The Kennel Club has approved the following changes to the regulations for working trials.
The following regulation has been amended to allow for self-nomination when applying to become a championship working trials judge.
Amendment to Regulation I25.a
TO:
Working Trial Societies must apply to the Board for the approval of judges for Championship T.D. and P.D. Stakes at least nine months before the date of the Trial. All first time appointments must be applied for a minimum of eighteen months before the date of the Trial on the form provided. Individuals may apply to the Board for approval to award Championship Working Trial Certificates for the first time, provided that the judge has fulfilled the minimum criteria in accordance with Regulation I25.b. Subject to approval judges would be included on the list of Approved Championship Working Trial Judges.
(Insertions in bold)
(Effective 1 January 2021)
The below regulation has been amended to clear up what is required when applying for approval to judge at championship level.
Amendment to Regulation I25.b
TO:
b. On application for a person’s first appointment to judge Championship Working Trial Certificate Stakes, the nominee must meet the following minimum conditions which apply are:
Criteria On application a A person must:
(5) Have attended a Kennel Club Working Trial Regulations and Judging Procedure Seminar and passed the Regulations and Judging Procedure examination either at a classroom-based seminar or on the Kennel Club Academy.
(6) Have attended a Kennel Club Practical Working Trials seminar. In addition P.D. judges must have attended a Kennel Club P.D. Regulations and Judging Procedure Seminar and passed the relevant examination (effective 1 January 2014).
(Insertions in bold. Deletions struck through)
(Effective 1 January 2021)
The below regulation has been amended to ensure that trials managers had an opportunity to discuss any concerns relating to the PD stake with the judge, and appropriate changes made if necessary.
Amendment to Regulation I26i
TO:
Patrol Dog stake judges must, before commencement of the Patrol Dog test, provide Working Trials Managers with sufficient detail of the tests, the risks arising from them and measures to manage those risks, to be included within risk assessments completed in respect of the events.
(Insertion in bold)
(Effective 1 January 2021)
The below regulation has been amended to bring it in line with all the other activities’ wording for judges contracts.
Amendment to Regulation I27a.
TO:
Invitations to judge must be made by working trial societies in writing and must include the following wording:
‘In accepting this invitation you agree to be bound by Kennel Club Rules and Regulations and the Kennel Club Code of Best Practice for Judges and confirm that you are qualified to judge in accordance with Working Trial Regulation I26.
In doing so you also recognise that you are obliged to notify us in writing of any change in personal circumstances which may affect your ability to fulfil this judging appointment. You should note that we reserve the right to cancel the contract before the date of the appointment if there is such a change in your circumstances, which in our reasonable opinion would adversely affect your ability to fulfil the appointment. Clubs may cancel a judging appointment where there is clear evidence that the judge's ability to fulfil the appointment has been adversely affected, or in consultation with the judge.’
(Insertions in bold)
(Effective 1 January 2021)
The below regulation have been amended to ensure that helpers in the Quartering the Ground exercise are protected should a dog fail to complete the test correctly.
Amendment to Regulation I(B)13
TO:
The missing person, protected consistent with safety, should must remain motionless in a seated or standing position out of sight of the handler, but should must be accessible on investigation to the dog when ‘winded’. The protected steward must not be lying down. The judge should satisfy himself that the dog has found the person and has given warning spontaneously and emphatically without being directed by the handler. A dog that bites the hidden person must be heavily penalised.
(Deletions struck through. Insertions in bold)
(Effective 1 January 2021)
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