CCOBRA CLUB RULES 2009

TITLE:  The title of the organization shall be the Cowboys and Cowgirls Barrel Racing Association (CCOBRA)

PURPOSE:  CCOBRA was formed to promote barrel racing and competition at an amateur level in southern Arizona.

MEMBERS: 

1.        Open to anyone in agreement with the association’s purpose:  men, women and children.

2.       Any person becoming a member of the CCOBRA shall become familiar with its rules and by laws, comply, and are bound by them.

3.       Members are not authorized to grant endorsements for the CCOBRA.

4.       People applying for membership must fill out a Membership application.  Any person under 18 years of age must have written approval signed by a parent or legal guardian giving consent for such person to compete at CCOBRA.

5.       The officers of CCOBRA will consist of the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasure and Youth Director.

6.       In hardship cases the circuit may start with President & an appointed committee.

7.       Membership shall not be transferable.

MEETINGS

1.        The officers may call a meeting at any given time.  The reason for the meeting must be stated.  The meeting may be in person or by phone.  The President may poll the members if necessary.

2.       At any meeting of the officers, held by accordance with the forgoing provisions as to notice, the officers attending such meeting, present in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum of the members for all purposes.

3.       The secretary shall act as secretary at all meetings, but in his/her absence the President may appoint any person to act as the secretary for the meeting.

ARTICLE II

OFFICER APPOINTMENT

1.        The existing members will nominate and vote on the officers for the following year.

2.       An officer’s term length shall be for a minimum period of one year.

3.       The new officers will assume their office after the final race for the year nominated.

4.       If any officer fails to fulfill the duties of his/her office, the remaining officers, with two-thirds approval, shall have the authority to terminate said officer.  The remaining officers shall appoint a new officer to complete the term.  This shall be done within 30 days of the exiting officer’s termination.

OFFICERS DUTIES

1.        PRESIDENT – Chairperson, overseer, encourager, supervises all aspects of events. i.e.: scheduling and arena booking.  Writing newsletter.

2.       VICE-PRESIDENT – Public Relations, donations and rules and regulations.

3.       SECRETARY – Correspondence, records, work closely with Treasurer (can be same person).

4.       TREASURER – Finances, work closely with Secretary (can be same person).  Responsible for computer and points.

5.       YOUTH DIRECTOR - Coordinates youth and their parents, and help out the President with scheduling and arena booking.  Finds donations for the youth and to get our youth more involved with barrel racing.

ARTICLE III

ORIGANIZATION

1.        Organization must use the entry fees and payouts according to CCOBRA  by-laws.

2.       Circuits may have double pointed shows.

3.       All money from any approved CCOBRA event held would be deposited into the CCOBRA account within 7 days of the show.

4.       The organization may have an unlimited number of shows, but they must have a minimum of eleven pointed or qualifying shows a year.

ARTICLE IV

FORMAT

1.        Barrels will be run in a 4D format with one half second added to the fastest time to set the second division time, then one second added to the fastest time to set the third division time, and two seconds added to the fastest time to set the fourth division time.  

2.       All entries will ride in the divisional format jackpot barrels.

POINTS

1.        Points will be kept as Rider/Horse team.

2.       Additional horse team fee will be charged as another entry.  (Optional-only required if points are requested on additional horses).

3.       Points are kept separate for each team.

4.       Substitution:  A member may substitute twice for a nominated horse with $10.00 fee.  After the second substitution you need to do a permanent substitution or have a Vet release to continue.  The substitution fee will be waived with a vet release.

5.       Substitution continued:  Only a non member horse for that rider may be used as a substitution.  The horse may be nominated for  another horse/rider team.  Any substitution at the finals must be approved by the officers prior to the day of the race, and a voter approval from the members of that division.

6.       Permanent replacement allowed when sale or death of horse occurs, or vet release, with officers’ approval.

7.       The points available for each division at each show shall be as follows:

·         PLACE                                                     POINTS

·         1st                                                               10

·         2nd                                                               9

·         3rd                                                               8

·         4th                                                               7

·         5th                                                               6

·         6th                                                               5

·         7th                                                               4

·         8th                                                               3

·         9th                                                              2         

·         Qualified Run                                           1

·         Knocked Down Barrel                             1

·         Broken Pattern Other Disqualifications   0

8.        If a rider knocks a barrel down, he/she will only receive points for participation.  He/she will not place in the money jackpots.  Your point will be in the 4D.

