IV. CLASSES OF COMPETITION

There are two (2) UKC classes for field trial competition defined as follows: Open Dog Class and Gun Dog Class. The Field Trial Committee shall designate to the UKC and prospective entrants whether the field trial will include Open Dog, Gun Dog or both classes of entries in the Premium List Advertisements and other notices/publications used to attract entrants. A minimum of four (4) entries are required per class whether run solo or braces for any win, placement or pass earned in any level of field trial competition to count towards attainment of a UKC title. If one class does not attract the required number of entrants, the field trial for the other class may be run, and the results counted for that particular class. A dog entered in one class may be moved to the other class to meet the required number of entrants.

A. Gun Dog Class. The Gun Dog Class shall be open to dogs six (6) months or older which have not earned a title in the Open Dog Class. The Gun Dog Class is designed for beginning and intermediate level dogs and handlers. The Gun Dog Class is normally run in solo. In Type (W) field trials involving designated wild game, a club may elect to run the Gun Dog Class in braced competition. In Type (L) field trials involving liberated (released) birds, the Gun Dog Class shall be run in solo only. (All previous versions of these field trial rules and regulations referring to the Novice Class shall be deemed to mean Gun Dog Class.)

B. Open Dog Class. The Open Dog Class shall be open to dogs at least one (1) year of age. The Open Dog Class is designed for dogs that are finished gun dogs. The Field Trial Committee of the sponsoring club shall designate he Open Dog Class as a competition in solo, braces or both.

C. Order of Competition. The Open Dog Class heats shall be commenced and run first in a field trial. However, so long as the Open Dog Class competition commences first at the start of the trial, nothing shall prevent the concurrent running of the Gun Dog Class competition heats on a separate area of the designated field trials grounds in field trials where more than one Judge is serving.