Splash Dogs Cynosports World Championships

Hello all,
We are trying to work out the details on how Splash Dogs World Championships will be setup and run this year. We want to make this the best world championships ever and are working on cool things like t-shirts, ribbons/medals, awards, an awards dinner, and potentially prizes. We'd like your input.

Please take the poll posted above. We want to know how you want us to structure the fees/prizes/payouts/special goodies we provide at the event.

By the way - low/regular fee would be our regular $20 wave fee, slightly higher would be a $30-50 entry fee, high entry fee would be in the $100-$150 range. For this you would get entry into the world championships in your division and have your opportunity to jump yourself and your dog into the finals (top 12) for your division and potentially into the top 4.

[cbrrescuemom]

Can I assume that if we go with the higher fees that there will be no additional wave fees? For those who jump in many waves it might not be that different.

This would be for the championships on Sunday. All other waves the rest of the week would be $20 like normal.

On Sunday we will run divisional championships. For all the dogs who qualify and enter in the Splash/Junior/Senior/Pro/Extreme/Lap Dog divisions they will get 2 jumps in the divisional semifinals. We will then take the top 12 dogs in each division from those jumps and have divisional finals and a final 4 jump off.

Two clarifications
1) the awards dinner will be an annual awards dinner with awards for handlers/dogs for their results/accomplishments/(and goofs) throughout the year 2007.

2) There will be no bubble at this event. The only way to qualify for the 2007 world championships on sunday is to have 5 jumps in 2007 in a division throughout the year. You can finish qualifying at cynosports in the regular waves prior to sunday, but we will not be having a bubble like normal. All dogs with the qualifications make it to the championships on Sunday. It is completely independent of your results on prior days of cynosports (other than the fact that you might achieve your 5 jumps in those days).

[Sardo]

My vote is for slightly higher. I think that is very reasonable amount for prizes/medals versus the regular price and getting the normal ribbons that we get throughout the year.

[Chase]

If I understand you correctly, there will be two separate events during Cynosports.

The first will be a "regular" event that will be run on Thursday, Friday and Saturday with the normal cost of $ 20 per wave. At the end of the day on Saturday, that event ends.

The second event, the Splashdogs World Chamionships, will start on Sunday. EVERYONE who jumped in 5 waves in any one division in 2007 is already qualified to compete in the Sunday event. No other qualifying is required and there will be no bubble; EVERYONE jumps.

There will be 6 divisions; Lap, Splash, Junior, Senior, Pro, and Extreme or maybe only 5 divisions combining Pro and Extreme into one division. Each dog will jump in the Semifinals of his division; getting two jumps. Then you will take the top 12 dogs from each divisioon and run a Finals for each diviision. And after that, you will have a run off of the top 4 longest jumping dogs in the Finals.

So, based on that information, your question to all of us is "What should the charge be to enter the Sunday event?"

I would assume that you are going to give EVERY participant in the Semifinals and the Finals a SPECIAL Wolrd Championship T-shirt, Ribbon, and Medal. And then also Prizes for the top 12 in each of the division Finals. If that is the case, then you need to charge more than $20 to give out these gifts to everyone. The SLIGHTLY higher charge of $ 30-$ 50 for the Sunday event would cover EVERYONE getting a T-Shirt and Ribbon and Medal for participating, so I would vote for charging in that range.

I would NOT vote for the much higher range of $ 125 because MANY dogs are only going to get to jump 2 times in the Semifinals and not get to the Finals and that is MUCH too much money for only two jumps. As a result, many people might not even bother to participate if they have to pay that much money, which would defeat the whole purpose of having a World Championship in the first place. It is NOT the World Chamionship for those who can afford it, it is the World Championship for those who have already SUPPORTED Splashdogs throughout the year and already EARNED a place in the World Championship. So, the higher charge seems way out of whack to me.

One final thought. I think it is EXTREMELY important that ALL participants get a Special World Championship T-Shirt Ribbon, and Medal, NOT just those who are in the Finals. Those who will participate in the Semifinals and not get to the Finals are JUST as important a part of Splashdogs as those in the Finals and they should be treated as such.

And second, as you ALL know from our previous thread on Payouts, I am TOTALLY against Monetary Payouts at the World Championships for the top 4 dogs. Sorry, but we will ALL (little jumpers and big jumpers) be incurring hefty traveling expenses for hotels and gas and food etc and just because a dog can only jump 8 feet does not mean that dog should PAY THE EXPENSES for the longer jumping dogs.

If you want to give out prizes to the top 12 in EACH division and better prizes to the top 4, that sound great. But, I am TOTALLY against charging more for the Sunday event if it means the money is going to be used for Payouts. It just isn't fair, it creates hard feelings and animosity, and is not in the spirit of the Splashdogs family that we have created and are working so hard TOGETHER to make these events happen.

That's my vote. And, I also speak for Chase.

Brooke & Chase

Brooke - thanks so much for your thoughtful feedback!

Just curious, do you still feel against monetary payouts if it is done for the top 4 in each division (i.e. splash/junior/senior/pro/extreme/lap)? Or just if it is only done for the top 4 overall?

[PrinceAndyFlores]

If there was a payout whether I agree with one or not, wouldn't it be the top 4 dogs in each division? If so, it seems pretty fair to me. Thats 28 dogs being payed out. Whatever everyone wants is cool with us though. We are just excited to be a part of this. But keep in mind a dog jumping 8 feet could very well compete at the splash level and be in the top 4. Correct me if I am wrong. It is the World Championships and only happens once a year. It's the best of the best!! If you and your buddie are there you have accomplished a great deal. It is something to make memories with!!! And most importantly and the the number 1 Splash Dogs rule to "HAVE FUN!"

[Chase]

Wendy:

Yes, I am.

I think Non-Monetary Prizes for the top 4 in all of the Divisions is great. A little extra toy or maybe a little gift certificate or some Splashdog bucks for the next event is nice.

But cold hard cash is just too crass for me. It just seems weird to me to give money to people because their dog jumps farther.

I think it is absolutely amazing that some of these dogs can jump as far as they do, and I enjoy watching them do it, and I am NOT trying to take anything away from the fact that they can do it.

BUT, I enjoyed equally if not MORE, watching Tammy and Borias on the dock at Wags. She was in the wheelchair and Borias is her companion dog. THAT is something I will NEVER forget. How can you put a price on that and say that the longer jump was worth MORE than Tammy and Borias' jump?

Call me a Pollyanna, but I like the idea that we are all in this to Have Fun. That is our motivation. If you look at the people who volunteer to help at every event, these people are rarely going to make the top 4 overall or top 4 in each division. That is not their motivation for being there and for working hard to make sure the event takes place.

Splashdogs (at least from my experience here in Southern California) is not just about distance, it is also about comraderie. I just think if we make this about money, then it will create divides and then people will be less likely to want to help out and the events will suffer and it will no longer be as much fun.

It is just how I feel.

Brooke & Chase

[all4sadie]

Well I totally agree with all Brooke said and she did say it well. I would also think slightly higher would be ok.