Western Regional winners

[Sheila & the Shelties]

I just wanted to clarify exactly what the prize is for winners of their class in Western regionals.  I thought it was for a free entry for Champs in 2018. Other people have said it gets you an entry into finals at Champs in 2018, no matter what your performance. Or even if you don't enter other runs? Some say both or something else. Can you clarify exactly what the prices are and who the Prize winners are?  Is there any documentation needed to prove you are one of those winners?

[Kyle]

It sounded so simple when I was at the Regional now it's become very confusing!  The way I understood it was that if you won your class at the Regional you were already *qualified* to enter Championships. But, to me, "qualified" doesn't mean it's paid for.  I always assumed I would be paying my entry fee. I also understood that I would be included in the Finals round no matter how my dog and I did at Championships. Those were the two things I understood from Sharon....and I really hope I didn't misunderstand!

I think part of the confusion are the terms being used of a "buy" or a "bye" into Champs. Neither of those are terms that I use so I was confused. That's why I just use that you are "already qualified" or a term that would be way more fun would be "INSTANTLY Qualified". Now *that* sounds like a super duper game show type prize!! 

I sure hope there's no documentation required since we didn't get any!  All we have is a medal that says "1st" on it. 

-Kyle

[Sharon Nelson]

It sounded so simple when I was at the Regional now it's become very confusing!  The way I understood it was that if you won your class at the Regional you were already *qualified* to enter Championships. But, to me, "qualified" doesn't mean it's paid for.  I always assumed I would be paying my entry fee. I also understood that I would be included in the Finals round no matter how my dog and I did at Championships. Those were the two things I understood from Sharon....and I really hope I didn't misunderstand!

I think part of the confusion are the terms being used of a "buy" or a "bye" into Champs. Neither of those are terms that I use so I was confused. That's why I just use that you are "already qualified" or a term that would be way more fun would be "INSTANTLY Qualified". Now *that* sounds like a super duper game show type prize!! 

I sure hope there's no documentation required since we didn't get any!  All we have is a medal that says "1st" on it. 

-Kyle

I had really super duper certificates all printed out too!  But I forgot to pass them out during the celebration.  I could email them and people cou print them out!

Sharon

[Sheila & the Shelties]

I think you are right, Kyle. That may have been the confusion. Until recently, I was unfamiliar with the term "bye: as it related to sports. I just want to get it clarified so that I know I have to up my savings program if I want to go to Champs next year.

Thanks, Sharon, that would be great to have a certificate. That way if we needed any documentation of our status, we would have it. But what exactly is the status of the award for the winners?

[Chris Nelson]

Kyle's explanation is correct.

You get a invitation to Champs, so if you don't quite meet the qualification requirements you're still good to go.
And you get into the finals round, regardless of where you placed in the rounds leading up to finals.

We'll have to see how it works for this year, since it's still a new idea for us.

[Kyle]

I had really super duper certificates all printed out too!  But I forgot to pass them out during the celebration.  I could email them and people cou print them out!

Sharon

I think we're good, Sharon! I'm sure Chris knows who won what so there won't be a question when it comes time to enter. Thanks again for the great time at Regionals - it was the best!

-Kyle

[Kyle]

Kyle's explanation is correct.

You get a invitation to Champs, so if you don't quite meet the qualification requirements you're still good to go.
And you get into the finals round, regardless of where you placed in the rounds leading up to finals.

We'll have to see how it works for this year, since it's still a new idea for us.

I get that this isn't something that is a top priority, but just humming on it a little, I'm thinking that the only "sticky" part would be that for the Finals, if a Regional winner didn't qualify for the Finals during Champs, that they would be just an *addition* to the percentage going to the Finals in their class rather than an *inclusion* of the percentage. (I sure hope that makes sense!!) An "extra" dog in their class at Finals shouldn't be a problem, right? Plus it makes it fair for those who honestly qualify for the Finals during Champs. 

-Kyle

[Sheila & the Shelties]

I think I understand what you're saying, Kyle. You are saying the regional winners would be in addition to those who qualified it Champs to participate in finals. The regional winners would not replace someone who otherwise would have legitimately qualified at Champs to go to the final round.

[Chris Nelson]

Kyle's explanation is correct.

You get a invitation to Champs, so if you don't quite meet the qualification requirements you're still good to go.
And you get into the finals round, regardless of where you placed in the rounds leading up to finals.

We'll have to see how it works for this year, since it's still a new idea for us.

I get that this isn't something that is a top priority, but just humming on it a little, I'm thinking that the only "sticky" part would be that for the Finals, if a Regional winner didn't qualify for the Finals during Champs, that they would be just an *addition* to the percentage going to the Finals in their class rather than an *inclusion* of the percentage. (I sure hope that makes sense!!) An "extra" dog in their class at Finals shouldn't be a problem, right? Plus it makes it fair for those who honestly qualify for the Finals during Champs. 

-Kyle

That is most likely what will happen.

The reason we're going to sort of see what happens is that I have a strong gut feeling the dogs who won at regionals will also have no problem making the cut at Championships.  If that is the case we wouldn't be 'ghosting' their entry into finals, since they earned it.

But yes if a team doesn't make the top 33%, but won their division at Regionals, then they still get to go into finals.   But, their entry wouldn't count against someone else making it in.    Somewhat confusing but we've got a little time to word it correctly so it makes more sense

[Kyle]

Chris - I think Sheila did a great job of wording it, with the one typo fixed, changing the one "it" to an "at" and I think it's quite understandable! Good work, Sheila!! 

-Kyle

[Sheila & the Shelties]

Thank you, Kyle. And thank you too, Chris, for the answer.