Rules & Regulations

GENERAL RULES amended 2017 12 12

1. Rules & Regulations

   1. These General Rules take precedence over all General Regulations and Supplementary Regulations.

   2. The General Regulations apply to all sections of the Show.

   3. The Supplementary Regulations apply only to the section of the Show to which they specifically relate.

   4. Should there be an inconsistency between the General Regulations and Supplementary Regulations, the Supplementary Regulations prevail for the relevant section only.

2. All persons who enter the Showground:

   1. Do so at their own risk.

   2. Shall comply with all relevant Federal, State & Local laws, regulations and orders, and the Bathurst Agricultural Horticultural and Pastoral Association (hereinafter called the Association) Rules and Regulations, Traffic & Pedestrian Management Plan and Health & Safety Policy.

   3. Are advised that the roadways within Showground become public roads for the duration of the annual Royal Bathurst Show.

3. The Association may at any time make changes to these rules, regulations, the program, and/or the names of Judges or Stewards set out in a schedule, catalogue or similar document.

4. The Association and staff members and officials of the Association shall not be held responsible or be liable for any error, misstatement or misdescription appearing in any schedule, catalogue, entry form, advertisement, notification, post or similar document.

5. The exhibition will take place on the Bathurst Showground or wherever the Show Council may appoint. The Show Council reserves the right at any time to postpone the exhibition or any event thereof in consequence of the inclemency of the weather or for any other sufficient cause to date or dates deemed suitable by the Show Council and no entrance fees shall be returnable in the event of such postponement. The reasonableness of the cause or causes of postponement shall be decided by the Show Council and its judgment shall be conclusive and not open to question by an exhibitor or other person affected by the postponement.

6. The Show Council may abandon the exhibition or any event thereof through wet weather or, for any other reason which may make such a course advisable in its opinion. Should the exhibition or any event be abandoned or cancelled, exhibitors shall be entitled to a return of the entrance fee paid in such event or events as may be cancelled, but no cause or action, liability or obligation shall be maintainable or be incurred by the Show Council or by the Association by reason of such abandonment or cancellation.

GENERAL REGULATIONS

1. EXHIBITS AND EXHIBITORS

   1. Exhibitors, when entering exhibits, must furnish the Secretary with a description of the exhibit entered and the number of the class they wish to compete in on the form specified.

   2. Exhibits must not be removed without the permission of the Stewards.

   3. Exhibitors of livestock must have an attendant to parade the exhibit for judging at the hour notified.

   4. A general parade (Grand Parade) may be held on the second day, in which all leadable, in harness and ridden livestock exhibited at the Show must take part.

   5. Any exhibitor of livestock shall not be permitted to use any pen or stall other than those allotted to them by the Stewards.

   6. The erection of electric fences is not permitted in the livestock areas on the grounds.

   7. Any exhibitor of livestock must furnish all required statutory declarations to the Secretary.

   8. All Pavilions are closed to the public and to exhibitors until the first morning of the Show unless delivering exhibits.

   9. All exhibitors are to comply with the Association’s Rules for vehicle movement and parking restrictions on the Showground.

   10. An Exhibitor’s or Competitor’s participation in any Exhibition, or Competition, entertainment or activity is at their own risk.

   11. Entry fees shall be at rates specified in the Show Schedule.

   12. Misconduct by an exhibitor or their agent, whether by a breach of these rules or regulations, aggressive, intimidating, disruptive or otherwise offensive behavior, attempting to improperly approach or influence a Judge, Steward or official, or who makes a false report or gives misleading information or suppresses necessary information respecting any exhibit, shall be held to have forfeited any prize gained by this means. The exhibit and exhibitor, together with their agent (if any) may be disqualified and the matter reported to the Western Group of Show Societies Inc. & the Agricultural Societies Council of NSW.

   13. The Showground will be open for admission of exhibits at the time shown in the relevant Schedule. Livestock may be removed between the times notified in the relevant schedules if required to so do and must be returned to their respective position by the time nominated therein. Failing to do so will cause all prizes awarded to them to be forfeited. Any exhibitor failing to comply with this regulation may be debarred from entering in the following years.

