Fastest Retriever Contest Rules

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCE OF WINNING.

1. CONTEST PERIOD AND PHASES:
a. These rules (the “Official Rules”) govern the 2025 Fastest Retriever Contest (the “Contest”) that begins on January 29, 2025, at 12:00 a.m. Central Time (CT) and ends on March 9, 2025, at 3:30 p.m. (CT) (the “Contest Period”).
b. The entry “Submission Phase” of the Contest shall begin on January 29, 2025, at 12:00 a.m. (CT) and end on or about February 29, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. (CT). During the Submission Phase, an eligible dog owner may enter the Contest at www.jssportsshow.com (Unless registration fills up first).
c. The “Participant Selection Phase” will occur on or about March 1, 2025. Forty (60) dogs will be selected as “Participating Dogs.”
d. The Participating Dogs will be allowed to enter the fastest retriever race (the “Event”) in timed runs per qualification in a heat with 12 dogs competing at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Sports Show (the “Sports Show”) on Friday, March 7, 2025, Saturday, March 8, 2025, or Sunday, March 9, 2025.
e. The “Finalist Phase” of the Event will be on Sunday, March 9, 2025. The two fastest dogs from each Semi-Finalist heat will qualify to compete in the Finalist Phase of the Event.

2. ELIGIBILITY RESTRICTIONS
a. The Contest is open to all legal residents of the United States who are 18 years of age of older at the time of entry (“Entrant” or “Entrants”). Employees of Journal Sentinel, Inc. (the “Promoter” or “Sponsor”) its corporate parent, subsidiary, and affiliated entities, its advertising agencies, participating sponsors/promotional partners, and the members of their immediate families (spouse, parents, siblings or children) or households (whether related or not) are ineligible to participate or win. This Contest is subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations. Void outside the United States, in NY, and where prohibited.
b. Entrants are required to provide truthful information, and the Promoter may reject and delete any entry that it discovers to be false or fraudulent. The Promoter may disqualify any entry from individuals who do not meet the eligibility requirements, and Promoter will also delete any entry knowingly received from persons under the age of 13 in compliance with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act and as otherwise required by law. Entrants may not enter professional competing dogs to participate.
d. All dogs entered in the Contest must be current with vaccinations, and Entrants should be prepared to provide the receipt or other means of proof of updated vaccinations upon Sponsor’s request.

3. ENTRY
a. To participate in the Contest, you may enter via the following method: Visit www.jssportsshow.com and follow the links and instructions to enter and submit your first name and last name, complete address, city, state, zip code, telephone number, dog’s name, dog’s breed, preferred entry date, and a valid email address in the online entry form. The authorized account holder is the natural person who is assigned to the email address by an internet access provider, online service provider or other organization that is responsible for assigning the email address or the domain associated with the submitted email address. Multiple Entrants are not permitted to share the same email address. Entrants may only enter the Contest once during the Contest Period. Entries submitted will not be acknowledged or returned. Proof of submission of an entry shall not be deemed proof of receipt by Promoter. The Contest administrator’s computer is the official time keeping device for the Contest. For purpose of this Contest, a “Day” shall begin at 12:00:00 a.m. (CT) and shall end at 11:59:59 p.m. (CT).

4. SELECTION OF PARTICIPATING DOGS AND CONTEST PRIZE WINNERS
Selection of the Participating Dogs: At the end of the Submission Phase, an individual whose dog satisfies the eligibility requirements set forth in Section 2 (an “Entrant”) may be entered into the Event. A drawing to select the Participating Dogs will take place on or about March 1, 2025. The odds of an Entrant’s dog becoming a Participating Dog shall depend on the total number of eligible entries received during the Submission Phase.

Section of Finalist Dogs: The Participating Dogs will be required to adhere to and perform the following to be declared a potential Finalist Dog:
All dogs must be able to compete on the date they are schedule to compete during the Event by the Promoter. If the Entrant and/or its Participating Dog is unable to compete on the date and time available, the Entrant shall forfeit their opportunity to participate, and another Entrant and its Participating Dog will be selected to compete.

All dogs must start the retrieve from a fixed/stopped (standing or sitting) position directly behind designated start/finish line and must retrieve object and bring it back across start/finish line. The Entrant must remain behind the start/finish line. The dog cannot step outside of the racing area at any time during their run. Entrants are responsible for the handling of their dogs at all times.
iA single object (item to be retrieved) must be beyond the designated retrieve line at the other end of the course. The distance between the two lines is approximately 80 feet.

