Rich, this most recent (2024) communication that you posted clearly shows # 1. that there has been an ongoing issue with obtaining data from a variety of trials. This year apparently is nothing new.
# 2. Purina advocates delaying announcement and waiting for all essential data to be turned in. #3. All clubs ARE TO BE CONTACTED and given TWO weeks to get the (missing , unreported) information in. #4. After receiving the data, only then will Purina declare the winner.

Clearly the most recent communication from the “Purina Points Committee” encourages and instructs that the clubs are to BE CONTACTED when they don’t have all the data….this is specifically mentioned for the DERBY. Two weeks are given to get the data AFTER BEING CONTACTED. Also, Purina declares that only after they have all the (missing) data, only then will the derby winner be announced.

Apparently accommodations have been made in previous years with specific instructions on how to get the data when it is missing and needed. In this instance with Hippie Girl we have an oversight from an accomplished individual , with understandable circumstances, having NOT BEEN CONTACTED, as outlined. In reality, he is supposed to get two weeks AFTER BEING CONTACTED. Something tells me by the contriteness of his apology that if he had been notified he wouldn’t have needed two weeks; it likely would have been sent immediately.

In my opinion, the committee has blown it and for some reason is penalizing Hippie Girl arbitrarily and capriciously. What they should have done was realized that their communication of the rules is woefully outdated and incomplete; that their enforcement has been arbitrary and Ken was owed some kind of contact requesting his derby data. What should have been done when reviewing the situation would have been to make an accommodation AS HAS EVIDENTLY BEEN DONE IN THE PAST; award Hippie Girl the winner as her points and performances demonstrate; and then formalize whatever changes they deem necessary for next year, and then widely communicate the changes for future results.