Historical Interest – Reprint from 1939 English Setter Club Year Book Extract from:
Rules for the Trial Meetings
Revised 1933
Rule 7 revised 1938
It is understood that all competing Dogs shall have been previously Registered at The Kennel Club.
- In Single Stakes the competing dogs shall be drawn into pairs by lot, the dogs belonging to the same owner, or worked by the same handler to be guarded from each other as far as possible. At the end of the first round the judges will call up at their own discretion, any dogs they require further, and run them as they choose.
- In Brace Stakes the two dogs running together must belong to the same owner, and the order of running in the first round shall be decided by lot. No dog shall be allowed to form part of more than one brace at the same meeting, and only one man at a time shall work any brace.
- In all stakes the Judges will, except in cases of undoubted lack of merit, try each pair in the first round for at least fifteen minutes.
- The judges are requested to give greater credit to a natural backer than to one that backs only to order, and also to any dog that takes his handler freely up to game without being pulled or forced.
- The judges will avoid, if possible, holding a dog so long on his point, for the purpose of securing a back, as to cause the birds to run; but if a pointing dog be held on point by order of the judges he shall not incur any penalty for misbehaviour in reference to that particular point.
- The Judges shall not decide the merit of a dog’s running from the number of times he points game, backs etc but from the style and quality of his performance as a whole, and they should penalise dogs that are given to false pointing and whose style is not confident and free. Dogs are required to maintain a fast and killing range wide or narrow, as the necessity of the case demands; to quarter the ground with judgement and regularity; to leave no birds behind them; and to be obedient, cheerful and easily handled.
- The judges are requested and empowered by the Committee to first caution, and upon repetition of the offence turn out of the Stake, any breakers not beating the ground to their satisfaction; not keeping together, or out walking their opponents; unduly whistling or shouting, or behaving in such a manner as, in the opinion of the judges, is detrimental to the chances of success of their opponents. Any breaker or owner who feels that the behaviour of his opponent is unsettling his dog may request the interference of the judges. A non-member may not actually run a dog in any case.