Junior Handling
Purpose
The purpose of the Junior Handling Division within CARO is to encourage and promote youth involvement in the sport of RallyO. This division is open to all handlers up to and including the age of seventeen (17) on the date of a trial.
Registration
Each Junior Handler must complete an application form, pay a one-time fee of $15.00 plus applicable taxes and will be assigned a Junior Identification Number (assigned to the handler and not a dog).
The ID number is for the purpose of tracking the handler’s achievements.
All dogs participating in the Junior Handler Division must also have a valid CARO Dog ID Card.
Eligibility and Rules
- Juniors and dogs may compete in the Junior Handler Division without regard to their accomplishments at any other CARO level.
- Juniors may compete and earn qualifying scores at all levels.
- All Junior Handlers must start at the Novice level.
- In order for the qualifying scores to apply towards Junior Handler titles, juniors must enter under their Junior Handler ID number as opposed to the ID number of the dog they are running.
- Juniors competing for Junior Handling qualifying scores at a given trial may not compete for dog Qs at the same trial.
- A dog may not be entered in a class under his dog ID number with a handler and also compete the same class with a junior handler in the Junior Handling division.
- If a dog is entered in the Junior Handling division but for various reasons the Junior Handler is not able to compete with the dog, the club may transfer the entry to the Regular Division should it wish to do so and the dog would compete under the Regular dog ID number.
- The Junior Handler is permitted to handle a different dog from one (1) trial to the next but must run one only dog per trial. Qualifying scores may be accumulated with different dogs.
- The dog may or may not be owned by the Junior Handler.
- Any dog entered in a Junior Handler class is not permitted to run the same course twice. (i.e. with a different Junior Handler). All Junior Handling classes will be judged according to the Rules and Regulations pertaining to the level at which they are competing with the following exceptions:-
Time allotted is four (4) minutes.
Junior Handlers will be allowed 2 repeats of Stations at the Advanced and Excellent levels.
Junior Handling Event
- The Junior Handler division consists of all the CARO levels of classes.
- A Junior Handler class may be held in conjunction with a CARO approved trial or as its own event.
- Junior Handlers will walk the course with the other competitors.
- The Junior Handler division will compete at the end of the regular class.
- All rules and regulations applicable to hosting a CARO trial shall apply.
- Junior Handling trial results must be submitted on a separate Trial Record Sheet.
- The qualifying class shall be designated as Novice, Advanced, and Advanced Team etc.
- The Junior ID Number will be filled in instead of the Dog ID Number.
- Junior Handlers MUST show their cards when checking in.
Judges
Junior Handler events will be judged by the same Judge who officiates at the regular or non-junior portion of the corresponding class. At the Judge's discretion, a separate briefing may be held for Junior Handlers.
Prizes and Awards
- Certificates will be issued by CARO for the levels the Junior Handler has achieved.
- The certificates will be issued in the name of the Junior Handler and the level they have achieved.
- Junior Handler classes shall be considered separate classes for the purposes of determining placements.
- Each qualifying Handler shall receive the same qualifying ribbon as the regular classes.
- Placement ribbons/rosettes, if offered, must be inscribed with JRH or Junior Handler to reflect that it is a junior event.
- Tabs can also be attached to ribbons to indicate that it is a Junior event.
- The host club may, at their discretion, present all junior handlers with a form of participation ribbon or prize.
Host clubs may charge a reduced fee for Junior events.