THE TOP 20 COMPETITION

Top Twenty Rules of Participation (2007)

The Akita Club of America (ACA) offers a Top Twenty event to showcase excellence in Akitas.  This event is a part of the ACA National Specialty and serves many purposes.  It offers education for judges, exhibitors, breeders and fanciers.  The event offers all who attend a chance to view the cream of the crop in competitive standings for the previous year.  Using a scale of points, each dog is evaluated according to how closely it conforms to the breed standard.  This procedure is not available at any regular AKC show and allows the spectators an opportunity to evaluate the dogs while scoring them at the same time they are being judged.  The event is educational and promotes discussions of the standard. It provides spectators with an opportunity to see how individual views can produce a consensus decision.  

This event provides special recognition to those Akitas with the most outstanding records as well as their breeders, handlers, trainers, and owners. The Top Twenty event provides an incentive for breeders to strive for Akitas excelling in structure, movement, temperament, and conformation.

Statistics and Eligibility –  

1.      Named among the final Top Twenty Akitas in conformation competition for Breed or Group points for the previous year.  

2.      Standings are based on Breed and/or Group point wins as published in the AKC Awards publication for System I and System II for the period beginning Jan 1 and ending Dec 31 of the previous year.    

3.      The Top Twenty Committee compiles the statistics as published in the AKC Awards or acquires these statistics directly from AKC at the end of the competition year. 

4.      All owners and co-owners of the finalists must be in good standing with the AKC and ACA at the time the invitations are extended and at the time of the event.  Top Twenty Chairman and committee members are not permitted to serve on the committee if they contribute or participate in any way towards the campaign of a dog eligible to compete in the upcoming Top Twenty event. This participation would include the owner, co-owner, professional handler, financial backer, or any other participation in the campaign. 

5.      All agree to abide by any and all rules as they may become effective through authorization of the Top Twenty Chairman or National Show Chairman as they concern the finalists' participation in the event.  Failure to do so may revoke the privilege of future participation, regardless of eligibility. 

6.      Spayed bitches or neutered dogs who have been named among the final Top Twenty Akitas may compete in the event. 

7.      Invitations - 

a.      Each owner of a Top Twenty Finalist will be sent an invitation to participate in this event no later than 4 months prior to the National Specialty.

b.      There is an entry fee; which will be sent along with the entry form received from and then returned to the ACA National Specialty designated superintendent.

c.      Included in the Invitation packet are:

                                                               i.      Formal Invitation

                                                             ii.      Congratulations letter

                                                            iii.      The Top Twenty Committee: Selection, Duties, & Function of any Proposed Special Committee.

                                                           iv.      The Top Twenty Event: Rules & Eligibility

                                                             v.      Judging the Top Twenty Invitational: Procedures for Conformational Evaluation & Scoring.

                                                           vi.      Sequence of Events in the Ring

                                                          vii.      Score Sheet

                                                        viii.      Catalog Advertisement Form  

8.      Trophies, Rosettes, Certificates of Achievement

a.      Each eligible Akita will receive a Certificate of Achievement (additional Certificates will be available for purchase for a nominal fee)

b.      Each Top 20 Participant will receive a Top 20 Rosette embossed with the dogs name

c.      Top 20 Lapel Pins will be offered for eligible parties to purchase for a nominal fee.

d.      The winner of the Top 20 competition will be announced at the annual ACA Banquet. A trophy will be awarded to the owner(s) at that time.   

9.      Procedures: 

a.      Entrants will only be allowed to compete if the owner or agent attends the briefing held at least 1/2 hour prior to the event (this meeting will be posted as to time and place), for the purposes of:

                                                               i.      Checking in with the Top Twenty Committee

                                                             ii.      Receiving an armband

                                                            iii.      Receiving the order in which the participants will enter the ring.

                                                           iv.      Informing the owner or agent that they are responsible for cleaning up after their dog during this event.

                                                             v.      At least one representative of the entrant will be present at this meeting

                                                           vi.      The stewards and all Top 20 Committee members will be required to attend this meeting

                                                          vii.      All participants will be given instructions regarding when to be ringside, where to wait, and specific ring/judging procedures

b.      Scoring

                                                               i.      Each entrant will be judged/scored by each of the three judges on a separate score sheet for each dog for each judge

                                                             ii.      Score sheets (attached) will be Akita Standard specific (AKC approved Akita Standard).

                                                            iii.      Each entrant will be scored individually, by each of the judges, towards a maximum score of 100 points

                                                           iv.      After all entrants have been individually scored, all entrants will be brought into the ring together. Each judge will mentally place five of the entrants First through Fifth place and mark a “group” score sheet with his placements

1.      1^st place will receive 5 bonus points

2.      2^nd place will receive 4 bonus points

3.      3^rd place will receive 3 bonus points

4.      4^th place will receive 2 bonus points

5.      5^th place will receive 1 bonus point

                                                             v.      Bonus points will be added to the compiled breed standard score (maximum compiled score available = 105)

                                                           vi.      Scores will be tallied by the Top 20 Chairman, the ACA Treasurer, and one other Committee Member

                                                          vii.      The highest total scoring dog will be designated the winner