2017 Nov Dec

of exhibitors. One at a time, in catalog order, the exhibitors draw
from an array of identical draw articles containing concealed track
order numbers (typical draw articles are charming topical souvenirs
like Easter eggs or baby shoes or large dog biscuits).
Occasionally, complications arise at the draw. If an entered
exhibitor is absent at the time of the draw and an alternate is present,
the alternate gets to draw and enter a dog in the test. If no alternate
is present, the judges may ask the Test Secretary to draw for the
absent exhibitor, hoping that the exhibitor will arrive in time to run
a dog on the drawn track. Also, regulations state that a tracklayer
cannot lay a test track for a dog s/he has regularly trained, laid track
for, or boarded during the previous 30 days. If this conflict occurs,
the presiding judge determines how the draw will be modified to
comply with regulations.
While the test tracks are being run, the Test Secretary stays
at the staging area, maintains communication with workers in the
field and supervises the lunch hospitality set-up.
After the test tracks have been run the Test Secretary marks
two catalogs with the test results and gives them to the judges, who
then use the catalog information to complete their official charts.
After collecting three copies of each completed chart, s/he gathers
the exhibitors and workers for the awards ceremony. During the
ceremony s/he presents ribbons and awards to the passing teams,
and gives each exhibitor copies of the dog’s chart from both judges.
S/he invites the judges to make observations on the tracks and how
the dogs worked out the problems presented. S/he thanks the judges
and tracklayers and hands out their gifts. (Chocolate, yes!!)
Lunch is served. Photos are taken. End article gloves from
passing tracks are signed by the judges and tracklayers and others.
Articles remaining from tracks that were failed are collected and
saved for use in future tests. The judges are paid. The Test Secretary
saves two copies of the judges’ charts: one for the ASCA Business
Office and one for the club files. S/he’ll send all of the trial paper
work (there’s a lot of it – check the tracking regulations) to the
ASCA Business Office within 15 days after the trial – the sooner
the better. Whew, job well done!!
Columnist Anne Hershey judges Tracking at
all levels for ASCA and AKC and instructs
tracking training classes. She has owned
and trained five Australian Shepherds since
1989, and she has titled each of them through
TDX. In April, 1999, her Aussie bitch “CT
Blaze ASCA TDXx2” was the first Australian
Shepherd (and the 17 th dog of any breed) to
earn an AKC VST title. Her Aussie Times
column “Tracking Field Notes” earned
DWAA Maxwell awards twice, and in 2005
her article “Developing Article Value, Article
Drive and Article Skills” was awarded “Best Training Article” by Off-Lead
Magazine. She is a founding member of the ASCA Tracking Committee and
a past president of Palo Alto Foothills Tracking Association.
On the cover . . .
2016 ASCA #1 Conformation Dog (Intact)
Ch. Moon Rise Passion for Fame DNA-VP– “Kiwi”
DOB 26.03.2011
We are speechless and endlessly proud! Kiwi did it again!
After ending up #1 in the ASCA conformation rankings in 2014/15 she became #1
again in 2016/17!
Kiwi joined our family when she was a little self-confident puppy – thank you so
much, Angela Kleinhans, for your trust! Since that time she has been having the
greatest pleasure in the conformation rings with me and often won the BOB class
over many specials.
We thank all judges for recognizing her quality! Her expression and flying movement
will never be forgotten. She passed many of her outstanding qualities on to her
offspring and therefore is also a Champion producer.
Kiwi is our heart and soul and we are proud beyond words and happy for being a
great team, not only in the showring, but also in daily life. We can rely on her as a
loyal companion in any situation. We love you!
Photo: Walter Reintges
Another great adventure lies ahead – the ASCA Nationals! We will be happy to be
there! I want to thank my family and especially my husband for being able to live
this dream together!
Nicole Reintges
90 AUSSIE TIMES November-December 2017