C and F Regulation amends

The Kennel Club has approved the following amendments to the C and show (F) regulations which will come into effect on 1 January 2021.

C Regulation amends

C2e

As a condition of registration a breed society must;

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(Effective 1 January 2021)

C2f

In making any application under the Regulations a Society or Organisation (including its Officers and its Committee Members) expressly agrees to submit to and be bound by The Kennel Club Rules and Regulations and Codes of Best Practice in force at the date of application or as may be amended from time to time in relation to all canine matters with which the Kennel Club is concerned.

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(Effective 1 January 2021)

Show (F) Regulation amends

JudgingJudges, responsibilities

1. Judge in accordance with Kennel Club breed standards. In assessing dogs, judges must penalise any features or exaggerations which they consider would be detrimental to the soundness, health or well-being of the dog.
2. Judges are also expected to act impartially, with integrity and to only judge on the merits of the dogs in competition and consider no other factors.
3. Judges must maintain and abide by the highest standards in accordance with Kennel Club Rules and Regulations and, appropriate Codes of Best Practice and the criteria described in the Judges Education Programme as published from time to time.
4. To accept appointments and to judge breed classes at Kennel Club licensed championship, open and limited shows judges must be listed on the relevant breed club judging list or at the appropriate Judges Education Programme Level. Judges must maintain accurate records of educational evidence and confirmed judging appointments.

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(Effective 1 January 2021)

F(1)3.k

For Shows at which a Veterinary Surgeon is present. A suitable place in which dogs suspected of contagious or infectious disease can be properly isolated from the rest of the Show.

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(Effective 1 January 2021)

F(1)5.a.(4)

Where a show is judged on the Group system, unless a class for every breed eligible for separate classification is provided, at least one Any Variety Not Separately Classified class per group must be provided, and at least one Any Variety Imported Breeds Register class per group must also be provided.

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(Effective 1 January 2021)

F(1)5.b

A breed club must schedule select and promote at least 2 Supported Entry Open Shows for its breed at General or Group Open Shows each year.  A formal written agreement to be reached with the licensed show Society societies. The Judges of such classes must be selected by the licensed show society from a list of at least two names proposed by the breed club and will be at either JCF Level Judges Education Programme Level 2 or Level 3 (or B List or A3 list). during the Judges Competency Framework transition period).

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(Effective 1 January 2021)

F(1)7.c.(4)

Championship Shows:-

With The name of each breed for which Challenge Certificates are offered must be printed and the names of the judge(s) and referee(s), if applicable, followed by the words ‘Kennel Club Challenge Certificate Dog; Kennel Club Challenge Certificate Bitch‘; and then the classification provided for the breed.

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F(1)20

For non Challenge Certificate breeds at championship shows and for general canine society open shows, affiliated organisations open shows and breed club open shows scheduling more than three1 breed classes for a particular breed (five2 classes for Stud Book Band E breeds), the selected judge must, when appointed by the club/society, either:

(i) Judges resident in Northern Ireland. Persons who are approved to award Green Stars under Irish Kennel Club Rules and are resident in Northern Ireland are permitted to judge the above mentioned classes at Kennel Club licensed Championship and open shows held in Northern Ireland without being included on a Breed Council/Club judges list.

(ii) Overseas judges. For non Challenge Certificate breeds at championship shows and for general canine society open shows, affiliated organisations open shows and breed club open shows the organising club/society must ensure that any overseas judge appointed to judge more than three breed classes (five classes for Stud Book band E breeds) has been approved to judge the breed concerned at championship level in the country in which they are domiciled, or are on a Kennel Club registered breed club/council B list or above for the breed concerned.

(2) General canine society Open shows and affiliated organisation open shows only. Persons appointed to judge Best in Show, Best in Group, Best Puppy in Group and/or Variety Classes must have previously been approved to award and have awarded Challenge Certificates to at least one breed, and be currently eligible to do so. Classes for varieties of a breed and handling classes are exempt from this Regulation.

1 Non B list judges are permitted to judge a puppy class in addition to the 3 classes currently permitted.

2 Non B list judges are permitted to judge a puppy class in addition to the 5 classes currently permitted. c. If more than one judge is appointed

(2)  Open and Limited Shows

a. For open and limited shows scheduling more than three breed classes (four if including a Puppy class) for a particular breed the selected judge must, when appointed by the club/society, either:

    (i) Have previously been approved to award Challenge Certificates or be listed at Judges Education Programme Level 2 or above for the relevant breed or

(ii) Be included on a Breed Council/Club B judges list or above.

b. For open and limited shows scheduling up to three classes (four if scheduling a Puppy class) for a particular breed, the selected judge must, when appointed by the club/society, either:

    (i)  Be listed at Judges Education Programme Level 1 or

    (ii) Have met the Judges Education Programme Level 1 criteria at the time of accepting the appointment.

Except:-

(i) Judges resident in Northern Ireland. Persons who are approved to award Green Stars under Irish Kennel Club Rules and are resident in Northern Ireland are permitted to judge the above mentioned classes at Kennel Club licensed Championship and open shows held in Northern Ireland without being included on a Breed Council/Club judges list.

