FAQ

How do we cross Register a trial with both the AKC and the American Field?

Registering a trial with the American Field is as simple as submitting the information via e-mail. You can find the requirements at the American Field web site.

As more and more clubs wish to recognize the importance of dual registering their weekend trials, the National Weimeraner Association wishes to supply the field trial secretaries with the information required to cross-register those trials. Below, you will find an example of what the San Antonio ? Weimaraner Club used to complete this process. Cross-Registering weekend trials with the American Field is relatively easy. The field trial secretary (or any person wishing to pay for the advertisement) will want to supply the advertisement to the American Field by one of two ways: email (amfieldpub@att.net) or by fax (312.663-5557). Although it is not necessary, the preferred format for submission of the advertisement is a Microsoft Word document; alternatively, the submission may be made via email with "text only" formatting. The approximate cost for registration and advertisement of a typical weekend trial is approximately $90 and includes the publication of results in the American Field newsletter. As can be seen on an example the bill will be sent to the requested party under "Billing Information for Advertisement". When the SMVC first dual registered their trial, Dustin Ochs offered to pay for their advertisement and registration with the American Field; if the club is paying for the advertisement, you can provide the billing information for the field trial secretary or the club treasurer. It should be noted that "Limited" stakes in AKC trials are referred to as "Restricted" in the American Field trials and that the "Gun Dog" stakes in AKC trials are referred to as "Shooting Dog" in the American Field trials. So, if your club is holding an "Amateur Limited Gun Dog", the American Field advertisement should read as "Amateur Restricted Shooting Dog". As can be seen in the example, the retrieving stakes are denoted separately for each stake. Good luck in your field trial adventures and if you should have any questions, please contact Dustin Ochs during normal business hours Monday through Friday by phone (620.343.6621) and he would be happy to assist your club with dual-registering your weekend AKC trial with the American Field. On a separate note, the American Field may be contacted by telephone (312.663.9797 and ask for Advertising) to answer any additional questions. Finally, advertisements for publication and recognition by the American Field must be submitted 30 days prior to the first advertised day of the trial in order to allow for formatting, printing, and mailing of the magazine/newsletter.

Download a sample submission for reference

Does my dog have to have an AFTCA issued "win certificate" in order to enter the NWA Nationals?

QUALIFICATIONS

National Field Championship: Recognized placement in American Field or AFTCA recognized Shooting Dog, All Age, or Derby stake. This win could take place at an AKC trial that has been cross-registered with the American Field.

National Derby Classic – no qualifications – dogs must be whelped on or after Jan 1, (two years prior) to be eligible to compete. In other words, a dog whelped on January 01, 2004 is eligible to compete in the Spring 2006 National Derby Classic when they are approaching 27 months of age.

National Amateur Field Championship – no qualifications.

Does my dog have to be Field Dog Stud Book registered to enter the NVA Nationals?

Your dog should be FDSB registered in order to compete at the NWA Nationals as one of the requirements for the NFC is a "recognized AF or AFTCA" placement. As a minimum, the registration for the dog to run in Derby classic and NAFC should be submitted to the FDSB. Upon receiving a placement, the owner of the dog can contact the AF and receive a FDSB number to be used on the recorded win.

What is the course like and how long are the braces at Grove Spring, MO?

Each brace of both the National Championship and National Amateur Championship are 60-minute heats. The braces of the Derby Classic are 30 minutes each. The courses for each of the events comprise three (3) continuous hours of course which only passes the clubhouse on one occasion. The Sportsmen's Association grounds are comprised of approximately 2,800 acres of rolling "Ozark" hills.

Course #1: The first 45 minutes is straight away down a chute which then makes a sweeping hairpin and goes through two (2) fields and up "horsekiller hill" at approximately the 50 minute mark. The remaining 10 minutes are crossing a field and going back down a smaller hill to finish in another chute.

Course #2: The breakaway is generally up a smaller hill and across the top of a hill taking a 90 degree turn at the 5 minute mark to continue across the top of the hill and back down into a chute. The next 15 minutes are spent in a bottom (chute) and the course makes a sweeping left hand turn into a small and short chute that opens up into a draw that runs about ½ of a mile through the course and ends in the "bull pasture". The bull pasture is usually comprised of a long sweeping left hand turn that ends begins a swing to the right over the course of the next ¾ of a mile and continues through 4 separate pastures. The last 5-10 minutes, we come down a hill and proceed immediately back up another hill and along the top and back down as we pass through/beside camp. Generally speaking, Course #2 ends as we pass camp.

Course #3: The break away is right above (west) of camp on top of the hill. The course heads west along the top of the hill with a draw on the left and timber on the right for approximately ¼ of a mile before heading back south around the top of a pond. The course then crosses course #2 as it goes down the hill and makes a sweeping left hand turn through a chute and almost immediately makes a right hand turn to head over the hill and through a draw and back up over the hill. Of the 3 courses, this is the most detracting point of the grounds. As we come up out of the draw at the 15 minute mark, the course follows the top of a hill and down to the foot of the hill, past a pond, and through a gate to meet up with Course #1. As the course approaches Course #1, it will make a left hand turn and parallel course #1, but on the other side of the creek. At the 55 minute mark, it crosses the creek at the breakaway of course #1 and heads up and away from the breakaway to finish.

What is the AFTCA?

The AFTCA is an acronym for the Amateur Field Trial Club of America. Think of the AFTCA as a separate entity that is recognized by the Field Dog Stud Book/American Field. The three are all intertwined together. The AFTCA governs "amateur win certificates" for the American Field. For additional information, you can view their website at www.aftca.org.