Rules

General Rules

1. That this club shall be called Newtown Angling Club.

2. The club affairs shall be managed by up to eight members consisting of elected officers and committee members. This group will be referred to as the 'Club Management Committee'.

3. The Club Management Committee will have the power to make day-by-day decisions within the general rules of the club. Any decision must be agreed by at least 50% of the Club Management Committee. The chairman will exercise a casting vote, if necessary.

4. All Club Management Committee positions being on an annual basis are elected at the Annual General Meeting (AGM).

5. The Club Management Committee have the power to fill any vacancy that may arise during the year following the nomination of the candidates for these vacancies, at a monthly meeting.

6. Membership of the club shall be renewable annually. The membership fee shall be decided by the officers and committee of the club and promulgated at each February meeting. In addition to this fee new members, excluding juniors and old age pensioners (OAP's) joining the club, shall pay an initial club registration subscription.

7. Junior members shall be under 17 years on 16th June of the current season.

8. Members will pay fees and permit fees as per club rules.

9. Membership is open to all persons. Applications for membership should be made at a monthly meeting and be accompanied by a proposer and a seconder who are club members.

10. All members are to hold current affiliated association water permits and a current Environment Agency rod licence. It is incumbent upon all members to keep up to date with the changing rules and requirements of the association(s) to which the club may be affiliated.

11. The Club Management Committee and membership are able to conduct much of the club's business using social media e.g. using video conferencing, email and WhatsApp reducing the need physical club meetings. The Club Management Committee shall arrange physical club meetings on an as required basis. Meetings will take place on the second Tuesday of the month unless that Tuesday coincides with a Bank Holiday, then the meeting will take place on the Tuesday of the following week. The agenda for the meeting must include the following:
a) Minutes of the last meeting;
b) Matters arising;
c) Correspondence;
d) Treasurers Report;
e) Affiliated Association Reports (e.g. RDAA, TVAA reports);
f) Match Secretary's Report;
g) Any Other Business.

12. Additional items which may crop up during the year which are of importance must be included in the agenda and circulated to members before the appropriate meeting.

13. An Annual General Meeting (AGM) shall be held on the second Tuesday in April. When the second Tuesday in April coincides with a Bank Holiday the meeting will take place on the Tuesday of the following week. The agenda will be as follows:
a) Minutes of the last AGM;
b) Matters arising;
c) Officers report;
d) Election of officers;
e) Voting upon proposals to amend club rules;
f) Any other business.

14. Nominations of new officers and committee members are acceptable by the March meeting. Proposals for rule changes shall be submitted at the February meeting. Amendments to these proposals to be submitted at the March meeting. Discussions can take place at both of these meetings. Proposals and amendments to proposals must be in writing signed by the proposer and seconder.

15. All members are required to exhibit their membership cards or receipts to any owner occupier, water bailiff or to any person connected with the club or any association to which the club is affiliated.

16. Members shall abide by the bylaws of the Environment Agency and the bylaws of any authority which governs the water being fished.

17. The rules of any association to which the club is affiliated will be strictly adhered to. Particular attention must be paid to the permit rules with reference to each venue. Failure to comply will render members liable to expulsion from the club and loss of permits.

18. No fish shall be taken away from any waters. All fish must be returned alive to the fishery from whence they came.

19. Members must refrain from the following:
a) lighting fires on the banks;
b) digging said banks in search of bait;
c) damaging trees or parts of trees;
d) damaging gates, hedges or fences;
e) leaving gates open;
f) and leaving litter in any shape or form.

20. All anglers are responsible for leaving their swims free of litter of any description.

21. The Club Management Committee shall have the authority to expel any member contravening any of the foregoing rules or any member whose conduct is detrimental to the interests of the club.

Competition Rules

1. Club Matches will be fished as 'Pegged Down Matches' only.

2. The draw will commence one hour prompt before the match stating time.

3. The Match Secretary, or his nominated stewards, shall conduct the draw for pegs. Further, the Match Secretary or his nominated stewards shall start and end all matches by the sound of a whistle.

4. Matches
a) Any competitor wishing to move to a vacant swim on a match venue may do so but any fish caught by that competitor will not count in that competition.
b) Each member participating in the competition will draw a number and fish at the peg corresponding to that number for the duration of the match.
c) A redraw will be granted only in the case of a peg being declared unfishable by the match secretary and at least one other witness. Application for a redraw must be made within one hour of the start of the match.

5. Definition of a swim. Commencing one yard upstream of the peg and terminating a yard above the downstream peg. On still waters and canals the swim shall be deemed to be midway between the competitor's peg and the pegs on either side.

6. A pegging fee plus optional pools will be collected by the Match Secretary on all club matches as required. Pools are to be entered before making the draw with the exception of late-comers who must enter the pools, if required, before commencing fishing.

7. Pools pay-outs will be limited to £30 for first place, £20 for second place, and £15 for third place. All surplus pools money collected by the match secretary will be paid into club funds. Should no weights be recorded the appropriate pools money will be retained as free entry to the pools of the following match. Any angler not fishing the following match will forfeit his pools money.

8. The water must not be broken before the start of the match except for soaking of ground bait, plumbing the depth by float tackle only and the positioning of a keep-net.

9. There will be no restriction on fishing from the bank, anglers may wade or use a platform if required but must be within one meter of bankside.

10. The match will start and finish at a signal from the match secretary or his appointed deputy.

11. All fish will be weighed in at the anglers swim by means of the official club scales.

12. All fish, excluding trout, salmon, and pike shall be eligible for weighing in.

13. Any infringement of the preceding rules may render a member liable to disqualification.

14. The Match Secretary's decision on all disputes will be final.

Notes:
Club members who have pre-booked to fish a club match will have preference at the draw when the number of pegs is restricted (e.g. when the number of anglers at the draw exceeds the number of available pegs).
Club members and their guests wishing to fish the Christmas match must pre-book at least one week in advance of the event.
Guests shall not be eligible to compete for prizes and trophies.
Guests may enter the pools run by the match secretary.
Any club member can fish a water booked by the club after matches.
Pegging fees will be charged to all non-club members participating in club matches.