Top Twenty Competition

by Scott Price
Top Twenty Chairperson

We are very excited to have the opportunity to showcase the Top Twenty Rhodesian Ridgebacks of 2001.

Jane Missimer, our 2002 National Specialty Chairperson, has given us this great stage to have the inaugural Top Twenty event.

I have put together some questions and answers that I think are important for you all know and understand about how a Top Twenty event works.

1. When will the Top Twenty happen?

Monday night in the ballroom after Vet sweeps.

We are encouraging all participants and spectators to dress formally for this prestigious event. If you have formal, black tie wear, please dress in that fashion. If not, please attend wearing appropriate alternative fashion.

2. When can I see the outline of the competition and a description of how it will work?

The RRCUS web site will soon have our outline that we presented to the RRCUS board for approval. In short, all dogs competing will perform in the same manner as all the rest.

We will have three judges officiating the Top Twenty competition: one all-breed, one breeder-judge and one handler-judge.

Judging will be based on the Rhodesian Ridgeback Standard, as approved by the AKC. Each judge will complete a score sheet for every dog exhibited. The score sheet will be completed using a point system based on the scale of points specified by the standard.

3. Who are the Judges?

The judge’s names will be announced after the completion of the Veteran sweeps. At that time, catalogs for the Top Twenty competition will go on sale. The catalog will have a photo of each judge as well as a bio of each, which will outline their qualifications and experience in the fancy. The Top Twenty catalog will go on sale approximately one hour before judging begins. The judges will be formally introduced to the ringside spectators just minutes before judging begins.

4. Why are the judges' names kept secret?

All the Top Twenty events that are held throughout the fancy generally follow the same routine. The committee's goal is to develop a Top Twenty event where judging is based solely on the AKC standard. Clearly, the judging system is very different than that of a typical AKC conformation event. In the typical conformation show, exhibitors usually know which judges prefer which types of dogs. In the The Top Twenty competition, that certain type of dog is based on the AKC standard.

5. When we will we know the Top Twenty winner?

The winner of the Top Twenty competition will be announced at the banquet dinner. After the judges submit their score sheets to the Certified Public Accountant ("CPA"), who has been hired to tabulate the scores and hold them securely until publicly announced. No one will know who the winner is until the announcement at the banquet dinner.

6. Why is the entry fee $100.00?

The Top Twenty events held by by other breed clubs throughout the country have the same entry fee of $100.

The additional expenses that this fee is meant to cover include:

Fees and expenses for the three judges;
A separate Top Twenty competition catalog; and
Rosettes.

7. Will we know the other placements of the Top Twenty competition?

The rules call for the CPA to tabulate all the score sheets. However, there will be ONLY one winner crowned. The scores and placements of other exhibitors will not be announced or published in fashion. The CPA will hold secure all score sheets and no one from the Top Twenty committee or from RRCUS will know any other placements.

8. What will the catalog be like?

The Top Twenty catalog will be a stand alone publication that is separate from the catalog of the national specialty. It will only contain information pertaining to the Top Twenty competition and it will be the size of a standard al-breed show catalog.

Every Ridgeback that has qualified for the Top Twenty event will at least have one page with their name and ownership information. For those who enter the competition, there will be one page containing a photo and one page of ownership information as well as space devoted for show records or fun facts about the dog.

The catalog will also feature a photo of each judge and a bio outlining his or her qualifications. The rules and and explanation of the judging system used will also appear in the catalog. Other items that will appear in the catalog include:

The rules and judging system in place;
A copy of the actual score sheets used; and
Advertising by commercial sponsors.

It might be fun for the spectators to use the judging sheet in the catalog to score the dogs as they are exhibited. See how good you are a predicting the winner!

9. Why a Top Twenty competition?

Great question!!!!!

As you can see, this competition is very different from what we are all use to in the AKC conformation show ring. Three judges judging to the AKC standard as adopted by the RRCUS membership. This event should spark some very positive discussion of our standard as it is today. It will also provide a great opportunity for breeders and owners to showcase their wonderful Ridgebacks and give specialty participants, who travel from all over the country, a close view of the best of the pack!

10. Will the Top Twenty be an annual event at our RRCUS National?

Another great question!!

The committee has created an outline and formal Top Twenty guidelines, procedures and rules. These procedures and rules have been compiled by interviewing Top Twenty committees of other breed clubs. We have adopted what we feel are the best of the procedures and rules from other Top Twenty events. The 2002 Top Twenty committee will meet after the event and evaluate our procedures and rules and fine tune any necessary items.

The 2002 Top Twenty committee will then formally submit the Top Twenty guidelines, procedures and rules to the RRCUS board, which may vote to adopt the Top Twenty as part of annual nationals.