What judges get up to at competitions and how you can become one

TREC judges are the interface between the Technical Delegate (TD) and the riders, marking riders’ performances against the set course or obstacles and rewarding those who demonstrate the qualities being sought in that particular element.   They are found in every area throughout a TREC competition, including (but not limited to):

–          POR (orienteering phase) – Tack check steward

–          POR (orienteering phase) – Map room steward

–          POR (orienteering phase) – Ticket point judge

–          POR (orienteering phase) – Checkpoint (CP) judge

–          MA (control of paces phase) judge

–          PTV (obstacle course) – Start / Finish judge

–          PTV (obstacle course) – Obstacle judge

TREC judges may be people who are interested in horses and riding but equally they might be completely non-horsey.  There will always be a task in every British TREC competition to suit everyone, regardless of their level of experience or the amount of time they have available on any given day. 

TREC GB runs training courses for judges via our network of Trainers of Judges.  These are experienced members of the TREC community who have undergone training to ensure that their TREC knowledge and training skills are high enough to be able to train others to be TREC judges.   The list of accredited Trainers of Judges, and the regions in which they operate, is available. If you would like to contact any of the Trainers of Judges please email TREC GB via the Contact Us button and request their contact details.  Training courses for judges that are run by anyone not listed will not lead to accredited TREC GB judge status.

Judges’ Training courses are run over one day and will generally involve some time inside looking at the mechanics of how TREC competitions run and what judges are asked to do before the delegates go outside and look at the practicalities of judging TREC itself.  Role play activities to simulate running a POR checkpoint may be undertaken and the courses may involve mounted guinea pig(s) so that delegates can practise marking PTV obstacles in a realistic environment, with support and guidance from their trainer. 

In order to be able to participate in a Judges’ Training course potential delegates must be TREC GB members (Red or Blue tier or Supporter members) and they must agree to judge at one or more British TREC competition in each calendar year.

The training structure for judges is as follows:

Probationary Judge – successfully completed Judges’ Training course

Qualified POR Judge – successfully completed Judges’ Training course and has been signed off by the event TD as having judged on the POR to the TREC GB standard on at least 3 separate occasions.

Qualified PTV Judge – successfully completed Judges’ Training course and has been signed off by the event TD as having judged on the MA / PTV to the TREC GB standard on at least 3 separate occasions.

Qualified Judge – successfully completed Judges’ Training course and has been signed off by the event TD as having judged on the POR and MA / PTV to the TREC GB standard on at least 3 separate occasions.  The phase sign offs do not need to have been done at the same competition(s) (ie a Probationary Judge can be signed off as a result of between 3 and 6 competitions).

In order to maintain their level of qualification, each TREC judge must attend a Refresher course at least every 3 years.