At the Annual General Meeting of the Irish Homing Union on Sunday, 22nd February, 2009 the delegates voted by an almost three-to-one majority to approve the use of Electronic Timing Systems in pigeon racing by members.
A draft set of twenty-six rules for ETS were also on the Agenda, and rather than go through each rule, it was decided to accept them en-block for this year, and, with the experience gained this season, to review them at the 2010 AGM.
IRISH HOMING UNION ETS RULES
1. That all Electronic Timing Systems must be approved by the Supreme Council of the Irish Homing Pigeon Union before use in any Federation, Combine or Club affiliated to the Irish Homing Pigeon union (see list of approved systems in Rule 24).
2. That the serial numbers of all club systems must be registered with the IHU through their Region, Federation or Combine. No unregistered system may be used for any race flown under IHU rules.
3. That Electronic Timing Systems can be used to record arrival times of birds.
4. That Access Codes, electronic key and Club System must be administered by person/persons authorised by the club. All Club Systems must be kept in secure conditions.
5. A club official must ensure that the electronic clock used with, or incorporated into the Club System, has received an up-to-date signal before race entry is due to start and before strike-off.
6. Assignment of electronic rings must be carried out by not less that two authorised officials of the club.
7. No Club Rule can allow assignment or re-assignment of an electronic ring on the day of race registration, except where the electronic chip ring is discovered to be faulty.
8. Irish Homing Pigeon Union officials have the right to inspect trapping systems used. This rule also applies to the officials of any Federation, Combine or Club affiliated to the Irish Homing Pigeon Union.
9. Operating procedures before, during and after races must be in accordnace with the manufacturer's instructions. Responsibility for providing manufacturer's manual to organisations rest with owner of the ETS.
10. It is the responsibility of the member to check that each organisation they intend to compete with has the equipment needed to enable them to use ETS.
11. No race entry details can be accepted from any electronic equipment with visible signs of damage to the casing or the seal, even if the damage was caused accidently.
12. While electronic race registration is taking place, apart from the officials engaged in the registration, to ensure security all other people must remain at least 1 metre from the club system. No person may act as an official while their own birds are being recorded.
13. As part of the electronic race entry process, officials must check that the number of the life ring on the pigeon's leg is the same as that shown by the club system when the electronic chip ring is scanned.
14. All signed ETS printouts must be retained by Club or Organisation until the following AGM.
15. All race entry and strike-off sheets must be printed directly from the Club system and must show the Club System's serial number and the date and the time.
16. As part of the entry process, each person presenting birds for entry to a race will be given a copy of a print from the Club System showing all the entry details that have been recorded for their pigeons. If it is confirmed that all details have been entered correctly, the fancier or their nominated representativeplus two club officials must sign the print and copies. the signed print and copies of the race entry sheets constitutes the electronically produced part of the Race Register.
17. Only electronic rings, which incorporate approved electronic chips, may be used in races under Irish Homing Pigeon Union rules.
18. No timing details can be accepted from any electronic equipment with visible signs of damage to the casing or the seal, even if the damage was caused accidentally.
19. Sensor pads/Antennae must be inside the loft or inside the trapping area in such a way that when the poft is closed, no electronic chip ring may be recorded by the electronic timing system installed. Under no circumstances must any electronic equipment be fitted to an external landing board, either fixed or on slide rails.
20. In the event of an ETS failing to record arrival time, on presenting the pigeon with assigned ETS ring at checking station, the member will be credited with the checking time.
21. The Irish Homing Pigeon Union, Federation, Combine or Club has the power to detain any ETS they consider doubtful.
22. Any ETS clock that varies by 3 seconds or more per day must be returned to the manufacturer for testing. Any pigeons recorded on this clock will not be accepted for inclusion in the race result until the manufacturer's test report has been seen.
23. Club officials shall check that setting information, including code allocated at race entry, corresponds with strike-off sheet. Member to receive a copy of the strike-off signed by two officials. If discrepancies are discovered at checking, the competitor's clock will be deemed out-of-order and any pigeon timed by that clock will be excluded from the result.
24. Apoproved Electronic Timing Systems are: Unikon, Bricon, Mega, Tauris, Tipes UK, Benzing and Victory using the protocol Unives 1.7.
25. For races under IHU Rules, Members must use an electronic ring which incorporates the HiTag-S Electronic chip.
26. No Federation, Combine, Club or member affiliated to the Irish Homing Union can be compelled to use Electronic Timing System.