person’s property, and if it’s established that your animal was out of control at that time, you may be held responsible, or partly responsible for the injury or damage.