(ii) Overseas judges. For non Challenge Certificate breeds at championship shows and for open and limited shows scheduling up to three classes (four if scheduling a Puppy class) for a particular breed the organising club/society must ensure that any overseas judge appointed to judge has been:

a. Approved to judge the breed concerned at championship level in the country in which they are domiciled, or

b. Listed at Judges Education Programme Level 2 or above for the breed concerned, or

(3) General canine society open shows and affiliated organisation open shows only. Persons appointed to judge Best in Show, Best in Group, Best Puppy in Group and/or Variety Classes must have previously been approved to award and have awarded Challenge Certificates to at least one breed, and be currently eligible to do so. Classes for varieties of a breed and handling classes are exempt from this Regulation.

(4)  General canine society limited shows and affiliated organisation limited shows only. Persons appointed to judge Best in Show, Best in Group, Best Puppy in Group and/or Variety Classes must be listed at Judges Education Programme Level 2 or above or be on a breed club/council B list or above. Classes for varieties of a breed and handling classes are exempt from this Regulation.

b. The selected judge must, when appointed by the club/society be eligible in accordance with the criteria set out in these Regulations and will not have been declared ineligible to do so by the time of carrying out the appointment.

c. On accepting an appointment the selected judge must ensure that their name is included on a relevant breed council/club judges list or at the appropriate level of the Judges Education Programme.

d. In the event of a judge being unable to complete all allotted judging, a substitute judge must be appointed to complete the judging.

d. All judges at championship shows and open shows must produce a written critique for the first two placings in each Breed class, and will dispatch these to at least one of the weekly United Kingdom canine journals

e. When requested to do so, judges must submit a completed breed health monitoring report form to The Kennel Club within 21 days of the close of the show.

j.(3). k.(3). Championship Shows –

Slips for Best of Sex, Reserve Best of Sex and Best of Breed and the notice regarding the awarding of Challenge Certificates obtainable from The Kennel Club.

Championship Shows –

The notice regarding the awarding of Challenge Certificates, obtainable from the Kennel Club.

l. m. If a society/club and or judge wish to weigh Miniature Dachshunds at a show the intention to do so must be clearly stated in the show schedule, and a certified weighing machine must be provided. The intention to weigh must be agreed in writing between the judge and the society/club in good time prior to the show and on the day of the show each new dog must be weighed by the judge or with the judge observing.

p. q. Judges may exclude any dog from the ring if it is considered not in a fit state for exhibition owing to savage disposition or suffering from any visible condition which adversely affects its health or welfare and the exclusion must be reported immediately on the day by the judge/steward to the show secretary. The judge’s decision is final and the dog shall be excluded from all subsequent competition at the Show. The judge must make a report to the Show Secretary at the first opportunity after the Show.

The Committee shall have the power to grant, withhold, suspend or cancel the appointment of any judge.

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(Effective 1 January 2021)

F(1)21

Judging contracts Invitation to Judge

b. Societies are required to include the following wording in Judges’ invitation letters:

‘‘In accepting this invitation you agree to be bound by Kennel Club Rules and Regulations and The Kennel Club Code of Best Practice for Judges. In doing so you also recognise that you are obliged to notify us in writing of any change in your personal circumstances or additional information which will may affect your ability and standing to fulfil this judging appointment.’

'You should also note that we reserve the right to cancel the this contract before the date of the appointment show if there is a change in your circumstances, which in our reasonable opinion would adversely affect your ability to fulfil the appointment.’

d. All judges at championship shows and open shows must produce a written critique for the first two placings in each Breed class, and will dispatch these to at least one of the weekly United Kingdom canine journals

e. When requested to do so, judges must submit a completed breed health monitoring report form to The Kennel Club within 21 days of the close of the show.

g. e. In the event of a judge or society being in breach of any of the terms of a judging contract, the Board may impose a fine. The Judge or Society may be required by the Board to give reasons for such breach, and provide an explanation for any breach of the terms of a judging appointment.  In the event of the explanation not being considered satisfactory, the Board may impose a fine and/or other penalties.

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(Effective 1 January 2021)

F(1)22

Stewards.

Show societies must appoint at least one steward for every ring in which judging is to take place. Stewards shall at all times act in accordance with instructions for stewards (Annex C to these Regulations), a copy of which must be issued to each steward by show societies.

Selection, Appointment and Eligibility to Judge

a. Those judges invited to judge must be selected in accordance with the rules of the Show Society and The Kennel Club Code of Best Practice for Judges as published from time to time and if required evidence of this must be forwarded to The Kennel Club. 

b. Judges so selected must at the time of accepting the invitation and at the time of the appointment be eligible to judge in accordance with Kennel Club Regulations.

c. No announcement may be made by a Show Society of any appointment until the judge has accepted the invitation and the Show Society has confirmed the appointment in writing to the judge. 

d. Application for approval of judge

The show society must apply to the Board for the approval of the following judges with the following conditions:

(1) All applications for the approval to judge with Challenge Certificates, Groups, Best in Show, and Referees, must include both the nomination and the questionnaire (where required), and must be lodged by the show society with the Secretary of The Kennel Club at least 12 months prior to the date of the show on the form provided.

