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Hunt Committee: from the February - March, 1998 Judges Corner by Tim Gibson
I hope all of you got a chance to read the President’s Message in the last issue. Pete touched on a couple of items that I’ve been wanting to discuss in this column for some time. The first is the number of formal complaints reaching UKC which could have and should have been resolved at the hunt test. The key to handling complaints at the hunt is a strong hunt committee. I realize that for some clubs it’s difficult to find people willing to serve on the hunt committee. Often, clubs draft anyone who can be available on Friday afternoon. While these members are vital to a successful event, and new blood is especially essential, clubs should remember that at least a couple of people on their hunt committee need to have the experience to recognize legality or safety problems in the tests. Further, hunt committee members should be familiar with the HRC/UKC Rules and Guidelines. Remember that both the hunt committee and judges are working toward the same goals - those being to ensure a safe, enjoyable event and to fairly and effectively evaluate the retrievers against the rule book standards. Pete correctly stated in his Presidents Message, “the Judge’s decision is final”. This means the hunt committee should back the judges in all judgmental decisions. Conflicts usually arise when the judges have made a decision a handler believes is based on an improper interpretation of the rule book. A qualified, concerned hunt committee can put out a lot of fires before they flare and reach the point where a handler feels they must file a formal complaint. |
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The Judges Corner - copyright
2006 All Rights Reserved Last modified: February 18, 2008 |