2022 National Field Trial Event Details
National Event Results

National Field Trial Entry Qualifications

Entry in a National Field Trial stake requires meeting specific qualifications.

Vizsla with man and horse
Credit: Kevin Billy

National Field Trial Stakes, Qualifications, Entry and QOL Information

Stakes

  • National Amateur Field Championship
  • Derby Classic
  • National Field Championship
  • Open Puppy (optional)
    • The National Field Trial Committee has the option of offering an Open Puppy stake. This stake will follow the guidelines listed under the National Gun Dog Championship and the Appendices for the Puppy Classic. Should the National Field Trial Committee decide to offer Open Puppy, this stake must be reflected in the bid and budget presented to the Board. In the event that an Open Puppy stake is added after the original bid and budget has been accepted by the Board, an amended bid and budge must be submitted to the FAC and upon review and recommendation, approved by the Board of Directors.

National Amateur Field Championship

  1. Qualification- Open to any Vizsla six months of age or over that has met at least one of the following qualifications: Earned an AKC Amateur Field Champion title or ever placed first, second, third or fourth in an Amateur All-Age Stake, Amateur Limited All-Age Stake, Amateur Gun Dog Stake, or Amateur Limited Gun Dog Stake in an AKC licensed or member field trial in which eight (8) dogs started.
  2. Type of Stake- Type of Stake – Two Series
    1. First Series: single course without a bird field.
      1. 30-minute duration
      2. Non-retrieving, blank pistol only
    2. Second Series: retrieving in designated retrieving area or first bird may be shot on course.
      1. 45-minute duration
      2. Shooting by designated gunners only.
      3. The same handler that handles a dog in the first series of the National Amateur Field Championship stake must handle that dog in the second series of that stake.
      4. Dogs that go bird-less in the first series cannot be invited to the second series in either championship stake except under the most extreme and unusual circumstances. Dogs that go bird-less in the second series cannot be called back for a retrieve.
      5. Horseback Handling will be allowed in both series.
  3. Championship- If a Champion is declared, the title of NATIONAL AMATEUR FIELD CHAMPION of ____ (year) will be bestowed and three additional placements may be given. Judges’ Awards of Merit may be awarded. If the judges determine no dogs measured up to championship caliber, a champion will not be declared and first place will be withheld. Placements for 2nd, 3rd and 4th may be given.
  4. Dogs will be judged in accordance with AKC field trial rules and procedures for pointing breeds requiring a retrieve and according to AKC pointing dog guidelines with both series taken into consideration in awarding placements.

Derby Classic

  1. Qualification- Open to any Vizsla over 6 months of age and less than two years of age on the first advertised day of the trial that has ever won an amateur or open puppy stake or placed in an amateur or open derby stake.
  2. Type of Stake- One-Half hour (30 minute) duration.
  3. First through fourth place may be awarded as well as judges’ awards of merit.
  4. To be judged according to the Derby Standard as published in the AKC Field Trial Rules and Standard Procedure for Pointing Breeds rule book.

National Field Championship

  1. Qualification – Open to any Vizsla six months of age or over that has met at least one of the following qualifications: Earned an AKC Field Champion or Amateur Field Champion title, or that has ever placed first, second, third or fourth in an Open-All Age Stake, Amateur All-Age Stake, Open Limited All-Age Stake, Amateur Limited All-Age Stake, Open Gun Dog Stake, Amateur Gun Dog Stake, Open Limited Gun Dog Stake, or Amateur Limited Gun Dog Stake in which at least thirteen (13) dogs started in an AKC licensed or member field trial.
  2. Type of Stake – Two Series
    1. First Series: single course without a bird field.
      1. 30-minute duration
      2. Non-retrieving, blank pistol only
    2. Second Series: retrieving in designated retrieving area or first bird may be shot on course.
      1. 60-minute duration
      2. Shooting by designated gunners only.
      3. The same handler that handles a dog in the first series of the National Amateur Field Championship stake must handle that dog in the second series of that stake.
      4. Dogs that go bird-less in the first series cannot be invited to the second series in either championship stake except under the most extreme and unusual circumstances. Dogs that go bird-less in the second series cannot be called back for a retrieve.
      5. Horseback Handling will be allowed in both series.
      6. 2021-2022 will be a trial run with a 30-minute first series and a 60-minute second series to be reviewed following the completion of the 2022 NFC.
  3. Championship – If a Champion is declared, the title of NATIONAL FIELD CHAMPION of ____ (year) will be bestowed and three additional placements may be given. Judges’ Awards of Merit may be awarded. If the judges determine no dogs measured up to championship caliber, a champion will not be declared and first place will be withheld. Placements for 2nd, 3rd and 4th may be given.
  4. Dogs will be judged in accordance with AKC field trial rules and procedures for pointing breeds requiring a retrieve and according to AKC pointing dog guidelines with both series taken into consideration in awarding placements.

Open Puppy (Optional)

  1. Qualification – Open to any Vizsla over 6 months of age and less than 15 months of age.
  2. Type of Stake- 20-minute duration
  3. First through fourth place may be awarded as well as judges’ awards of merit.
  4. To be judged according to the Puppy Standard as published in the AKC Pointing Breed rule book. If a dog makes bird contact, a blank will NOT be fired. Bird contact is not required for a placement.

Entries

Entry forms shall be the official VCA Field Event entry form, which is the AKC Field Trial entry form modified to provide space for both DNA and Permanent QOL numbers.

Eligibility for Entry

To be eligible to run in a VCA Field Event, all dogs must have an AKC registration number (conditionally registered dogs are not eligible to enter any VCA Field Event), an AKC DNA profile number and a permanent breed standard qualification number (QOL) or pass the breed standard qualification at the event. Eligibility for entry must be printed in its entirety in the field event premium.