I was having a conversation with other triallers, whilst in Tasmania recently, (some of which are retrieving judges), concerning how to determine the maximum length of a run in a trial.
The subject in the rule book states that "the maximum distance for any retrieve will be 150 metres", and,"it is desirable in a Novice Stake that runs be not more than 100 metres".
During the conversation, I chipped in, that a good many runs, particularly in All Age, I consider to be over length, and I wondered just how many judges had actually paced out the maximum, 150 metres.
Another person, (a judge), stated that the rule book did not give an exact description of how to measure the 150 metre distance, and questioned, should the distance be line of sight, or ground measure.
This set me thinking, and my reply is, if my dog or, all of our dogs, could fly to retrieve the birds, then line of sight would be OK. But, I think the stated rule is specific to dogs actually having four feet on the ground, and this would dictate the distance of each retrieve to be a ground measure, and not, a line of sight.
Obviously, on a line of sight mark or blind, with a deep valley between control point and the bird, the dog would actually be travelling 50 - 100% greater the distance than the l.o.s. distance, making a 200 to 300 metre retrieve.
Again, outside the rules.
Any comments on this ?????
Kerry