How well do judges know our rules ?
Posted: Sat 07 Feb 2015 12:44 pmI'm sure we all ask this question sometimes when competing with our dogs, but it is a valid question, particularly with rule changes being implemented from time to time.
Also, we are all aware of the right to lodge a protest at a trial, but how many actually do this, as it is time consuming, quite costly in some states, and often just too much of an inconvenience all round. But, if a judge is queried by a competitor at the time regarding the validity of something, do they just brush it off as "how dare you" or, actually consider it as a possible break of a rule ? I tend to think the former is often the case, and I must say that in 20 years of trialing I have only seen four protests during All Age trials.
I am only bringing up the subject as I did have a breach of the rules happen to me whilst in South Australia last year & despite my protestation to the judge, I was told "I haven't got time to have you do a rerun". The actual rule that wasn't adhered to is Rule 59 (e) which includes that game must fall a minimum of ten metres from the game steward. The game in my case fell 2 metres from the game steward just in front of the thrower. Yes I know I could have put in a protest, but honestly, it was already my fifth time up with the dog for this run, it was cold, wet and getting late, so I let it go at the time, but it did bug me.
My point is, regardless of the time, the weather or anything else, a competitor has the right to have a fair & equal chance at any retrieve. Someone said to me once that the rules we have for retrieving did not mean a thing to them & if they wanted a 180 metre mark, then that is what it would be. I find that attitude to be rude and a blatant disrespect of the set of rules put in place for the sport. We may as well throw out the book if that is the case.
I am wondering whether it would be beneficial to have a refresh for judges every now and then, to go over the rules so that new and old rules can be brought to their attention. And, make it compulsory that judges attend. I am a judge too and would consider a refresh on the rules as beneficial to me and the sport that I love. How say you ?
Also, we are all aware of the right to lodge a protest at a trial, but how many actually do this, as it is time consuming, quite costly in some states, and often just too much of an inconvenience all round. But, if a judge is queried by a competitor at the time regarding the validity of something, do they just brush it off as "how dare you" or, actually consider it as a possible break of a rule ? I tend to think the former is often the case, and I must say that in 20 years of trialing I have only seen four protests during All Age trials.
I am only bringing up the subject as I did have a breach of the rules happen to me whilst in South Australia last year & despite my protestation to the judge, I was told "I haven't got time to have you do a rerun". The actual rule that wasn't adhered to is Rule 59 (e) which includes that game must fall a minimum of ten metres from the game steward. The game in my case fell 2 metres from the game steward just in front of the thrower. Yes I know I could have put in a protest, but honestly, it was already my fifth time up with the dog for this run, it was cold, wet and getting late, so I let it go at the time, but it did bug me.
My point is, regardless of the time, the weather or anything else, a competitor has the right to have a fair & equal chance at any retrieve. Someone said to me once that the rules we have for retrieving did not mean a thing to them & if they wanted a 180 metre mark, then that is what it would be. I find that attitude to be rude and a blatant disrespect of the set of rules put in place for the sport. We may as well throw out the book if that is the case.
I am wondering whether it would be beneficial to have a refresh for judges every now and then, to go over the rules so that new and old rules can be brought to their attention. And, make it compulsory that judges attend. I am a judge too and would consider a refresh on the rules as beneficial to me and the sport that I love. How say you ?