Admittedly, I don't understand the point of a National event that is pass/fail. Many people do and that's fine.
The "annual event model" looks like a way of adding to and extending the problem.
A possible solution that would no doubt be very unpopular as well;
Raise the standard of the master national, make it more difficult than weekend tests. Plenty of ways to do that with fair tests.
Add a higher level, above master, to weekend tests and require a title at that level for qualification to the national with its higher standard.
I would also eliminate the junior level tests. They are meaningless and an event atmosphere is detrimental for a retriever at that level. Club training and teaching days would be much more valuable for the dogs and handlers.
Another possibility, make the master national a competitive event.
The "annual event model" looks like a way of adding to and extending the problem.
A possible solution that would no doubt be very unpopular as well;
Raise the standard of the master national, make it more difficult than weekend tests. Plenty of ways to do that with fair tests.
Add a higher level, above master, to weekend tests and require a title at that level for qualification to the national with its higher standard.
I would also eliminate the junior level tests. They are meaningless and an event atmosphere is detrimental for a retriever at that level. Club training and teaching days would be much more valuable for the dogs and handlers.
Another possibility, make the master national a competitive event.
