Triathlon

Wouldn't you love to win one of these??? Get busy training and enter the Triathlon this Spring in Michigan. Let's make it a record Tri entry with a record number of Qualifiers. Join together, Performance People! Let's demonstrate how many of us there are! Load up the Kennel and Breeder Stake entries... they're free after your entry for each dog (@ $10 this year) .
Do you appreciate your Breeder? Find and mentor someone with a dog from the same Breeder so you can enter the Breeder Stake together.
Got a spare dog hanging around looking for something to do? Sometimes we get so excited about our promising young dogs. But if they're still safe to course, consider your wonderful Vets... Wouldn't they like to be back in the spotlight to make up a Kennel Stake entry? It's amazing how they remember. And they LOVE being the focus of your attention while the young hotshot sits in a crate whining. :-) I think it helps build drive in the youngsters too. Veterans Obedience will be offered.
If you missed the announcement about the pins, I've copied it below.
Hoping to see you in this year's Parade of Triathletes,
Sue Kaehler

PS The ONLY way we can keep Triathlon fees low is if you people support the trophies you want offered. PLEASE send your sponsorship $$$ for the Triathlon to Cindy Ackerman.
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NEW! RRCUS Pin Honors Triathlon Triple Qualifiers!
Starting with the 2009 National Specialty in Michigan, RRCUS will offer a cloisonné pin to Triathlon Triple Qualifiers each year!

To be eligible, your dog must be entered in the Triathlon and meet the following requirements: 1) Earn at least 50 points in Tri Conformation. 2) Earn at least 170 points and more than 50% of each exercise in Obedience (that's the AKC definition of a qualifying score). And 3) Earn an ASFA or AKC qualifying score in Lure Coursing by achieving a minimum of 50% of available points after the preliminary and final runs. Easier said than done. Note that the Triathlon rules have a lower threshold for qualifying in Obedience, requiring 50% of the available points. So even winning a Tri Award doesn't necessarily qualify your dog for a pin. It's a significant achievement and a true honor to be a RRCUS Triathlon Triple Qualifier.
PAST TRIPLE QUALIFIERS
If your dog Triple Q-ed in a past Triathlon, RRCUS also wants to honor you and him/her. Send a photo of the dog to Sue Kaehler with your name, the year of the Triple Q and the registered name of the dog with all titles. The info will be displayed at the 2009 National Specialty and a pin will be mailed to you before the Specialty along with your photo. You may email the info but do not send photos scanned at more than 300 dpi or bigger than 12000 pixels. Info must be received by March 31st, 2009. After that date, pins will only be issued to new Triple Qualifiers at our National Specialties. So this is a limited time offer for past qualifiers. Send your info in now!

Keep an eye out for the special people wearing these pins at the 2009 Specialty and look for the display honoring their dogs in MI. With just a few months left before the 2009 Triathlon, it's time to start preparing again. Maybe you & your Ridgeback could earn a pin in Michigan?
Send info / questions to Sue Kaehler. 1581 County Rd K, Cedar Grove, WI 53013 redwingrr@kaehlers.com

Triathlon Rules

The scoring for The Triathlon will be based on scores earned in three events at the RRCUS National Specialty: Obedience, Lure Coursing and Conformation. Triathletes must score 50% of the available points in each event to be eligible for awards. The points earned are described below.

OBEDIENCE: The Triathlon score for Obedience will be one half the score earned in one of the following classes: Novice A/B, Graduate Novice, Veteran, Open A/B, or Utility A/B. If a Triathlete is entered in multiple Obedience classes, the highest score will be used. (Maximum score 100 pts.)

CONFORMATION: The Triathlon Conformation Judge will evaluate each entry according to the breed standard and record a score for each, without awarding placements or trophies. (Maximum score 100 pts.) Each Triathlete must also be entered in a single entry AKC Conformation class at the Specialty: Sweepstakes, Stud Dog, Brood Bitch, Brace, and Jr Showmanship classes are not eligible.

LURE COURSING: The Triathlon score for Lure Coursing will be the total ASFA score divided by four or, if AKC coursing is offered, the AKC score divided by two. (This assumes two judges. In the event that only one judge is used, an ASFA score would be divided by 2 and an AKC score would not be divided.) Singles Stake entries are not eligible. (Maximum score 100 pts.)

To calculate the final Triathlon score, the points from the three events will be added and the dog or bitch with the highest combined score declared Best in Triathlon. The next five highest scoring dogs/bitches will be awarded the 1st through 5th Triathlon Select Awards. All Triathletes will receive a ribbon of thanks and congratulations for their efforts.

In the event of a tie in the Triathlon, a Tiebreaker Score will be calculated. The tied dogs performances in AKC Conformation shall be compared based on the number of dogs defeated (Bowen System) and the winner awarded 1 tiebreaker point. The tied dogs' performances in Obedience shall be compared based on the score awarded by the judge and the winner awarded 1 tiebreaker point. The tied dogs' performances in Coursing shall be compared based on the total score (prelim + final run) awarded by the judge(s) and the winner awarded 1 tiebreaker point. These points will be added and the dog with the highest Tiebreaker Score will be awarded the higher Triathlon placement. In the event that the Tiebreaker Scores are equal, the dog with the higher Triathlon Conformation score will win the higher Triathlon placement.

Kennel Stake: An entry shall consist of two hounds, designated at the time of entry, owned and living with the same person. The individual Triathlon scores of the two hounds will be added and the highest combined score will be awarded the Triathlon Kennel Stake Award.

Breeder Stake: An entry shall consist of two hounds, designated at the time of entry, bred or co-bred by the same person. The individual Triathlon scores of the two hounds will be added and the highest combined score will be awarded the Triathlon Breeder Stake Award.

An owner or breeder may have more than one entry in the Kennel or Breeder Stakes. A particular dog may be entered as part of both a Kennel and Breeder Stake, but only once in each.
Owners are strongly encouraged to show their own dogs.

There will be no refunds after closing, except for bitches in season.
Questions? Contact the Triathlon Chair, Carol Vesely at carolv@linkline.com or 408-779-6649