Novice & Restricted Super Stakes
The following is offered as a suggestion on how transition between the three levels of Retrieving might be improved.
Proposal
That a secondary level of competition be introduced to allow dogs to continue participating in Novice and Restricted levels after receiving titles for those respective levels.
How it works
Once a dog has achieved its title following 3 wins in Novice or Restricted it may continue to enter trials at that respective level of competition but only under Super Stake conditions. In Super Stakes, titled dogs may run in stakes but would not be in competition for an official placing with untitled dogs. Instead, titled dogs would participate in the same runs following the untitled dogs in competition, but with one of two run variations added. Being either, at the end of one run (of a judge’s choosing) the run will be modified to incorporate a type of retrieve and conditions that apply at the next level of competition, or, an additional run would be set at the end of the stake based on next level criteria.
For example: NRD titled dogs in a Super Novice stake might have a double rise added to a mark. RRD titled dogs in a Super Restricted stake might have the distance of a blind extended and / or greater tolerances placed on lines.
Under this conditional entry scheme, dogs would be scored using the existing points system in the usual ways. At the end of the trial, after untitled dogs in competition have been awarded their places, the highest scoring Super Stake exhibits would then be announced. However, no formal award would be made other than any symbolic gesture a club may care to make.
There would be no limit on the number of dogs required to run a Super Stake.
Any dog that moves up to the next level of competition and receives a 1st, 2nd or 3rd place would become ineligible to enter a lower Super Stake.
Super Stake option/s would only be offered at a clubs' discretion based on agreeance with judges and in anticipation of numbers of exhibits likely to be available to hold all stakes.
Rationale
We are all familiar with desires to find ways to allow dogs to compete at their perceived or true levels of competence and keep competitors in the sport. Under this proposal, owners/handlers would be able to continue participating at their comfort level while still being encouraged and challenged to improve. Whilst in informal competition, it is expected that triallers will become motivated to move-up as their skills and confidence grow in order to obtain higher formal achievements.
This proposal recognises that some judges carrying out certain stakes may not have the appropriate qualifications to set and judge higher level runs. In those situations, it is suggested that less qualified judges seek guidance and approval of more qualified judges on proposed Super Stake runs, and after judging, review outcomes with the same senior judge prior to announcement of results. This ‘on the job’ training could benefit the progression and experience of judges and aid training for future elevations.
I’m sure people will find reasons why this might be too hard or complicated to introduce, but I think it is a reasonably simple change and could make the sport more engaging and less segmented in the skill differences that currently exist between levels.
Anyhow...have a think about it!
Peter