THE “GRAND” – POINT SYSTEM

The Grand Hunt differs from other HRC events in that total points awarded by the Judges determination between Solid, Marginal, or Failing work. The number of Judges and Flights may vary according to the anticipated size of the Grand Hunt. The pairing of the Judges is at the discretion of the Permanent Grand Hunt Committee.

The field will be split into four groups, listed as flights “A-D”. The field is split with care taken to attempt to have retrievers of multi-retriever handlers in the same group and those entries separated by a reasonable number of dogs. Retrievers with the same “call-name” are not placed together in the running order. The running order is strictly followed as it appears in the Hunt Program with only “common sense” deviations made.

Tests 1 through 4 will run simultaneously. Groups “A & B” will start their first series test on one set of land and water tests while groups “C & D” will start their first series test on the other set of land and water tests. Once each group finishes their first series test, they will switch tests respectively. Group “A” will switch with Group “B”, and Group “C” will switch with Group “D” to begin the second series tests.

Once the first two series tests are completed, Groups “A & B” will then switch with Groups “C & D” to complete the remaining two series tests.

During the event, the retrievers are to be judged as they would throughout all regular HRC events. The Judges will evaluate the dog’s performance based on Solid, Marginal, or Failing work during each Grand series test. The performance of grading will be directly related to the number values listed below. The number value is only a means for the computer to value the performance given by each Judge.

0 = Fail 1 = Marginal Pass 2 = Solid Pass

The retrievers receive points according to the following system, except for test series five. The Upland Test Series is to be Judged and scored on a Pass or Fail system.

Given that all of the first four series tests are run simultaneously, a retriever may receive a Marginal score only once from any combined set of Judges throughout the event. No retriever that has clearly failed or received a score of zero (0) from any one Judge will be carried on to the next series test.

Beginning with the first series test, a retriever must earn a marginal score of one (1) point from each judge for a combined score of two (2) points to advance to the second series test. At the conclusion of the second series, the scores from both the first and second series tests will be combined. Those combined scores from series 1-2 must equal a minimum total score of six (6) points to advance on to the third series test.

At the conclusion of the third series, a retriever must have earned a minimum combined total score of nine (9) from test scores 1-3 to advance to the fourth series test.

At the conclusion of the fourth series, a retriever must receive a minimum total combined score of (13) from all four series tests to advance on to the fifth series.

This score of thirteen (13) must be received with a minimum score of six (6) points from test series 1-2, combined with a minimum score of seven (7) points in test series 3-4. The retriever may also advance with a score of thirteen (13) by combining a score of seven (7) or higher from tests 1-2 with a minimum score of six (6) received in tests 3-4.

Following the conclusion of each series test, the Judges briefly confer to discuss their individual judging assignments and then separately mark their scoring sheets. A member of the Permanent Grand Hunt Committee will then review these score sheets to make sure they are complete. Next, the Permanent Grand Hunt Committee will oversee the input of scores into the Grand Hunt computer-scoring Program.

The Computer Program automatically will display an alert error anytime a retriever receives a separation in scores by two points (0,2). Generally an error of this type may occur during the transfer of scores from the Judges sheets onto the official scoring sheet. In the event this should happen, these sheets will then be passed back to the Judges for their review and correction.