PURPOSE OF THE WOTCPA
To provide a sport in which riders and horses can compete in a healthy, competitive environment. The WOTCPA takes pride in the association, its members, and sponsors. The WOTCPA will do it’s best to ensure that the sport of Team Cattle Penning remains a reputable sport, taking into consideration the safety of its members and the animals involved. In order to do so, the WOTCPA has compiled an outline of its rules and regulations.

TERMS AND DESCRIPTIONS OF ALL POSITIONS OF WOTCPA EXECUTIVE

*President

- 2 year term
- must have been an executive member for at least 1 year followed by a term as vice president
- Call and chair meetings, including the annual AGM
- Nonvoting unless to break a tie
- Sign all cheques

*Vice President

- 2 year term
- Vice President must be a director for a minimum of one year and must be voted in by the executive at an executive meeting.
- The vice president must have already served at least a one year term as an executive member.

*Secretary

- 3 year term
- take minutes at the meetings
- Calculate points
- Organize the AGM
- Send out all correspondence via email
- Keep membership list
- Must be voted in by the general membership at the AGM
- To do entries or delegate a replacement

*Treasurer

- 3 year term
- Voted in by the general membership at the AGM
- Responsible for all financial recordings
- Co-signer on all cheques
- Produce monthly financial reports to be present at all pennings
- Deposit all monies
- Withdraw all monies from bank for pennings
- Prepare cash float for pennings

*Directors (4 positions)

- Voted in by the general membership at the AGM
- Two year term
- Assist with running of the WOTCPA
- Involved in decision making and rulings
- Help with fundraising events
- Chair committees as needed

RULES

Our association runs under the C.T.C.P.A. official rules. If any adaptations have been made to the rules they will be announced and posted at the beginning of the season, as well as on the W.O.T.C.P.A. website (www.teampenning.ca). A copy of the C.T.C.P.A. rules can be downloaded from the C.T.C.P.A. website. Also a copy of the rules will be at the entry desk on penning dates.

MEMBERSHIP FEES

The membership fee for an adult is $ 40.00 per person or $80.00 per family or $15.00 for youth (that ride youth classes only). The membership fee must be paid prior to participating in the first competition that rider has entered that year, and no later than June 1st, (or after a penning has been held at each cattle contractor’s location) for previous year’s members.

ADMIN FEES

Administration fees are charged each day of a competition to cover costs of entries, announcing, judging, timing, and points. Anyone riding the numbered classes or open will pay $10.00. Youth riding only senior pay $5.00 and youth riding only junior youth will not pay an administration fee.

DRESS CODE

The WOTCPA rules state that a long sleeve button shirt with a collar must be worn by all riders while penning at a scheduled competition. It is up to the discretion of the judge to change that rule to “a short sleeved shirt” if it is deemed too warm.

HELMETS

All riders who are 16 years of age and under as of January 1st in the year of competition MUST wear a CSA approved helmet.

YOUTH MEMBERS

A Junior Youth member is 12 or under as of January 1st in the year of competition. A Senior Youth member is of age 16 as of January 1st in the year of competition. All youth members are rated as a “1” unless they have been rated a higher number by the Rating Committee. It is the option of the youth to ride in the youth class or the numbered class, or both.

DRAWPOT RIDERS

Draw pot riders are Adult riders who are beginners who have penned two years or less. The riders will be allowed 3 rides in the draw pot per penning.

RATING COMMITTEE

The rating committee is made up of three members of the association rated no less than a four. They meet at the end of each penning season where they review and adjust ratings where necessary and allocate a rating to all new members.
If a member has a grievance with their rating before June 15 of that penning season, that member may submit their grievance in a sealed envelope along with $50. This must be submitted to an executive member. An executive member will then deliver the grievance to the rating committee. The rating committee then has one week to meet and decide on the grievance. The decision will be returned in a sealed envelope to the executive, which will then be delivered to the member. The $50 will ONLY be returned to if the grievance favours the member.

Rating Committee Goals

The purpose of rating each member is to provide a fair and level playing field for all members. No one should be riding with an advantage, or be disadvantaged, when competing with other members.

It is stressed that at any time, when determining the rating of an individual, rating committees must not consider the effect on the individual member but the effect on the membership as a whole. If the member pens like a 3 then they are rated a 3. If they pen like a 2 then they are rated a 2. The individual’s age, length of time penning, existing teams, or the fact they may skip a rating level altogether, simply do not enter into the equation. The penner’s ability dictates what their rating should be.

When rating a penner, rating committees cannot consider personal relationships, emotions or conflicts of interest. The decision must be based solely on the individual’s ability. The rate of improvement the individual has shown, and the likelihood of significant improvement by the end of the year should also be considered. It is the responsibility of the Rating Coordinator to ensure that all riders in affiliated Associations are rated on a level playing field across the Nation.

The biggest test of the ratings system is when penners across all associations compete in shows such as National Finals and other large shows. A #4 from one association should pen similar to a #4 from any other association. If even one penner competes at a show and is incorrectly rated, he or she has been given a competitive advantage, all other penners have been disadvantaged, and the integrity of the CTCPA Ratings System is put in jeopardy.

The purpose of the Rating Coordinator position is to ensure every rider, no matter which affiliate association they belong to, is rated at the appropriate level. The WOTCPA is responsible for the integrity of the rating system, and as such, the WOTCPA as owners of the rating system will have the final say.

