Trial Competition

In order to understand the responsibilities involved in volunteering as a Field Clerk at an upcoming lure coursing event sponsored by our club, it is helpful to understand how the competition at a field trial is conducted. While procedures for conducting an A.K.C. lure trial are modeled on A.S.F.A. trial procedures, there are important differences, and volunteers for any position at either type of trial should be well familiar with the official rulebooks published by both coursing organizations.

Following Roll Call and Inspection, posting of the "running order" of breeds (usually alphabetical) determines the sequence of competition in each of the eleven eligible breeds. In both types of trials, all hounds in each stake will compete in a preliminary run (course) and all hounds qualifying after the first run will compete in a second, final run. Any hound excused, dismissed, or disqualified by a Judge during its preliminary run, or any hound pulled at the line by its handler during its preliminary run, is not eligible to run in the final course.

A random draw is used to select the combinations of hounds to compete in each run, with trios preferred to braces, and braces preferred to solos, whenever possible. These combinations are determined by the total entry present in each stake for each breed. A separate random draw must be conducted for every run of every hound at all levels of trial competition, beginning with both the preliminary and final runs.

 Because the preliminary runs must be completed for all the breeds before the final runs can begin, it is a typical occurrence for the preliminary runs to take place in the morning, with the final runs following a lunch break (especially appreciated by the trial judges and field committee) in the afternoon.

The top five placing hounds in each stake (First through Fourth and Next Best Qualified -- N.B.Q.) are determined by the combined scores of the preliminary and final runs. After preliminary and final courses have been run in all the breeds, and if there are ties in the combined scores for any of the top five placements, run-offs will be conducted to determine final placements. The highest placing hound in each stake (in A.S.F.A. trials) will compete in an additional run-off stake to determine that breed's Best of Breed. Again, a random draw is used to determine the running combinations of all hounds involved in run-offs.

When a Best of Breed winner has been determined in each of the breeds, competition for Best in Field follows. In both A.S.F.A. and A.K.C. lure trials, the running of Best in Field is offered at the option of the host club. It is not uncommon at a typical two-day trial for Best in Field to be offered on only one of the two days. If the club offers Best in Field competition, it must be so stated in the event's premium list. Once again, a random draw is used to determine the order and match-ups of running Best in Field, and all hounds are run only once. In case of a tie for Best in Field, the hounds involved will compete in a run-off. Following the conclusion of trial competition, the entire Field Committee and exhibitors assemble for the awards ceremony which concludes the trial.