CONSTITUTIONAL RULES

1. This body founded in 1906 shall be called, “The Arthington, Bramhope, Pool and District Horticultural and Agricultural Society” (hereinafter called ‘The Society’) and shall consist of an unlimited number of Members paying an annual subscription of not less than £5.
2. The objects for the Society shall be:
(a) To encourage by means of an annual exhibition known as The Arthington, Bramhope, Pool and District Horticultural and Agricultural Show the improvement and development of Horticulture and Agriculture in general.
(b) to make a grant, donation or subscription to any Agricultural Charities the Committee may determine.
(c) To support by means of grant, loan, donation or subscription any approved charitable Organisation engaged in the improvement of Horticulture and Agriculture.
3. The Society shall be under the management of a President, Treasurer, Secretary and Committee to be elected at the Annual General Meeting. The number of persons in the Committee shall be such number as the Annual General meeting shall from time to time determine.
4. The Committee shall have the power to fill any vacancy arising through the death or resignation of a Member and shall also have the power in its discretion to add to its number.
5. The quorum of the Committee shall be five and the Committee shall meet at least once each year and also on the requisition of not less than ten of its Members.
6. There shall be a Chairman of the Committee who shall be elected at the first Meeting of the Committee in each year. When present at Committee Meetings the President shall be entitled to occupy the chair.
7. The Annual General Meeting shall be held at least once in each year at such time and place as the Committee may determine. The Annual General Meeting shall be held to receive the accounts and balance sheet for the past year, to elect officers for the ensuing year, to alter, amend or add to the Rules of the Society when deemed necessary (in such cases at least twenty-one days notice must be given in writing to the Secretary) and to deal with any matter on the agenda or admitted by the President or in his absence the Chairman of the Meeting. Notification of time and place of the Annual General Meeting shall be given to the Members at least fourteen days before the appointed date.
8. The Society shall be composed of three classes of members, namely an unlimited number of ordinary Members, Vice-President and Patrons. The minimum annual subscription to be agreed annually at the Annual General Meeting.
9. Vice Presidents shall consist of those Members who shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting as Vice-Presidents.
10. The Management of the Society shall be in the hands of the Committee and the Committee shall have the authority to make such standing orders for the conduct of its business and such regulations and bye-laws for the encouragement and control of the Society’s activities as it may think fit. The Committee shall decide upon the annual programme of activities of the Society subject to any recommendations from a General Meeting of Members. The Committee shall have sole authority as to the interpretation of the Rules and Regulations of any Show organised by the Society. The Committee shall have control of the finance of the Society and all payments from the Society’s monies shall be approved by the Committee and Secretary. The Committee shall be responsible for the conduct of the Annual Show and shall be responsible for co-ordinating the activities of the various Section Committees.
11. The Committee shall appoint from its members Section Committees for the promotion of the Show and such Section Committees may co-opt other persons. Section Committees shall appoint a Chairman and Vice-Chairman. Section Committee shall be responsible to the Committee for the conduct of their particular section of the Show.
12. The President of the Society, the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Committee and the Hon. Treasurer shall be ex-officio Members of every Section Committee.
13. The Committee may from time to time appoint Trustees in whom shall be vested such part or parts of the property and investments of the Society as the Committee shall direct. The Trustees shall deal with property and investments so vested in them as directly by resolution of the Committee, and in so doing shall be indemnified against any claim, question, risk or expense out of the assets of the Society. The Trustees may at the discretion of the Committee have powers to raise monies upon Mortgage or loan on the whole or part of the property of the Society. The Trustees shall hold office until death or resignation unless removed from the Office by a resolution of the Committee.
14. On receipt of a requisition signed by Twenty Members of the Society the Secretary shall call a special General meeting not less than fourteen days after receiving such requisition stating its business for which the meeting is called. No further business shall be discussed or transacted at that meeting.
15. The Society may upon the recommendation of the Committee be dissolved by resolution of a special General Meeting called for that purpose. Such resolutions shall not be affected unless supported by three-fourths of those present and voting at such General Meeting. If the resolution for dissolution be duly passed the Committee shall forthwith appoint an Executive Committee to liquidate the affairs of the Society and if there be any surplus of assets of realisation those shall be disposed of by passing the same to some other charitable institution or organisation having objects similar to those of the Society.
16. No alternative, amendment or addition of or any of these Rules shall be made except by the Members of the Society assembled in Annual General Meeting or at a special General meeting called for that purpose, and in addition no alteration to Rules 2 and 15 shall be made without first having obtained the consent of the Charity Commissioners.

