Frequently Asked Questions
The following are basic excerpts taken from the ASFA "Running Rules and Field Procedures for Lure Field Trials". January 1, 2002. And from "The Beginners Guide to Lure Coursing" ASFA 1996©
TABLE of CONTENTS:
- What dogs are eligible to compete in ASFA Trials
- What is lure coursing?
- How do the judges score the hounds?
- What happens out on the field at a trial?
- How do I start my sighthound?
- How do lure coursing titles work?
- What are the Singles Stake Guidelines?
- What are regular and non-regular stakes?
- What are Miscellaneous Classes?
- What are the breed disqualifications?
- LURE FIELD TRIAL GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Q: What dogs are eligible to compete in ASFA trials?
A: Only purebred Afghan Hounds, Basenjis, Borzoi, Greyhounds, Ibizan Hounds, Irish Wolfhounds, Pharaoh Hounds, Rhodesian Ridgebacks, Salukis, cottish Deerhounds, Whippets May be entered in the regular stakes in ASFA Field Trials. All Hounds must be not less then I year old on the day of the trial. All entries shall be individually registered with The AKC, NGA, FCI. or an ASFA- recognized foreign registry, or possess a desert-bred Saluki Critique Registry Number. Spayed or neutered sighthounds are eligible, but bitches in season, lame hounds, and hounds with AKC breed disqualifications are prohibited from competing. Hounds must be at least one year of age, and must have been successfully certified by running on the lure with another sighthound.
Q: What is lure coursing?
A: Sighthound breeds have an overpowering instinct to chase. Lure coursing presents an opportunity for them to chase a lure just for their own pleasure. Between 500 and 1000 yards in length, sometimes longer, the course is designed by placing small pulleys around a field in a pattern meant to resemble the route prey might take when pursued by hounds. Usually, a continuous loop of braided string is pulled around the pulleys by a wheel attached to a motor, and the lure itself is a piece of plastic. An experienced lure operator can control the lure so as to simulate escaping game. Since 1972, clubs associated with the American Sighthound Field Association have provided the joy of the chase to thousands of sighthounds!
Q: How do the judges score the hounds?
A:
Speed.......................25 points
Agility.......................25 points
Endurance.................20 points
Enthusiasm................15 points
Follow......................15 points
Note: see glossary of terms Scoring criteria
Q: What happens out on the field at a trial?
A: You'll observe that the hounds run first against their own breed, and they run in trios with the different color blankets. The Huntmaster always places yellow on the left, pink in the middle and blue on the right. Each hound will run at least twice, its performance scored by the judge(s). The first course is called a prelim, or preliminary, and the second a final - even though there may be run-offs to determine Best of Breed and settle any ties for the top five placements in each breed. Finally, there's usually a Best in Field (BIF) run for any breed winners who choose to run for that honor.
Q: How do I start my sighthound?
A: First you must practice your hound to make certain it is interested in chasing the lure. Once experienced observers have assured you that your hound is very keen, not merely mildly interested, your hound is ready to practice with another hound. If this test is also passed, then you hound is ready for certification, provided it is at least eleven months of age. To pass certification your hound must run a course with another sighthound of the same breed, or one with a similar running style, and this must be observed by a regularly licensed ASFA judge. Unless your hound already has another qualifying coursing/racing title, an ASFA certification form must be signed by the judge and a copy must be submitted when you enter your hound in a trial for the first time. The original should be retained in your records.
Q: How do lure coursing titles work?
A: Sighthounds love to run just for the fun
of it. They have no idea how they've been judged or whether they've earned
any points or a title. But, most people enjoy earning titles on their
hounds. The ASFA offers several titles - a Field Champion (F.Ch.), the title
of Lure Courser of Merit (LCM), and several levels of LCM. To earn titles,
your hound must earn points at trials according to its placements.
In the breed runs, ribbons and points are awarded as follows, with a total
maximum of 40 ASFA points per trial:
1st place - 4 x number of hounds competing (40 max.)
2nd place - 3 x number of hounds competing (30 max.)
3rd place - 2 x number of hounds competing (20 max.)
4th place - 1 x number of hounds competing (10 max.)
