A number of changes to the procedures regarding a change of grade application are being introduced in light of the new grading and competition structures being implemented after they were overwhelmingly endorsed by clubs last month.

Clubs and Regions, in particular their grading officers, should note the following:

Upgrade Applications
Club Committees may now authorise an upgrade for a member of their own club, only. They cannot, however, upgrade a member on the day of a show.

To upgrade a member, the club must submit the official form and payment to National Office via www.airc.ie/shop. During the online application process, they must also submit the Club Members Upgrade Authorisation Form F22/21. This form outlines the reasoning for the club authorising the change of grade and must be signed by both the Club Secretary and Club Grading Officer.

A member is only eligible to compete at the new grades once the changes have been recorded on the Membership Online Database and the members Membership Card has been amended to the new grades.

Upgrade applications are no longer reviewed at Regional level.

Downgrade Applications
The process for downgrades is currently suspended and further information will be released in the coming weeks. No applications for downgrade will be considered until the new procedures have been announced.