The Orpington Club of Australia (Inc.) Club By Law
By Law No 1 Approved 22nd June 2013
PreambleWith currently ten years between APS editions it’s obvious that a process needs to be put in place for new colours/breeds to become standardised in a more timely fashion. As a breed club we have a duty to protect the history and integrity of the breed to ensure it is not compromised by fashionable names, fads or money. We have to ensure that the heritage of the breed is protected against false claims and that hybrid crossbreds (either between Orpington Colours or by crossing with another breed) are not approved for consideration as a standard Orpington until they look like an Orpington , breed true for a requisite number of generations and are held in multiple breeders hands. However since the release of the APS 2nd Edition the Standard show schedules in some States provide for classes for Orpingtons in Any Other Recognised Colour other than Black, Blue, Buff, White, Cuckoo and Splash- which is in itself interesting as Splash is not listed as a Recognised Standard Colour for Orpington! At the Clubs 2012 AGM the following action was agreed namely; That The Management Committee will consider the issue of non APS standard colours being ineligible for major awards at Club shows and bring the issue back to the next general meeting (2013) for consideration by the members. The purpose of this position paper on this matter is to address the action agreed at the 2012 AGM and will assist future reviews of reviews of the Australian Poultry Standards and the colours covered in those standards and is being prepared for informed consideration and debate before and at the 2013 AGM. Status• The Management Committee of the Orpington Club of Australia consists of Three (3) Club Office Bearers namely the President, the Secretary and the Public Officer. • The Australian Poultry Standards 2nd Edition confirms that only FIVE (5) colours of Orpington are accepted for exhibition in both Large (or Standard size) and Bantam. These are Black, Blue, Buff, White and Cuckoo. In addition under the descriptors contained in the APS 2nd edition ALL colours are to be judged to the same point’s allocation which is now 30 points for Colour and Plumage• Clause 16 of the Club Constitution reads ’At all Club Shows the following to apply; Only those colours standardised in the Australian Poultry Standards are eligible for major awards. Special Awards may be made to any other variety sanctioned by the Club. Separate variety classes will be provided where there are four or more entries for a distinct variety’.• Current Club Policy is such that all Orpingtons will be judged to the new colour apportionment in the Scale of Points as set out in the Australian Poultry Standards 2nd Edition. If a new variety is one that has already been colour– standardised by the European Orpington Clubs, we will base ours on theirs as a guide. Any other new colours will follow logically follow the Standards adopted for other breeds with a wide range of Standardised colours. If not supplied by the applicant the Secretary will source an appropriate Standard prior to each National Show and notify the Judge/s, in writing, between closing date of entries and the show date. • The Club Management Committee sought information from our sister Orpington Clubs around the world about their Colour standards and how their practice for adopting/approving new colours is undertaken. Their contribution has informed the processes outlined below.• There are already a number of new colours either under development in Australia or due to be imported that need to be treated with respect and in recognition of how William Cook first developed the original Orpingtons in the late 1880’s.
Principles and structureThe Management Committee consider that;1. The base principle upon which Cook developed the early colours of Orpington should not preclude why a current Non Standard Orpington Colour cannot vie for major honours at a Club Show if it meets the general APS standards set out for Orpingtons or the colour requirements as sourced by The Management Committee. 2. There has to be some control over the approval of the developing non -standard colours so that they don’t just look like an Orpington on a one off basis but that they possess the key characteristics of the true Orpington, that they breed true to colour and that they are held in multiple breeder’s hands.3. This process doesn’t replace the formal standardisation process that is encompassed in the APS. Until the next edition of the APS is published there will still only be the 5 (Five Colours) recognised in the APS 2nd Edition. All other colours can only be shown in AORC classes at the appropriate shows. 4. The Club will continue to provide a section at its National Show for Standard or Approved Colours and one section for Developmental or Non Approved Colours to accommodate the development of new colours in order to protect and preserve the quality and heritage of the Orpington fowl.
