I forbindelse med sin tilmelding til OEC fortalte den israelske deltager, Ayala Naor, at hun tidligere kun har deltaget i videokonkurrencer. Hun deltager gennem organisationen WCFO (The World Canine Freestyle Organisation - The World Canine Freestyle Organization, Inc.), der også holder live konkurrencer nogle gange, men vist mest videokonkurrencer.
I går nævnte Esther Niemeijer (en af de hollandske OEC-deltagere) på Facebook, at hun var ved at lave nyt program til en videokonkurrence. Jeg har aldrig hørt om konceptet, før Ayala nævnte det, så jeg spurgte lidt ind til det. Jeg tænkte, at I andre måske også ville synes, at det var interessant at høre lidt om, så I får lige Ayala og Esthers svar gengivet.
Ayala:
It's basically a competition just like any other, except the judges don't come to a specific venue to judge. They receive a video of all entries, judge it, and send it back to the organization that holds these co...mpetitions. There are several organizations that hold such competitions, including WCFO (at least 4 video competitions a year) and MDSA (only 2 a year).
There are strict rules and guidelines in each organization for the video competitions. Since I compete in WCFO ones, I'm more familiar with their rules. Each competitor must sign a form declaring that no food or toys were present in the ring during the competition. WCFO does allow props (MDSA doesn't). Each level has a different required length of a routine - too short or too long will be disqualified. There are also rules regarding ring size, dog and handler costume etc. Also, a specific performance of a routine can only be submitted once (so each video can only be sent once, and you cannot submit a video of a live WCFO competition for a video one). The video competitions have the same weight as "live" competitions, so you can compete in both.
I find video competitions very convenient, as Israel doesn't have any freestyle/htm competitions (or organization, for that matter). They allow me to receive feedback for what I'm doing without having to fly to another country with my dog.
Esther:
Ayala explained it perfectly I am also a member of WCFO (not MDSA) and find video competitions very handy for my Aussie who can be insecure at live competitions with other dogs / lots of noise around the ring. I also like bein...g judges by foreign judges and to see more foreign competitiors (yes, you do get the entire DVD with everyone's routines on it). To answer your other question: you may use the same routine over and over again, just not the same video of it (so you will have to perform te routine more than once if you want to send it in again). According to the rules you may send in a video of a demo or a non-WCFO competition. The rules that a routine cannot be judged before only apply to WCFO competitions (I think) but if you want to be sure you can send in a video of the OEC please ask a member from the WCFO board (The World Canine Freestyle Organization, Inc.).
Ayala:
Esther Niemeijer completed everything that was missing from my answer. I think the OEC video can be used for a WCFO video competition. I don't think I'll be using my video, as our performance was worse than our usual performances, so I'd rather just videotape it again.
Esther:
When I started we only had WCFO competitions in Holland (not anymore now) and I used the videos to promote to a higher level more quickly. Jamie was in Champion Freestyle Class in less then 2 years (you need 11 promotionpoints to promote fr...om Beginners into Champions) and by only performing at the very few live WCFO competitions we had here it would have taken me forever! I still enter the video competitions now because of what I said about being judged by foreign judges and to see foreign routines. What I don't like about competing this way is that is takes FOREVER (= 3 months sometimes!!!) to get the results.
I think WCFO do recommend creating a new routine once you move up a level, but it's not compulsory.