   14. The Association will not be responsible for any accident caused through or by an exhibitor and will not under any circumstances hold itself responsible for any loss or misdelivery of livestock or exhibit of any kind, or for any damage done thereto.

   15. All exhibits must be the bona fide property of the exhibitor. Nothing to indicate ownership of any exhibit will be permitted (the usual brands on livestock excepted). Any person objecting to an exhibit must enter a protest in writing fully setting out the grounds of such an objection in accordance with Regulation 20 (below).

   16. Should there be any reason to suspect that any exhibit is either diseased or dangerous;

       1. the exhibitor must withdraw the exhibit and not attend the show or if already in attendance, isolate the exhibit and notify the Association immediately of the situation,

       2. the Show Council reserves the right of refusing admittance to or removing the same from the ground at the expense of the exhibitor.

   17. The Show Council may refuse or cancel any entry.

   18. No exhibit shall be led, ridden or driven (except in the horse or livestock exhibitor’s reserves) unless competing in the Show or otherwise approved by the Show Council or Show Secretary.

   19. No persons except those actually in charge of exhibits will be permitted to remain in the judging area for any reason whatsoever during the adjudication.

   20. The procedure for protests is as follows:

       1. An exhibitor who desires to enter a protest concerning any decision on the part of a Judge or any decision or act or omission on the part of the Association or of any Official of the Association, is required to lodge a Protest Form (available from the Show Office) by 10.00am of the next day following the day on which such incident occurred.

       2. Each protest must be accompanied by a fee of $150.00 and this amount shall be forfeited to the Association if the protest is not upheld.

       3. The protest shall be determined by the Protest Committee appointed by the Executive Committee. Their decision shall be final and binding. No reasoning for the determination shall be required to be given.

2. STEWARDS

   1. Stewards must be in attendance at the Showground at the hour appointed to receive exhibits.

   2. Stewards are responsible for the proper classification of exhibits and all exhibits must be ready for judging.

   3. Stewards will obtain the award books from the Secretary and direct the Judges to the exhibits they are appointed to judge.

   4. Stewards shall remove exhibitors and other persons from the vicinity of the Judge whilst judging.

   5. Stewards shall attend on the Judges to afford any information required, but will not do or say anything to exhibitor regarding the adjudication or repeat the remarks the Judge may make without their specific consent and that of the Chief Steward of the Section or the Secretary.

   6. Stewards will obtain prize cards from the Secretary and affix same to exhibit, after filling in the names of the successful exhibitors and other particulars.

   7. The Chief Stewards of Bathurst A H & P Assoc. will not be permitted to show their exhibits in their relative section or any other section where they have a direct contact with the Judge.

   8. Stewards who become aware of an exhibit suffering from an infectious or contagious disease shall report the matter immediately to the Secretary, who is authorized to order that the exhibit be quarantined and/or removed from the Showground.

3. JUDGES AND JUDGING

   1. Judges are requested to attend the relevant Section Chief/Head Steward in the section adjudication area or another place on the Showground by notification at the hour appointed, and introduce themselves to the Stewards of the section.

   2. Judges will receive instruction from the Stewards of the section.

   3. Judges, as they arrive at their decisions, will announce the results to the Stewards, who will record them in the award book or equivalent.

   4. Judges shall disqualify any exhibits which, in their opinion, do not comply with the regulations and shall enter the reason in the award book or equivalent.

   5. The Judges may recommend for certificates, or commend as they see fit, any exhibits of special merit not included in the schedule of prizes, and will not award prizes of any class in which the exhibits are not considered in their opinion, to possess sufficient merit.

   6. Judges will check an award book on completion of judging, and sign their names on the last award page.

   7. All Pavilions are closed to the public until the first day of the Show.

4. AWARDS AND PRIZES

   1. Awards & Prizes will be awarded as published in the Schedule and in sequence. The granting of equal multiple place awards in a single class is not permitted.

   2. In addition to First and Second prizes, Highly Commended awards may be granted to exhibits which are considered worthy.

   3. In the case of Horses and all Livestock, second place Prize Money will only be offered in classes where there are six or more entries.

