SCENT HURDLE RACING

By JoAnne Nelson

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Allsorts Dogsports ~ Scent Hurdle Champions 

As a member of Allsorts Dogsports (Manitoba), I compete in Scent Hurdle racing

with my Border Collie "Moxie".  I am told that Scent Hurdle racing is not as popular,

in fact doesn't exist, in some provinces in Canada.  For those of you who have never

had the opportunity to watch, or compete in Scent Hurdle Racing, I am writing this

for you.  Hopefully, it will give you an idea of what the sport of Scent Hurdle is all about!

 

Firstly, Scent Hurdle races are held at CKC shows (usually during the lunch break or

after Best in Show).  It is a sport for all CKC recognized breeds, which include

Border Collies having their CKC Misc. Class Certification.  Scent Hurdle racing

has been taking place as an attraction at Western Canadian Dog Shows since 1974.

All team members plus stewards must be members of the C.S.H.R.A. (Canadian

Scent Hurdle Racing Assoc.) The sport of Scent Hurdle Racing is sanctioned by

the CKC and the dogs competing can earn titles acknowledging their merit.



These titles are:
SHD Scent Hurdle Dog 50 points

SHDX Scent Hurdle Dog Excellent 100 points

SHDCH Scent Hurdle Dog Champion 250 points
The Scent Hurdle Races consist of two teams of four handlers and their dogs, plus a platform steward. Both teams race their dogs simultaneously over a series of four hurdles. Each dog must retrieve a scented and numbered dumbbell from a square platform on each course. As each dog retrieves his handler's naturally-scented dumbbell, he immediately returns over the four hurdles to his handler and the next dog is sent to repeat the same performance until the fourth dog on the team has completed his run. Each time a dumbbell is retrieved, the steward places an "x" (or a Dummy Dumbbell) on the empty space on the platform. The first team to successfully complete the course is the winner of that heat. The first team to win two out of three heats is the winner of the race. Points (Per Dog):
Clean heat over 35 seconds = 5 points
Clean heat between 30-35 seconds = 10 points
Clean heat under 30 seconds = 20 points
All dogs racing, wear a numbered jacket matching the number on their dumbbell (making it much easier for the audience to see if the dog is actually returning with the correct dumbbell). Each dog on a team has his own individual number, usually from 1 thru 4, but can vary depending on the number of dogs on each team. (Like Flyball, a team can have dogs sparing in and out and the jump height for each team is determined by the smallest dog running in each heat.) I was introduced to this sport with my first Border Collie, O.T.Ch. Dickens, ShdCH, FbdCh, AD, HIC, CGC. Dickens will be 11 yrs. old in April and is retired now (as much as I know he'd love to continue playing, he just can't keep up withthose young whippersnappers). I learned a great deal in training my first scent hurdle dog and like any sport, you continually learn and improve. Thinking back to my first race at the Mid Canada Dog Show, filled with nervous anticipation of our great debut, I said, "Find it!" ..... and AWAY HE WENT over the first jump! ..................... it was then that I realized .................... I forgot to take his leash off. (you can imagine the expression on the Platform Steward's face as Dickens came barrelling toward him, a string of jumps in tow!) One of Life's embarrassing moments, I can not forget, especially after having that wonderful moment captured on video! It was like watching a Scent Hurdle & Weight-pulling demonstration that only a good-hearted Border Collie with great determination could master! Ahhhh Dickens.... you deserve every title you've ever earned. Scent Hurdle Racing is a competitive sport like Flyball and teams are always looking for the "edge". If you are interested in finding out more about Scent Hurdle Racing and how you can get started, write to the C.S.H.R.A. , care of:

Western Region: Elizabeth van Husen - Tofield, Ab (CANADA)
Eastern Region: Iris Shrimpton - Wpg., Mb (CANADA)

This article written in 1996 for the Border Collie club of Canada newsletter.