Hosting an AWMA Club Trial |
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REVISED 09/2019
This document provides guidance for groups hosting club trials. In addition to this information, clubs should be aware of the regulations governing IGP trials as covered in the official FCI documents as well as the AWMA's Policy on Training and Trials.
Judges
Judges approved to officiate at AWMA events include those licensed by any of the AWDF member organizations whose judges’ program meets, at a minimum, the specifications of the AWDF Judges’ Program, and any other FCI recognized judge. However, the executive board of the AWMA may determine that any judge is unacceptable by a 2/3 majority vote. The Director of Judges will be aware of any disallowed judges as directed by the board of the AWMA. Host clubs are encouraged to contact the AWMA Director of Judges with the name of their judge before issuing the invitation to the judge for their trial.* Judges holding a license issued by any organization other than AWMA are required to be released to judge by the organization issuing their license. We recommend that you email the Director of Judges of the issuing organization with a copy to the requested judge and the AWMA DOJ as soon as you have received a positive response from your requested judge. If the Judge’s license is from outside the US, contact the Secretary of AWDF to begin procedures to obtain the necessary permissions. Judges are limited to 36 phases per day (the equivalent of 12 IGP dogs). Each BH is two phases. OB and TR entries are one phase per entry. Host clubs should ask the judge if they should pre-arrange and pay for the judge’s transportation. Clubs are required to cover transportation to and from the trial site. They are also required to pay for accommodations and meals for the same time period and miscellaneous costs for the judge (airport parking, taxis, etc). Judges will provide the host club with receipts in order to receive reimbursement. Clubs are also required to remit fees to the judge per guidelines of the judge’s licensing body. In some cases (example: SV), there is also a charge by the licensing organization for the use of the judge.
If you use an AWMA judge you are entitled to a $100 rebate from the organization.
If you use an AWMA judge you are entitled to a $100 rebate from the organization.
*At this time, this includes AWMA and DVG judges from within the US and other authorized FCI foreign judges.
Application to hold a Trial
A request to hold the trial, including the dates, judge(s), and titles to be offered must be sent to your Regional Director at least 30 days prior to the trial date. The Regional Director will then forward the request to the Director of Judges for final approval. The Regional Director must submit information on the trial to the AWMA webmaster for inclusion on website no later than 14 days before the trial date. As per the AWMA by-laws, the host club can allow all breeds or limit entries to Belgian Shepherd Dogs. If restricted, that information must be clearly stated on the entry form and in the information submitted to the Regional Director, DOJ and webmaster.
Titles Offered
All of the titles and certificates offered in the FCI rules are offered at AWMA trials, including the protection-only certificates (see the rules at the link shown in the first paragraph). The AWMA also offers the AWD titles developed by the AWDF.
Trial Paperwork
Clubs set their own entry fees. These fees will include a $5/title/dog filing fee to be remitted to the AWMA.
Clubs must use the forms found here. It is helpful to have pre-entries so these forms can be filled out in advance. Upon completion of the trial, one copy of the signed forms must be submitted to the AWMA Secretary along with a check or on-line payment for the filing fees within ten days of the trial date. The Secretary will then send the trial results to the webmaster for inclusion on the AWMA website.
If you use the electronic form, all documents will be sent to the Secretary and Judge automatically.
Clubs must use the forms found here. It is helpful to have pre-entries so these forms can be filled out in advance. Upon completion of the trial, one copy of the signed forms must be submitted to the AWMA Secretary along with a check or on-line payment for the filing fees within ten days of the trial date. The Secretary will then send the trial results to the webmaster for inclusion on the AWMA website.
If you use the electronic form, all documents will be sent to the Secretary and Judge automatically.
Competitors
- Competitors must show proof of current membership in any AWDF organization. It is the trial secretary’s responsibility to ask the competitor for their membership card, and if current membership cannot be confirmed, the entry must be refused.
- Competitors who are AWMA members and do not present a scorebook prior to the beginning of the trial (temperament test or beginning of the first phase) will be required to post a $50 refundable scorebook bond. The bond will be refunded upon presentation of the scorebook, which must be within 48 hours of the completion of the trial. If no scorebook is presented within the allotted time frame, the $50 is forfeit, and the AWMA will issue a scorebook in the dog’s name listing the dog as a mix and showing the trial results, which will be mailed to the judge for signature and then to the handler.
- If the Competitor has applied for a scorebook from AWMA, but it has not yet been received, the Competitor must show proof to the trial secretary that he/she has applied for an AWMA scorebook (PayPal receipt). The scorebook for which the competitor is posting bond MUST be the first scorebook issued to the dog. Application for the scorebook must be made a minimum of 7 business days prior to the trial for which bond is posted. Competitors who have applied for a scorebook to replace a book issued by other organizations, that contains results of titles previously earned, may not trial without presenting a scorebook. This process will be followed regardless of whether or not the dog passed.
- SCOREBOOK BONDS CANNOT BE ISSUED TO COMPETITIORS ENTERING WITH CURRENT MEMBERSHIP IN ANY ORGANIZATION OTHER THAN THE AWMA. A non-AWMA member who does not present a scorebook at the beginning of the trial cannot issue a bond and therefore cannot compete.
Additional Information
- Dogs must have permanent identification in the form of a tattoo or microchip, regardless of whether the dog is a registered or mixed breed. If the dog is microchipped, the owner is required to provide a chip reader at the trial for the temperament test unless the club has specifically stated that it has a reader that will recognize the dog’s type of chip.
- All dogs MUST be checked for permanent identification (tattoo or microchip) at the trial.
- Dogs without permanent identification are not allowed to participate. If the club has a chip reader available, this information should be stated on the entry form along with the types of chips that can be read.
- Clubs should ensure that permission has been obtained to use the tracking fields. As a rule of thumb, it requires about 5 acres per IGP 3 track and 15 acres for an FH (with accommodations for change of terrain and the road crossing).
- Clubs must also provide regulation dumbbells, high jump, wall, gun and ammunition, blinds, and sufficient people to have a group and a person to fire the gun.
- The trial secretary must be a current member of the AWMA.
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