Versatility

AWC2027Logo 320

Versatility logo2

AWC 2027 National Specialty Versatility Competition

HOW TO ENTER

Opening date: 
Closing date: 

Versatility Rules

Amended October, 2025

The AWC has held the Versatility Competition in conjunction with its National Specialty since 2007. Versatility combines four events (lure coursing, conformation, rally, and agility) to showcase the versatility of Whippets. The Versatility’s scoring system ranks the success of each Whippet’s overall performance in comparison to the other Whippets competing. Participants do not have to be AWC members to enter this event.

The Versatility’s scoring system ranks the success of each Whippet’s overall performance in comparison to the other Whippets competing. After each event is completed, participating Whippets are ranked from first to last, based on the scores received. Upon completion of all four events, each Whippet’s four individual event rankings are averaged to produce a total final rank. The ranks of all participating Whippets are then ordered from first to last to determine placements. The Whippet with the final lowest rank (numerical ranking average) is declared the AWC Versatility Champion. Whippets ranked first through tenth place receive special awards and rosettes.

Whippets competing in the Versatility competition must be eligible to compete in all Versatility events. Whippets with disqualifying faults as indicated in the AKC standard and Whippets with ILP/PAL numbers are not eligible to compete. Spayed/neutered Whippets are eligible to compete. Whippets must complete all four events (agility, lure coursing, rally and conformation) to earn a final score and ranking. If a Whippet does not complete all four events, it will be disqualified from the Versatility competition (without entry refund). The criteria for evaluating whether your Whippet completed an event are based on AKC regulations. For lure coursing – excusals, dismissals and disqualification will disqualify the dog from the Versatility competition.  See AKC Regulations for Lure Coursing Tests and Trials, Chapter IV, Sections 8-13. For Rally, see AKC Rally Regulations, Chapter 1, Sections 17-19. For Agility, see AKC Agility Regulations, Chapter 1, Sections 24 & 32. The Whippet must also compete in the conformation competition. A non-qualifying score in agility or Rally does not eliminate your Whippet from the competition. Non-qualifying scores will be placed in order from high to low after all qualifying scores have been ranked.

Refunds of the Versatility entry fee will be provided if you withdraw your Whippet before the day of the first Versatility event, typically the AKC agility trial.

NOTE: Whippets may participate in both the Triathlon and Versatility competitions. See AWC Triathlon Rules for details on the Triathlon competition.

APPROVED BY THE AMERICAN WHIPPET CLUB BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Changes not permitted without prior written approved of the AWC BOD. Submit recommended written changes to the AWC BOD.

HOW TO ENTER THE VERSATILITY COMPETITION

Submit three separate entries – one combined entry for AKC Lure Coursing/Versatility Competition, one for Agility, and one for Rally – by the required closing dates. Premium lists are on the AWC National Specialty website http://national.americanwhippetclub.org/

