USBCHA judging guidelines

 

Part 4: International Gather (170 points)

Part 1: Introduction

Part 2: General

Part 3: Scoring a National-Style Course

Part 4: International Gather (170 points)

 

International gather or double lift competition requires a dog to be cast in a predetermined direction to gather the first lot of animals. The stock will be brought through the fetch gates to a turn-back post located approximately twenty (20) or more yards through the gates. The dog is to leave the group at the point and cast out in the opposite direction of the first outrun to gather the second lot of animals.

When the first lot has been taken through the fetch gate to the turn-back post and the dog redirected for his second lot, the first lot might wander off the course. If so, when the second lot has reached the turn-back post (or it more suitable a point nearer the handler), the dog should be sent to bring the first lot back on to the course and to join with the second lot. At no time should the second group of animals be driven off the course to join up with others, which have strayed.

The Turn Back

Once the stock has reached the post inside the fetch gates, the first fetch is completed. Commands and actions of the dog should then be deducted from the second outrun. However, if the dog continues to work the stock while being directed toward his second lot, the actions of the stock may require additional deductions from the fetch score as well as deductions from the second outrun.

All of the deductions in the regular judging sections apply to the Double Lift with the following additions and changes. However, with the greater distances and larger number of stock involved, the deductions for redirects on the outruns and missing panels should be reduced depending upon the distances involved and number of animals.

Second Outrun

Fault Description
Point Deduction
Dog crossing the course (the line for purposes of determining cross-overs on the second outrun is from the center of the back of the first group of animals straight back to the center of the front of the second group of animals.)
10–19 points
Dog may receive one command for going back and one directional command without penalty. Additional commands should be penalized per command.
½–1 point
Dog starts back for the second group of animals and then returns to the first group.
3–6 points
Dog must be called back to the handler and then cast off after the second group of animals.
19 points–DQ

Fetches and Drive

INTERNATIONAL DRIVE (40 Points): Both lots of sheep will be driven around a triangular course consisting of two sets of drive gates and will be completed when the sheep enter the shedding ring.

Fault Description
Point Deduction
Dog deliberately brings the first group of animals off line before he accepts the command to go back for the second lot of animals.
3–8 points
Second group are deliberately fetched off line to join the first group (depending upon how far off line).
1–8 points
Missing an obstacle. Per head.
½–1 point

Shed

INTERNATIONAL SHEDDING (20 points): The unmarked sheep are to be shed off within the ring. The shedding must be done by the sheep being passed between the dog and handler with the dog being brought in to stop and turn back any marked sheep. If the sheep are passed between man and dog in the approved manner, it is occasionally possible to get rid of a considerable number, and provided the dog and man are properly positioned and the dog stops any marked sheep that tries to join with the unmarked lot, this is acceptable. There is no rule against the handler changing sides, but judges will assess whether a competitor who does so, or is compelled by circumstances to do so, can be as good as one who does not change over. If a marked sheep escapes to join a group of unmarked sheep, that group must be brought back into the shedding ring and reunited with the remaining sheep before the shedding can proceed.

 

Fault Description
Point Deduction
Handler and dog change sides. Per occurrence.
1–2 points
Shedding off unwanted animals and driving them away, rather than running the animals off between the dog and handler. Per occurrence-per head.
1–2 points
Marked animal leaves the ring and joins the unmarked animals. Group that the marked animal has joined must be regrouped in the ring before shedding can continue.
3–6 points
Stock outside the shedding ring per sheep.
up to ½ per head
Maneuvering all the collared stock to one end and shedding them off. Must re-shed.
5–6 points
Excessive maneuvering of the stock while they are grouped to sort the collared from the uncollared.
1–5 points
Shed stock rejoin the stock in the ring.
1–3 points
While penning, a collared animal breaks away and rejoins the uncollared animals. The handler must re-shed. Any points lost while penning should still be deducted from the pen should the pen be completed.
3–6 points
While penning, an uncollared animal attempts to join the collared animals and the dog must be turned on to the uncollared animals.
0 points

Pen

INTERNATIONAL PENNING (10 Points): The five marked sheep shall be penned in the same manner as described in the qualifying trials and so forth.

Fault Description
Point Deduction
While penning, an uncollared animal rejoins the collared animals. The handler must re-shed.
2–4 points
Handler leaves the pen to prevent uncollared animals from joining collared animals.
5–9 points