NBQ - Next Best Qualifier (no points)
In other words, a hound finishing second in a field of 8 hounds would earn 24 points, etc. No points are awarded for BIF (Best In Field), just a very special ribbon.
Q: What are the Singles Stake Guidelines?
A: 1. Order of running will be determined by
random draw and entered onto the record sheet (and draw order, if used) as
1-Y, 1-P, 1-B, 2-Y, etc.
2. Judges will score each hound using one judges sheet for three Singles
hounds.
3. Scores shall be posted on the record sheet in the usual manner.
4. Singles stake records shall be forwarded to the Records Coordinator
appropriately labeled as such. The per capita fee is due for each hound run.
5. The entry fee is not required to be the same as it is for other stakes.
6. ASFA shall publish first through NBQ of each Singles stakes.
7. Hounds with breed disqualifications and/or hounds that have been
disqualified from competition in other stakes are eligible to enter the
Singles stake.
8. When a Singles stake is offered, owners of hounds that have not been
properly trained should be encouraged to enter this stake.
Q: What are regular and non-regular stakes?
A: (a) OPEN STAKE: Each flight shall consist of entries of only one breed, dogs and bitches; ASFA Field Champions of record of that breed may not be entered.
(b) FIELD CHAMPION STAKE: Each flight shall consist of entries of only one breed, dogs and bitches, who are ASFA Field Champions of record. Hounds whose owner's records show them to be ASFA Field Champions may be entered for a period up to 90 days without official certification. Hounds whose owner's records show them to have met the requirements for the Field Champion title may be changed from the Open stake to the Field Champion stake provided notification is made to the Field Secretary prior to roll call. Hounds determined not to be eligible to compete in the Field Champion stake will forfeit all points and placements earned in that stake toward an LCM.
(c) VETERAN STAKE: For any individual hounds whose age exceeds six years, except Irish Wolfhounds whose age shall exceed five years. The hound certification requirement in (a) above also applies to hounds entered in the Veteran stake have not previously competed in Open. Hounds entered in the Veteran stake may not be entered in any other regular stake in the same lure field trial.
(d) SINGLES STAKE: At the option of the host club a Singles stake may be offered. If the host club offers this stake, it must so state in the premium list. All rules for entering regular stake shall apply except when inconsistent with the following:
1. Only hounds found lame or in season at roll call shall be barred from
competition in this stake.
2. A hound entered in the Singles stake shall not be eligible to enter the
Open and/or Field Champion stake at that trial.
Q: What are Miscellaneous Classes?
A: Miscellaneous classes will be offered by all host clubs if there are any breeds approved for provisional recognition. Otherwise, at the option of the host club, Miscellaneous classes may be offered. If the host club offers these classes, it must so state in the premium list. All rules and procedures pertaining to competition in the Open stake shall apply to Miscellaneous class competition except when inconsistent with the following:
1. If a club offers Miscellaneous classes, it must offer both an Under 18-1/2" Miscellaneous class and an 18-1/2" and Over Miscellaneous class. Only eligible hounds under 18-1/2" at the withers may be entered in the Under 18-1/2" Miscellaneous class; those above 18-1/2" must be entered in the 18-1/2" and Over Miscellaneous class. Miscellaneous class hounds will be measured only if such measurement is requested by an exhibitor, judge, or the field committee. If measurement shows a hound to have been entered in the wrong size category, the hound shall be moved to the other category.
2. Miscellaneous class entry is allowed for hounds of breeds that: 1) are considered sighthounds by their national parent club of the parent club from the country of origin but are not eligible for competition in the ASFA regular stakes, and 2) are on the list of such breeds that the ASFA has currently approved for entry. These are: Chart Polskis, Cirneco dell'Etnas, Galgo Espanols, Magyar Agars and Peruvian Inca Orchids.
Q: What are the breed disqualifications?
A: Italian Greyhound: Brindle markings. Tan markings such as normally found on black and tan dogs of other breeds.
Pharaoh Hounds: Any solid white spot on the back of neck, shoulder, or any part of the back or sides of the dog.
Rhodesian Ridgebacks: Ridgelessness.
