The Team Dash Rules
Please note that these are the 2006 rules and may have small alterations for 2007.
- The competition is classified under Kennel Club Regulations as ‘Open’ and ‘Special’. The competition will be held under Kennel Club Rules and Show Regulations H & H1 as in force at the date of the competition. Additional specific rules will apply as described below. Competitors entering this competition will be deemed to have agreed to abide by these rules and regulations.
- If the entry for a heat exceeds the Kennel Club limit for a judge in a day then the class will be equally split and another judge appointed for the second part. The winning team from each part will be regarded as the two qualifying teams from that heat. Sponsor’s rosettes will be provided to the top 3 placed teams in both parts.
- All teams must consist of four dogs handled by four separate handlers. Only the handlers and dogs (or their two reserves) who are named on the original entry form, may compete in that heat.
- Alterations to team entries (deletions, additions or substitutions of dogs or handlers) are not permitted after the closing date for entries of the show hosting the heat unless declared as Reserves on the original entry form. Teams requiring alterations after this date may only run as Not For Competition (NFC) in that heat.
- Handlers may compete in more than one team in any given heat, providing that they handle a different dog in each team. In the event of a handler running in two qualifying teams in one heat then the highest placed team only will be deemed to have qualified from that heat. Dogs may only compete in one team in any given heat.
- The course must be designed to flow. It must not contain contact equipment.
- The course must contain two change-over lines, clearly marked on the ground, each with a minimum gate width of 4m. Handlers/dogs 1 & 3 start behind line A and finish behind line B. Handlers/dogs 2 & 4 start behind line B and finish behind line A. The inward and outward courses can be different, but both dogs from behind the same line must run the same course.
- The course each dog is required to negotiate shall contain no less than 14 and no more than 20 obstacles, excluding the change-over lines.
- This is a team relay event and suitable batons must be provided which must remain behind the relevant change-over lines (i.e. off-course.) When a handler/dog crosses a line to complete their run there will be a baton change with the next handler which must be completed behind the line (i.e. off-course.) No part of the next handler or dog must be over the line (i.e. on the course) before the baton is correctly exchanged. Failure to comply with this, or an otherwise incorrect baton change, will incur a penalty of 50 points on each occasion. A ‘line steward’ may be appointed by the judge to oversee change-overs on one line if required.
- For each dog an elimination on the course incurs a penalty of 100 points.
- The team with the fastest cumulative time and the least faults, wins. The top two teams from each heat qualify for the final. Once they have qualified for the final, neither handlers nor dogs may enter or compete in any remaining heats for that qualifying season except as Not For Competition (NFC).
- Only handlers and dogs who are members of an original qualifying team, or the two named reserves on the entry form, will be allowed to compete in the final. Changes are at the organiser’s discretion and only under exceptional circumstances.
- In the event of a team not being available to run in the final, a reserve team may be called in strict order of merit, from the heat in which the qualifying team qualified.
To 1st and 2nd placed teams: Individual trophies and rosettes (4x: 1st, 2nd), letter of invitation to the final.
To 6th placed teams: Individual rosettes (4x: 3rd, 4th, 5th 6th)