Summary of Duties

The FIELD CHAIRPERSON makes recommendations for date and place of a future Test/Trial, actually selects and arranges for the field and monitors the duties of the Trial Secretary, Lure Operators and the Inspection Committee. This person should be the most knowledgeable on the field. The Field Chairperson appoints volunteers from field-side handlers to police the field for hazardous terrain/materials; acquires permission from the Judges for an apprentice Judge to be on the field; and, in the event of a Protest, will notify the Judges and the Field Committee immediately.

This position is the all-rounder on the Field Committee. It is necessary that a Field Chairman have experience in at least three of the other field assignments, preferably Huntmaster, Trial Secretary and Field Clerk. Experience as a Lure Operator is a plus.

AKC Lure Coursing Regulations:

Section 3. Field Chairman
(Must be a member of the host club)

1. Is Chairman of the Field Committee.

2. Provides or secures the grounds for the meet.

3. Shall appoint an inspection and measuring committee which shall have the responsibility of inspecting all hounds entered (See Section 7, this Chapter).

4. Ensures that all equipment is in place and functioning, including the proper color and size blankets.

5. Ensures that all awards are on hand.

6. Provides for policing, i.e., cleanup of the grounds before, during and after the meet, especially of anything remotely resembling a lure and anything hazardous.

7. Must individually approve anyone who is to be allowed in the judging area other than the officials of the trial (e.g., apprentice judges).

8. May at his/her discretion, excuse from the field for the day any hound that exhibits uncontrolled aggressive behavior toward any person or hound on the trial grounds, except hounds competing in the course then in progress. The Field Chairman may levy and collect a penalty fee of $5.00 from the owner or his duly authorized agent of any hound that is loose on the field and not in competition at the time.

9. Will lay out the course according to the approved course plan.

10. Shall announce the final placements and qualifying scores at the end of the test or trial.

Section 9. Field Committee
1. Field Committees may make additional regulations for the government of their events as shall be considered necessary and proper, provided such regulations-  or rules do not conflict with, change or modify any Rules or Regulations of The American Kennel Club. Such additional Regulations shall be printed and distributed with the premium list and violations thereof shall be considered the same as violations of the Rules and Regulations of the AKC.

2. The decisions of the Field Committee shall be final, conclusive and binding on all parties, in all matters occurring on the day of the meet, except for matters coming within the jurisdiction of the Judge(s). Such Committee decisions must be made in accord with the general regulations and standard procedures that apply to the trial being held.

3. The decisions of the Judges in all matters relating to the course are final.

4. If it becomes necessary to replace an advertised Judge after the opening of the event and no person on the eligible Judges list is available as a replacement, the Field Committee may select a person whose name is not on the eligible Judges list provided such person is in good standing with the AKC. The Field Committee must announce and post the name of any substitute Judge before the draw for the stake at which he is to officiate.

5. If a Judge is unable to complete a judging assignment, a replacement may be substituted. The Field Committee shall notify the exhibitors of the substitution. All of the scores of the Judge who was replaced shall stand as recorded.

6. If a Judge is substituted, the owner or handler of a hound entered in that stake has the option of withdrawing the hound before the draw and receiving an entry fee refund. If, after the draw, a Judge must be substituted, no refunds shall be made.

7. In the event that an unadvertised Lure Operator must be used, the Field Committee must select a substitute Lure Operator and must announce the name of that substitute before the draw for the stake at which he is to operate the lure. If an unadvertised Lure Operator is used, the owner or handler of a hound entered in that stake has the option of withdrawing his hound before the draw and receiving an entry fee refund. If, subsequent to the draw, a Lure Operator must be substituted, no refunds shall be made. The advertised Lure Operator shall make every effort to complete his assignment.

8. The Field Committee shall handle all official protests on the day of the event as specified in Chapter XIV.

9. At no time may the Field Committee overrule, change or reverse a judging decision except in the case of eligibility as determined after a protest is filed, without the express consent in writing of the Judge involved.