Awards & Certificates

[cockermadblonde]

TBH I prefer rosettes - have them from my breed showing days still and like looking at the special ones!

Certificates get filed in a binder with the dogs pedigrees etc but trophies and rossettes go on the matel or pinned in the corner of the room

[NickC]

One award that I think is particularly nice to receive is that of Guns' Choice, particularly if there is a trophy to go with it, usually kindly donated to the club by a previous winner of the the trial.

I think awards mean different things to different people. The first award you get means a lot, but it's natural to aspire for the next level up each time. If we weren't competitive we wouldn't be competing after all.
I don't think anyone would suggest the clubs stop giving out certificates. As people have noted they mean a lot to newcomers. Most people at a field trial aren't there for the certificates but it doesn't mean they value the work of the clubs any the less. Many of them are active on the committee of at least one club anyway.

[t jack]

It's probably worth remembering that in every trial/test there is someone who'd be willing to cut their left hand off just for a ticket

[trekmoor]

Guns choice ....... Mmmmmmmm I noticed a long time ago that this usually goes to a dog with a lady handler !

Wullie

[Hepe]

Guns choice ....... Mmmmmmmm I noticed a long time ago that this usually goes to a dog with a lady handler !

Wullie

That is soooo evil and not true! Hrmf!

Helene

[Rothievale]

I file the certificates with the dogs pedigree and display the trophies and very reluctantly give them back when requested! I have plans to frame my open trial trial certificate and my stud book number certificates for each dog but haven't got round to it yet....

As others have said, alot of time and effort goes into producing the certifcates, I have been field trial secretary for several different clubs and when you hear someone in an Open trial saying that they will bin their COM when they get home, I just think it's downright rude and for those competitors running in their first open who are chuffed with their COM, it just makes them feel deflated. Rosettes, I like them although haven't quite figured out what to do with mine but I can see why they can be seen as an unnecessary cost.

I remember the wife of a well known and some considered to be top handler in the country winning an open cocker stake up here once several years ago and when presented with the trophy, she accepted it then gave it back saying there were enough in the house still in their boxes and it would save her the expense of engraving it and having to send it back! To say I was disgusted was an understatement and it gave out the most conceited, arrogant signal to the gamekeeper and landowner that funnily enough, we never went back to that ground again

[Rothievale]

Guns choice ....... Mmmmmmmm I noticed a long time ago that this usually goes to a dog with a lady handler !

Wullie

Grrrr, that really annoys me!!!!!! You are a wind up merchant Wullie, of course the dog couldn't possibly have won it on it's own merits. Are men really that shallow (don't answer!)