The Hunting Beagle and Performance Pack Programs are Honor-Based; Other Beagle News
Full Circle
May 14, 2018
Source: Roy Swafford
As I begin my career as the Beagle Programs Manager, it is hard to put into words the excitement I feel to be managing this program. Its a responsibility I dont take lightly, and I fully understand the importance of learning all aspects of my new position.
The Hunting Beagle and Performance Pack Programs are both honor-based formats. In the Hunting Beagle format, the success of a cast and the event falls largely on its participants. I know this as I have been one of those participants since 1991.
While my experience in Performance Pack is limited, the format must have quality non-agenda driven judges willing to only evaluate a dogs performance on that day, and not be influenced by any other factor. Agenda-driven judges and biased voting participants are an honor-based systems worst enemy.
Both formats are about scoring dogs and should never be based on who is standing on the end of leash. If a participant or a judge makes questionable decisions, or needs to be judged by a certain individual to win, you may want to put more attention to whats at the end of the lead opposed to creating ways to benefit the dog. Remedy his lack of ability, do not allow your judging or voting decision to be based on anything but what the right call is for the situation.
Theres nothing wrong with getting beat and simply saying I got beat by another hound. As with any such format, judges who are there to score dogs only will be an influential part of its success. Who owns them has no bearing when judges are handed a pack to evaluate. Otherwise, they would have no business scoring dogs. Im very excited to learn more about the Performance Pack format and help make it grow and succeed.
I recently returned from NHBA Days in Missouri, and my hat is off to the Show Me Beaglers. As the host club, they absolutely knocked it out of the park. They accepted a challenge that is no easy task for any club. Jason Mercer and their entire crew are the ones who put in the time and effort needed to make it such a successful event. Yes, they had the support of UKC and great sponsors behind them, but the main reason is how everything was implemented and everyone there played an instrumental role. The atmosphere alone was something and the sportsmanship displayed by the participants was second to none. A total of 69 casts that were sent out to the field all returned with a plus-point cast winner.
The Pilot Program hunts for timed lines in the Hunting Beagle format are now taking place in all regions around the country, and we are starting to see feedback from these events. The obvious reason for this proposal is to end the age-old debate of what is a circle and the inconstancies from cast to cast. Pilot programs are very useful in providing feedback from our participants on how a potential rule change will affect the format as well as other current rules in play.
Id also suggest that hunters should play with this proposal when you are out running dogs. Ive seen a lot of benefits to implementing this type or way of scoring speed and drive. The rules need to be as clear as possible, and it is should be clear to all when the judge announces that the time is up, and a line can be scored.
UKC has always been a registry where your voice matters. If you are at one of these events, youll have an opportunity to be involved, and give us your personal opinion and feedback on forms that are provided at these Pilot Program events. Also, if there is something you feel could make this proposal work better please add that to your survey form.
The UKC Beagle Programs are great programs, and looking forward to being a part of these great formats.