  1. Lure Coursing. Your Whippet must participate in the AKC Lure Coursing trial held in conjunction with the AWC National Specialty. Fill out the standard entry in the AKC Lure Coursing Premium and submit it by the closing On the Entry Form, indicate the stake in which your Whippet is entered.
  2. Your Whippet must participate in the AKC Rally trial held as part of the AWC National Specialty. Fill out the standard AKC Rally entry in the AWC National Specialty Premium. You may enter multiple rally classes (e.g., Rally Advanced, Rally Excellent) but you must declare only one of these classes for the purposes of a Rally score on your Versatility Competition entry form. If your Whippet has a title, or legs toward a title, in a higher-level rally class in AKC, you may not enter a lower class for the Versatility Competition. To do so will result in disqualification from the Versatility Competition. For example, if your Whippet has a RA or leg towards a RA you may not enter Rally Novice and use that score for the Versatility Competition. If you are working on an RAE, you must use your Excellent class score for your Versatility Competition. If you are working on Rally Champion, you must use your Master class score for your Versatility Competition. Transfers, in accordance with AKC regulations, are permitted, but competitors must notify the Trial Secretary as well as the Versatility Chair at least thirty minutes before the rally trial begins.
  1. Your Whippet must participate in the agility trial identified as part of the Versatility competition that is held in conjunction with the AWC National Specialty. Submit the standard agility entry in the identified premium. You must enter your Whippet in both the Standard (STD) and Jumpers with Weaves (JWW) classes to qualify for the Versatility Competition. If your Whippet has a title, or legs toward a title, in the STD or JWW Class in AKC, regardless of whether it is in the Regular or Preferred division, you may not enter a lower class for the Versatility Competition. To do so will result in disqualification from the Versatility Competition. For example, if your Whippet has an AKC Regular Excellent STD title or leg towards the title, you may not enter the AKC Preferred Novice STD class and use that score for the Versatility Competition. Likewise, a Whippet with a Preferred Excellent JWW title may not enter the Regular Novice JWW class and use that score for the Versatility Competition. However, if your Whippet has an AKC Regular Novice STD title or leg towards the title, you may enter the AKC Preferred Novice STD class and use that score for the Versatility competition.
  1. Versatility Conformation
    1. Submit your Versatility Conformation entry, which is included on the AKC Lure Coursing Entry form, along with the $10 entry fee, by the closing date using one of the following methods:
      1. (Preferred Method) Online Entry and payment on the AWC National Specialty website: http://national.americanwhippetclub.org/versatility/
      2. Mail entries and checks made payable to the AWC, in US funds drawn from a US bank. Entry and check must be received (not just postmarked) by the closing date to be eligible to compete in the Versatility Competition. Do NOT Mail Entries Requiring a Return Signature.
  1. Your Whippet is automatically entered in the Versatility conformation competition upon receipt of your Versatility entry and fee. Triathlon and Versatility conformation judging is conducted simultaneously by one judge. The conformation judge must utilize one of the following two procedures to examine and score all participants:
    1. All Whippets enter the ring for group examination until the judge directs the entire group to exit the ring. Then each Whippet enters the ring, one at a time, for individual judging and scoring by the judge. After individual judging is completed, the entire group re-enters the ring for final evaluation in scoring.
    2. The Judge may create groups of 10-12 dogs to be judged together. Each group will exit the ring after judging, and the next group enters until all dogs have been evaluated.   After the final group has been completed, all dogs will re-enter the ring for final evaluation of scoring.
  • The four top-scoring Versatility Whippets are determined by their scores and receive first through fourth placement rosettes.

SCORING AND RANKING

LURE COURSING

  1. Scoring. Your Whippet’s scores from the AKC lure coursing trial are used to compute this portion of the Versatility The base score for lure coursing is the total score from preliminary and final runs, regardless of the stake entered or any additional scores earned in run-offs for best of breed.
  2. Ranking. Whippets are ranked according to their numeric scores. The scores are sorted highest to lowest, regardless of Stake.  Highest score is ranked 1.  (Note: A high score = low rank)

CONFORMATION

  1. Scoring. Your Whippet’s score from the Versatility Competition Conformation judging is used in this portion of the Versatility Competition. Using the Whippet Breed Standard as a baseline for a maximum score of 100, and a special Versatility Competition scoring sheet, the judge gives each Whippet its individual conformation numeric If a Whippet is excused from the ring, it will be disqualified from the Versatility Competition.
  2. Ranking. Whippets are ranked according to their numeric scores. The scores are sorted highest to lowest.  Highest score is ranked 1.  (Note: A high score = low rank)

RALLY

1.      Scoring.

  1. Your Whippet’s score from the AKC rally trial is used in this portion of the Versatility Competition. All points earned are applied whether your Whippet earns a qualifying score or a non-qualifying score. While qualifying in rally will result in a better Rally ranking, it is not a Versatility Competition Whippets with qualifying scores are always ranked higher than those with non-qualifying scores.
  1. For non-qualifying scores, the Versatility Chair will calculate scores based on the points awarded on each exercise and use that number to rank the dogs with non-qualifying scores. If a Whippet is excused from the ring, it will be disqualified from the Versatility Competition.
  1. Prior to the Rally trial, the Versatility Chair will ensure the Rally judge is made aware that Whippets entered in the Rally Trial may also be participating in the Versatility Competition and request that all exercises be scored to the extent possible.

