GULF COAST STOCK DOG ASSOCIATION
2003 RULES
Adopted: September 1996
Updated: December 1996, March 1997
January 1998, December 2000
January 2003
MEMBERSHIP: The Gulf Coast Stock Dog Association is open to anyone
wishing to join. Dues will be $20.00 per year (beginning in
1997), with membership to run January 1 to December 31.
Every member will be eligible to vote in all general elections,
Hold office, and partake of any function sponsored by GCSA.
Any member may participate in any GCSA Trial unless other-
Wise advertised before the trial (some trials may limit classes
due to facility requirements or availability of livestock), in
this case pre-trial registration will be required and taken on a
first come/first serve” basis.
Trials are open to any breed of dog.
OFFICERS/BOARD: All officers are to be elected annually.
Officers to be: President, Vice-President,
Secretary/Treasurer. Term: January 1-December 31.
The Board of Directors is to consist of 6 members, each
elected to a 3 year term. Terms shall be staggered so that
two new Board Members are elected each year.
Election Procedure:
* Advertise for nominations in August newsletter.
* Nominations to be received before October 1.
* Ballot printed in October newsletter.
* Ballot to be signed and returned by December 1.
* Winners to be announced in next newsletter.
TRIAL CLASSES: All sanctioned trials will have an OPEN, PRO/NOVICE,
NURSERY & NOVICE .
OPEN- shall be open to any dog and/or handler.
PRO-NOVICE – shall consist of either a Pro Handler and Novice
dog, OR a Pro Dog and Novice Handler.
NURSERY – Open to any dog that is 30 months or less on
January 1 of the year shown. Any nursery dog shall
be allowed to run in the open without surrendering
the nursery classification. Proof of age will be
required.
NOVICE - neither handler or dog has ever won any class at
ANY trial whether is be GCSA or any other
organization. Any handler that has shown a
PRO/NOVICE or OPEN dog cannot compete in
the NOVICE class.
Any questions concerning eligibility of a member or dog for any class will be decided by the Board of Directors and Officers of GCSA. We ask dog handlers to be honest when asked which class you will enter. The Board will have the final say as to eligibility and may “move-up” any dog at their discretion, but most moves will be after the trail season is completed.
** Important Note: any dog that qualifies for a given class may run for the full calendar
in that class (this is done to help qualify dogs for “HIGH POINT
DOG OF THE YEAR” honors).
At the end of the calendar year, the top dogs (based on trial points & ability) in the NOVICE class will be required to move-up to PRO/NOVICE. The top dogs in
PRO/NOVICE class will be required to move up to OPEN. The number of dogs to be moved will be decided by Board of Directors & Officers and members will be notified before the next trial begins.
Any dog and handler that runs in the PRO/NOVICE class can also run in the OPEN class at the same trail, but if they place in the money running OPEN they cannot go back an compete in the PRO/NOVICE. Points in the higher class do not count until you win money or declare that you wish to move up on your own. NOVICE handlers cannot compete in either the PRO/NOVICE or OPEN CLASS.
POINT SYSTEM FOR” HIGH
POINT DOG OF THE YEAR” AWARDS:
“HIGH POINT DOG OF THE YEAR” will be awarded for each different class- OPEN, PRO-NOVICE, and NOVICE. Dog with the most points earned at 80% of all possible trials will be declared the winner. (Because we may not come out with an even umber of trials we are going to round-off to lower whole number if .5 or less, round-off to higher whole number if .6 or more).
Number of trials
Actual trials x 80%
rounded off total
10 8.0
8
11
8.8
9
12
9.6
10
Should there be a tie at the end of the year; the dog with the highest number of points at any single trial will be declared the winner.
Award will be limited to GCSA member only. Other qualifications are included in regular entry rules for each class.
Points are awarded based on number of entries not on money won. Formula =
1 point/dog x number of dogs in decreasing order based on placing (exception: any dogs that receive a “no time” will get only 1 point each as there is no way to determine exact placing).
Example: there
are 10 dogs in a class and only 6 managed to pen cattle within time allotted. The point breakdown would be as follows:
1st
place = 10 points
2nd place = 9 points
3rd place = 8
points
4th
place = 7 points
5th place = 6
points
6th place = 5
points
7th
-10th place = 1 point
each
TRIAL ENTRY FEES: (unless otherwise advertised shall be)
ONE GO-ROUND - $35.00 fee (all classes)
Includes: USBCHA………$ 1.00
Club Fee……… $ 2.00
Trial Host…….. $ 2.00
Secretary …….. $ 2.00
Award Fee …… ..$ 3.00
Cattle Charge …..$ 15.00
Jackpot …………$ 10.00
PAYOUT OF JACKPOT (1st thru 6th place)
1-4 entries …… payout 100%
5-8 entries ……payout 60%, 40%
9-12 entries …..Payout 50%, 30%, 20%
13-16 entries ….payout 40%, 30%, 20%,10%
17-20 entries ….payout 37%, 25%, 18%,13%, 7%
21+ entries ….. payout 34%, 24%, 17%,12%,8%, 5%
TRIALING RULES:
1. Trials will be limited to 6 week-ends (not to include a finals if we ever go to that format, or any joint trials with other associations.) This would give us 12 single day trials. For 2003, trial season will be as follows: SPRING – March thru May, FALL – September thru November.
