1. This award is for an individual bird for superior performances over his lifetime. Fanciers may apply for birds that are currently flying or have since been retired.
2. To qualify, a bird must:
   a.Win five or more diplomas (based on one diploma per 20 participating birds but no less than one diploma for every five lofts, or fraction thereof) in scheduled races of 75 actual airline miles or more.
   b.There must be a minimum of five lofts competing in the race for a diploma to be awarded.
   c.Win two or more diplomas from 375 actual airline miles or greater.
   Exception: For birds flown in the state of Hawaii and Puerto Rico, two or more diplomas must be from the longest possible race station.
   d.Win diplomas in two or more separate years of competition.
   e.At least one diploma must be won after January 1, 2003.
   f.Score 150 or more points.
   g.Special races are allowed.
3. A bird can only score points or get credit for a single performance. A bird cannot get credit for more than one diploma on a single date when competing in two or more organizational levels.
4. Points toward the championship are allotted for each race submitted as follows:
   a.Diploma points: The winning bird receives 20 diploma points. The second place diploma winner receives 19 points, the third place diploma winner receives 18 points, etc., until the diploma points are exhausted…. based on one diploma per 20 participating birds but no less than one diploma for every five lofts or fraction thereof.
   b.Bird points: One percent of the number of birds participating in the race.
   c.Distance points: One percent of the actual airline distance.
5. Examples for awarding points:
   a. 211 birds, 20 lofts, 391 miles:
   The winner receives 20 diploma points plus 2.11 bird points plus 3.91 distance points for a total of 26.02 points. 2nd diploma (flying the same distance) receives 1 point less or 25.02 points. 3rd diploma (flying 406 miles) receives 24.17 points. 4th diploma (flying 429 miles) receives 23.40 points.
   b. 2000 birds, 198 lofts, 391 miles:
   The winner receives 20 diploma points plus 20 bird points plus 3.91 distance points for a total of 43.91 points. 2nd diploma receives 1 point less (flown to the same distance) and so on with 21st through 100th positions receiving no points for diplomas but are awarded bird and distance points for a total of 23.91 points (flown to the same distance).
   c. 18 birds, 18 lofts, 503 miles:
   In this example, the first four birds will receive points (diploma plus bird plus distance points) as there are now four diplomas based on one diploma per 20 participating birds but no less than one diploma for every five lofts or fraction thereof.
6. When a bird has achieved this award, each diploma performance will be listed on the AU Registered Champion Certificate showing: position, distance, date, speed, the number of birds and number of lofts competing.
7. Points will not be totaled on the certificate. Thus, the owner may enter later diploma performances by a Champion on the certificate. Only one certificate will ever be issued to an individual bird.
8. To receive an American Racing Pigeon Union “AU REGISTERED ELITE CHAMPION CERTIFICATE”, see the instructions on the application. Complete the application, attach copies of each race report (not diplomas) and mail it to the AU Office.

Deadline:
At this time, only paper applications will be considered.
Applications may be submitted at any time of the year.