Ratings

The WOTCPA has a 5 number rating system as follows:
5 – This penner is highly proficient in all areas of penning
4 – This penner is above average in most areas of penning
3 – This penner is average in most areas of penning
2 – This penner is developing his/her skills where they are no longer a beginner yet are not achieving overall average penning skills
1 – This penner is well below average in penning skills and is most likely a new rider or a new penner or a penner who needs to develop in all areas of penning criteria

Criteria

This is a list of some criteria that should be used when evaluating a penners rating

Riding Ability
1. Ability to read a cow
2. Ability to react to a situation
3. Ability to play different positions
4. Communication Skills
5. Coaching Ability

MEMBER ISSUES/GRIEVANCES AND CONCERNS

If a member has an issue or a grievance it is to be dealt with as follows: The executive member is to hear the person’s grievance and make no comment for or against and listen respectfully. The executive is to request that the riders issue be written down for the committee to read so that the member’s issue is not misinterpreted by the executive. The member of the executive is to assure the member that this issue will be taken to the executive and the person will be invited to an executive meeting. The executive will deal with the issue in an efficient fashion and the meeting will be called as soon as possible and the decision will be returned to the member.

If an executive member is approached by a member in anger the “24 hour cool off” will apply.

GRIEVANCE DURING A RUN

There will be no rider rep. If a team has a grievance the team should approach the judge and state their issue. The judge will review the grievance and give his/her decision. No grievance will be heard if any member leaves the ring.

SPONSORSHIP

50% of all monies a member gets in sponsorship can be allocated to the penning of his/her choice as added money. The other 50% remains with the association.

HOST PENNINGS

Persons or organizations may from time to time request to host a penning for the WOTCPA. The following items are taken into consideration to protect the reputation of our organization and to be fair to all requests.
In return for a percentage of the entry fees (otherwise known as stock contractor fees):
1. They supply an adequate number of cattle which are numbered and of sufficient size and quality (min. 60 head)
2. An Enclosed Pen size of 60 x 160 ft. with sufficient high sides to contain cattle and a catch pen with an automatic back gate if possible.
3. Adequate safe footing
4. Holding area for cattle
5. Water for horses and cattle
6. A raised stand for both Judges, the Timers and Announcer with a Public Address system( if required) and power.
7. Washroom facilities
8. Food concession booth
9. Spectator seating (optional)
10. Lighting if required
11. Provide adequate parking

RAIN DATES

The decision to cancel a penning is made by the stock contractor and/or an executive member in conference prior to a penning or at the pen. The decision will be made taking into consideration safety for all those involved. It is the member’s sole discretion to choose to participate. Every effort will be made to hold a penning, however, due to inclement weather, if there is any question, it is the member’s responsibility to contact the stock contractor. If the stock contractor has decided to cancel, the executive members will be notified as soon as possible.
If a penning proceeds in inclement weather, it is up to the rider to accept conditions as they are or choose not to ride. Once entries close, the entry cannot be refunded. A rider substitution can be made.

If a penning is cancelled after the penning has begun, the cattle contractor will be paid for the teams that ran. Pay to the judge, announcer, entries person and points person can be paid on a prorated basis according to # of classes gone.
Any class started, will be finished. Payouts and points will be allocated for that class. If a rain date is chosen to replace an unfinished penning, that penning will run all classes and all classes will be pointed.
A date will be selected at the beginning of the year to be kept open for a rain date. If there was to be added money at a cancelled penning, it will NOT be added at the rain date, but at the next penning that contractor is scheduled to host, or another penning selected by the members who obtained the sponsorship money.

PAYBACK

55% of all monies collected plus any added money for the competition is used for payouts. Note: 40% cattle fee plus 5% association fee is deducted from total entries.

POINTS CALCULATION

Points are calculated by class to each rider separately. The top 6 teams are given points as follows:
1st place riders get 30 points plus 1 point for each team it beats. ( eg. In a class of 40 teams, 1st place riders get 30 points + 39 = 69 points)
2nd place riders get 25 points plus 1 point for each team it beat (eg.40 team class, 25 + 38 = 63 pts)
3rd place riders get 20 points plus 1 point for each team it beat (eg. 40 team class, 20+ 37 = 57 pts)
4th place riders get 15 points plus 1 point for each team it beat (eg. 40 team class, 15 + 36 = 51 pts)
5th place riders get 10 points plus 1 point for each team it beat (eg. 40 team class, 10 + 35 = 45 pts)
6th place riders get 5 points plus 1 point for each team it beat (eg. 40 team class 5+ 34 = 39 pts)

OLYMPIC AVERAGE

The Olympic average is calculated by:
1. Finding the number of pennings the average will be based on. That is done by multiplying the number of pointed pennings in a season by 60% to give you the number of BASE PENNINGS that will be counted toward the average. Eg. 15 pennings x 60%= 9 base pennings.
2. Taking one class at a time, and starting with one penner at a time, find the total of the highest points allotted to that rider up to a maximum of the base pennings determined that year. (eg. 9 as shown above) Total the number of points each rider gets in their (eg. 9) best pennings. If the base penning number is 9, but a rider gets points at just 6 pennings, the number for the Olympic average is the total of the points at those 6 pennings.

FINALS / FINALS QUALIFICATIONS

In order to qualify for finals, a member must attend at least 55% of the pennings. This rule also applies to youth riders
The top pointed 15 riders (those with most points after Olympic average) in each class will compete at finals. All classes will be run with a double go with an aggregate on 6 head. Each rider is to make up one team per class which they have qualified for. That team then will be run as that rider’s team only and will qualify for points for just that rider. Payouts, however, are to all three riders on the team. There will be go round money paid out as well as aggregate money.
Buckles are awarded for year end and day in all classes with the exception of the draw pot class. Awards for penner of the year and most improved are also given out at the banquet held immediately after the finals.