Trial class versus competition round

Identify the class

Copy the class exactly as published and retain the governing association. Labels such as novice or open should not be assumed to have the same eligibility across livestock trials, gundog trials and obedience. Use separate authority and discipline fields when organising records.

Identify the round

A heat, preliminary run, semi-final and final represent different stages. A preliminary leader may not be the eventual winner. If the published result does not name the stage, mark that uncertainty rather than inferring a final placing from the order of rows.

Compare like with like

Before presenting a ranking, establish whether scores are single-round, cumulative or reset for the final. Preserve scratched, withdrawn and non-qualifying entries as distinct statuses where the source identifies them. Readers should be able to reconstruct why a score appears in a particular table.

Sources & further reading

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

• Dogs Australia — rules and regulations (opens in a new tab)

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