2024 NRC: Retriever Advisory Committee Meeting

Retriever Advisory Committee Meeting 2024
2024 National Retriever Championship

Lion’s Den, Giddings, TX

Members in Attendance: John Russell, Larry Morgan, Monte Wolf, Bill Goldstein, and Russ Reavis (AKC)

Meeting Called to Order: 1:07 pm by John Russell

Opening Remarks

John Russell opened with a reminder to all attendees about the importance of ensuring that Field Trial Committees fulfill their responsibilities. He emphasized communicating to home clubs the need to address all duties seriously, including investigating reports of misconduct.

Clarifying Procedures on Scrapped Tests

For weekend field trials, the following procedures apply, consistent with National guidelines:

If a test is scrapped and the new test begins the same day: The dog in the last holding blind for the scrapped test will start the new series.
If a test is scrapped and the new test begins the next day: The dog that initially started the scrapped test will also start the new test.

Attendees discussed ways to increase awareness and adherence to this procedure. Suggestions included:

Adding it to the rule book
Sending a letter to all clubs
Publishing a notice in Retriever News

Rotation When Series Are Combined

When an originally announced (4-part) rotation is changed because the judges combine series (e.g., the 2nd series land blind combined with the 3rd series water blind), the question arose about which dog should start. With three series-starters instead of the announced four, attendees agreed it was fairest to begin the combined series with the first listed dog on the originally posted rotation.

Scratch Policy

Continuing the discussion from the 2024 NARC on scratch policy:

Current rules provide a full refund (minus processing fees) for scratches due to bitches in season, injured or deceased dogs.

Questions Raised: Should clubs retain a partial entry fee in cases of injury, death, or a bitch in heat to cover expenses like EE fees, AKC fees, and credit card processing fees?
Other Reasons for Scratches: Clubs can create their own refund policies if they are posted in the premium.

John raised an additional issue: the ability for a handler to scratch after event closing, but before the event begins, due to a change in the judging panel. Attendees debated whether any partial entry fees should be retained in this case, or if this warrants a rule change. Russ Reavis (AKC) suggested listing Entry Fees and Additional Fees separately in the premium, allowing clubs to retain Additional Fees if a full refund on Entry Fees is mandated.

Suggested Fee Retention: Attendees informally agreed that no more than 20% of the fee should be retained, ideally less.

Next Steps: Attendees recommended formalizing the scratch policy changes for an official vote.

Rotation in the Minor Stakes

It was reiterated that a rotation is mandatory in the minor stakes, as was mandated several years ago. This is not optional—all stakes must use a running order rotation.

Catalogs at Trials

Some attendees expressed a desire for clubs to provide printed catalogs. However, others noted that many catalogs are discarded. Ideas discussed included pre-ordering catalogs for those who want them, potentially with a fee. There was also interest in understanding EE’s pricing structure for catalogs.

Marking the End of a Blind

Concerns were raised that not all judges mark the end of blinds visibly for handlers. While the rule currently states, “the blind must be clearly marked with a conspicuous object,” attendees agreed that if handlers raise concerns, they should report them to the Event Committee, which is responsible for investigating these issues.

The Meeting was called to a close at 2:00 pm