   4. All prize money will be paid via Electronic Funds Transfer after the conclusion of the Show upon verification of results and finalization of any protests and/or drug test results. Exhibitors must supply a valid BSB and bank account number at the time of submitting entries. Should an exhibitor not submit valid banking details all prize monies will be forfeited.

   5. No decoration, ribbon or award cards, except such as are provided by the Show Council in that year, shall be placed on an exhibit, or affixed thereto, at the exhibition being held.

   6. The following colours shall distinguish the prize award fixed to all exhibits: blue for first, red for second,  white for third, green for fourth, yellow for fifth, and brown for sixth where awarded. Champion, Grand Champion & Supreme Champion (and where applicable Reserve Champion) ribbons will also be awarded. Ribbons only will be affixed in classes where indicated.

   7. All special prizes presented to the Association must be for open competition; i.e. they must not be given for the progeny of any particular animal etc. and shall be governed by the Rules and Regulations of the Association.

   8. Perpetual Trophies must remain on the Showground in the custody of the Association. Where awarded, replicas or certificates will be presented to the person to whom they are awarded.

5. MISCELLANEOUS/GENERAL REGULATIONS

   1. All Pavilions are closed to the public, exhibitors, and competitors until the first day of the Show.

   2. On each day of the Show the public will be admitted at the published time. For any person leaving the ground, a Pass-Out stamp, if required, will be issued. If reissue of a ticket is required for any reason a Statutory Declaration will be requested to be made.

   3. Any member alleged to have committed misconduct which may bring the Association into discredit shall be dealt with according to the Constitution of the Association.

   4. Sale of Exhibits

      1. The sale of any exhibits whilst located on the Showground over the advertised dates of the Show shall only proceed with written approval of the Association’s Secretary.  A request to conduct a sale is to be lodged with the Secretary 7 days prior to the first advertised day of the Show for that year.

      2. The supervision and control of a sale shall be in the hands of the Committee of Sales, appointed by the Show Council.

   5. The sale of any exhibits shall be as defined in the conditions of the section. A commission of at least five per cent (5%) shall be paid by each vendor upon the gross proceeds on all sales affected by him/her of exhibits, whether by auction or private treaty and any particulars of such sales, together with a remittance of the amount of the commission, shall be handed to the Secretary by 5.30pm on the last day of the Show.

   6. A maximum of one (1) award of excellence may be authorised by Show Council each year to an outstanding exhibitor from any section of the Show.

   7. The annual subscription of members shall be determined by the Show Council no sooner than six (6) calendar months before the first day of the forthcoming membership year (January to December). Members shall have the right of membership until the 31st December each year. New members, on payment of one year’s subscription, have rights of membership for year including the next Annual Show at the discretion of the Executive Committee.

   8. The following are the privileges of membership:

      1. Admission to the Showground to the Annual Show on production of the appropriate Members Ticket.

      2. Concession on entry fees for exhibits where provided for in the show schedule.

      3. The right to attend all general meetings of members of the Association and to speak and vote on any subject on the agenda for that meeting.

      4. The right to attend any Show Council Meeting and with the permission of the Chairman, speak on any subject, but shall not be entitled to vote at such Show Council Meeting.

      5. With the exception of Junior Members, the right to vote at all the general meetings of the Association.

      6. To be eligible to vote at the Association’s Annual General Meeting or Special Meetings, a Member must be a Financial Member of the Association for at least three (3) months prior to that meeting.

6. TERMS AND CHARGES FOR ADMISSION TO SHOW

   1. MEMBERS

      1. Full Members on payment of $84.00 (incl. GST) shall be issued one Full ticket of membership, not transferable, and two Guests of Member tickets.  Single Members, on payment of $44.00 (incl. GST) shall be issued with one ticket of Membership, not transferable, and Junior Membership (under the age of 16 years) on payment of $22.00 (incl. GST) shall be issued with one ticket of Membership, not transferable. Holders of current Show membership tickets and Guest tickets will be admitted to the ground on surrender of the appropriate ticket for the day in question.

   2. NON-MEMBERS

      1. Refer to the current Admission Packages.