AWTA Book of Rules and Regulations

RESPONSIBILITIES OF EACH COMMITTEE MEMBER Trial Chairman:

Pick a date and site and send the completed Trial Request form to the AWTA Trial Secretary no later than January 1 for a repeat trial; or three months prior to the trial date for a new trial. Include a map of the site location with the trial request form. Make arrangements for use of site. Restrooms should be available nearby, if possible; if not, port-a-johns may be rented and paid for by the trial group, not AWTA.

With help from the trial committee, the Chairman will oversee the execution of the following:

Appoint a trial committee and instruct each member of his duties.
Prepare a flyer to advertise the trial. List entry fees and any pre-entry or gate entry losing dates, in the trial flyer.
Recieve all entries.
Dig earths unless a permanent earth is being used If a permanent earth is being used it must be checked for safety and the depth and width verified to be approximately 9 inches. A backhoe may be hired and paid for by the trial group, not AWTA.
Post parking signs, AWTA Terrier Trial signs at strategic points and holding area sign.
Fence off judging area. Snow fencing, rope and stakes, etc. may be used.
Construct wooden liners exactly to AWTA specifications. The cost is assumed by the trial group.
Prepare the earths.
Provide officials with identifying badges or cards.
Have the following on hand:

Quarry (two rats) Shovels -four at least Clipboards-two Pencils Stopwatch Squeeze or spray bottle or small cloth drag with rat scent Fencing or rope and stakes for judging area Cash and cash box Score sheets, trophies, and ribbons (will be sent by AWTA Trial Secretary)

Make out score sheets and arrange in running order by number on the judge’s clipboard.
Provide the gatekeeper with a list of entries and the owners.
Post running order of entries by class in the holding area.
Send score sheets of the dogs that placed, and full name of dog and its owner’s name and address for each dog earning a Certificate of Gameness to the AWTA Trial Secretary within seven days following the trial. Postage is to be paid by the trial giving group, not the AWTA.

Secretary/Gatekeeper:

At trials with large entries the Gate Steward will need one or two assistants. They should be set up at least one hour before the scheduled starting time. They will do the following:

1. Get entries onto score sheets and to the Den Steward to include in the running order.2. Collect entry fee and make out score sheet for each dog qualifying in the Novice Class for Open Class. (A dog earning a Certificate of Gameness receives a complimentary entry for the Certificate Class at that day’s trial only.)

3. Total receipts and complete other paperwork at the end of the trial with the Chairman.

Den Steward:

The Den Steward will assist in getting the trial site ready for operation. During the judging the Den Steward will call each entry into the den area, call the next entry into the holding area (the next three dogs will be in the holding area), will keep all other dogs away from the judging area, and keep all persons (except the Judge, Judge’s Apprentice (if there is one), Judge’s Steward, Den Steward, and Den Master) out of the judging area. Since the Den Steward’s work is vital to the smooth operation of a trial, only a competent person should be assigned to the job.

Den Master:

The Den Master will be in charge of the welfare of the quarry and for having adequate scent prepared and ready for use during the judging. This person will scent the den during the trial only at the direction of the judge and otherwise will remain at a discreet distance from the den. The scent should be prepared the day before the trial by mixing water with rat litter. The Den Master may

be asked to conduct the training session that immediately follows the trial. The Den Master also may be approved by the AWTA to act as an apprentice to the Judge. This must in no way interfere with the smooth operation of the judging procedure.

Judge’s Steward (optional):

The Judge’s Steward will quietly stay beside the Judge and record with a stopwatch the time for each part of the test. He then gives the time to the judge who records it on the score sheet. He will signal the Den Steward to call the next entry to the judging area. The Judge’s Steward should not talk to the Judge unless the Judge directs comments to him. It is the Judge’s prerogative to confer with his Steward at any point.

A Judge has the option of keeping his own time. In that case the Judge’s Steward stays back out of the way but ready to assist the Judge if asked.The Judge’s Steward may be asked to conduct the training session that immediately follows the trial.

A Judge’s Steward may be approved by the AWTA to act as an apprentice to the Judge. This must in no way interfere with the smooth operation of the judging procedure.