 

  1. The Versatility Chair will ensure the rally judge is made aware that Whippets entered in the Rally Trial may also be participating in the Versatility Competition and will require a score (whether qualifying or non-qualifying) if possible, at the end of their exercise.

 

  1. All qualifying Whippets shall be ranked before non-qualifying Whippets. (Note: A high score = low rank)
    1. First, all qualifying Whippets are ranked from the highest to the lowest then prioritized by class in the following order: Choice, Master, Excellent, Advanced, Intermediate, and Novice.
  1. Second, all non-qualifying Whippets are ranked from the highest score to lowest score then prioritized by class in the following order: Choice, Master, Excellent, Advanced, Intermediate, and Novice. Non-qualifying Whippets shall always be ranked after qualifying Whippets

An example of the scoring and Final Rally Ranking for Whippets by class follows:

Entry # Class Score Qualifying Score Ranking
7 Master 80 Yes #1
2 Excellent B 75 Yes #2
5 Advanced A 80 Yes #3
8 Novice A 85 Yes #4
1 Novice B 85 Yes #4
9 Excellent A 65 No #6
3 Advanced B 69 No #7
10 Advanced A 60 No #8
4 Novice B 60 No #9
6 Novice A 55 No #10

AGILITY

1.      Scoring.

  1. Your Whippet’s STD (Regular or Preferred) and JWW (Regular or Preferred) scores from the Agility Trial are used to compute this portion of the Versatility Competition. All points earned are applied whether your Whippet earns a qualifying score or non-qualifying score. While qualifying in agility will result in a better agility ranking, it is not a requirement. Whippets with qualifying scores are always ranked higher than those with non-qualifying scores.
  1. Prior to the Agility trial, the Versatility Chair will ensure the agility judge is made aware that Whippets entered in the trial may also be participating in the Versatility Competition and request that all exercises be scored to the extent possible.

 

  1. The Versatility Chair will ensure the agility judge is made aware that Whippets entered in the trial may also be participating in the Versatility Competition and will require a score (whether qualifying or non-qualifying) if possible, at the end of their exercise
  1. Ranking. All qualifying Whippets shall be ranked before non-qualifying Whippets. (Note: A high score = low rank)
  1. First, all qualifying Whippets are ranked separately in the STD Class (Regular or Preferred) and JWW Class (Regular or Preferred) from the highest to lowest score then prioritized by class in the following order: Master, Excellent, Open and Novice.
  2. Second, all non-qualifying Whippets are ranked separately in the STD Class (Regular or Preferred) and JWW Class (Regular or Preferred) from the highest to lowest score then prioritized by class in the following order: Master, Excellent, Open and Novice. Non- qualifying Whippets are always ranked below all qualifying Whippets, regardless of class
  3. Third, each Whippet’s two class rankings (STD & JWW) are added together and divided by two, and the resulting average is used to determine each Whippet’s agility ranking (see examples below).
  4. Prior to the agility trial, the Versatility Chair will inform the agility judge that some Whippets entered in the trial may also be participating in the Versatility Competition and will require a score (whether qualifying or non-qualifying) if possible, at the end of their run.

An example of the scoring and agility class ranking for Whippets follows:

STANDARD JWW
Entry # Level R/P Score Q/NQ Rank Entry # Level R/P Score Q/NQ Rank
5 Master R 100 Q #1 7 Excellent P 100 Q #1
1 Excellent R 100 Q #2 9 Open R 100 Q #2
7 Excellent P 100 Q #2 10 Open R 95 Q #3
10 Open R 97 Q #4 2 Novice A R 100 Q #4
3 Open R 95 Q #5 5 Master R 85 NQ #5
2 Novice A R 100 Q #6 1 Master R 80 NQ #6
6 Master R 85 NQ #7 6 Excellent R 75 NQ #7
4 Open P 70 NQ #8 3 Open R 60 NQ #8
9 Open R 60 NQ #9 8 Novice B R 60 NQ #9
8 Novice B R 65 NQ #10 4 Novice B P 55 NQ #10

A matching calculation of the final agility ranking for Whippets follows:

