Changes to Bloodhound working trials regulations

The Kennel Club has approved the following changes to the regulations for Bloodhound working trials.

The below regulation has been amended to make it easier for trial societies to accommodate the minimum distance at with the leash must be dropped when the hound is making an identification.

Amendment to Regulation I(C)1

TO:

‘Handlers who choose to work/hunt their hounds leashed must drop their leash within a minimum of 200 yds/183m 300yds/275m of the line up, so that a natural identification takes place that is free from any handler interference.‘

(Insertion in bold. Deletion struck through)

(Effective 1 January 2021)

The below regulation has been amended to allow for self-nomination when applying to become a championship bloodhound working trial judge. Additional amendments were made to make it clear what was required when applying to become a championship judge.

Amendment to Regulation I(C)7.a

TO:

  1. Societies must apply to the Board for approval of all judges at Championship Bloodhound Trials at least six months before the date of the Trials. All first time Senior Stake judges must be applied for a minimum of eighteen months before the date of the Trial on the form provided. Individuals may apply to the Board for approval to award Championship Bloodhound Working Trial Certificates for the first time, provided that the judge has fulfilled the minimum criteria in accordance with Regulations I(C)7.b., I(C)7.c. and I(C)7.d.  Subject to approval judges would be included on the list of Approved Championship Bloodhound Working Trial Judges.
  2. On application for a person’s first appointment to award a Kennel Club Bloodhound Working Trial Certificate, the nominee must meet the following minimum conditions which apply are:

        Criteria On application a A person must:-

c.     At the time of judging a first Championship appointment the judge must

            (1) have judged at least three stakes, not at the same trial, at Kennel Club licensed Bloodhound Trials.

d.  c.   Additionally judges appointed to officiate for the first time must

            (2) have completed and passed a Kennel Club Bloodhound Regulations and Judging Procedure examination on The Kennel Club Academy and have attended a Kennel Club Planning and Managing of Bloodhound Trials Seminar and passed the assessment. 

(Insertions in bold)

(Effective 1 January 2021)

The below regulation has been added to reflect the additional requirement for judges to have passed the relevant examination every five years.

Amendment to Regulation I(C)8.b

TO:

b.    All judges must have completed and passed a Kennel Club Bloodhound Regulations and Judging Procedure examination on The Kennel Club Academy every five years since passing the Regulations and Judging Procedure examination. This Regulation is effective from 1 January 2022.

(Insertion in bold)

(Subsequent paragraphs to be renumbered)

(Effective 1 January 2021)

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