Clean Run - November 2019 - 15

TRIALING
failure to perform an obstacle or a combination in the right order could earn
you 0 points and might even lead to the
dreaded whistle. Of course, the naturally unidirectional obstacles (teeter,
ascending, broad jump, chute if used)
can only ever be done for points in the
usual way.
The judge can design a course that reuses coloured obstacles; for example,
a tunnel could be obstacle #2 and obstacle #5A.
Dissecting the Run
The opening sequence and the clock
are started when the dog crosses the
start line or the designated start jump.
The dog must successfully perform a red
jump before attempting an obstacle
of choice. Each red jump can be done
only once, and the dog must attempt at
least three red jumps before they can
begin the closing sequence. The closing
sequence consists of doing as many of
the coloured obstacles as possible in
numerical order before time runs out
and then crossing the designated finish
point (jump, line, table) to stop the time.
Unlike Gamblers, you are in charge of
the timing. You can start your closing
as soon as you have tried your three
red/coloured obstacle pairs. The only
whistle blown is one you don't want to
hear-the judge saying, "You're out!"
as in "Leave the ring now!" (But don't
forget to take the finish jump if there is
one because failure to do so may lead
to a score of zero.)

Faulting an obstacle, or doing an obstacle out of Snooker order, will get you in
trouble. Either you won't get the points,
or the judge will whistle you off.
Snooker order is super important to
remember. You can avoid most of the
common Snooker "oops!" moments if
you stick to the following script:
Start line/jump g red jump g obstacle
of choice g different red jump g obstacle of choice g different red g obstacle
of choice g closing sequence 2-3-4-56-7 g Finish g Yay!
Note: There are courses where you
are allowed to take a fourth red plus
an obstacle of choice before starting
the closing.
To earn a qualifying score in Snooker,
you have to accumulate the minimum
number of points for your level and category within the time allowed, but do try
for more if you can. You do not have to
finish the closing or cross the finish line
before time runs out to earn a Q; it's all
about the point total. For many organisations, the magic number is 37 points,
at least at the lower levels. For CPE, the
number can vary from 24-32, depending
on the level. This information, as well as
the time allowed, should be found on
your course map. Take note of these details and plan accordingly.
"Oops! That Didn't Go the Way
I Wanted It to..."
One of the significant variations
between venues is how faults to ob-

stacles of choice are handled in the
opening sequence. While no organisation faults refusals in the opening, and
missed contacts and noncompletion
are always faulted, knocking bars or
doing combinations out of designated
order may lead to different outcomes
in different venues.
In AAC and CPE, if you knock a bar
on an obstacle of choice, you will get
0 points for that attempt, and that
obstacle is "dead" for the balance of
the run. Not only can you not get any
points in the opening if you select that
obstacle (you can try it, you will just get
0 points), you will be whistled off in the
closing when you get to that number.
In contrast, USDAA and UKI Snooker
rules give you 0 points for the first attempt, but you may continue to re-use
this obstacle, as the expectation is that
the ring crew will reset the bar. Even if
they don't, as long as you go through
the uprights, you will get the points.
 Judging of combinations in the opening
can also vary. In CPE and USDAA, if you
fault a combination obstacle, you must
still complete the obstacle, even though
you will get 0 points for the attempt. In
contrast, under AAC and UKI rules, you
are not required to complete the obstacle before moving on. When in doubt
about combinations, ask the judge.
Snooker Math
Since Snooker is a game of points, it
is important that you know how the
points are calculated. The maximum

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Clean Run - November 2019

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