Sky trials

[Killer Harris]

Hi I'm in England and Ive just watched a DVD on sky trials and I was wondering how they work the winner was given a trophy ,how do you win ,is it the highest bird ,the fasted stoop or the most game caught or the best style just wondering thanx jason

[IAmTheWeasel]

Its judged on several things. Here are the items I know of....
Release
Time to pitch
Pitch
stoop
connection with quarry
tail chase
actual catch of the quarry.
The use of very fast racing pigeons is tradition so catches are rare at best. There may be more or less items in a Sky trial, but those are the things I think I remember seeing before.

[Goshawker 20]

I was over at the utah trials this year and was actually at the judging table as im the weasal state there correct also worth stating you get 20 mins flying time from release to back on the glove, after that you start losing points they also measure the angle of the falcon at certain time intervals.
Have got some pic,s from this years will try and dig them out steve chingrin won but broadbents falcon flew well also!

All the best

Rob Speakman

[Greg]

I was at the California Sky Trials in Jan. They score on how long to mount. How High (they used a range finder) How vertical the stoop. How many times the falcon turned the pigeon. Some points were given for the pigeon being killed but that is not he aim. The only pigeon killed this year flew into a parked car and knocked it's self out.

[Isaac]

From the Utah Skytrials website: http://www.ebiz.netopia.com/utahskytrials/judgingandrules/

The judged sequence of each flight is determined from the time the falcon is cast off to the time it catches or gives up on the competition pigeon, and the falconer has reported to the head judge with his or her falcon. Any other flying beyond this is not judged. During this flight, the falcon will be judged in the five categories below:


Mounting (20 points) The pitch the bird reaches will be divided by the time segment from cast off to serve. Mounting skill is determined in feet per minute.

Position (20 points) Measured at 1 minute intervals, position is determined by the angle the bird is above the horizon by means of an inclinometer. A bird that has a wide ranging flying style will likely score less on position. However this flying style may be an advantage when considering pitch. (This often happens when a bird seeks a thermal to gain height.)

Pitch (20 points) This is the height the falcon reaches when served. The higher the pitch the better. The falcon with the highest pitch when served receives the most points. Jim Carrol has written a computer program that uses mathematics and instrumentation to determine pitch.

Stoop (20 points) The twenty points for the stoop will be measured in two segments: pitch and the technical aspects of the stoop. 10 points can be earned for each segment. A falcon that stoops from 1000 feet will receive more of the 10 points than one that stoops from 200 feet. When considering the technical aspects of the stoop, Gerald felt it was unimportant what style the falcon used to get down, as long as it cuts through the quarry at the bottom of the stoop with some oomph! Gerald's scoring criteria for the technical segment are as follows: "Did not stoop=0pts, With considerable force=7pts, With some force=4pts, Barely closed=1pt, Did not close=0pts. Got a foot on the pigeon=3pts."

Pursuit (20 points) Pursuit points are earned as the falcon makes additional threatening passes at the quarry. Five points for each turn of the pigeon. Three points if the pigeon puts in. Twenty points if the pigeon is caught.

Additional Rules

The tradition established by Gerald Richards since 1975 lives on. Here are a couple of additional items:
The sky trials is a one shot deal. No second flights for any reason.
The falcon must reach a minimum pitch determined by the head judge before a pigeon will be served, thus ensuring a fair opportunity for the pigeon to escape.
All dogs must be kept on a leash. The only exception will be the dog of the falconer that is competing during his allotted time slot.
Please have your birds trained and in proper weight so that they will come down to a lure. Any contestant using a live lure within one mile of the meet will be disqualified.
The contestant should pick the pigeon he wants to fly but should not touch the pigeon at any time.
Each contestant will be allotted 15 minutes for Friday's qualifying flight. Those who qualify for the Finals on Saturday will be given 20 minutes. Contestants will have one point deducted for each minute beyond this time limit. Timing begins as soon as the falcon has been cast off, and ends when the falconer has reported back to the head judge with his or her falcon.

[Killer Harris]

Thanx everyone my mined is at rest :supz: it looks great fun and a good day out

[OutHawkn]

Thanx everyone my mined is at rest :supz: it looks great fun and a good day out

Jason

If you ever get the chance to go see a good sky trial you should go. The pigeons are top quality. They've been under falcons many times. The falcons are physically and mentally tuff. It will make an impression you wont soon forget.