USDAA TRIALS
Columbia Agility Team typically puts on two USDAA trials per year. They are normally in June/July outdoors at the Clackamas County Fairgrounds, Canby, OR and in October at the Clark County Fairgrounds, Ridgefield, WA. Our USDAA Group No. is OR213103.
The June/July trial has been a regional event for the last several years. It is a three day event with Dog Agility Masters Team & Performance Versatility Pairs on one day and standard classes plus two rounds of Grand Prix/Perf. Natl. Std and Steeplechase/Perf. Speed Jumping on the other two days. In the years that the Club does not host a regional event, other locations and dates may be used for a local trial.
The October trial is called the Northwest Cup and special awards are given out based on combined scores from the 2 Standard runs (based on fewest faults first and then fastest average yards per second).
The PDFs of the current versions of the following policies and forms can downloaded from this site. One should check at the USDAA web site, www.USDAA.com under the GROUP SERVICES then ADMINISTRATIVE FORMS & POLICIES section for the most current versions. (All $ amounts listed in this document are subject to change review current forms from USDAA to validate specific costs):
USDAA Policies & Procedures Statement of Policy on Establishing Event Dates
USDAA Policies & Procedures Statement on Policies for Engaging Judges
USDAA Policies & Procedures Statement of Policy on Scorekeeping & Reporting Procedures
Application for USDAA Sanctioned Event - to be filled out by the Trial Chairperson and filed with USDAA 6 month prior to the event date along with the $75 non-refundable filing fee. If the application is filed less than six months but more than four month prior, a $50 late fee is accessed, bringing the total filing fee to $125. If the application is filed less than four but more than three months prior, the late fee increases to $100, for a total filing fee of $175.
Judges Panel & Class Schedule Form this form should be filed more than four months prior to the event date. There is no filing fee if filed timely. If filed more than three months but less than four, a $25 fee becomes due. If filed more than two months but less than three, fee is $50 and if less than two months prior to event date, the fee increases to $100.
Organizing Committee Report this two page report is completed by the Trial Secretary and/or Trial Chair and submitted to USDAA with the appropriate fees following the conclusion of the event. If mailed & postmarked within five business days of the show date, the Club can subtract a $50 credit from the fees due. If after five business days but less than ten business days no penalty or credit apply. After ten business days but less than twenty business days, a penalty of $100 is added and after twenty business days the penalty increases to $200. FILE FORMS PROMPTLY.
SECURING JUDGES:
A current Judges List is available at www.USDAA.com under the GROUP SERVICES, then APPROVED JUDGES LIST section. Refer to the USDAA policy for securing judges referenced about for USDAA specific rules. Judges should be secured well before a trial. Keep in mind the weather for the time of year for your trial and where a judge would need to fly out of when selecting a judge. We try to secure judges whose travel will be more economical and have the least chance for logistics problems. The Club pays for the airfare. If a judge prefers to drive, the Club will reimburse the judge based on mileage up to the amount the airfare would have cost. This should be noted in the contract with the judge. While USDAA recommended compensation for judges varies with the level they are judging, the Club has opted to compensate all judges at the $1/entry rate.
The Club Treasury can be of assistance in making flight and hotel reservations for judges. He/she can make such reservations on the Clubs VISA card.
PREMIUM LIST:
A draft of the premium must be submitted to USDAA PRIOR to being posted or mailed to exhibitors. It should be submitted to USDAA for review three or four weeks in advance of the date you want to make the premium available to the public. Prior to submission to USDAA, a draft should be reviewed by the CAT Board and the Awards Liaison. Only awards described in the premium may be awarded at the trial.
In addition to the information outlined by USDAA, the premium should contain the following statement: Dogs left unattended must be secured in a crate or x-pen. No tethering of unattended dogs will be allowed.
The following are examples for: a "normal" trial and for a Regional Tournament Event
Excel Spreadsheets for estimating the budget for a "normal trial" and a Regional can be downloaded here.
INFORMATION SOURCES WITHIN THE CLUB:
Go to the Club Contacts document for contact information of key club members whose assistance you will need in preparing for the trial. Equipment Manager, Site Liaisons, Purchasing Manager, Awards Liaison, Treasurer, keepers of computers and secretary boxes and members who can provide access to the Clubs storage facility are listed here.
Northwest Cup Awards The following awards are approved for distribution for the Northwest Cup:
1ST thru 3RD Place Rosettes in each of the following categories:
Starter Mini Dogs
Starter Open Dogs
Pl Mini Dogs
Pl Open Dogs
Advanced Mini Dogs
Advanced Open Dogs
Pll Mini Dogs
Pll Open Dogs
Masters Mini Dogs
Masters Open Dogs
Plll Mini Dogs
Plll Open Dogs
Winners in these categories will have their names engraved on the permanent trophies residing at the Clark County Fairgrounds.
Overall cup award and free trial entry coupon to:
Best in Trial Overall Championship Mini Dog
Best in Trial Overall Championship Open Dog
Best in Trial Overall Performance Mini Dog
Best in Trial Overall Performance Open Dog
Awards are calculated based on the two (2) Standard runs. Calculations are based on fewest faults first then fastest yards per second. The categories Open and Mini are as follows: Open is all dogs jumping 22 and up, Mini is all dogs jumping under 22.