Approving Colours (for National Club Show purposes) - the ProcessWorking on the principle that the five Colours confirmed in the APS 2011 are considered approved colours and that only those can currently vie for major honours at a National Club Show it would make sense that from 2014 onwards the Club schedule has an Approved and Developmental section at each Club Show. The Management Committee considers for other Colours to be accepted to be shown in the developmental section and then to move from Developmental to the Approved section that a two- step process should be adopted. The Management Committee recommends the following process to allow a Colour to be shown in the Developmental classes at the National Club Show;1. The applicant should review the Non Standard colours found on the Club website. If this colour is not found here a submission of the appropriate APS standard Colour, including photo, should be made to the Club on what the owner thinks the colour of this bird is. 2. This submission will then be circulated by the Secretary to a selection of the Club sub- committee called the Colour Working Party Group to ratify this colour as to how it should appear on an Orpington body. The Colour Working Group shall be formed annually from applications by interested Club members.3. If ratified by the Colour Working Group the Colour will then be published on the Club website as a Developmental Colour for the information for Exhibitors and judges alike. This ratification does not mean that this newly ratified colour is eligible for exhibition for anything other than the Developmental Section of the National Show or as approved by the Club. The Management Committee suggests the following process that an application of a Non-Approved Colour to become an Approved Colour should take;1 In order to become an Approved Colour each application should satisfy the Club as to its purity and ability to reproduce it’s like in type and colour.2 The proposed colour will need to have had Cockerels and Pullets exhibited for a minimum of three consecutive years in the developmental section/ nonstandard classes at shows approved by the Club and entries in this colour to have been received from a minimum of four (4) separate members over this period.3 The request for admission of the Colour into the Approved section should be accompanied by the proposed new standard of the new colour with particulars of its origin and breeding set out in signed statements by a minimum of two members who are breeders of this colour. This statement should also declare the percentage of birds breeding true to type and colour.4 The application for Approved Status of the new Colour will then be considered by the Management Committee which has the delegated and final authority from the Club members to consider this application. 5 If the application for the Colour to become eligible to be exhibited in the Approved section of a National Club Show is approved by the Management Committee the decision will be formally recorded at the next AGM. The newly approved Colour can then be exhibited in the Approved Colour section at the next National Club Show following approval by the Management Committee allowing the Colour to then be able to vie for major honours.
4. Recommendations
The Management Committee makes the following recommendations for discussion and consideration at the 2013 Annual General Meeting. We request that the Members present and approve;
4.1 the process, as set out in this Report, to allow a Colour to be shown in the Developmental classes at the National Club Show; and
4.2 the process, as set out in this report, that an application of a Non-approved Colour to become an Approval Colour should take; That all applications for inclusion as an approved colour need to be submitted to the Secretary by 30th September of each yearAs these were approved these recommendations take effect immediately and for the applicable changes to the Club Constitution were made accordingly.
Martin Doulton- Secretary 22nd June 2013
PreambleWith currently ten years between APS editions it’s obvious that a process needs to be put in place for new colours/breeds to become standardised in a more timely fashion. As a breed club we have a duty to protect the history and integrity of the breed to ensure it is not compromised by fashionable names, fads or money. We have to ensure that the heritage of the breed is protected against false claims and that hybrid crossbreds (either between Orpington Colours or by crossing with another breed) are not approved for consideration as a standard Orpington until they look like an Orpington , breed true for a requisite number of generations and are held in multiple breeders hands. However since the release of the APS 2nd Edition the Standard show schedules in some States provide for classes for Orpingtons in Any Other Recognised Colour other than Black, Blue, Buff, White, Cuckoo and Splash- which is in itself interesting as Splash is not listed as a Recognised Standard Colour for Orpington! At the Clubs 2012 AGM the following action was agreed namely; That The Management Committee will consider the issue of non APS standard colours being ineligible for major awards at Club shows and bring the issue back to the next general meeting (2013) for consideration by the members. The purpose of this position paper on this matter is to address the action agreed at the 2012 AGM and will assist future reviews of reviews of the Australian Poultry Standards and the colours covered in those standards and is being prepared for informed consideration and debate before and at the 2013 AGM. Status• The Management Committee of the Orpington Club of Australia consists of Three (3) Club Office Bearers namely the President, the Secretary and the Public Officer. • The Australian Poultry Standards 2nd Edition confirms that only FIVE (5) colours of Orpington are accepted for exhibition in both Large (or Standard size) and Bantam. These are Black, Blue, Buff, White and Cuckoo. In addition under the descriptors contained in the APS 2nd edition ALL colours are to be judged to the same point’s allocation which is now 30 points for Colour and Plumage• Clause 16 of the Club Constitution reads ’At all Club Shows the following to apply; Only those colours standardised in the Australian Poultry Standards are eligible for major awards. Special Awards may be made to any other variety sanctioned by the Club. Separate variety classes will be provided where there are four or more entries for a distinct variety’.• Current Club Policy is such that all Orpingtons will be judged to the new colour apportionment in the Scale of Points as set out in the Australian Poultry Standards 2nd Edition. If a new variety is one that has already been colour– standardised by the European Orpington Clubs, we will base ours on theirs as a guide. Any other new colours will follow logically follow the Standards adopted for other breeds with a wide range of Standardised colours. If not supplied by the applicant the Secretary will source an appropriate Standard prior to each National Show and notify the Judge/s, in writing, between closing date of entries and the show date. • The Club Management Committee sought information from our sister Orpington Clubs around the world about their Colour standards and how their practice for adopting/approving new colours is undertaken. Their contribution has informed the processes outlined below.• There are already a number of new colours either under development in Australia or due to be imported that need to be treated with respect and in recognition of how William Cook first developed the original Orpingtons in the late 1880’s.
