The ABA's Top Twenty Competition

Congratulations to our 2009 Qualifiers:

July 1, 2008- June 30, 2009

  Name                                         Pts.

	Photo by Gail Painter
Click on photo to enlarge 2007 Top Twenty Winner Ch. Blackjack Double Down on BoBeck Breeders: Robert and Becky Martin Owners: Vicki Allenbrand, Becky Martin and Melissa Bausman	Click on photo to enlarge 2007 People's Choice Award Winner Ch. Bastion's Music in the Glen RN Breeders: Robert & Lynn Spohr & Leland & Cindie Waters Owners: Dr Scott Hoffman & Gerald C Greer & Robert and Lynn Spohr

I. Statistics & Eligibility:

1. The only requirement is to be ranked amongst the Top 20 Bullmastiff breed ratings for the calendar year of July 1 of the previous year through June 30 of the year of competition, which will be received from the American Kennel Club.

2. The Top 20 Bullmastiffs will be invited by invitation only to compete.

3. Each dog will be judged on a point scale calculated by each individual judge.

4. Competition of the Top 20 must be held prior to Best of Breed Judging.

5. The winner shall remain anonymous until the Annual Awards Banquet.

6. Previous winners of the Top 20 will be eligible to compete as long as they are among the Top 20 Bullmastiffs.

II. Ring Procedure:

1. Entering the ring one at a time making a full circle to the middle of the ring handlers will then free bait their dogs for the average placement score. Then one at a time each dog will go down and back and then to their station to set up their dogs for examination by each individual judge. After each dog has been examined they will move on to the next station. After all dogs have been individually examined they will then together circle the ring and exit. This pattern will continue until all dogs entered have been examined.

2. We will need three stewards per station and an announcer to announce the instructions for the handlers.

3. Each dog is judged on an individual basis using the provided scale of points.

4. The conversation between ring steward and judge shall be limited to ring procedure questions ONLY.

5. A reputable committee member, preferably the chair, will tabulate the scores.

6. The winner will be kept confidential until the awards banquet where the winner will be announced. All individual scores and rankings shall remain confidential.

7. All entrants must attend the briefing held 45 minuntes earlier to judging for the purpose of assigning armband numbers, order of judging and ring procedure overview. Those who do not attend will not be allowed to compete.

8. The order in which the dogs will enter the ring will be drawn during the briefing held prior to judging.

9. Each judge will be assigned a steward to assist them in judging procedure and to assist the judging in a timely and orderly fashion.

III. Judges:

1. The Top 20 Committee will make the selection of the 3 judges.

*Excluded from this process is any member who has any interest whatsoever in any dog eligible to compete. The committee will select one individual from each of the following categories.

1. Handler- (past or present) A professional handler that meets the requirements although not necessarily a member or registered handler. Must have at least five years of experience of handling.

2. Breeder- Must be an established breeder who has been breeding for at least five years as well as having produced five champions of record.

3. Multi-Breed AKC Approved Judge- Must be approved to judge Bullmastiffs and at least four other breeds in any group.

2. Each participating committee member may nominate up to five judges in each category and then forward the names to the event chairman. The chairman will then tally up the nominations and select the winner. Upon notification, the event chair will then secure the acceptance of the winning nominees by sending each a written contract along with instructions to send a Bio along with the picture for the purpose of our Top 20 catalog.

3. The names of the judges shall remain ANONYMOUS to all, until the night of the Top 20 when the catalogs are sold.

4. The ABA will offer all of the following as a means of hospitality: a dinner ticket for the judge and a guest to the annual awards banquet where the Top 20 winner will be announced. No judge is to be paid for the Top 20; the judges are invited on an honorary basis.

IV.Catalogs:

1.Each year a catalog is prepared exclusively for the Top 20 event. They will consist of a biography of each judge, a listing of previous winners, a biography of each entry, along with a photo and their pedigree, a page for the previous winner and finally a score sheet for spectators to follow along with on their own.

2.Catalogs will be on sale one hour prior to the start of judging and will be on sale the remainder of the events week. They will also be available through mail through the Top 20 chairperson.

VI.Ribbons:

1.Each entrant who enters the event will receive a ribbon with the invitees name on it.

*Additional ribbons for owners and/or breeders may be ordered at additional costs.

VII.Scoring:

1.The winner is the dog with the highest amount of total points.

2.The scores for each dog from each judge are tabulated, added together and then divided by three (3) to determine each entrants average score.

3.In the event of a tie, the tiebreaker will be judged on the dog with the highest average placement score or initial impression score. This score can be found at the top of the score sheet and it is calculated by the judges when the entrants first walk into the ring.