THE POWER OF THE FIELD TRIAL COMMITTEE TO LIMIT THE NUMBER OF DOGS PER HANDLER
It is my belief that the Field Trial Committee has the Power to Limit the Number of Dogs a Handler can run at a Field Trial.
The pertinent portions of the Rule Book.
Chapter 6: Appointment of Field Trial Secretary, Appointment, Responsibilities and Authorities of Field Trial Committee,
Section 2. A club that has been granted permission by The American Kennel Club to hold a licensed or member field trial must appoint a Field Trial Committee which will have complete responsibility for the planning and conducting of the trial. This committee shall be comprised of at least five members of the club and may include the Field Trial Secretary.
Section 4. The Field Trial Committee of a club holding a licensed or member trial shall have the authority to decide upon any matter arising during the running of the trial, except a matter coming within the jurisdiction of the Judges, but such committee decisions must be made in accord with these Field Trial Rules and Standard Procedures.
Chapter 8: Eligibility of Dogs for Entry, Full Completion of Entry Forms
Section 11. A Field Trial Committee may decline any entries or may remove any dog from its trial for cause, but in each such instance shall file good and sufficient reasons for so doing with The American Kennel Club.
From the Rule Book, I take the following two fundamental principles.
First, the Field Trial Committee wields considerable power over the manner in which a Field Trial is conducted - “shall have the authority to decide upon any matter arising during the running of a trial.”
Second, this power includes the power to exclude dogs from competition for cause.
There is nothing in the Rule Book that explicitly prohibits clubs from limiting the number of dogs a handler can run. As far as I can see, there is similarly nothing in the Rule Book that implicitly prohibits clubs from limiting the number of dogs a handler can run.
A Field Trial Committee could certainly reach the decision that the proper conduct of a Field Trial requires a limitation on the number of competing dogs in a stake and that the most appropriate way of addressing that issue is by limiting the number of dogs per handler.
Ted : You forgot Chapter 7 , Section 4. In my opinion, that gives the FTC the ultimate authority to make such a decision John Thomas (Email) - 19 03 05 - 11:28
The Open is just that-the Open-OPEN to all! Want lower entries, have conflicting trials. The “For Cause” portion of the rule book limits the Trial Committee’s authority to simply decline an entry or group of entries. Vicki Worthington (Email) (URL) - 29 03 05 - 07:12
Where in the Rule Book do you find support for your assertion, Vicki? Ted (Email) - 29 03 05 - 19:55
Here is the section of the Rule Book referenced by John Thomas
Chapter 7, Section 4
Field Trial Committees may make such regulations or additional rules for the government of their field trials as shall be considered necessary, provided such regulations or additional rules do not conflict with any rule of The American Kennel Club. Such regulations or additional rules shall be printed in the premium list, and violations thereof shall be considered the same as violations of the Rules and Regulations of The American Kennel Club. Ted - 23 08 05 - 14:20