Principles and structureThe Management Committee consider that;1. The base principle upon which Cook developed the early colours of Orpington should not preclude why a current Non Standard Orpington Colour cannot vie for major honours at a Club Show if it meets the general APS standards set out for Orpingtons or the colour requirements as sourced by The Management Committee. 2. There has to be some control over the approval of the developing non -standard colours so that they don’t just look like an Orpington on a one off basis but that they possess the key characteristics of the true Orpington, that they breed true to colour and that they are held in multiple breeder’s hands.3. This process doesn’t replace the formal standardisation process that is encompassed in the APS. Until the next edition of the APS is published there will still only be the 5 (Five Colours) recognised in the APS 2nd Edition. All other colours can only be shown in AORC classes at the appropriate shows. 4. The Club will continue to provide a section at its National Show for Standard or Approved Colours and one section for Developmental or Non Approved Colours to accommodate the development of new colours in order to protect and preserve the quality and heritage of the Orpington fowl.
Approving Colours (for National Club Show purposes) - the ProcessWorking on the principle that the five Colours confirmed in the APS 2011 are considered approved colours and that only those can currently vie for major honours at a National Club Show it would make sense that from 2014 onwards the Club schedule has an Approved and Developmental section at each Club Show. The Management Committee considers for other Colours to be accepted to be shown in the developmental section and then to move from Developmental to the Approved section that a two- step process should be adopted. The Management Committee recommends the following process to allow a Colour to be shown in the Developmental classes at the National Club Show;1. The applicant should review the Non Standard colours found on the Club website. If this colour is not found here a submission of the appropriate APS standard Colour, including photo, should be made to the Club on what the owner thinks the colour of this bird is. 2. This submission will then be circulated by the Secretary to a selection of the Club sub- committee called the Colour Working Party Group to ratify this colour as to how it should appear on an Orpington body. The Colour Working Group shall be formed annually from applications by interested Club members.3. If ratified by the Colour Working Group the Colour will then be published on the Club website as a Developmental Colour for the information for Exhibitors and judges alike. This ratification does not mean that this newly ratified colour is eligible for exhibition for anything other than the Developmental Section of the National Show or as approved by the Club. The Management Committee suggests the following process that an application of a Non-Approved Colour to become an Approved Colour should take;1 In order to become an Approved Colour each application should satisfy the Club as to its purity and ability to reproduce it’s like in type and colour.2 The proposed colour will need to have had Cockerels and Pullets exhibited for a minimum of three consecutive years in the developmental section/ nonstandard classes at shows approved by the Club and entries in this colour to have been received from a minimum of four (4) separate members over this period.3 The request for admission of the Colour into the Approved section should be accompanied by the proposed new standard of the new colour with particulars of its origin and breeding set out in signed statements by a minimum of two members who are breeders of this colour. This statement should also declare the percentage of birds breeding true to type and colour.4 The application for Approved Status of the new Colour will then be considered by the Management Committee which has the delegated and final authority from the Club members to consider this application. 5 If the application for the Colour to become eligible to be exhibited in the Approved section of a National Club Show is approved by the Management Committee the decision will be formally recorded at the next AGM. The newly approved Colour can then be exhibited in the Approved Colour section at the next National Club Show following approval by the Management Committee allowing the Colour to then be able to vie for major honours.
4. Recommendations
The Management Committee makes the following recommendations for discussion and consideration at the 2013 Annual General Meeting. We request that the Members present and approve;
4.1 the process, as set out in this Report, to allow a Colour to be shown in the Developmental classes at the National Club Show; and
4.2 the process, as set out in this report, that an application of a Non-approved Colour to become an Approval Colour should take; That all applications for inclusion as an approved colour need to be submitted to the Secretary by 30th September of each yearAs these were approved these recommendations take effect immediately and for the applicable changes to the Club Constitution were made accordingly.
Martin Doulton- Secretary 22nd June 2013