NGSPA CLASSICS

NATIONALS QUALIFIER

 

BACKGROUND

Our Board of Trustees met in June 2025 and had a dynamic discussion regarding the growth of the NGSPA. One thing that we all agreed on was that we do not have an NGSPA structure other than our Championships to get dogs qualified to run in our Nationals. Our Dual Sanctioned Championship program served this purpose until the AKC ended it when the UKC bought the American Field a few years ago. Currently, other than Championship placements, a young dog often gets qualified through placing in a GSPCA trial. This is not good for our long-term health. The AKC is our competitor and has developed a Regional Championship program to compete with us. We should not have to run our dogs in their events to get them qualified. The good news is: We no longer have to!

 

This fall, we will hold our inaugural NGSPA CLASSIC. It will be held immediately following the NGSPA Region 8 Championship. Hopefully, other Championships will follow suit. It is easy, just follow these Guidelines and hold a Classic before or after your own Championship. Hold three 30-minute stakes, and your dog has 9 opportunities to place and qualify for our 2026 Nationals.

 

GENERAL GUIDELINES AND PROCEDURES TO HOLD A CLASSIC

  • The American Field allows any NGSPA Member Club to run a Classic simply by placing a 6“ ad in The UKC FIELD for $165. Simply identify the event as “NGSPA (ENTER THE NAME OF YOUR CLUB) CLASSIC” (see the sample attached).
  • As with all Classics, placements are not recorded in the FDSB. No win certificates will be issued. Dog owners must keep track of any Classic placements themselves. Owners may want to retain a copy of the write-up for proof. Simply list the qualifying trial on our Nationals Entry Form in the space provided.
  • FDSB Registration is required to enter a Classic. Placements will be voided if no FDSB number is produced.
  • NGSPA CLASSICS will be run according to NGSPA By-Laws and Running Rules.
  • Any NGSPA approved stakes may be held in a Classic, but it is recommended that only broke dog stakes: Open All Age, Amateur All Age, Open Shooting Dog, or Amateur Shooting Dog be held, since the purpose of the Classics is to qualify dogs for the Nationals. Any combination of broke dog stakes may be held.
  • Dogs placing in any NGSPA Classic (except juvenile stakes) will be qualified for the NGSPA Nationals.
  • Since the Classic is being held by the NGSPA, they are automatically limited to GSPs.
  • American Field Guidelines state that no placements are allowed for less than five dogs. With five dogs, one placement is allowed. With six or more dogs, three placements are allowed. They are declared as “first, second, or third place.” All three placements will qualify a placing dog to enter our Nationals.
  • A normal EDF is completed by the Club after the trial is over.
  • The Club sends the UKC a simple write-up, which is run in the UKC Field, and it provides proof of the dog’s placement. The write-up declares the placing dogs for each stake, along with the judges, handlers, the number of starters, and that they are GSPs. Refer to past issues of the UKC Field for examples.
  • The owners of the placed dogs may keep a copy of the Field article as proof of their placement if desired.
  • Purina does not sponsor our Classics, so no Purina HOY program request form is required.
  • No Purina Handler of the Year points nor Dog of the Year points are earned in a Classic.
  • At this point, no recognition of the Classic results is planned for our website, but that may change as the program develops.