Rally trials

Harry went to rally trials Friday and Saturday and earned 2 legs towards his RE. He hasn't been out since last December and he was somewhat stressed Friday. Yesterday he worked much better. However, the judge was apparently not releasing dogs from the honor until the handler of the working dog had reattached the leash. The honor is supposed to end when the working dog passes the finish sign at which time the honor steward says return to your dog. The finish sign was only a couple of feet from the rear of the honor dog. The working dog was a giant breed dog that was heeling wide and while the handler tried to attach the leash the dog swung his butt around and nearly stepped on Harry's tail. Harry got up which should have been okay since the exercise was over but the judge still took off 10 points. Why have an honor steward if you aren't going to have them do their job and why put the end of the course that close to the honor dog? I have been seeing that tendency more and more. The honor is crammed up against the ring gates and the working dog comes very close. Rally is supposed to be lower level competition than obedience and we never have a working dog coming up behind the dogs doing stays in obedience. It seems we, as rally judges, should be able to design courses that keep the dogs safely separated. I have seen a number of dogs that are really not under control off lead that have made it to rally excellent. I hate to think that one of these dogs would interfere with the dog doing the honor.