Ring Stewarding Part 3

Here is the final installment of the Ring Stewarding series of columns. This column is designed to be more of a summary to help you and you may want to copy it to be taken in the ring to help you remember the things you need to do. The points below were elaborated on in the first two installments of this column. This is by no means meant to be a complete list of everything you will need to know, but covers the basics, to some extent. I hope these notes will help anyone ring stewarding to help the ring run more efficiently.

So in summary, here are the abbreviated notes from the first two columns:

BRING WITH YOU:

Clock for table

Baggie and rubber bands (in case there are none)

Tape to attach to baggy to gait

Ink pens

Mental information on judge, such as home town and name.


ONE HOUR PRIOR TO RINGTIME:

Learn where lunch room and restrooms are

Check ring for:

Wrinkles or loose tape with mats and/or any debris on floor if indoors

Holes or bad areas in the grass if outside plus any debris that needs picked up

Adequate room by mats for table, chairs, and judge.

Chairs for the judge and ring stewards

Decide how table will be set up

HALF HOUR PRIOR TO RINGTIME:

Get ring bag from superintendent and check for the armbands, judge’s book, steward’s book or catalogue, and any prizes that will be given out

Get ring steward badge from superintendent

Get walkie talkie for ring

Set up area for armband distribution near ring entrance

Arrange steward and judges books with pens in appropriate areas (judge area away from entrance)

Sort ribbons and any prizes with ribbon holder

Distribute armbands as requested by exhibitors (ongoing throughout judging)

Hang ring bag behind judge’s chair

Check judge’s book for any move-ups or class corrections and mark your book to coincide but DO NOT HAVE A PEN IN HAND WHEN LOOKING AT JUDGE’S BOOK.

ASK THE JUDGE BEFORE CLASSES BEGIN:

Introduce self and ask “How was your trip from <home town>”?

Where do you want the dogs lined up at the start of each class?

Do you want them in catalog order?

How do you want to handle late arrivals once the class has started?

Do you want the Best of Breed dogs first, then bitches, and in catalog order?

Do you want me to call in the next class as you give out ribbons or do you prefer to check off numbers as they enter the ring?

Would you like me to help you in handing out trophies to the placements?

Where do you want me to lay ribbons for each class and the absentee armbands?

When would you like to do pictures?

CALLING IN THE CLASS:

Select a spot near where the dogs are to line up and call out:

1. Class (i.e. 6-9 puppy dogs)

2. Catalog order or any order (as determined by judge)

3. Armband numbers of dogs in that class

Repeat absentee numbers twice (have those armbands handy)

PLACEMENTS:
When placements are made, announce them, i.e. # 22 is first, number 28 is third, # 16 is third, etc.

If specified by judge, move on to calling in next class as judge hands out ribbons

DO’s and DON’Ts:

DO periodically check markings for judge and your book to be sure they agree

DO remember this is the judge’s ring and you are there to help

DO keep track of time and try to keep things moving along on schedule

DON’T ever have a pen in hand when looking at the judge’s book

DON’T have catalog open and visible for the judge to see

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