VOBA Rules
1) The president will conduct the business of each trial meeting. If the president is absent, the vice president will conduct the business and so on….
- 2) All participants must pay VOBA dues before running in any VOBA events
- 3) Roll call before each trial is mandatory.
- 4) Dogs do not have to be registered to run in the trials.
- 5) All hunts are a minimum of 4 hours. (Exception) Weather could be a factor. The Officers or hunt clubs (only) may make the decision to stop a hunt or start at a later time. First and foremost its up to the best interest of the hunt club in making any late starts or cancelations we run on their lands and are their guest.
- 6) When scoring, if a hound is missed or not seen clearly, the following hounds will not be scored in that crossing. If a hound has a distorted or unclear number, the remaining hounds will be scored in the crossing. A hound or hounds will not be penalized for other hounds having defective numbers.
- 7) If a female is in season there is no excuse for running her in the trial and this will not be tolerated.
- 8) All participants must cast their dogs at the same cast site when the judge announces to cast. Each club must have an alternate cast site for re-casting of any dogs picked up and brought back during the hunt.
- 9) Dogs picked up during the hunt for whatever reason may only be re-casted at the casting site.
- You may only leave the cast site to track your dog if you expect your dog(s) may be in harm’s way, this message relayed by either another hunter already out looking for a dog or from a judge.
- All caught dogs must be re-casted at the cast site. Hunters must stay at the cast site for the 1st hour of the hunt so to keep the traffic down on the roads/paths for the judges to get into place.
- 10) Please no interfering with judges during the hunts unless you need assistance or you feel your dog may be in harm’s way.
- 11) Unsportsmanlike conduct will not be tolerated at all period and could be grounds for dismissal from the club. Any issues that you may have feel free to bring it to the attention of any officer.
- 12) New officers and or rules will be appointed and drafted every year at the annual summer meeting.
- 13) Entry fee per hound will be $25, whereas $15 goes to sponsoring HC, $5 goes to the award pool, $2 goes to VaHDA, $2 goes to selected charity, and $1 goes to VOBA for operating expenses.
- 14) All participating Hunt Clubs have to apply for a Field Trial Permit in order to sponsor a hunt with the VOBA.
15) The use of illegal drugs and alcohol is prohibited during the trial times. The Association, officers, and or property owners are not responsible for the negligence of this rule.
16) Officers will be voted on a biannual term (more info on this to come)
17) Kennel of the Year will be determined based on the combined HPH points of the top 3 dogs from each kennel.
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Numbers
Kennels/individuals that place dog(s) in the HPH from the previous year get first pick of numbers at the first meeting of the year.
Each kennel/owner can select numbers (max 3) and owner gets one pick of numbers no matter the # of dogs they placed in the top 20. The remaining numbers will follow same top hound sheet down the list until everyone present at the meeting has been given numbers. Same for both classes.
Your numbers will be good for all events**Use same number you qualify your dog with throughout the trial season. If you pull a dog from a hunt (e.g.-dog sick,in-heat,hurt,etc) please call the book-keeper so the number can be distributed to someone else if needed.
Numbers that are not used by the 2nd event will be turned back in to be redistributed out! It's not fair to hold good numbers and not come if there are folks looking to come to a hunt and get some decent numbers.
The number book will close Thursday night prior to each hunt so that Bert can get his dogs ready for the hunt. Please no calls after 9pm.
Rules on dog heights & measuring
- 18" height limit, will get 3 drops to try and measure in if not once with the 18 1/4" No Exceptions if stick doesn't touch both sides then the dog is measured out the 1/4" is the leeway!
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VOBA will measure dogs after each hunt. All dogs measured that has placed in a hunt, once measured it is good for the remainder of the season.
If you have a question about a dog you can bring it to the attention of an officer prior to the beginning of a hunt.
Hounds will be measured in a normal relaxed position behind the Withers (shoulder). No show stance or with legs stretched out. Front legs vertical and back legs can be slightly pointed back.
All dogs will be measured that place after the awards that have been caught. Those dogs which haven't been caught up to that time will be measured before the next hunt in which that dog is entered or they will not be counted. It is up to the Kennel owner to find someone in the measuring committee prior to the hunt in order to get it measured. All record lists of dogs will be kept on file for those dogs that have been officially measured.
VOBA Membership Dues
There will be a membership fee of $20 to every participant in order to participate in any VOBA events. These funds will go towards the treasury of the club for possible shirts, decals, hats, awards, friends and family offerings, cookouts, etc.
There will be no funds in monetary value awarded to dogs that place in the top 20 for points. Trophies given out to the top 10 that place High Points Hound point’s race on both sides, along with prizes to be determined.
VOBA Field Champion (FC) and (GFC)
- FC-1 win or HPH win and a total of 150 points.
- GFC-2 wins or a combination of a hunt or HPH win(s) and a total of 250 points.
- Field Champions will be awarded a trophy by the club to be given out at the Championship hunt or otherwise stated meetings.
- Club dues must be paid in order for a kennel, participant, or dog(s) owner to run in the championship hunt, obtain top hound points, and place dog(s) as a VOBA FC awards.
Top Hounds & Championship Hunt
- Championship Hunt is $30 per hound.
- Hounds that place in the top 15 males or females at any scheduled trial or hunt will qualify for the championship hunt.
- The top 15 hounds in both classes will be recognized after the championship hunt but trophies will be awarded only to the Top 10.
- Top 15 places at the CH will count towards the high point hound chase. Trophies for only top 10 in will be awarded.
- CH points will count towards making a dog FC/GFC.
- Club dues must be paid in order for a kennel, participant, or dog(s) owner to run in the championship hunt, obtain top hound points, and place dog(s) as a VOBA FC awards.
~~The hunt club to host the Championship Hunt will be drawn from a hat or decided upon during the course of the trialing events.
Best Combination Field Pack
- Consists of a 3 dog combination (or less), packs have to remain within dog owners, you cannot combine dogs with in kennels, have to pack individual dogs, E.G. - If Joe Point is kenneled with Hank they can't combine their personal dogs together. You can have as many packs as you wish to enter, E.G. - If I have dogs 1,2,3,4 and 5 I can combine dogs 1, 3, 4 for a pack, dogs 2, 3, 5....etc. The order of the pack doesn't matter, the 3 dogs picked (or less) with the highest total amount of points determines the pack winner. $5 entry per pack, you can enter as many times as you wish. (NEW) 50% of the proceeds go to the winning kennel/owner and the other to the club.
- Trophy for best pack awarded by the hunt club.
- *This is an optional award that the hunt club can participate in, not required that the club participate.