Elite Select - NACSW's New Trial Format

 EDIT November 15, 2024 - ELT-S is the most fun EVER!

First published January 10, 2024

The Reader's Digest version - it looks like fun! I'm going to give it a try. The first ELT-S trials in Colorado will be held in Loveland on March 9, 2024, and will open for entries on January 24.

 I finally had a chance to watch some of the debrief videos from NACSW's new half-day trial format "Elite Select." Elite-S was launched in October of 2023 as a half-day trial with Elite challenges. Great for older dogs who may struggle with a full day of long searches, it's also a great way for NW3 teams to get a feel for Elite.

Watch debrief videos here: https://walkthrough.nacsw.net/

In order to compete in an Elite-S trial, a dog needs to have at least one NW3 title, or an NW3 element title (any element). Dogs who are competing in Elite or Summit are eligible.

The trials that I looked at had somewhat smaller search areas and tighter times than regular Elite. Each trial had a "speed search" with a maximum time of under 75 seconds with no 30-second warning.  

Each trial has 100 points available. A team needs 350 points to earn the ELT-S title. Each additional 350 points earns an ELT-Sx2, etc. The team must earn a minimum of 50 points in order to keep the points from that trial. The ELT-S title is separate from the ELT-1, ELT-2, ELT-3, and ELT-CH titles.

From the Rule Book: ELT-S

• All three odors can be used including a combination of the three in one hide

• There will be 4 search areas in an Elite-S trial

• Elite searches are not defined as single element searches but may be a combo of elements (for example vehicles may be in an exterior search area and the whole area including the vehicles will need to be searched)

• There may be an unlimited number of hides in each search area and for the total day (no maximum number of hides)

• There may be blank search areas (no hides) in a trial day

• Number of hides in each search area may be Known, Unknown or have a Range (for example 2 - 5 hides). This information is given to the handlers

• Searches may be on or off leash. This is determined by the CO and may include safety of the dogs and/or what the site may support.

• Hides may be inaccessible in Vehicles, Exteriors or Interiors searches (for example: inside a cabinet, behind a car wheel, in a stack of chairs and many more)

• Hides may be placed at ground level (for example: in a crack, under a rock or door mat, at the base of a bench or table leg and many more)

• There are no height restrictions in an Elite search and hides may be placed at any height

• In each search area the time will stop and the search will end when the handler calls “Finish”