2026 Motions for Consideration
8 January 2026
Motions for 2026 AGM
Where only part of a clause or rule has been changed, this appears in bold italics in the proposed wording.
Rules for Trials:
Motion 1
3.2b Current:
For a trial to be considered a Qualifying trial for the National it must not be run as part of a novice or nursery trial and it must be open to all with no unreasonable restriction or qualification, either geographical or in any other way. A minimum of 25 dogs must compete at the Trial. The course must be a National style course that includes a drive element. The trial must be advertised on the ISDS website at least one week before the trial date, or details published in a copy of the local agricultural press either online or printed (in Southern Ireland this being the Farmers journal) with publication being on a date before the trial date.
Proposed amendment to rule 3.2b regarding advertising of trials and timescales:
For a trial to be considered a Qualifying trial for the National it must not be run as part of a novice or nursery trial and it must be open to all with no unreasonable restriction or qualification, either geographical or in any other way. A minimum of 25 dogs must compete at the Trial. The course must be a National style course that includes a drive element. The trial must only be advertised on the ISDS website trials diary at least 5 days before the trial date. It must not be advertised by any other means beforehand. (day 1 as being the day the trial was published on the trials diary regardless of time of day - 24 hour clock)
Reasoning: This is to clear up where the trial can be advertised and provides clarity around the timescales of what counts as day 1 as there was some confusion with the previous rule when day 1 started from.
Proposed: Fiona McMillan
Seconded: Jimmy Ogston
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Motion 2
New Rule to clarify the protocol where handlers qualify two dogs for the Supreme, who are drawn to run consecutively.
Where a handler qualifies two dogs for the Semi-final of a World Trial, Final of a World Trial, or the International Supreme, and the drawn order is consecutive, the second dog will be moved down the list one place. i.e. run order places them to run 3rd and 4th. They will change to 3rdand 5th with the original 5th paced person running 4th. In the case of a retirement or DQ of the competitor running in-between, at least 15 minutes must be allowed between dogs.
Proposed Jim Ogston
Seconded David Kennard
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Motion 3
Rules For Trials: Current
3.2 NATIONAL SINGLES ENTRY AND QUALIFICATION
v. That the three sixth placed dogs at Nationals using the five from each day, have a runoff for the reserve spot.
To be replaced with:
3.2 NATIONAL SINGLES ENTRY AND QUALIFICATION
v. The position of reserve place in the National team when using the five from each day will be decided by either:
a) The 6th place competitor from each of the qualifying days to have a runoff. or
b) The 6th place competitor from each of the qualifying days who in the two judges' opinion shall be awarded the reserve place. The method used will be decided by the National Trials committee.
Rational: To allow either method to be used taking into consideration factors that can mean that the time available and daylight remaining could influence the runoff for the National Championship.
Proposed: Robin Dean
Seconded: Richard Smith
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Motion 4
New Rules adopted in 2025 with a rule number, resulted in it being placed in the Brace section incorrectly and should be in general 3.1:
Current:
Rules For Trials: 3.3 M an N
m. Any competitor put on the Reserve list for the National Trial should be notified immediately if there is a withdrawal and given their running order number. If the reserve competitor already has a run on that day (as they can’t have 2 runs on the same day) the next competitor on Reserve list is to be notified promptly.
n. Any reserve entry not called to run may have his entry fee refunded
Change to:
3.1 U and V so it applies to the Singles (3.2) and the Brace (3.3)
Proposed by: Fiona McMillan
Seconded by: Alexander Wilkinson
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Stud Book Rules:
Motion 5:
OPHTHALMIC (CLINICAL) EXAMINATION
Proposed New Rule: 4.5
Any dog being considered for registration on merit must have a PRA test carried out via ophthalmic test with a certified PRA examiner, from the ISDS list of BVA Vets or ECVO practitioners within Europe or a nationally registered veterinarian in other countries, prior to registration.
Proposed by: Claire Somers-Cashen
Seconded by: Frank Cashen
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Registration On Merit – Conditions:
Motion 6:
Addition to the Registration on Merit Conditions:
1.3 The dog being considered for registration on merit must have a PRA test carried out via
ophthalmic test with a certified PRA examiner, from the ISDS list of BVA Vets or ECVO
practitioners within Europe or a nationally registered veterinarian in other countries, prior to registration.
