The National Flying Club
held it's December committee meeting and A.G.M. at the Hilton Hotel, Blackpool on the 7th
December, 2002, and the attendance was first class, with fanciers travelling from all over
the country. Bill Harris, the N.F.C. president, chaired the two meetings, which lasted for
nearly five hours and the burning issue on the agenda was the 2003 race programme.
As a committee member my
self, I'm happy to report that all the recent problems about the Grand National race point
were sorted out and common sense prevailed. Nantes and Saintes won the day and will be the
first two races next season. All the race point propositions for the Grand National and
Young Bird National were defeated and the members will be asked to revote on these two
issues in the new year.
The membership will get
a straight one vote on each race and the race dates will be sorted out at the February
committee meeting at Kidderminster.
The annual subscription
stays the same at £12 and the club rings will still cost £3 for ten.
There were several rule
changes including:
Racing Rule 17 - All competitors in all races must have a loft location with distance
measurement of 480 miles or over at Pau, code 1621.
Racing Rule 23 - All claims and objections with reference to any race result of the N.F.C.
must be lodged in writing to the secretary within seven days of the publication of that
race result.
Racing Rule 57 - The minimum floor space when birds are convoyed be : For 2 nights to be
60 sq. in. per bird, over 2 nights to be 75 sq. in. per bird.
Racing Rule 63 - The order of races to be decided by the membership in it's annual ballot.
New Racing Rule - All international races to be self supporting.
New Racing Rule - That for all races the birds are transported in baskets or crates with
facilities for feeding and watering on 2 sides for the year 2004.
Clock Rule 13 - In the event of an extended hold over all wind up clocks must be reset
after 5 days. Arrangements to be made with i/c clock stations. Quartz clocks need not be
reset.
Bill Harris was
re-elected for his second term in office as the N.F.C. president and on re- electing our
very hard working secretaries, Sid and Karen Barkel, we gave them a vote of thanks for
their sterling work in the 2002 season. In his annual summing up the club's Treasurer,
Stan Dangerfield, said that the club's transport costs are too high and we should be
looking to purchase our own transporter.
On a personal note. Les Parkinson has resigned this time as N.F.C. press officer and I was
offered the post, which I have taken up. Les did a brilliant job for the national and will
be a hard act to follow, but I intend to keep up his high level of excellence, as the
N.F.C. is our premier club and the job demands no less than excellence. I have called our
new N.F.C. articles 'NATIONAL FORUM', as that is just what I want it to be, a forum.
Looking at my trusted dictionary, the word Forum means, 'medium for the open discussion of
subjects of public interest', so not only will it bring you regular news of the N.F.C.,
but will the members 'soapbox' to air their views on the club.
I can be contacted on
Tele: 01372-463480 or Email: keefmott@hotmail.com If you want to write a letter my address
is: 38, Foxwarren, Claygate, Esher, Surrey, KT10 0JZ. All the very best for the 2003
national season!
