2019 North American Sheep Shearing Challenge

Calgary Stampede General Rules & Guidelines:

General Rules

Health Regulations

IAFE code of ethics

Animal Care Codes of Practice

Rules:

1. A referee will be appointed.
2. A judge has the right to stop any competitor whose work or conduct on the board is detrimental to the image of the shearing competition and Calgary Stampede.
3. It is to be at the discretion of the judge, if blood from a competitor's wound is visible, to have the right to stop that competitor.
4. Approved Hand Held Counters may be used at this competition.
5. Competitor's have the right to reject any substandard sheep/fleece before shearing commences, provided the referee agrees.
6. Heats and stands will be drawn prior to the start of the event. Finalists shall draw for stands as they take the board.
7. A competitor is allowed 1 helper in the catch pen. No unauthorized persons are permitted in the catching pen and no officials are permitted to assist a competitor in any way except where safety is a concern.
8. Competitors in competition must be suitably attired and this will include footwear (i.e. sandals or open toe shoes are prohibited). The referee will administer ruling.
9. Any competitor who is not present for the presentation of prizes will not receive the prize unless reasonable grounds for being absent are presented to the Organizing Committee before the prize giving.
10. Any disputes will be taken to a disputes committee of which the referee shall be Chairman. A written protest must be lodged within 30 minutes of completion of an event. Any unresolved dispute must be forwarded in writing to the Calgary Stampede Sheep Shearing committee within 2 hours of completion of an event.
11. In any tie the highest quality points wins.
12. One spare stopwatch and timekeeper will be available to time any stoppages and if necessary these will be deducted from the competitor's total time.
13. All competitors compete at their own risk.
14. Shearers will be allowed two loaded handpieces. No time will be allotted for stoppages caused by gear, handpieces or sheep getting away from the shearer on the board. A time allowance or re-run may be considered at the referees/committees decision if any stoppage is caused through another competitor's sheep escaping or a fault occurring with the machine or downtube.
15. Each Shearer must:

• (a) Start and stop his/her own machine
• (b) Open pen door and collect his//her own sheep which shall be in a standing position
• (c) Put each sheep out the porthole

16. Preparation of competition sheep must be kept to a uniform standard to ensure the safety of teats, vulva and sheath on a wether.
17. Competitors may not present their own sheep for outside judges but may be required to present sheep from other heats or competitors and may be penalized if they fail to do so.
18. Each shearer will have a separate timekeeper and a stopwatch or other suitable timing device and will be taken from "GO" until the machine is switched off after completing final sheep. Where electronic timing is to be used, it is the shearer's responsibility to stop their time. Shearers must wait on the board with one hand on the closed door to wait for "GO".

Shearing Penalties:
1. One penalty stroke for not throwing the belly clear

2. One penalty stroke for a cleared belly where it interferes with another competitor

3. Up to 2 strokes for obvious belly or brisket wool not removed, excluding side fringes

4. a) One penalty stroke for not breaking the neck wool b) One penalty stroke for deliberately breaking of the fleece on the first hind leg of fullwool sheep.

5. Up to four penalty strokes per leg for failing to remove socks (referees discretion)

6. Skin cuts where the flesh is exposed or broken will incur a minimum of 5 strokes

7. A competitor is automatically penalized by the addition of 3 whole points per offence added to their normal penalties on which they: a. Cut a teat and impair the breeding ability of the ewe b. Cuts and seriously damages the sheath on a wether c. Cuts a hamstring d. Cuts any sheep to the extent that it requires surgical attention. (Referee may require a minor cut to be stitched without imposing the above penalty)

8. Up to 20 penalties for rough handling sheep

9. 2 Penalty strokes per offence for:

• a) Plucking before and after time (applies to shearer and pen assistant)
• b) Not putting sheep out the porthole