Membership is open to all home and abroad
About the Club
The West of England Labrador Retriever Club was founded in 1966 primarily to serve the five counties of the West Country :- Gloucestershire, Somerset, Cornwall, Devon and Dorset. Members are very welcome from all parts of the UK and abroad.
What We Do
The club holds two Open Shows a year and one Championship show where both members and non-members are welcome to enter. Open shows are held in Woolavington near Bridgwater in Somerset and the Championship Show is in Weston Super Mare in North Somerset. An eye testing clinic is held at the Championship show in November where KC/ BVA eye test certificates are issued.
One Field Trial - an Open stake is held annually, the ground is in the West Country usually in Devon
Breed Appreciation Days and Judging seminars are run every few years as part of the RKC Judges Education Program
Membership
Want to Join ?
Membership Benefits - Reduced entry fees for shows, preference in the draw for Trials
Download a membership form complete it and return to the Membership Secretary
Mrs Jackie Edgar.
All membership applications are put forward for approval at the next committee meeting of the club.
Fees - £10 Single, £15 Joint, £2 Junior all subject to £2 Joining Fee
Annual membership due 1st January.
Who We Are
Officers & Committee
Patron: Mrs Marlene Taylor
President : Mrs Elizabeth Pascoe
Chairman: Mrs Fiona Braddon
Hon Secretary: Mrs Lucy Kent
Hon Field Trial Secretary: Sarah Lowman
Hon Treasurer: Mr R Gloyn
Membership Secretary : Mrs J. Edgar
Hon Life Members: Mrs J Upward, Mrs J Chapman, Mrs F E M Braddon, Mrs T Salaman, Mr & Mrs M Pugh, Mr G P Fox, Mr G Hatfield, Mr & Mrs C Mills, Mrs M Taylor, Mrs E M Pascoe
General Show Committee: Mrs M Hatch, Mrs A Hoban, Mrs I Evans, Miss J Moody, Mrs J Mills, Miss R Mills, Mr N Small, Mr R Swift, Mrs L Tasker
Show Manager: Mr N Small
Working Committee: Margaret Allen
Rules
1. Name and Objects
The Club shall be called The West of England Labrador Retriever Club, and its objective shall be its objective shall be to promote the proper and responsible breeding of Labrador Retrievers, to hold or support Shows, Field Trials or Tests for Labrador Retrievers, with the exception of Open Trials where Any Variety Retrievers may be permitted, and to encourage the closest understanding between their promoters and breeders.
2. Officers and Committee
The Club shall consist of Patron, President, Vice Presidents, Hon. Life Members, Chairman, Vice Chairman, Hon. Secretary, Hon. Field Trials Secretary, Hon. Treasurer, Hon. Working Test Secretary, Hon. Membership Secretary, a Committee of 15, and an unlimited number of members.
3. Election of Officers
(a) The Patron, President, Vice Presidents, and Hon. Life Members shall be proposed by the Club Committee from amongst those members deemed to have distinguished themselves by meritorious service to the Club. The positions of Patron, President and Vice President shall be for a period of three years from election, but each shall be eligible for re-election if properly nominated by the Committee.
(b) The Chairman, Vice Chairman, Hon. Secretary, Hon. Field Trials Secretary, Hon. Treasurer, Hon Working Test Secretary and Hon. Membership Secretary shall retire at each AGM but shall be eligible for re-election if properly nominated (see also 4(a) and (b) below).
4. Election of Committee
(a) One third of the members of the Committee shall retire each year, but shall be eligible for re-election. All nominations for such posts shall be in writing, proposed and seconded, and with the written consent of the nominee, and be in the hands of the Hon. Secretary at least SEVEN days before the meeting.
(b) The election of officers and members of the Committee shall be by ballot; ballot papers shall not be marked in any way other than voting and preferably shall be supervised and counted by non-members of the Club.
5. Election of members
Candidates for membership of the Club shall be proposed by one member and seconded by another. Members should give serious consideration as to the suitability of new applicants for membership when asked to be either the proposer or seconder. Candidates will be elected by the Committee by secret ballot at one of their meetings. Two negatives shall exclude.
