UFTA: pointing and flushing competition, membership and records

Key facts

Founded

2001 [source]

An association with a scored field format

The United Field Trialers Association says it was founded in 2001 by field-trial participants and bird-dog enthusiasts. Its stated purpose is a consistent system for evaluating the work of dog and handler as they locate and recover birds. The public site separates pointing and flushing resources and provides contacts for clubs, state representatives and the national office. This makes the association a defined competitive framework with local organisers, rather than a generic label for any field trial. An interested handler can start with a club or state contact and identify which division fits the proposed entry.

Choose the actual division and rules

The published rulebook sets out definitions, scoring and administration for named divisions. For example, pointing rules distinguish open, amateur and doubles formats, with separate provisions for dog-handler teams and paired teams. The site also carries rule amendments and announced the addition of amateur flushing in 2025. That combination means the book and subsequent official updates need to be read together. The membership introduction explains that competition is against the field rather than a bracemate. For a reader comparing results, the division, team format and applicable rules explain more than the broad phrase field-trial winner.

Membership and competition records

UFTA’s joining page states that current membership is required to participate and supplies a membership-and-waiver application, with a September-to-August membership year. Membership paperwork and the dog’s competition documentation are therefore practical preparations before an entry. The website separately offers dog and team searches, division-specific points, national champions and a Hall of Fame. A championship result and an accumulated points record answer different questions, even when they involve the same dog. Retain the dog’s identifier, division and event date when using these resources, and use the particular organiser’s schedule for the arrangements of the trial itself.

Common questions

Sources & further reading

References for this guide. Rules and services can change; check the responsible organisation for current details.

• UFTA: association and current updates (opens in a new tab)
• UFTA: joining and membership year (opens in a new tab)
• UFTA: published rulebook (opens in a new tab)

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