November 2020
To: All Clubs Licensed to Host Retriever Hunting Tests
Subject: Reduction of Mileage Conflict / Set Aside of Entries for Amateurs
This is to inform your club of (2) upcoming changes to the Regulations & Guidelines for AKC Hunting Tests for Retrievers. The first change is a reduction of the mileage conflict from 200 miles to 150 miles between retriever hunting tests. This change becomes effective for events held on or after January 1, 2021. The exact wording of this change is underlined and will appear in the next printing of the regulations as follows:
(1) Chapter 1. General Regulations (17th paragraph)
A club will not be approved for a licensed or member test if the proposed date(s) coincides with an approved licensed or member test(s), and the distance between the events is 150 miles or less. An exception may be made if a club receives clearance from the club(s) holding the established licensed or member test(s).
The second change will allow clubs to set aside either 25% or 35% of the entries of a limited master hunter test for amateur handlers. The set aside amount chosen by the club, will apply to the total number of entries prior to worker set aside entries. Entries reserved for amateurs will open one day prior to the general
opening. Any unused entries remaining after closing can be filled by any handler after the general opening.
This change becomes effective for events approved by the AKC after April 1, 2021. Events receiving AKC approval prior to April 1, provided they have not yet started accepting entries, may implement the amateur set aside program, provided the host club reaches an agreement with their entry service provider. The exact
wording of this change is underlined and will appear in the next printing of the regulations as follows:
(2) Chapter 1. Section 4. Entry Requirements (new 7th paragraph) Amateur Set Aside Entries. A club holding a limited entry Master Hunter test must set aside either 25% or 35% of the Master entries for amateur handlers. The amateur set aside level of 25% or 35% is at the host club’s option and shall be provided at the time the event application is submitted to the AKC.
This percentage applies to the total entries, prior to worker set aside entries. The number of MH entries set aside for amateurs shall be as follows:
Entries in a Limited MH Test 66 100 132 200
Amateur Set Aside 25% 17 25 33 50
Amateur Set Aside 35% 23 35 46 70
Entries eligible for the amateur set aside slots must provide only one handler per dog and the handler must be an amateur. The entry must be submitted by an amateur and the dog must be handled by an amateur in the Master test.
Performance Events Department Entries reserved for amateurs shall open one day prior to general opening at 8:00 pm in the time zone where the event is being held. If the amateur entry limit is reached in the 24 hours prior to the general opening, entries shall stop until the general opening. Additional amateur handled dogs are eligible to enter at the time of general opening. If the amateur entry limit is not reached prior to the general opening, the unused amateur entry slots may be filled by any handler at the time of the general opening.
If a dog is entered under the amateur set aside provision and the amateur handler is not able to attend the event, the dog may participate provided it is handled by another amateur. Any handler/owner misusing the amateur set aside provision will forfeit the ability to enter in this manner and may be subject to a fine from AKC. The amateur set aside provision does not apply to the Master National or the Master Amateur National.
This regulation update has been posted to the Retriever Hunting Tests News And Updates webpage and is being communicated to all retriever hunting test clubs and approved judges.
Please send any comments or questions to: huntingtest@akc.org If you send a request to update your email address, please provide your
name, city and state.
