REGULATIONS governing the running of Arena Trials:-

   (1) The awards shall be by points.
   (2) All competitors start with 100 points and deductions are made for all mistakes by dog or worker.
   (3) Obstacle points will be: Race 7 points, Bridge 8 points, Pen 10 points.
   (4) Where a worker has more than one entry in a class, the entries will be distributed as uniformly as possible throughout the    class, but not  necessarily as listed in the entry form. The first and second entries in any class will be randomly selected from all competitors in that class. No worker will be expected/required to work consecutive entries.
    (5) Substitution of dogs will be allowed, and will be accepted prior to  the commencement of the first  day of the trial only.
    (6) No post entries will be accepted for the State Championships.
    (7) All dogs competing in OFFICIAL TRIALS must be registered with a recognised Sheep Dog Association,
          with the exception of novice dogs trialling in the novice class only, [note all dogs entering The WAWSDA AnnualState trial must be registered.]
   (8) Registered  dogs must be registered with the State Association of the State in which the owner  resides.
   (9) The WAWSDA Dog of the Year be the dog scoring the highest aggregate of points from each Club    Championship, including the State Championship, and the award be known as `The Sheepdog of The Year Award’. The presentation of The Sheepdog of the Year Award will be made at the last recognised trial in that year.
    9A. Where possible and time permitting each Club should run a minimum of twelve or more finalists, and points will be allocated to the twelve highest scoring dogs in the finals, and where necessary from the first round Championship run.
    9B. Scoring system for the Dog of the Year Competition.
               1st 15 points.  2nd 12 points.  3rd 10 points.  4th 9 points.  5th 8 points.
               6th 7 points.   7th 6 points.      8th 5 points.    9th 4 points.  10th 3 points.
               11th 2 points.  12th 1 point.
 A tied event must be decided by a run off for first place, For other place ties add the place points together and
evenly divide them.
    9C. Where the handler is unable to trial a dog or dogs due to judging commitments an average of the score achieved by that individual’s dog or dogs is added to their final total at the end of the year.

   DEFINITIONS: a.Owner or competitor shall mean the person working the dog.
                              b. Dog shall mean dog or bitch.

   RULES FOR TRIALS:
  (1) The trials shall take place over such course as the West Australian Working Sheep Dog Association shall         determine.
  (2)Competitors must take their place as shown in the draw.  Any dog absent  when called upon to compete shall be disqualified, except in exceptional  circumstances, subject to the trial committee's ruling.
  (3) Each dog shall work three sheep.
  (4) All dogs must be released on entering the arena or they will be disqualified.
  (5) Once the worker is standing at the peg and the sheep are released, they  shall be the sheep worked by that dog ; subject to the worker having the right to object to the sheep or a sheep before leaving the casting peg. The  judge's decision shall be final
  (6) A judge may order fresh sheep at any time during a trial, and may terminate a trial at any time for inferior work, or abuse of sheep. Any trial terminated by a judge will bring forfeiture of the score for that  run.
  (7) The judge will give a signal after the sheep are released and a bell  will be rung indicating that time will start at this point ; each dog will  be allowed 15 minutes to complete the course or any such shorter time as is  publicised prior to the start of the trial.
  (8) The competitor may cast the dog at any time after the bell, but all dogs must be within 10m of the worker before casting. Any dog leaving the peg before the casting bell sounds must be recalled, and failure to do so will result in disqualification.
 (9) The worker shall not assist the dog in any way, but may direct it by  signal, whistle or word of mouth ; each
competitor may use a stick not exceeding 45cm in length, providing it is not used for the purpose of creating a sound
or assisting in any other way.
(10) Any dog crossing between the worker and the sheep at any time during the trial will be disqualified. Dogs stopping on the cast or casting outside the arena will be penalised at the judge's discretion.
(11) After completing the cast the sheep must be brought in a straight line  into a semi-circular area defined by pegs ;when this is completed the  worker then proceeds with the course when ready, without further reference to the Judge.
(12) Every movement of the worker from point to point must be in a straight line and no worker may walk backwards for more than one step at a time or wilfully stop to work his dog ; penalty for either offence is disqualification.
(13) From the casting peg to the race, the workers and their sheep must move around the right hand side of the flags. If the sheep pass on the left hand side they must be returned and brought around the right-hand side  before leaving the ring of the first obstacle. The worker may stand at  either flag whilst working the sheep around the flags, but will be  penalised for each such stop.
(14) The circles in which the worker stands at each obstacle shall be 90cm in diameter and the edge of the circle shall be 3m from the wings of all obstacles, including the pen gate. Position of the circles to the obstacle  is shown in the accompanying plan.
(15) If the sheep enter any obstacle before the worker is in the circle,  this obstacle must be re-worked. All sheep must be completely through the obstacle before the worker leaves the circle, otherwise they will be disqualified.
(16) When a dog is forcing sheep through the race or bridge from inside the wings and a sheep causes a cross by jumping over the dog - the dog shall  not be disqualified or lose points for such a cross.
(17) After completing the bridge, the worker must move so that the exit of the bridge is on his right-hand when proceeding to the pen.
(18)All sheep must be completely past the entrance of the pen before the competitor may leave the circle to close the gate. Any worker running with  the gate to trap the sheep will be penalised with the loss of all pen  points. Any sheep escaping after the worker leaves the circle and returned immediately before the worker closes the gate -Penalty 1 pt or more. (Judge's  discretion (18A). Any sheep escaping completely after the worker leaves the  circle will result in the loss of all pen points and the trial is terminated.
(19) The bell will be rung to notify disqualification and time expiry of each trial and on conclusion of the trial each competitor must move his sheep as directed by the committee.
(20) If the sheep escape while being worked on the course the trial may be  terminated at the judge's discretion.
(21) Any dog deliberately biting or in any way injuring a sheep shall be disqualified and the owner held responsible for any damage done. Dogs  barking or snapping at sheep when stuck up or when attacked by the sheep may be penalised but not disqualified. No dog may wear a muzzle or bit.
(22) If in the opinion of the judge or the trial committee any person  ill-uses their dog. they may be subject to a fine of $30.00 and may be  de-barred from competing in any further trials conducted by the West Australian Working Sheep Dog Association.
(23) That power be given to the trial Committee to alter the time allowed  for each competitor to complete the course. All competitors to be notified prior to the start of the competition.
(24) If any dog strays onto the arena whilst a trial is in progress or any other interference occurs, the competitor may request a re-run ; the judge's  immediate decision shall be final. All re-runs will take place after the  last dog has competed in that class.
 (25)
     25a. Any competitor bringing dogs onto the ground and allowing them to run loose, either by mistake or    otherwise - penalised by trial committee.
     25b. No dogs shall be allowed into the arena prior to the start of any trial or during the period of any trial unless   directed by the Trial Committee - penalised by the trial committee.
(26)  Any competitor who voluntarily withdraws, forfeits all points for that trial.
(27) That any competitor requiring an aid be subject to Judge’s discretion.
(28)  The judge's decision is final.
(29)  That any member other than an encourage worker, or interstate visitor working a dog in an official trial
         will be a fully capitated member of the WAWSDA. (7th March 1996)