6. Voting rights
(a) Each member shall be entitled to one vote immediately upon acceptance of membership.
(b) Postal and Proxy votes shall not be allowed.
(c) Voting at all meetings shall be by show of hands, unless a majority of members attending the meeting decides otherwise.
(d) In the case of Joint Membership, each member of the partnership shall have one vote.
(e) Junior membership shall be available for those BELOW the age of 16 years, but such members shall not be entitled to vote.
(f) The Patron, President, Vice President and Hon Life Members shall each be entitled to one vote
7. Management of the Club
(a) The management of the Club shall be in the hands of a Committee consisting of 15 members (see 4 above as to election).
The Committee will consist of a General/Show Committee of 9 members and a Field Trial Committee of 6 members.
The President, Chairman, Vice Chairman, Hon. Secretary, Hon. Field Trial Secretary, Hon. Treasurer and Hon Working Test Secretary shall be ex officio members of all committees.
The Field Trial Committee shall be responsible for matters relating or incidental to Field Trials and Working Tests.
The General Committee shall be responsible for all Shows and all other matters or activities affecting the Club.
(b) At least 7 days notice shall be given of each meeting together with the main items to be transacted. The Chairman, if present, shall preside at every meeting and have a casting vote if necessary. In his absence, the Vice Chairman shall take his place. In the absence of both, the members present shall elect a Chairman who shall have a casting vote in the event of a tie.
(c) Meetings of the Committee shall be held as often as may be deemed necessary but at least every six months for the transaction of business and five shall form a quorum.
(d) No member shall attend Committee meetings, other than those who have been properly elected to the Committee, unless specifically invited to attend by the Committee. The President, although entitled to attend all committee meetings, shall have no voting rights on the committee.
(e) The Committee may form sub-committees to deal with specific activities of the Club and these sub-committees shall comprise an organiser, together with three other members of the main Committee, with power to co-opt up to three other Club members.
(f) If a member of the Committee fails to attend three meetings in succession, of the Committee (General or Field Trial) to which he/she was elected without a satisfactory reason, he/she shall cease to be a member of the Committee.
(g) The committee shall have power to elect a member to fill any casual vacancy that may occur in the number of the Committee, or among the officers, during the year for the unexpired term of the member creating the vacancy, subject to the confirmation of the next AGM.
(h) Unless proposed by the Committee, no individual who has been a member of the Club for less than 12 months may be elected to the committee.
(i) Officers and Committee members shall have no personal liability for debts of the Club save and insofar as those debts are beyond the power of an Officer or Committee member to incur, and the question of whether any debt is beyond their power shall be within the absolute discretion of the committee.
8. Financial Year and Annual General Meeting
The financial year of the Club shall be from 1 January to 31 December. The Annual General Meeting shall be held, at the discretion of the Committee, for which purpose the Hon. Secretary shall give to all members at least 14 clear days notice of its date, time and place, by means of personal written notice including by email, or by advertisements in "Our Dogs". Copies of the Agenda and Accounts shall be available at the AGM.
The business of the Meeting shall be to receive the report of the Committee, the Accounts, the election of officers and Committee, and to discuss any proposals duly placed on the Agenda, of which prior notice has been given to the Hon. Secretary at least seven days before the AGM. No business shall be transacted at the AGM other than that which appears on the Agenda, with the exception of routine matters, or those which, in the opinion of the Chairman of the meeting, are urgent.
9. Special General Meeting
A Special General Meeting shall be summoned by the Hon. Secretary if twelve members send a signed requisition stating the subject to be discussed; no business other than the matter on the Agenda can be discussed at a Special General Meeting. Such a meeting may be called also by the Committee of the Club. Fourteen clear days notice shall be given to all paid up members in writing.
10. Subscriptions
(a) The Annual Subscription shall be determined at the AGM and be due for payment to the Hon. Treasureror Hon. Membership Secretary on 1 January each year. New members joining during the year shall pay the full subscription. No member whose subscription is unpaid shall be entitled to any of the privileges of membership, and if a member shall fail to pay the Annual Subscription by 25 March, the Committee shall have the power to erase his/her name from the list of members.