SHOW REGULATIONS

1. Entries in all Classes accompanied by the Entry Fees, must be made on the Society’s Entry Form, and sent to the receivers of Entries not later than 7pm, ten days prior to the Show. The Committee reserve the right to refuse any entry without giving any reason.
2. An Exhibitor’s Ticket will be given to all Exhibitors whose Entry Fees are not less than £3. Exhibits (except dogs) must be benched by 10.15am and no exhibitors will be allowed to remove any Exhibit before five o’clock without permission from the Committee.
3. All Exhibits in the Horticultural, Farm Produce and Arts and Crafts Sections, shall be the property of the Exhibitor, and except where otherwise stated or understood, must have been in his possession at least two months prior to the Show. Anyone infringing this rule shall forfeit all prizes awarded to him, and may be excluded from competing at the Society’s Show for as long a period as the Committee may determine. Gardeners showing their Employer’s Produce or Exhibits, must enter and show them in the Employer’s name.
4. Exhibitors must provide their own dishes (Except in specified Classes), trays, stands etc., which must be free from all marks except the Society’s Tickets.
5. No exhibitor will be allowed in the tent during the time the Judges are awarding the prizes.
6. THE PRIZE MONEY WILL BE PAID ON THE DAY. (MONEY NOT COLLECTED ON SHOWDAY TO BE APPLIED FOR IN WRITING TO THE SECRETARY WITHIN 14 DAYS OTHERWISE IT WILL BE DEEMED A DONATION TO THE SOCIETY.
7. If, in the opinion of the Judges, the exhibits in any class do not merit a prize, then the Judges shall have the power to with-hold the prize or prizes, their decision to be final.
8. The Committee reserves the right to inspect farm stock, gardens and productions of any Exhibitor prior to or after the Show.
9. 2005 Subscriptions: for Patrons - not less than £10 - 3 Admission Tickets + Members Badge.
10. All stock must be of the bona-fide property of the Exhibitor on the date of the Show.
11. Any Exhibitor infringing these Rules shall forfeit all Prize Money awarded to him.
12. All objections relating to Classes in the Schedule must be made in writing to the Secretary before 7.00pm on the Saturday following the date of the Show. Each objection must be accompanied by £5.00 in the Horticultural, Farm Produce and Arts and Crafts Section, and £5.00 in the Agricultural Section. If the objection is upheld the deposit shall be refunded. all cases of dispute shall be investigated by the Secretarial Committee concerned, who shall report to the committee, whose decision shall be final.
13. a) All owners and riders (and where applicable their parents or guardians) of horse/ponies competing in any Jumping Competitions in this Show shall be deemed to be subject to the Rules and Regulations of the British Show Jumping Association. (Obtainable from the Secretary General B.S.J.A. National Equestrian Centre, Stonleigh, Kenilworth CV8 2LR) as though each of them were Members of the Association. Rule 5, provides that where a Member has been guilty of unseemly conduct the Authorities of the Association shall have power to impose a fine on such Member, not exceeding £300, and to suspend the horse/pony concerned from taking part in a Jumping Competition for such a period as they think fit.
b) All owners and riders (and where applicable their parents or guardians) of ponies competing in any riding classes in this Show shall be deemed to be subject to the Rules and Regulations of the British Show Pony Society, obtainable from the British Show Pony Society, 124 Green End Road, Sawtry, Huntingdon, Cambs.PE28 5XS
14. Any Exhibitor whose general conduct imposes on the Society or intentionally insults any committee Members, conducting the business of the Society, shall be referred to the President and/or Chairman. The Committee reserves the right to remove any objectionable or undesirable person from the Showground.
15. Any errors or omissions in the Schedule will be on the notice board outside the Secretary’s Tent on Show Day, if deemed necessary.
16. The Officials, Committee and Members of Arthington, Bramhope, Pool and District Horticultural and Agricultural Society accept no liability in respect of any damage or injury to any persons, property, animals, goods, articles or things whatsoever brought into, exhibited or used or left on the Showfield by any entrant, competitor or any other person whatsoever.
17. All exhibitors should ensure they have adequate Public Liability Insurance.