Entry # Standard Ranking JWW

Ranking

 Total Ranking Divided By 2 Combined Averaged Ranking Final Ranking
1 #2 #6 8 / 2 4 4
2 #6 #4 10 / 2 5 5
3 #5 #8 13 / 2 6.5 7
4 #8 #10 18 / 2 9 9
5 #1 #5 6 / 2 3 2
6 #7 #7 14 / 2 7 8
7 #2 #1 3 / 2 1.5 1
8 #10 #9 19 / 2 9.5 10
9 #9 #2 11 / 2 5.5 6
10 #4 #3 7 / 2 3.5 3

TIES

For lure coursing, conformation, rally and agility, Whippets receiving the same score will receive the same rank, with the next highest scoring Whippet receiving the rank following the tied Whippets. For example, if Whippet A and Whippet B both receive a score of 285 and Whippet C receives a score of 283, Whippets A and B are ranked 1 and Whippet C is ranked 3.

FINAL RANKINGS

A Whippet’s rank (not scores) from lure coursing, conformation, agility and Rally will be added together and then divided by 4 to calculate the Whippet’s average and that average is used to determine the overall final rank and placement in the Versatility Competition. For ties in final rankings, lure coursing scores (not rankings) will determine final rankings. If lure coursing scores are equal, then scores (not rankings) in conformation will determine final rankings. If the conformation scores are equal, then the scores (not rankings) in agility will determine the final ranking. The last determination if the tie continues will be made based on Rally scores (not rankings).  If a dog is removed from the Versatility Competition all remaining dogs will be re-ranked in all events to ensure proper averages are calculated.

AWC VERSATILITY CHAIR

The Local National Specialty Chair will appoint an AWC Versatility Chair when appointing local committee chairs. Separate Triathlon and Versatility Chairs may be appointed if desired. Any AWC member in good standing may be appointed to this position even if previously appointed.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

  1. Assist National and Local Specialty Chairs in selecting a conformation judge for the Triathlon/Versatility Conformation event. The conformation judge must agree to follow all of the rules of the competition.
  2. Ensure the current Versatility Competition Rules and Entry Form are included as a Supplement to the Premium for the National Specialty.
  1. Respond to questions and provide information about the For clarification on an issue not specifically addressed in the rules, Chair will consult with the NECC and/or the Companion Events Chair prior to responding.
  1. Receive/review entry information either via online or mail. Entry information will be input into a tool that will automatically produce averages and ranking.  Currently this is an Excel workbook that will automatically calculate the averages and ranking (including tie resolution) to reduce errors in the final results. All data and calculations will be transparent and available to all participants of the event, the NECC, National and Local Show Chairs upon request at any time during or after the Triathlon.
  1. Forward checks and entry refund requests (received prior to the lure coursing trial) to the AWC National event accountant for processing.
  1. Provide catalog entry information to National Show
  1. Receive and process move ups for the lure coursing and transfers for Rally trials (in coordination with the relevant trial secretary).
  1. Create an AWC Versatility board, if one is not available from the prior year for each Whippet entered in the The board is used to display the Whippet’s event scores and ranks for each event as well as their final ranking.
  1. Set up the Triathlon/Versatility display table in the assigned location at the The table will hold the Triathlon and Versatility boards, display a current AWC Triathlon/Versatility banner (also to be acquired by the Chair) and hold rosettes, prizes and trophies to be awarded for these competitions, plus a photo of the prior National’s winners.
  1. Collect judging sheets and calculate the scores and ranks and update the Versatility board as soon as possible after each Versatility event.
  1. Ensure: (a) the conformation judge understands the ring procedures that adhere to the judging procedures outlined above. (b)the conformation judge has a ring steward(s) and a judging sheet for each entered Whippet with catalog number; (c) armbands with catalog numbers are available to the conformation exhibitors before the event begins; (d) the judge is properly introduced before exhibitors enter the At the conclusion of the judging, and while exhibitors are still in the ring, thank the judge and present a small gift of appreciation
  1. Finalize the results of the Versatility with the help of an assistant of the Chair’s choosing, double- checking the scoring/ranking of each event and the final rankings for compliance with these rules.
  1. Collect rosettes, plates and special prizes/trophies for Versatility award presentation and ensure the show photographer is available for the award ceremony.
  1. Announce and make award presentations for the top 10 Versatility placements and assist with win photos as requested by the photographer and exhibitors.