Triathlon Awards

GRCA Certificates will only be issued to the primary owner of the Golden Retriever earning any of these titles or awards and only if that owner is a GRCA member at the time the title or award is earned.

The Golden Retriever Club of America Triathlon Award

In recognition of the versatility of the Golden Retriever, and to encourage owners to showcase that versatility by participating in multiple areas of competition at National and Regional specialty events, the Golden Retriever Club of America has established a “Triathlon Award” for dogs which meet the following criteria:

An individual dog/bitch must qualify in each of three categories at the same National or Regional Specialty

• Conformation: must place in a regular, non-regular, sweepstakes, veteran sweepstakes, or gun dog sweepstakes class; or receive a Judges Award of Merit in Best of Breed competition; or obtain passing scores from at least two evaluators at the CCA test. Note: Multiple dog classes such as Stud Dog, Brood Bitch or Brace do not qualify.
• Field: must pass either the WC or WCX test; or pass any level in a hunt test; or place or receive a Judges Award of Merit in any stake in a field trial.
• Performance: must pass a tracking test; or obtain a qualifying score in any individual regular or non-regular obedience, agility, rally or scent work class. Note: Multiple-dog classes, such as Brace or Team, do not qualify.

Additional Rules:

1. The required combination of criteria must be received on the same individual dog at the same National or Regional specialty and be the result of successful participation as outlined above. Participation in multi-dog events such as Stud Dog, Brood Bitch, and Brace are not eligible. Breed Champions cannot use the CCA as a qualifier.
2. Neutered or spayed animals are eligible to compete provided they are also eligible for the class or test in which they are entered.
3. The owner must be a current member of the GRCA at the time of the Specialty.
4. Rosettes honoring the achievement will be awarded at the event only. Rosettes will not be mailed.
5. RECEIPT OF A ROSETTE AT THE EVENT DOES NOT GUARANTEE A TRIATHLON AWARD. The owner must complete a Triathlon Award application and submit it to the Triathlon Award Statistician. The application must be accompanied by complete documentation demonstrating that the dog has met all of the qualifications for the award.
6. Advertising and/or public representation of having earned the Triathlon Award prior to GRCA confirmation and verification shall include the phrase “Pending GRCA Approval.” Advertising and/or public representation shall be defined to include, but not be limited to, posts made on any social media platform. Formal documentation will come in the form of an email from the Triathlon Statistician confirming your award or an official certificate from the GRCA, whichever you receive first.
7. Once the documentation has been verified and requirements have been met, a certificate of recognition will be sent to the owner only if the owner is a GRCA member at the time the award is earned. (Res 25-52)
8. Recipients who wish to be recognized in the Golden Retriever News National Specialty issue must have an official photograph taken at the National Specialty.
9. Download a copy of the “The Golden Retriever Club of America Triathlon Award Application and Certification” for full details.