No training equipment (no pinch collars, e-collars, etc.) is allowed. Dogs may have a collar and leash only.

The dog get (2) runs; we will score the dogs best time from the (2) runs

If you are using an assistant with you dog this person is required to place the retrieved item and return to the start/finish line.

Selection of First Prize, Second Prize and Third Prize Winners: Each of the Finalist Dogs will be required to compete on Sunday, March 9, 2025, at the Sports Show. Finalists Dogs will be required to adhere to and perform the same actions as laid forth in Section 4(b) above. At the conclusion of the Event, the top two (2) winners will be selected based on the two (2) fastest scores of the Event.
d. If a Finalist Dog is unable to compete as required by Sponsor, the Entrant and its Finalist Dog will be disqualified and the next fastest timed Participating Dog during the initial phase of the Event will be named as a Finalist dog. The Finalist Dog with the fastest timed run will be selected as the First Prize winner. The Second Prize winner will be the Finalist Dog with the next fastest timed run. In the event of a tie, the Entrants shall split equally the First Place and Second Place Prizes defined in Section 5 below

5. PRIZES
a. Three (3) prizes will be awarded to the first and second and third place participants as follows:
i. First Place Prize (1): The Entrant whose Finalist Dog is selected as the First Prize winner shall receive a First Place Prize equal to Three Hundred Dollars Gift Card ($300).
Second Place Prize (1): The Entrant whose Finalist Dog is selected as the Second-Place winner shall receive One Hundred Fifty Dollar Gift Card ($150).
Third Place Prize (1): The Entrant whose Finalist Dog is selected as the Third-Place winner shall receive Seventy Five Dollar Gift Card ($75).
All prizes are awarded as-is. There is no substitution, transfer, or cash equivalent for prizes. The prizes are expressly limited to the item(s) listed above and do not include taxes, gratuities or any other expenses. Promoter is not responsible for winners’ limitations that prevent acceptance, use, or nonuse of prize. Entrants acknowledge that the Released Parties, as defined herein, have not made, nor are in any manner responsible or liable for, any warranties, representations or guarantees, and hereby disclaim any and all warranties expressed or implied, in fact or in law, whether now or hereafter enacted concerning any prize, including without limitation, implied warranties of quality, merchantability, mechanical condition, or fitness for a particular purpose, except for any express manufacturer’s warranty as may be included with the prize or as may be separately provided to participants by law. Other restrictions may apply.
c. Any prize certificates or coupons are subject to the terms and conditions as set forth by the issuer of the certificate or coupon. Such certificates and coupons are not refundable or transferable and may not be substituted or exchanged for cash or credit at any time, nor will such certificates or coupons be replaced if unused, lost, stolen, or damaged.

6. WINNER SELECTION AND NOTIFICATION
a. All decisions of Promoter management with respect to the Contest are final.
b. Entrants that are chosen as winners must execute and return any required affidavit of eligibility and/or liability/publicity release within ten (10) days of notification attempt or winner will be disqualified and the prize will be forfeited, and an alternate winner may be chosen at random. If a potential winner cannot be contacted, fails to complete, sign and return the required affidavit of eligibility and liability/publicity release within the required time period, or if a prize or prize notification is returned as undeliverable, potential winner will be disqualified and will forfeit the prize.
d. Unless otherwise specified in the prize notification, all prizes or prize certificates may be picked up at the office of the Promoter at the address below. Prize or prize certificates will not be mailed to the winner without the winner’s prior written consent in which the winner shall agree to assume its risk of loss. The Promoter, its sponsor, or promotional partners are not responsible for the safe arrival of a prize or prize certificate.

