Did You Double-Check the Judge’s Book?
by John Cox
The awards ceremony just concluded and you received your ribbon and qualifying score. You also figured out the score is not one which will be in contention for another award. All is good and now it is time to gather up your belongings and head off to Dairy Queen for a celebration. Your team qualified, yea!!! But wait just one minute! Do you know for sure if your score is entered correctly in the Judge’s Book and/or the math is correct? If there was a run-off (and you won) was it recorded correctly with the + sign(s)?
News Flash: Judges do make errors on occasion; it is part of the human experience. It would be to your benefit to swing by the Superintendent/Show Secretary’s table (or where results are posted) and look at the tear sheets to make sure that everything is in order pertaining to your score and placement, if any. It is best to do this immediately after the class ends and while the judge is still on site.
Double check and if you have earned a Qualifying Score (QS):
1. Make sure the score you were told in the ring is under your armband number in the Judge’s Book.
2. Check the math to make sure the Final score is added correctly.
3. If you were in a runoff, (and won) check to see if there is a + sign next to your score in the Placements.
4. See that your Total Score in the Book was carried down to the Final Score box. If not, check to be sure that
error did not affect the placements. Plus, if the QS were not carried down it could be missed when the final tabulations are sent off to the AKC.
It is best to be proactive while at the trial if there were an issue in the Book; you could have had it corrected then before it reaches the AKC’s databases in North Carolina. Avoid finding yourself in a situation where you failed to double check and left the trial under the pretense you earned a leg towards a title then later to find out you had not.
What to do if you think there may have been an error:
1. Chapter 2, Section 10, “No person other than the judge may make any numerical entry in the judge’s book and no score may be changed by the judge except to correct a numerical error or an error in posting.”
2. Chapter 2, Section 10, “Copies of the sheets in the official judge’s book will be made available through the superintendent or show or trail secretary for examination by handler immediately after the ribbons have been awarded in each class.”
3. Chapter 2, Section 11, “Any interested person who thinks that there may have been a numerical error or an error in identifying a dog may report the facts to one of the stewards, the judge, the superintendent or to the show or trial secretary so that the matter may be checked.”
4. It is best to talk to the judge right after the class has ended and before another starts, if possible. You might consider taking a picture of the tear sheet to show your concerns to the judge, as they have turned in the Book. Plus, having a photo of the tear sheet might be of benefit if an issue were to turn up later on down the line.
5. Review the Obedience Judges Guidelines’ (in the back of the Regulations) which illustrates the procedures for judges to follow in marking the Judge’s Book. Judges should also review the illustrations prior to judging.