9.       The points each team receives will be theirs no matter which division they are in at each show.

ARTICLE V

AMENDMENTS

The CCOBRA by-laws may be amended at any meeting of the CCOBRA officers by a two-thirds vote, changes to be effective immediately.  Standing rule changes will be effective beginning January of the New Year.

CONTESTANTS

1.        Anyone entering a CCOBRA event will submit to the COBRA established rules and regulations.

2.       Contestants will be required to adhere to the dress code.  The contestant must wear boots and pants.

3.       No loud or excessive profanity.  $10 fine will be assessed.

4.       Bad checks:  No points will be awarded until check is cleared.  $25 fine will be assessed.  Upon second bounce check rider will be required to pay by cash.

5.       You will not be allowed to run at CCOBRA if you are on the Bad Check Black List with any other club, until the matter is taken care of.

6.       No abuse of horses on the grounds of any CCOBRA event.  The Officers will determine abuse.  The decision of the officers is final.  Abuse will result in disqualification.

7.       All fines must be paid before competing, collection of winnings, or points awarded.

8.       The decision and action of the officers is final on all violations, subject to written appeal within 30 days.

9.       If a race fails to have a qualifying time the money will stay with the organization.

BARREL RACE

1.        A STANDARD CLOVERLEAF BARREL PATTERN WILL BE USED.  One barrel shall be turned on one direction and the remaining two shall be turned in the other direction.

2.       A barrel race is a timed event, using brightly colored 55 gallon steel drums.

3.       Both ends of the barrels must be enclosed.

4.       There shall be no rubber or plastic barrels or barrel pads use.

5.       The start/finish (score) line and the position of the barrels must be marked permanently for the entire competition.

6.       The contestant is allowed a running start and will be allowed to run in and out of the arena only when an acceptable centrally located gate(s) safely permits, or by special board or committee approval.

7.       The start/finish line must be the same.

8.       Any time a contestant crosses the starting line, time shall begin.

9.       No time will be recorded for knocking over a barrel.  Touching barrels is permitted.

10.    No payout for knocking over a barrel.

11.     The barrel must be set back on marker, if it is moved or knocked over.

12.    Once rider has finished his/her race and crossed the score line, the time becomes official.

BARREL PATTERN

1.        The standard course for the barrel race is:

a.       90 feet between barrels one and two.

b.       105 feet between barrels one and three and between two and three.

c.        Score line is 30 to 60 feet between barrels one and two.

d.       Score line should be at least 45 feet from end of arena.

2.        The following shall be used in smaller arenas:

a.        Score line should be at least 45 feet away from end of the arena unless there is a center alley or size does not permit.

b.       Barrels one and two must be at least 18 feet from the sides of the arena.  In an extra small arena, they may be less.  In no instance should they be any closer than 15 feet from the sides of the arena.

c.        Barrel three should be at least 36 feet from the end of the arena, and no closer than 25 feet.  In narrow arenas, the third barrel should be at least 15 feet longer than the first and second barrel.

d.       If arena size permits, barrels must be set at least 60 feet apart.

e.        In a small arena, it is recommended that the pattern be reduced proportionately to a standard barrel pattern.

MARKING BARRELS

1.        The barrels must be properly marked to ensure barrel racers the same opportunity whether they start right or left.

2.       Barrels should be set on permanent markers where available.

3.       If the electric timer is used, permanent markers should be set for it.

DISQUALIFICATIONS

1.        If a rider goes off course, making any extra turns in either the barrel or standard pattern, this is a disqualification.

2.       Going past an obstacle and turning around to correct the pattern is a disqualification.

3.       Any time a rider intentionally stops or backs his/her horse during a run, it will be a disqualification.

4.       Riders must allow their horse to run as safely as possible.  Example:  If the rider is a beginner, he/she may have to slow down to be safe.  When riding a green horse, the rider may have to slow it down to be safe.

5.       If a rider slows down a horse in order to try to control the run time, this is a disqualification.

a.        Example:  The horse runs the pattern freely and then is slowed down running to the finish line.  The rider would not be allowing the horse to run.

b.       Example:  The run becomes a schooling run.  The rider would be trying to correct a mistake or trying to fix a broken pattern.