Motion 7:
Amendment to the Registration on Merit Condition: 1.4
Process current wording:
The history of the breeding of the dog, including details of its sire and dam including owners and ISDS registration numbers wherever available (although it is not an absolute requirement
that parents be ISDS registered).
To be replaced with:
The history of the breeding of the dog, including details of its sire and dam including owners and ISDS registration numbers wherever available which shall only be recorded where a parentage DNA test has been provided (although it is not an absolute requirement that parents be ISDS registered).
Proposed by: Frank Cashen
Seconded by: Claire Somers-Cashen
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Constitution
Motion 8:
Background
Amendment to 3.8 to ensure a fair quorum of over half of the Trustees present for a vote.
Current Clause:
3.8 The Council may meet to conduct its business as frequently as it thinks fit. The quorum for meetings of the Council shall be five Trustees. Any Council Trustee present at a meeting in relation to a resolution on which they are not entitled to vote, shall not be counted in the quorum.
Proposed Amendment:
The Council may meet to conduct its business as frequently as it thinks fit. The quorum for meetings of the Council shall be nine Trustees. Any Council Trustee present at a meeting in relation to a resolution on which they are not entitled to vote, shall not be counted in the quorum.
Proposed: Fiona McMillan
Seconded: Ian Brownlie
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Motion 9:
Amendment to 6.5a
Election of Junior Vice President in a Presidential Change Year.
It is not clearly stated in the Constitution what the process is for the Junior Vice President when it is the year for a President to Change. The terminology as stated currently seems to not align with what actually happens. I.e. In an International Year where a president has completed their term, Senior VP is President Elect and there is an assumption that JVP is SVP Elect. Therefore, should this be stated so we know when voting on a JVP at the Section meeting prior, it is for a new office holder? In other years, a vote could in fact result in the change of the JVP.
Current:
6.13 At a Vice-Presidential election the Vice-President with the least service as a Vice-President will be known as the Junior Vice-President and the one with the greater service as the Senior Vice-President. In the event of two Vice-Presidents, with identical service being elected at the same time, the Vice-President gaining the larger number of votes will be designated Senior Vice-President. On becoming a Senior Vice-President that person will automatically be elected annually until they attain the office of National President.
6.14 All nominations for the office of National Vice President shall be made in writing to the CEO not later than 1st April previous to the meeting at which the election is to take place. The nomination must be signed by two members who have obtained the consent of the nominee. All nominees must have served as Directors for not less than three years. A retiring National Vice-President shall be eligible for re-election and shall be deemed to be nominated for such.
Proposed:
6.13 At a Vice-Presidential election the Vice-President with the least service as a Vice-President will be known as the Junior Vice-President and the one with the greater service as the Senior Vice-President. In the event of two Vice-Presidents, with identical service being elected at the same time, the Vice-President gaining the larger number of votes will be designated Senior Vice-President. On becoming a Senior Vice-President that person will automatically be elected annually until they attain the office of National President.
In the year pre-ceding a Presidential change, it is set that Junior Vice President will be promoted to Senior Vice President on the 1st of November, or when the National President retires, and a nomination and vote will take place to elect a replacement Junior Vice President, at the relevant national AGM.
6.14 No Change
Proposed: Ian Brownlie
Seconded: Robin Dean
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Motion 10:
New Clause:
6.5 When there is a need for a vote by the membership to elect the requisite 10 members to become Directors, in a given year; those who wish to vote by post must request a voting form from the office. The onus is on the voter to contact the office and enquire and request the form. Otherwise, the vote will be conducted through a secure online voting tool, circulated via email.
Reasoning for new clause: When there is a need for a vote by the membership to elect the requisite 10 members to become Directors in a given year, it is currently a requirement that the ISDS writes to all members without email, with a printed and embossed paper voting slip and covering letter. The last time this was required there were 511 people to write to, and 4 slips were returned, this does not make sense to continue with, due to increasing costs relating to print and postage, for such a small uptake by the membership.
Proposed: David Kennard
Seconded: Joe Relph
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End.
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