2. Board of Directors will have at least one member check out any new requests for a trial, and someone to visit possible trial location – discuss course, look at cattle to be used, etc. We would also like to make sure that host has any help he/she might need to set-up course, or to “dog-break” cattle before the trial.
3. Handler must be a member of GCSA to compete.
4. TRIAL COMMITTEE should consist of host, and at least one Board Member or Officer and a representative of each class. They will determine trial course and a time limit before beginning any classes.
5. Trail Course should include a fetch from pasture to pens, several obstacles in a pen worked in a specific order, with an exhaust into another pen.
6. Besides the time limit to compete course, there will be a time limit for completing the fetch into the working pen. This time will be 2 minutes less than total time. (In special instances-such as trials with only pen work-this rule may not apply.)
7. Trial placing will be determined by points and time. Highest point total will win. In the event of a tie for any place-time elapsed for entire run will be used. If there is still a tie, time elapsed from fetch to first gate will be used.
8. Number of points earned during the trial will be based on the number of obstacles. All Obstacles will have the same point value (this is done to make scoring easier)
All obstacles must be run in the order decided on by Trial Committee. Each
obstacle must be negotiated to earn the right to go to the next.
9. Total point values decided on for each obstacle will be based on number of cattle
put thru or around the obstacle. POINTS/OBSTACLE X NUMBER OF HEAD = TOTAL POINTS/OBSTACLE
10. If all stock miss an obstacle on the first pass then they must be brought back and
at least one head put thru or around the obstacle in order to earn the right to go to
the next obstacle. If one head goes thru and the rest go past the obstacle they
cannot be brought back unless they do not go past the end of the panel. If the
stock go thru the obstacle backwards, they must be turned around and brought
thru correctly in order to earn the right to continue on and get points for that
obstacle.
11. Stock must go COMPLETELY THRU an obstacle in order to receive the points for that obstacle; points will be awarded at the discretion of the time/point keepers. (any GCSA member, family , or friend may be asked to help keep time and points at trials. It is suggested that at least two point keepers be used at any given time.)
12. Handler must travel thru the same gates as the stock, you cannot climb over
fences or gates.
13. There will be No driving in the NOVICE class.
14. PRO/NOVICE may be required to do a short drive and/or cross drive.
15. OPEN class may have a drive and/or cross drive on the fetch before entering
the pen.
16. OPEN handlers may nave to cast their dogs farther on the fetch than the other two classes. PRO/NOVICE fetch may be a little farther than the NOVICE.
17. OPEN handlers may be restricted as to movement in the pen, but PRO/NOVICE and NOVICE handlers can move with the cattle thru obstacles.
18. Handler may carry a “stock stick” during competition, but may not touch livestock at any time as this will cause disqualification. (If cattle run into handler while he is attempting to move away, touch rule does not apply - judgment to
made by point/time keeper).
19. Coaching from sidelines during a trial will be allowed.
20. Abusive conduct towards dogs, livestock, other contestants or spectators will NOT be allowed and will cause DISQUALIFICATION. One member of the Trial Committee will sit with time keepers and observe all runs (it will be a member that is not running a dog in that class) and he/she will determine if handler conduct should warrant disqualification. Any trial contestant that has been disqualified twice will be barred from competing for a period of one year. Any further disqualification and contestant will be barred for life. ** (It is felt that this type of conduct cannot be tolerated as it leaves a very bad impression on any visitors at our trials, and nobody is comfortable if we are fighting!)
21. Reruns will be given at the discretion of the Trial Committee. If it has been decided that a rerun is to be granted, it must be run complete (this is due to problems associated with keeping accurate times for all runs). If any stock needs to be pulled because it does not match the herd, or creates a special problem, it cannot be pulled from that draw until go-round or class is over. However, stock may be pulled immediately if injured or in the event that continued use would affect its health. (any decisions about stock will be handled by the Trial Committee)
22. Order of running for each class will be determined by a draw.
23. Before each class there will be a handlers meeting. At this meeting the Trial
Committee representative should explain the course, (including order of obstacles, point values, time allowed, etc.) and answer any questions competitors may have. At this time order of run will be given.
24. Any gates that are closed at the beginning of a run should be left that way by exhibitor at end of run. Open gates should also be left as they were.
Any protest should be brought before Trial Committee before monies are paid.
Decisions made by Trial Committee are subject to review by full Board of Directors but will only concern “HIGH POINT DOG OF THE YEAR” points. Money to be paid in any class will be figured on trial day and will not be changed at a later date.
*** CONCERNING PROTESTS – PLEASE REMEMBER THIS
ASSOCIATION WAS SET UP TO ADVANCE THE WORKING COWDOG, AS A FORM OF RECREATION, AND THAT
EVERYONE WORKING AT A TRIAL IS A VOLUNTEER…ANYONE CAN MAKE A MISTAKE!
…..Any member may suggest a rule change to his/her Board Member, or any Officer. This rule change will be discussed by the Board at its next meeting, and voted on. Decision on whether to adopt or not will be by majority and vote will be noted in minutes. Any rule changes that are adopted will be publicized in “GCSA News”