6.        Crossing the finish line prior to completing the run, or fall from horse, will also cause a disqualification.

7.       A one minute gate call will be made; your name called 3 times, if no response, rider will be disqualified.

8.       The forward motion of a horse is stopped and restarted.

9.       The officers shall try to notify each affected contestant of disqualification.  Lack of notification shall not be grounds to change the results.

GROUND PREPARATION

1.        The committee is asked to prepare ground in the arena to be consistent throughout the event.

2.       For the open race, the ground will be dragged after seven (7) contestants run or at the officer’s discretion.

RERUNS

1.        Should, for any reason, the barrels not be placed on the markers or the timer and back up timers malfunction, things must be put in correct order and all contestants who ran on the incorrect course must be rerun.

2.       When a rerun of more than one rider is given, the officers will set the time and they will run in order of the original draw.

3.       The decision to rerun must be made immediately, and all contestants notified, if possible.

4.       When a rerun is required for any reason, contestant shall have the option of running again immediately, at the end of their rake section, or at end of the race.

5.       In the event that a competitor had a clean run that needed to be rerun due to at timer malfunction, improperly placed pattern or other hardship (determined by the officers) and the rerun resulted in down barrel or disqualified pattern, he/she shall have the option to run again.

ELECTRIC TIMER

1.        Necessary Equipment:  Complete electric eye timer.  If no electric timer is available then a timing clock or stop watch to be operated manually may be used.

2.       Read-out box times must be read and recorded by official timer.  Official timer will record the times that appear on the electric eye controlled read-out.

3.       If a timing clock or stop watch is used then they shall operate from the flagman’s signals and record the time in 1,00nths, if possible.

4.       Permanent markers should be put in the ground for the electric timer.  Electric timers should be placed on the score line no closer than the width of the first two barrels for the electric eye to be centered in performance, if possible.

5.       If the timer does not work, the contestant will take the back-up time on an individual run.

YOUTH (AGE 15 AND UNDER)

1.        The Youth division is offered for any beginning riders up to and including age 15 years old as of Jan. 1st of the current year.

2.       They will run before the open 4D.

3.       Riders within a family may share horses for this class.

4.       Time format will be decided at the beginning of year, depending on amount of entries.

YEARLY CLUB MEMBERSHIP FEES

Open membership                               $25.00

Horse nomination                                               $25.00

Youth/horse membership  $25.00

ENTRY FEES

Open fees              (per horse)                                            $40.00

Youth fees             (per horse)                                            $25.00

Non Membership (per race)                              $ 5.00

Arena fee               (per horse)                                            $10.00     

Time Only              (per time)                                              $ 3.00 each

MONEY PAYOFFS

1.        Money payoffs depend on the number of contestants and added monies.  Payoffs are typically through 4th place but can be limited to 3rd or extended to 6th.  Ratios are determined after books close.

2.       The last place payout for the open will at least cover the entry fee.

3.       If a division fails to have a qualifying time the money will be divided between the remaining divisions.

4.       If all of the places are not filled in any one division, the money is divided up between the remaining places.

5.       If there are ties in the places, the two payoffs will be added together and split evenly.  Example:  There are two of the same times in the second place slot.  They would then split the second and third place money and points.

Division status for points and awards only

1.        Year end awards will be given in four divisions according to their accumulated points from the year.

2.       Points and division positions will be determined using CCOBRA member times only.

3.       The rider may receive points in all four divisions.

4.       All races will be run in an open 4-D format.  At the final race, each horse and rider combination will compete in the class in which they have earned the most points.  The points will be tallied within the class.  The money will be paid out in a  4-D format.

5.       The team with the highest number of points in that division after the final race shall be the champion of that division.

6.       All shows will be pointed, the finals is a pointed race and may not be used as a drop.  Top 11 races plus the finals account for the awards.

7.       It is up to the officers to determine the number of awards that will be given for the year in each division.  The same number of placing in each division shall be awarded unless there are not enough competitors in any given division.

8.       If a horse and rider combination earns the same number of points in two different divisions then the combination shall receive the award in the higher division.

9.       If two horse and rider combinations earn the same number of points in the same division, then the higher award shall go to the horse and rider combination that has the most points in that division.

10.     You must compete in at least 7 races to be eligible for awards.