Australian Cattle Dog Versatility Award Overview

A versatility competition shall be held in conjunction with each National Specialty Show to recognize those dogs best demonstrating combined herding ability, trainability & representation of the breed standard. Rules for this competition shall be included in the published premium list. Copies of these rules must be available upon request & be on the show grounds during competition. The person(s) responsible for record keeping for the duration of the Versatility competition shall be named by the ACDCA Awards/Performance Committee & shall be identified to the ACDCA Board & the National Show Coordinator prior to the start of the National Specialty.

Versatility Competition Rules

• To be eligible for a Versatility competition placement, each dog entered must compete in the Versatility Conformation Class, must qualify in a regular Herding Trial Class, and must qualify in at least one of the following performance divisions: a. Obedience    b. Rally    c. Agility
• AKC rules determine eligibility for all individual performance classes.
• The Versatility competition must have a minimum of five (5) entries in order to be held.
• The Versatility entry fee shall be $25.00, collected through the entry fee for the Versatility Conformation Class, plus the regular entry fees for Herding, Obedience, Rally and Agility.

Eighty (80%) of entry fees collected will be paid back as follows:

1^st =  40%             2^nd  =  30%             3^rd  = 20%             4^th  =  10%

Ribbons shall be awarded for 1^st through 6^th place.

• Ties for placements will be broken using the highest Herding score as calculated for Versatility points. If a tie still exists, the dog with the highest number of scores in all events will prevail. If the tie is still not broken, duplicate placements shall be awarded. In the event of duplicate placements for 1^st through 4^th, paybacks for the tied placement and the corresponding number following the placements will be combined and divided equally between the tied competitors.
• Computed Versatility scores and standings shall be posted as soon as possible after each eligible competition is completed in a location provided by the Specialty Show host. It is the owner/handler’s responsibility to check the scores as posted and report any suspected errors to the designated points keeper at least one hour prior to the scheduled awards presentation. Awards for the Versatility competition shall be final once presented.
• Only the dog’s highest computed Versatility score from each of the performance divisions (Herding, Obedience, Rally and Agility) will be used for Versatility calculations at full point value. Any and all additional qualifying scores within the same performance division will be valued at five (5) points each.
• Division class eligibility and point determinations for the Versatility competition shall be as follows:

Versatility Conformation

(Note-Check in with Show Sec’y to make sure scores are posted correctly)

• Class is open only to those animals entered in the Versatility competition.
• Class shall be held immediately following the sweepstakes classes and judged by the Sweepstakes judge.
• All animals will be judged together.
• Class will be judged by the same criteria as a regular conformation class with exception that spayed or neutered animals are also eligible.
• All entries shall be placed with points scored as follows:

1^st …….100 points                                   6^th…….. 50 points
2^nd ……..90 points                                   7^th……..40 points
3^rd ………80 points                                  8^th……..30 points
4^th ………70 points                                  9^th……..20 points
5^th ………60 points                                  10^th…….10 points

Herding 

(Note-Check in with Trial Sec’y to make sure scores are posted correctly)

• The highest qualifying score from the Advanced, Intermediate or Started trial classes shall be used to compute Versatility points as follows:

Advanced……………………Score, plus 100 points
Intermediate ……………..Score plus 80 points
Started ……………………….Score plus 70 points

• Highest score in the Herding performance division is defined as the score that will results in the highest number of Versatility points. All other qualifying scores in the Herding performance division will result in an additional ten (10) points.

Note: Although AKC allows “exhibition only” entries under certain circumstances, such entries cannot receive qualifying scores. Therefore, “exhibition only” entries are not eligible for participation.

Obedience Performance Division

(Note-Check in with Trial Sec’y to make sure scores are posted correctly)

• Regular Obedience - The highest qualifying score from the regular trial Utility, Open or Novice classes shall be used to compute Versatility points as follows:

Utility  ……………….……….Score less 50 points
Open …………………….……Score less 75 points
Novice or Veteran ……… Score less 100 points

• Highest score in the Obedience performance division is defined as a qualifying regular obedience score or the Veteran’s obedience score over 170, that will result in the highest number of Versatility points. All other qualifying scores in the Obedience performance division will result in an additional five (5) points.

Note: Obedience scores have points deducted to equate to attainable scores of the other performance divisions.

Rally Performance Division

(Note-Check in with Trial Sec’y to make sure scores are posted correctly)

• The highest qualifying score from the Masters, Excellent, Advanced, Intermediate or Novice Rally trial classes shall be used to compute Versatility points as follows:

Masters ………………..…………..Score plus 10 points
Excellent……………. ……………..Score plus 5 points
Advanced …………………..…….  Score
Intermediate  ………………..…..Score less 5 points
Novice ……………………….….…  Score less 10 points

• Highest score in the Rally performance division is defined as a qualifying Rally score that will result in the highest number of Versatility points. All other qualifying scores in the Rally performance division will result in an additional five (5) points.

Agility Performance Division

(Note-Check in with Trial Sec’y to make sure scores are posted correctly)

• The highest qualifying score from the either the Standard or Jumpers With Weaves Agility trial classes, whether masters, regular or preferred classes, shall be used to compute Versatility points as follows:

Qualifying Score in Excellent/Masters, JWW or Standard  ………………….100 points
Qualifying Score in Preferred Excellent/Masters, JWW or Standard  …….95 points
Qualifying Score in Open  JWW or Standard  ……………………………………..90 points
Qualifying Score in Preferred Open JWW or Standard  …………………………85 points
Qualifying Score in Novice  JWW or Standard  ……………………………………..80 points
Qualifying Score in Preferred Novice JWW or Standard  ………………………75 points

• Highest score in the Agility performance division is defined as the qualifying Agility score that will result in the highest number of Versatility points. All other qualifying scores in the Agility performance division will result in an additional five (5) points.

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