Scottish Deerhounds: White blaze on the head, or a white collar.
Sloughi: Unpigmented areas (flesh colored); ears erect, or with tips drooping forward; ears too long, folding backward; coat half- long, fringes on legs or tail; white stockings; white markings; overshot or undershot mouth; color not in accordance with the standard (the standard allows the following colors: sand, light sand, fawn [red sand], sand with black overlay, brindle - all with or without black mask and/or black mantle.) Note: commentary from the Sloughi Fanciers Association of America indicates that "small white markings on the chest and the tip of the toes, very common in the breed, are often overlooked in Europe as long as they stay small and do not resemlbe the white markings of the Azawakh."
Whippets: Blue or wall eyes; undershot, overshot one-quarter inch or more; coat other than short, close, smooth and firm in texture. Size: dogs 19 to 22 inches; bitches 18 to 21 inches; both to be measured across the shoulders at the highest point; more than one-half inch above or below the stated measurements will disqualify. Whippet height and bite will be checked in accordance with the measurement guidelines approved by the American Whippet Club. These guidelines shall be considered ASFA policy regarding the measurement of Whippet height and bite.
NOTE: There are no disqualifications for the other sighthound breeds.
Q: LURE FIELD TRIAL GLOSSARY OF TERMS
A: AKC: American Kennel Club
ASFA: American Sighthound Field Association
Blanket: A colorful cloth, without visible ornamentation, worn by the hounds during a course. The colors are bright yellow, bright pink and bright blue.
Course: Consists of 1, 2 or 3 hounds pursuing a lure of either mechanical or electrical drive over a selected course pattern. The course begins after the handlers affirmative response to "Are you ready?" and ends when all hounds in the course are under the handlers physical restraint.
Course delay: A course delay shall include delays caused by hounds whose handlers delay the start of the course, hounds that break away from and avoid their handlers prior to the request "Are you ready?" and hounds that avoid their handlers after the command "retrieve your hounds."
Decision: Any official disposition of a hound by a judge other than a score: e.g., an excusal, dismissal or disqualification.
Draw: A random drawing determining the order in which the hounds will run.
Flight: When an entry in any regular stake reaches 20 or more hounds, the host club will split the stake into a number of flights (or classes). Championship points and placements are allocated as in a regular stake.
Handle: To take a hound to a lure field trial as the owner’s representative.
Host club: The sanctioned club responsible for conducting the lure field trial.
No course: Any course that a judge determines to be unjudgable.
Non-regular stakes: Consists of Breeder and Kennel stakes within each individual breed or Single stake. No points are awarded.
Ownership: For the purpose of these regulations, ownership and co-ownership are equivalent.
Pre-slip: When a hound is slipped before the signal is given by the huntmaster.
Qualifying score: 50 percent of the total possible combined scores from the preliminary and final courses.
Regular stake: Consists of Open, Field Champion, and Veteran competitions within each individual breed. Titles or championship points are awarded to hounds competing in these classes.
Run-off: A competition to determine a final placement.
Score: A numerical figure given by a judge to a hound in competition.
Scoring criteria: The categories listed below are used by judges in determining a hound’s overall score.
1. Enthusiasm - the hound’s overall interest in coursing
the lure.
2. Follow - the relationship between the running of the hound and the
movement of the lure.
3. Speed - the hound’s overall speed and acceleration in
coursing the lure.
4. Agility - nimbleness; the ability to move quickly and easily,
negotiating the terrain and turns and recovering from falls.
5. Endurance - the physical stamina of the hound.
Slip lead: A slip lead is a simplified or quick-release mechanized slip which will give almost instantaneous freedom to the hound which is to be released when the tally- ho signal is called by the huntmaster. Recommended slips are those consisting of a leather or webbed strap with a wide collar, and double or single metal rings.
Stake: Composed of a number of courses where hounds compete against one another for championship points.
Trial hours: Shall begin at the time stated in the premium list for that trial and shall conclude one hour after the last scored course of the day.
NOTE: For the purpose of these regulations, words used in the masculine gender include the feminine and the feminine the masculine, and the singular the plural and the plural the singular.