(b) Members will not be entitled to a nomination in Field Trials or Working Tests unless subscription is fully paid before the closing date of entries.
New members must apply for membership and application be approved by the committee as per Rule 5 by 31st March to be eligible for preference in the draw for Field Trials in that year.
(c) Joint subscriptions shall be available for husband and wife or joint partnership in dog, but in Field Trials and Working Tests only one nomination in any Trial or Test shall be granted to a joint subscription.
(d) Any change in the rate of subscription shall not be effective until 1 January next following the AGM.
11. Alteration and Approval of Rules
The Rules of the Club shall not be altered except at a General Meeting, notice of which shall include details of the proposal to alter the rules. Any such alterations to the rules shall not be brought into force until the Kennel Club has been advised and given its approval of the alteration.
12. Club Property
(a) The property of the Club shall be vested in the Committee, and in the event of the Club ceasing to exist, a General Meeting shall be called to decide the disposal of any assets.
(b) It shall be understood that the donations of Cups/Trophies to the Club shall become the outright property of the Club, unless the donor signifies in writing to the contrary at the time of making a donation, and the Committee to be given discretion over the allocation of Cups/Trophies and their disposal.
13. Expulsion of Members
Any member who shall be suspended under Kennel Club Rule A42j(4) an/or any member whose dog(s) shall be suspended under Kennel Club Rule A42j(8) hall, ipso facto, cease to be a member of the Club for the duration of the suspension and / or disqualification..
If the conduct of any member shall, in the opinion of the Committee of the Club, be injurious or likely to be injurious to the character or interests of the Club, the Committee of the Club may, at a meeting, the notice convening which includes as an object the consideration of the conduct of the member, determine that a Special General Meeting of the Club shall be called for the purpose of passing a resolution to expel him/her.
Notice of the Special General Meeting shall be sent to the accused member, giving particulars of the complaint and advising him of the place, date and hour of the Meeting, that he may attend and offer an explanation. If at that Meeting a resolution to expel is passed by a two-thirds majority of the members present and voting, his name shall forthwith be erased from the list of members, and he shall thereupon cease for all purposes to be a member of the Club, except that he may within two calendar months from the date of such meeting appeal to the Kennel Club upon and subject to such conditions at the Kennel Club may impose.
If the Club expels any member for discreditable conduct in connection with dogs, dog shows or trials the Club will report the matter in writing to the Kennel Club within seven days and supply particulars required.
14 Club Accounts
(a) A Banking Account or Accounts shall be opened in the name of the Club into which all revenue of the Club shall be paid and from which withdrawal shall only be made on the signature of two officers, one of whom shall be the Hon. Treasurer and either Chairman, Hon. Secretary, Hon. Field Trial Secretary or Vice Chairman as the second signature. The accounts shall be kept by the Hon. Treasurer.
Certification of accounts will be by one qualified Accountant or two unqualified individuals with accountancy experience who will be appointed at each AGM to audit the Club's accounts for the ensuing year.
(b) In making the appointment at the AGM of a single auditor, the meeting shall be satisfied that the nominee has a recognised accountancy qualification.
15. Annual Returns to the Kennel Club
(a) The Officers acknowledge that during the month of January each year, maintenance of Title fee will be forwarded to the Kennel Club by the Hon. Secretary for continuance of Registration and that by the 31st July each year and other returns, as stipulated in Kennel Club Regulations for the Registration and Maintenance of Title of Registered Societies and Breed Councils and the Affiliation of Agricultural Societies and Municipal Authorities will be forwarded to the Kennel Club.
(b) The Officers also acknowledge their duty to inform the Kennel Club of any change of Hon. Secretary of the Club which may occur during the course of the year.
(c) The Officers acknowledge their duty to inform the Kennel Club of the month in which the Club's Annual General Meeting is held and to notify the Kennel Club of any subsequent amendments to that date.
(d) The Club shall make a list of members and their addresses available for inspection if so requested by members of the Club or by the Kennel Club.
16. Final Authority of the Kennel Club
The Kennel Club shall be the final authority for interpreting the Rules & Regulations of the Club in all cases relative to Canine and Club matters.
