APLA American Pointing Labrador Association Retrievers, Pointers Triple Crown

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WHAT IS THE TRIPLE CROWN?

The American Pointing Labrador Association (APLA) Triple Crown is the pinnacle of pointing Labrador Retriever hunt tests. Dogs who have achieved the 4x Grand Master Pointing Retriever (4XGMPR) title and have passed two qualifying Master level tests during the previous twelve months are invited to compete at this prestigious, three-day, national-level event which showcases the skills and training of these versatile hunting retrievers.

Purebred Labrador Retrievers from across the United States compete in a series of six tests over the three-day period: one retrieving test followed by an upland hunt each day. The three retrieving series include a land series, a water series and a land-water series. At least two series have triple marks, and all series have either a single or double blind, and one series includes an honor. At the conclusion of the retriever series each day, any dog called back then moves on to the upland series. Each upland series consist of a 20-minute hunt, where dogs must hunt for four chukar planted in a 5-10 acre field. Dogs must point the chukars and be steady to wing, shot, and fall. They are not permitted to chase any moving bird and are released to retrieve downed birds by the judges.

Dogs must pass each series to move on to the next. To earn the prestigious 4XGMPR-TC title, the dog must earn a passing score on each of the three days. Passing the Triple Crown also serves as part of the qualifying requirements for the APLA Hall of Fame.

The Triple Crown is held in September of each year. The first event was held in Higginsville, Missouri in 2021. The event is now rotated among three regions of the US including the Pacific/Mountain region, the Central region, and the Eastern region. The Triple Crown was held in Divide, Colorado in 2022, Lenore, Idaho in 2023, and Freeman, South Dakota in 2024. The 2025 event will be held in Fenwick, Michigan.

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Qualification Requirements

QUALIFYING FOR THE TRIPLE CROWN INVITATIONAL

"Qualifying Year" starts "August 1 of the previous year and ends on July 31 of the current year

Example: August 1, 2025 - July 31, 2026 is known as the 2026 Qualifying Year for the 2026 Triple Crown.

FIRST TIME TRIPLE CROWN QUALIFIERS

1 A Dog must have a 4XGMPR Title

2 The 4XGMPR dog must have at least two MPR passes in the Qualifying Year.

Example 1: If a 3X GMPR Dog obtains his 4XGMPR title by passing at least two MPR Tests in the 2026 Qualifying Year, the Dog will qualify for the 2026 Triple Crown Year.

Example 2: if a Dog is a 3.5XGMPR on July 31, 2025, the Dog will need TWO MPR passes between August 1 2025 and July 31, 2026 ("2026 Qualifying Year") to qualify for the 2026 Triple Crown even though it only needed one pass in the 2026 Qualifying Year to obtain its 4XGMPR TITLE.

Dogs qualifying for the the Triple Crown for the first time in the Qualifying Year are known as "First Time Qualifiers

First Time Qualifiers qualify for the Triple Crown for the current Qualifying Year or the following Qualifying Year.

Example 1: If the First Time Qualifier enters the Triple Crown in 2025, the dog must re-qualify for the next Triple Crown. If the First Time Qualifier does not enter the Triple Crown in 2025, this dog automatically qualifies for the 2026 Triple Crown. If the First Time Qualifier does not enter the Triple Crown in 2025 or 2026, its qualification lapses for the 2027 Triple Crown and it must re-qualify by passing two MPR Tests in the 2027 Qualifying Year.

RE-QUALIFICATION FOR THE TRIPLE CROWN

1 Dogs passing the Triple Crown in the current year, only need one MPR pass during the subsequent Qualifying Year to re-qualify for the next Triple Crown.

2 Dogs not passing the Triple Crown in the current year require two MPR passes during the subsequent Qualifying Year to re-qualify for the next Triple Crown.

3 Re-qualification in a Qualifying Year expires after the next Triple Crown Event.

Example: The Dog re-qualifies for the 2026 Triple Crown in the 2026 Qualifying Year. After the 2026 Triple Crown Event, the Dog must re-qualify during the 2027 Qualifying Year for the 2027 Triple Crown.

4 Triple Crown Scratches or withdrawals do not extend these requirements.

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Qualified Dogs