7. CONDITIONS
a. Payments of all federal, state and local taxes are solely the responsibility of the winners. Winners will be required to complete and submit an IRS Form W-9 or the equivalent including the winner’s full Social Security Number for receipt of any prize. Failure to submit a complete W-9 or equivalent will result in disqualification and forfeiture of the prize.
b. Participating in the Contest and acceptance of any prize constitutes each Entrant’s and winner’s (and guest’s where applicable) permission for the Promoter or its agents to photograph, film, record that Entrant and its Participating Dog, winner, or guest and to use his or her name, city, state, voice, or likeness, and any statements made by him or her regarding the Contest or its sponsors for purposes of trade, publicity or promotion without additional financial or other compensation, and, where legal, to sign a publicity release confirming such consent prior to acceptance of the prize.
c. Prior to awarding any prize or prize certificate, and depending on the nature of the prize and eligibility requirements of the contest, the Promoter in its sole discretion will require verification of Contest winner’s identification by a showing of valid government-issued photo identification. By entering, participating and/or accepting a prize in the Contest, each entrant, winner, and guest if applicable, agrees not to sue and to release, discharge, indemnify, hold harmless, and absolve the Promoter, its sponsors and promotional partners, its advertising and promotion agencies and each of their respective parent, subsidiary and affiliated entities and the officers, shareholders, directors, employees, agents, and representatives and the successors and assigns of each of them (the “Released Parties”) from and against any and all claims, demands, actions, suits, losses, expenses, costs, damages, and liabilities including, without limitation, interest, penalties, court costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses arising directly or indirectly from the prize or participation in the Contest, including, but not limited to, personal injury, death, or damage to or loss of property, which may occur in connection with, preparation for, travel to, or participation in Contest, or possession, acceptance and/or use or misuse of prize or participation in any Contest-related activity, including but not limited to any claims based on publicity rights, defamation, or invasion of privacy and merchandise delivery.
Promoter may require eligible Contest winners and their guests or travel companions, if any (as well as each of their parent(s) or legal guardian(s), if winners, guests or travel companions are under the age of majority in their state of residence), to sign a liability release confirming such consent. Except where prohibited, by entering the Contest, each entrant agrees that: (1) any and all disputes, claims and causes of action arising out of or connected with this Contest or any Prize (s) shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, and exclusively by state or federal courts situated in Milwaukee, WI; (2) any and all claims, judgments and awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred, but in no event shall such costs include attorneys’ fees; and (3) no punitive, incidental, special, consequential or other damages, including, without limitation, lost profits may be awarded (collectively, “Special Damages”). Further, by entering the Contest, each entrant waives all rights to claim Special Damages and all rights to have such damages multiplied or increased.
d. Promoter, in its sole discretion, reserves the right to disqualify any person (and all of their entries) from this Contest if he or she tampers with the entry process, the operation of the Contest, or the operation of Promoter’s web channel or is otherwise in violation of the Official Rules or direction of Promoter. Promoter further reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to modify, cancel, terminate or suspend the Contest, or modify the Rules in is sole discretion. Any attempt by an entrant or any person to deliberately damage any Promoter web channel or to undermine the legitimate operation of this Contest may be a violation of criminal and civil laws. Should such an attempt be made, Promoter reserves the right to fully seek full prosecution and/or damages from any such individual permitted by law.
Promoter’s failure to enforce any term of these Rules shall not constitute a waiver of this provision. If due to circumstances beyond the control of Promoter, any competition or prize-related event or travel is delayed, rescheduled, postponed or cancelled, Promoter reserves the right, but not the obligation, to modify, suspend, or cancel the Contest and shall not be required to award a substitute prize.
e. The Released Parties are not responsible for (i) typographical or other errors in the printing, the offering or the administration of the Contest, or in the announcement of a prize; (ii) entries not received due to difficulty accessing the internet, service outage or delays, computer difficulties, malfunctions, disconnections, other technological failures; or any other difficulties that may prevent an individual from entering or participating, or (iii) lost, stolen, mangled, misdelivered, misdirected, postage due, illegible, incomplete, incorrect, or late entries. Further, the Released Parties are not responsible if any part of a Contest prize that cannot be awarded due to acts of God, acts of war, natural disaster, weather, acts of terrorism or other factors beyond the Station’s control.
f. Except where prohibited, by entering the Contest, each entrant agrees that: (1) any and all disputes, claims and causes of action arising out of or connected with this Contest or any Prize (s) shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action; (2) any and all claims, judgments and awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred, but in no event shall such costs include attorneys’ fees; and (3) no punitive, incidental, special, consequential or other damages, including, without limitation, lost profits may be awarded (collectively, “Special Damages”). Further, by entering the Contest, each entrant waives all rights to claim Special Damages and all rights to have such damages multiplied or increased.
A list of winners will be featured on social media 7-10 days after the show.