Outstanding UKC® Coonhound of the Year Awards Sponsored by Purina
*Revised January 1, 2009

The Nestlè Purina Company sponsors the Purina Outstanding UKC Bench Show and Nite Hunt Coonhound of the Year Awards. Points are accumulated at various major events throughout the year. Accumulated point totals are kept and printed monthly in each issue of COONHOUND BLOODLINES. Full details are inserted annually in COONHOUND BLOODLINES.

A list of all Purina point events appears in the information pages. All ads for these events will contain the words, “A Purina Points Event”. Some of the events featured: all UKC chartered breed association annual events, some other breed association events and some of the larger sectional hunts, various State Championships, Autumn Oaks, UKC Winter Classic, all UKC World Championship Regional Qualifying Events, UKC World Championship Zone Semifinals and Finals.

The Purina Nite Hunt Coonhound of the Year Award is based on a dog's performance in committee-selected United Kennel Club licensed Nite Hunts. Bonus points are awarded to winners of selected events. A $15,000 cash purse will be split among the registered owner(s) of the top five point earning hounds and any breed winners (the hound earning the most Purina Points for its breed) not included in the top five points earners. A dollar value for each Purina Point earned will be calculated based on the combined year-end score for each placing hound. The monetary award paid will be based on the total points earned by each respective hound. The more points you earn, the more you win.

Additionally, a $10,000 cash purse will be divided among those placing hounds owned by active Purina Pro Club members. Using the same procedure for establishing a point value, this bonus money will be divided among the owners who meet the following eligibility requirement: The owner of record (in case of dual ownership, the owner whose address appears on the UKC registration certificate) must be a Purina Pro Club member having submitted a minimum of 875 pounds of weight circles by April 30 of the current year.

The Purina Outstanding UKC Nite Hunt Coonhound Award Winner will receive an original oil portrait of the winning hound. An official presentation of awards will be made to those winners in attendance at the UKC Winter Classic Coon Hunt held in South Georgia each January. Note: Recipients of awards are solely responsible for any and all federal, state and local taxes.

*Scoring

All cast winners with plus points receive 50 Purina Points. (Exception: RQE's See below) Additionally, each category winner (Registered, Nite Champion and Grand Nite Champion) will receive 10 Purina Points. Category points will not be awarded in conjunction with the UKC World Championship program, which includes Regional Qualifying Events. In the event of a tie, the hound with the most category wins will be declared the winner. If still a tie, cast-winning scorecards will be audited and the hound with the most total points will win out. If still a tie, refer to the UKC Nite Hunt Honor Rules for breaking ties.

Note: Purina Points may be withheld if it is determined that a cast win is the result of another hound withdrawing from the cast.

Bonus Point Schedule
Autumn Oaks:

National Grand Nite Champion	50
Nite Champion Winner	50
Registered Winner	50

UKC World Coonhound Championship:
*REGIONAL QUALIFYING EVENTS

Placements 1st - 10th

50

ZONE SEMIFINALS

First Night - cast winners with plus points	50
Second Night - cast winners with plus points	50

FINALS

First Night - dogs scoring plus points when hunting alone	50
Third Night - dog winning final cast with plus points	50

Bench Show Coonhound of the Year

The Purina Outstanding UKC Bench Show Coonhound Award is based on a dog’s performance in carefully chosen United Kennel Club licensed Bench Shows. A $500 cash award and a one-year supply of Purina dog food will be presented to the overall winner, with an additional $250 cash
award and a six-month supply of Purina dog food given to the registered owner(s) of the top six breed winners (the hound earning the most Purina Points for its breed).

In addition, the Overall winner will receive a $500 cash bonus if the owner whose address appears on the dog’s UKC registration papers is an active Purina Pro Club member.

A $250 cash bonus will be awarded to each breed leader if the owner whose address appears on the dog’s UKC registration papers is an active Purina Pro Club member. To meet the active member requirement, respective owners must submit a minimum of 875 pounds of weight circles by April 30 of the current year.

The Purina Outstanding UKC Bench Show Coonhound Overall winner will also receive an original oil portrait of the winning hound. An official presentation of awards will be made to those winners in attendance at the UKC Winter Classic Coon Hunt held in South Georgia each January. Note: Recipients of awards are solely responsible for any and all federal, state and local taxes.

Entry Requirements.

All dogs entering one of the Purina Awards Committeeselected UKC Licensed Bench Shows must be registered with the United Kennel Club, Inc., and compete in the proper category: Registered, Show Champion, or Grand Show Champion. The event will be run in accordance with UKC rules and policies, the UKC Coonhound Bench Show Rules or the UKC World Show Championship Rules in effect for the year the selected event is being run.

All dogs shown in any one, several or all of the events included in the Purina Award Program, as selected by the Purina Award Committee, shall be eligible for the points applicable to the Purina Award.

The Awards Committee, made up of representatives from each breed, has responsibility for setting the rules, selecting the events, auditing and approving the final tabulated scores. UKC will be responsible for keeping the records of the points earned and reporting the accumulation of points monthly in COONHOUND BLOODLINES magazine.

Be sure to read the full details in the various magazines and watch for upcoming events where points can be earned. Further details can be obtained from UKC’s Field Operations Department.