All-Star Series Bonus Points Events Change Notice for 2017

Full Circle

June 22, 2016

Source: Allen Gingerich

All-Star Series Bonus Points Events Change Notice for 2017

The litter-registered requirement and a minimum of nine dogs in a category are a couple changes recently made to the All-Star Series rules. Otherwise, not much has changed since the start of this series, other than it remains to be a competitive and exciting series in the Hunting Beagle format. Some supporters were concerned that by making only UKC litter-registered dogs eligible to compete for points would knock out a lot of good hounds and cripple the series. After only one year of that requirement, however, it looks like the series did not lack much when it comes competiveness and numbers, so, thanks, to all those Beaglers who are now litter-registering and building a UKC-recorded pedigree behind their hounds.

One of the things that adds to the All-Star Series is double points events. This was already one of the features since day one. One of the differences between this and many other year-long series, however, is that points can be earned at any UKC licensed event. This allows those who dont have the means or the drive to travel across the country to still have an opportunity to compete. And its actually worked out quite well. Double points events add up quicker for the winning hounds, but they also include more travel and expense for many owners.

In the past two years, weve had quite a few more double points events then we had to begin with; almost to the point of having too many. Each year, we also get a number of new requests for double points events, which is becoming somewhat of a struggle to determine what events merit double points status without disappointing some clubs. There are plenty of special club events that deserve double points status, no doubt; however, it can also be arduous when deciding a reasonable criterion and efforts of keeping that playing field level between all four regions. And too many double points events make it harder to be competitive for those who dont have the means to travel as much as others.

For these reasons, UKC has decided to cut back on the number of All-Star Bonus Points Events, beginning with the 2017 calendar year. Each state will have one double points event, which will be the State Championship as approved by UKC. Additional Bonus Points Events will include: the Eliminator (both East and West); NHBA Days; the UKC Hunting Beagle Nationals; the Don Sr. McVay Memorial; and the UKC Hunting Beagle World Championship.

They all Missed It

We all know that we can score three lines on the same rabbit. After three lines have been scored, we pick the dogs up and move them on to compete for a new set of strike points. At the most recent Hunting Beagle Nationals, several of us were sitting around waiting for casts to return and discussing this very topic. During the conversation, the question arose on whether a line missed by all dogs in the cast would be considered as one of those three lines or not.

When I suggested that it would absolutely count as one of the three lines, a couple of the old-timers about fell out of their seats! I went on to explain my logic to the panel of rules experts sitting around there soaking up the morning sunshine. It got several of them thinking and halfway convinced they might have been doing this wrong for all these years. There were a couple hard-headed Beaglers in the crowd who were not convinced, however. Not even barely.

A little while later, when we were busy getting the next round ready for the field, a couple different hunters came up to me asking, Whats this I hear about this three-line deal? Man, we have never done it like that! I was a little too busy at the time to stop and discuss in-depth but, nonetheless, I started second-guessing myself. I did tell those same guys that I would do a little research when I got back to the office and well go from there.

Ive now done that, and needless to say, found that I was dead wrong, so Im taking the liberty here to admit that and eat my crow. More importantly, to clarify that at least one of the dogs in the cast must receive line points in order for that line to count as one of the three. Just like you have been doing all these years. Ive now come full circle and am back on track, and hope those sitting there that morning read this and now know I was wrong and they were right.

Dog Not Yet Transferred to New Owner with Regard to Multiple Owner Entries

Q: When a new owner enters a dog that has not been transferred into their name in the event, is the event official required to split the entries when that same owner has another dog entered in the event? Heres an example. Dog A is owned and registered to Allen Gingerich. Dog B is registered to Todd Kellam, but was recently purchased by Allen Gingerich. The transfer section on the backside of the Registration Certificate shows that Allen Gingerich is the new owner of Dog B, but has not yet been transferred/registered to him. May/should Dog A and Dog B be intentionally split or drawn to different casts?

A: Owners having multiple entries in an event may only intentionally split if the dogs are registered in the same owners name. The registered owner is the name on the front side of the dogs Registration Certificate. Multiple entries may not be intentionally split otherwise. The individual the dog is registered to is what the official must go by. Per the example given above, Dog A and Dog B may not be intentionally split or drawn to different casts.

The only two exceptions to this rule are: 1) a dog(s) that was single registered on the day of the event or is still pending UKC registration; and 2) a non-registered dog(s) that is entered in the event. These entries should be split, if possible.

Character above Reproach

It is kind of sad that I recently addressed two situations in two days concerning, how should I put it, character or class? One caller who described himself as definitely not being a prude, felt forced to withdraw his dog at an event because of the constant profanity and totally vulgar actions displayed by another cast member. The person calling had a young boy with him and asked several times that the handler tone it down a little. The handler refused to tone it down, and the caller felt he was left no choice but to withdraw his dog. Though he really wished to hunt his dog, it wasnt worth exposing a child to that kind of behavior. The caller asked if a person could be scratched for such behavior.

The next day I received a letter wanting to know if there was anything that could be done about a licensed official, in this case a Bench Show Judge, who openly made profane, distasteful comments about a young woman handler in the show. According to this letter, the Judge went on and on with his lewd, profane dialogue, and cared not who heard it. Nor did he care who heard his colorful stories of days past and the placement of registration papers on grade dogs. The letter asked if an official could lose his license if they lacked, as the Bench Show Judge Requirements put it, character above reproach.

While its not surprising that we have to deal with such issues in a male-dominated sport, it sure doesnt mean that we have to live with it. There are varying degrees of such behavior. What one person might find offensive, another does not; however, both of the situations described to me seemed to be clear examples of situations that needed some action taken. Can you scratch the individual in the cast above for excessive swearing? No, not really. Not unless you could make a case that it was being used in a manner to intimidate or stir up trouble. Would the club be within its rights to send the cast member in question a written notice that his entry would be refused at their next three events because he was hindering their ability to run a family event? You bet!

What about officials who lack character above reproach, such as the one described above? Is he a good representative of your club and United Kennel Club? I would say not. Is there a chance that anyone who was unscrupulous enough to put a set of papers on a dog would outright cheat on a bench show? Sounds reasonable to me.

There is something that can be done about it. A signed, written complaint may be filed against any licensed official. When we receive a complaint on an official, that Judge or Master of Hounds has a file started on them. Now I know darn well that some of these complaints are just sour apples, and one complaint may or may not result in a license being pulled, but I can tell you this, two or three complaints over a period of time for a similar problem will get a license pulled. Especially if the official has already been warned. Weve done it many times.

The term character above reproach doesnt just apply to licensed officials. It applies to each and every one of us. If you have a total disregard for it, then this sport is better off without you.