Judging and Rules

How high is that bird? Ask 10 different falconers what height a bird might be, and you will get 10 different guesses. Please note that judging the Sky Trials has always been challenging due to human subjectivity. We do our best to be fair, and consistent. Consistency is paramount. For example, a judge may call a bird’s pitch at 1000 feet. In reality it might actually be only 800 feet. The further the falcon gets from the point of release the more difficult it is to determine the height or pitch of the falcon. We do not have instant replay cameras to review the flight so the determination of whether a falcon struck the pigeon is also a judgment call by the head judge and his assistants.

Gerald's Own Criteria

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 for scoring points. 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:
1. The Sky Trials is a one shot deal. No second flights for any reason.

2. The falcon must reach a minimum pitch of 300 feet directly vertical, or its equal. The head judge will determine this distance before a pigeon will be served, thus ensuring a fair opportunity for the pigeon to escape.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. The contestant should pick the pigeon he wants to fly but should not touch the pigeon at any time.

6. 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.