Policy Change - Multiple Owner Entries; Other Beagle News

Full Circle

January 1, 2019

Source: Roy Swafford

2019 Hunting Beagle Rule Changes

The 2019 Rules Committee met at the most recent World Championship. Committee members included: Scott Clark and Jason Mercer, representing the NHBA; and Field Reps Jeff Stacy, Allen Newby, Kevin Weaver, Fred Hawkins, Brian Hutton, and Jeff Davis. Each committee member brought what they were given by the areas they represent to discuss for change.

Policy Change - Multiple Owner Entries

All members of the committee had been receiving concerns from clubs on how difficult it is becoming to split up dogs up with multiple owners. The consensus of the committee and UKC was that too many times a name is added to a dog for the sole purpose of not having to draw the dog at an event, and not for true ownership. The committee agreed, and solutions were brought to the table for a vote to help officials and clubs with this issue. After discussions a proposal of only the first name listed (Sole Signatory), must be the same before a dog will be moved to a different cast. This proposal passed unanimously.

Additional owners (Successors) will not require officials to roll that dog to a different cast when multiple owners draw to the same cast. Officials will need to watch for the first name listed only. If that name is the same on multiple dogs in the same cast, then that alone determines whether a dog is moved to the next cast. This change will simplify the draw and should stop the game that is being played of putting a name on a dog for the sole purpose of not having to hunt against the dog. The Sole Signatory has always been the true owner of the dog. The Sole Signatory could do anything involving the hound without consent from any name listed. The draw recognized these names as owners, but the time has come to stop allowing all these names to effect cast draw.

No All-Star Points At Youth Events

In 2019, dogs who win their cast will not be awarded All-Star points. The committee felt unanimously that this was unfair to someone who was running the series but did not have a youth that was able to handle the dog for the event. All committee members and UKC feel youth events are about promoting proper rule and procedure practices. Mentoring youth on becoming quality club members and possible officers are just as important, if not more so. No youth event should ever be looked at to gain an advantage in a points race. The First Strike Series already does that for the youth, and that will be the only series points available. Championship points remain in place for now, but I cant stress enough that Youth Only events are about youth development. Becoming a knowledgeable handler is important but we also need to develop our future judges, and club officers. Active club members willing to help where needed is vital for this sport to continue.

Honor Rule Changes
Split Track Scoring

Split track scoring has always been an area of concern and most confusing for even the most experienced judges, especially, when you have dogs leave their track and join another track. Previously, if the split happened after a line was scored, or the majority left at the same time, the affected dog(s) drew a 50 minus. If it was before a line was scored and less than majority of the dog(s) are being minused, they were minused their called position.

A proposal was submitted to change the scoring to 50 minus for any or all dog(s) who leave their track to join another track, no matter if the strike point position was secured or not. This would simplify scoring and make it the same for all dogs. The committee discussed the rule and voted unanimously in favor to implement for 2019.

The official rule will read as follows: {Dog(s) leaving their track to join a split track will receive 50 minus points and any unscored strike position shall be deleted. This applies only for dog(s) leaving their track to join another split track.}

Judges and participants need to understand the only area of change, when it comes to splits, is how much to minus the dog(s). In 2019, no matter how many dogs pull to another split the penalty (minus 50) is the same for every dog regardless of anything else. Dog(s) will still be required to re-strike just as before. What this change does is give all dog(s) who pulled the exact same amount of minus points. This should be a very welcome change and very easy to implement as we go forward in 2019.

Non-Hunting Dog Minus

All committee members had received complaints on the current non-hunting rule. The current rule scratches dog(s) who fail to hunt for any five-minute consecutive period. This was felt by many to either be to long or needed something else. The something else is what this years committee came up with. After a lengthy debate the committee came to agree upon a new added feature to this rule.

New for 2019 any or all dog(s) who fail to hunt for any three-minute period will receive 100 minus points. These points will be recorded on the scorecard in the Losses/Recoveries/No Hunt column of the updated scorecard.

Rule 3G will read as follows: {After the first three minutes of the hunt, any dog(s) failing to hunt for any continuous three-minute period will receive 100 minus points. Dog(s) are not to be moved or encouraged to hunt while on the clock. See Rule 5(b) for dog(s) failing to hunt for any continuous five-minute period.}
Note: This is NOT a majority minus situation. All or any dog will each receive a 100 minus if they fail to hunt for a continuous three minutes. Its equally important to remember that the non-hunting time clock does not stop at three minutes. At the three-minute mark, the dog receives 100 minus and if the dog is still non-hunting at the five-minute mark the dog is scratched in accordance with 5(b).

This is a rule change I like very much. We are a Hunting Beagle format, key word here is hunting. A dog who strikes but fails to produce a rabbit in three minutes receives a 100 minus. Now the dog who stands around and is making no attempt to hunt has the same to lose as the dog who is struck in but fails to produce their rabbit in three minutes.

Striking Dog On Our Before Third Bark

When the program began, all handlers were required after the first three minutes of the hunt to call their dog struck on or before the third bark. A few rules committees ago the rule was modified a bit where the judge was required to ask for a call on any dog who opened three times but wasnt struck. This was put into place to help a handler who was helping someone out and handling their dog but may not be very familiar with the dogs voice at the on-set of the hunt.

The problem that came up is we had handlers manipulating the rule when they werent asked by the judge. I say manipulating due to the fact these individuals know there dog very well and taken advantage of a mistake by the judge who didnt ask for a call. Basically, they found if they were never asked for a call, they didnt have to strike. I am very happy to report this loophole has been taken away and all handlers will be required to strike on or before the third bark.

The rule will now read as follows: f. {After the first three minutes of hunt, dog must be declared struck on or before the third bark. Dog not declared struck on or before third bark will receive the available strike position minused, then awarded that same strike position. For second offense see Rule 5(n).}

Example: Jason Mercers Joker dog strikes first for 100. Lance Wilsons Ol Duke opens three times, but handler Earl Taff fails to call him on that third bark. Chief opens, and Trevor McNewby strikes him. The judge in this situation would minus Duke 75 and put him in at 75. Chief would go on the card for 50.

The example described shows Duke should have been struck second when he opened three times. Earl did not strike him, and judge Mercer minused him that position. He also automatically put him in that position on the scorecard due to that being the position available when the dog was required to be struck.

Deleted Strike Points

Deleted strike points have been added as a determining factor in deciding ties. The main reason behind adding this is to add in all scoring in the cast. Before going into a hunt-off or coin flip to break the tie. Also, a new overtime hunt-off procedure has been implemented. If after all the scoring positions have been gone through and a tie remains, those dogs still tied, will hunt in one 15-minute overtime. The cast need not return to the host club, and the hunt official may extend the deadline 15 minutes to cover the extended hunt time. If, after the 15-minute overtime, a tie still exists a coin flip is required to decide the winner.

Rule seminars will be scheduled at larger events for 2019. Discussion on changes, and clarification of all rules will be the intention of these seminars. When rules are applied with consistency from cast to cast and club to club it makes this format very enjoyable.