Tangled in the rules and regulations of year end award guidelines

It’s this time of year again – the deadline for the year end award applications is coming up. And, of course, every organization has to have different rules and regulations. At least the USDF makes it easy, the scores are automatically tabulated and the results are just a mouse click away.

 

Aside from the USDF, I belong to three organizations that offer year end awards, and here are their requirements:

 

1)      Submit top 2 scores from 2 different judges (but can be one competition), copy of front of test sheets.  Average of the 2 scores counts

 

2)      Submit top 3 scores from 3 different judges, 3 different competitions, copy test sheets, tabulation of tests, and membership card. Average of the 3 scores counts

 

3)      Submit top 5 scores from 4 different competitions, 4 different judges, copy of front of test sheets. Median score (the 3^rd out of 5) is the one that counts.

 

Jeez, I really had to think hard in order to keep track of who wants what, sorting and copying the test sheets several times over, tracking down membership numbers, registration numbers, etc. All that in the hopes of making the grade for a good year end placing. And yes, of course, I want first place! But I also realize that there will always be people that are better, or that some just have the luck of the scores lining up according to the guidelines. For example, one can have great scores, but if they come from the same competition, tough luck.

 

Nevertheless, this exercise just confirmed that "Team Saumur" did good, our averages according to the guidelines above are:

1. 65.125%
2. 64.745%
3. 65.122%

 The USDF has already verified that we are 2^nd in the All Breed Awards for 3^rd level, and 1^st in the Vintage Cup.

 

It’s nice to know that we have made progress over last year, but it’s even nicer to have it confirmed in black and white. Untangling the web of requirements really was worth it!