17. Affiliation to other bodies
The Club shall not join any Federation of Societies or Clubs.
18. Undischarged Bankrupt
No person whilst an undischarged bankrupt may serve on the Committee of or hold any other office or appointment within a Kennel Club Registered Society.
19. With the exception of dogs bred specifically for Assistance Dogs (e.g. dogs for the blind, for hearing, or as companions to special needs people), any member of the WELRC using, either a stud dog, or a brood bitch, to purposely produce a cross breed (e.g. labradoodle etc.) shall be subject to a Special General Meeting of the Club to consider their expulsion from membership.
20. In accordance with Kennel Club recommendation, unless a posted schedule is requested in writing by a member they will only be sent by email and made available for download on the Club website.
Code of Ethics
All members of the West of England Labrador Retriever Club undertake to abide by it's general Code of Ethics.
Club members:
1) Will properly house, feed, water and exercise all dogs under their care and arrange for appropriate veterinary attention if and when required.
2) Will agree without reservation that any veterinary surgeon performing an operation on any of their dogs which alters the natural conformation of the animal, may report such operation to the Kennel Club.
3) Will agree that no healthy puppy will be culled. Puppies which may not conform to the Breed Standard should be placed in suitable homes.
4) Will abide by all aspects of the Animal Welfare Act.
5) Will not create demand for, nor supply, puppies that have been docked illegally.
6) Will agree not to breed from a dog or bitch which could be in any way harmful to the dog or to the breed, therefore when breeding litters members will breed only from good stock, sound in health and temperament. Breeders should use (for both parents) the KC/BVA tests and the DNA tests that are recommended for the Labrador Retriever in the Kennel Club Breed Health Standard. Information on the KC/BVA schemes for hip, elbow dysplasia, hereditary eye defects and the recommended DNA tests for the breed are available on the KC website: https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/about-us/about-the-kennel-club/the-kennel-club-codes/thekennel-club-health-standard/
Dogs used for breeding should conform as closely as possible to the Kennel Club breed standard as improvements to the quality and health of stock must be the prime consideration at all times.
7) Will not allow any of their dogs to roam at large or to cause a nuisance to neighbours or those carrying out official duties.
8) Will ensure that their dogs wear properly tagged collars and will be kept leashed or under effective control when away from home.
9) Will clean up after their dogs in public places or anywhere their dogs are being exhibited.
10) Will only sell dogs where there is a reasonable expectation of a happy and healthy life and will help with the re-homing of a dog if the initial circumstances change.
11) Will supply written details of all dietary requirements and give guidance concerning responsible ownership when placing dogs in a new home.
12) Will ensure puppies will not leave the Dam before the legal minimum of eight weeks of age, and will be microchipped and recorded in the name of the breeder. Reasonable steps will be taken to ensure the suitability of the new owner and the conditions in which they will be kept.
13) Will ensure that all relevant Kennel Club documents are provided to the new owner when selling or transferring a dog, and will agree, in writing, to forward any relevant documents at the earliest opportunity, if not immediately available.
14) Will not sell any dog to commercial dog wholesalers, retail pet dealers or directly or indirectly allow dogs to be given as a prize or donation in a competition of any kind. Will not sell by sale or auction Kennel Club registration certificates as stand alone items (not accompanying a dog).
15) Will not knowingly misrepresent the characteristics of the breed nor falsely advertise dogs nor mislead any person regarding the health or quality of a dog.. No member shall deliberately or knowingly undertake a breeding pairing or programme that will result in dogs being bred that do not meet the requirements of the published breed standard for Labrador Retrievers. For example, different coat colour, length, conformation or size e.g. toy or miniature.
16) Will not breed from any Labrador carrying or affected by the D Locus/dilute gene. Such actions will be subject to a Committee review, sanctions and ultimately withdrawal of membership.
17) Kennel Club rules regarding the age of the bitch and number of litters should be observed and adhered to unless a special concession has been granted,
18) The owners of stud dogs shall satisfy themselves as to the suitability of the bitch before mating and a stud service receipt/contract should be given to bitch owners and copies retained. Copies of health certificates or links to the KC health results website for the stud dog should be given to the bitch owner