(2) Judges to award Challenge Certificates, at single breed, sub-group and general or group championship shows.

(a) There must be an interval of not less than 18 calendar months between the appointment of a judge to award Challenge Certificates to the same sex of the same breed.

(3) Judges for Group competitions

(a) The judge of a group* at a championship show shall not judge any breed, Any Variety Not Separately Classified or Any Variety Imported Breed Register classes in that group at the show except when acting in the capacity of referee. Subject to the above a group judge is eligible to judge other variety/stakes class(es) at the show.

(b) There must be an interval of not less than 9 calendar months between appointments to judge the same group at championship shows.

*A group judge is not eligible to judge any class or classes at a championship show, from which dogs become eligible to compete in his/her appointed group.

(4) Judges for Best in Show (excluding single breed championship shows).

(a) The judge of Best in Show at a general championship show, shall not judge any breed or variety classes at the show except when acting in the capacity of referee. The judge of Best in Show at a group championship show, shall not judge any breed at the show except when acting in the capacity of referee.

(b) At a sub-group championship show where more than one judge is appointed a separate Best in Show judge must also be appointed, who must not judge any breed or variety classes at the show except when acting in the capacity of referee. At a sub-group championship show where only one judge is appointed a separate Best in Show judge need not be nominated.

(c) There must an interval of not less than 9 calendar months between appointments to judge Best in Show at a Championship Show.

e.       Judges for Puppy Group competitions.

The judge of a Puppy Group* at a Championship Show shall not judge any Breed, Any Variety Not Separately Classified or Any Variety Imported Breed Register Classes in that Group at the show except when acting in the capacity of Referee. Subject to the above a Group judge is eligible to judge other variety/stakes class(es) at the show.

* A Group Judge is not eligible to judge any class or classes at a Championship Show, from which dogs become eligible to compete in his/her appointed Group.

f. No more than three Judges shall be appointed to adjudicate for any award.

g. If more than one judge is appointed for any form of competition, a further judge must be appointed to act as referee and the name published in the schedule. However, at a single breed championship show, where more than one judge is appointed, the society may appoint a Best in Show judge instead of a referee, whose name must be published in the schedule.

h. Should any judge named in the schedule be unable to fulfil the specified appointment, another judge must be appointed who is eligible to do so. Where Challenge Certificates are available another judge must be appointed who has previously awarded Challenge Certificates in the breed/or is listed at the appropriate Judges Education Programme Level. There must be an interval of not less than 18 calendar months between this appointment and a subsequent appointment to award Challenge Certificates to the same sex of the same breed. The show committee may similarly substitute a Judge for a Group or Best in Show at Championship Show provided that the substitute Judge has been previously approved for, and judged, the same Group or Best in Show or is listed at the appropriate Judges Education Programme Level but who has not accepted an invitation to judge the same Group or Best in Show within the 9 calendar months following the show in question. The circumstances of any such substitution must be reported to The Kennel Club without delay. This appointment must not conflict with the conditions in the contract of a future judging appointment. Such judges must be submitted to the Board for approval. The alteration should be notified to exhibitors if possible.

i. Where a judge is unable to complete all allotted judging, a substitute judge must be appointed to complete the judging. The appointment of the substitute must be in accordance with the procedure and Regulations for appointing judges in an emergency.

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(Effective 1 January 2021)

F(1)23

a. Allocation – The allocation of Challenge Certificates is discretionary and conditional upon Show Societies running satisfactory shows previously.  If requested Challenge Certificates for all breeds for which Challenge Certificates are available will be granted to the agreed designated All-Breed Championship Shows including; Crufts Dog Show, Birmingham Dog Show Society Ltd, Scottish Kennel Club, Welsh Kennel Club. Challenge Certificates may also be allocated to other Shows by the Clubs and Societies at the discretion of the Board on application from the show societies. However, allocations of Challenge Certificates are discretionary, and conditional upon show societies running satisfactory shows previously.

c. Selection of Judges

The names of judges submitted for approval to the Board must be selected in accordance with the rules of the show society and if required evidence of this must be forwarded to the Board.

d. Application for approval of judges The show society must apply to the Board for the approval of the following judges with the following conditions:

(1) All applications for the approval to judge with Challenge Certificates, Groups, Best in Show, and Referees, must include both the nomination and the questionnaire (where required), and must be lodged by the show society with the Secretary of The Kennel Club at least 12 months prior to the date of the show on the form provided.

2 Judges to award Challenge Certificates, at single breed, sub-group and general or group championship shows.

(a) There must be an interval of not less than 18 calendar months between the appointment of a judge to award Challenge Certificates to the same sex of the same breed.

3 Judges for Group competitions

The judge of a group* at a championship show shall not judge any breed, any variety not separately classified or any variety imported breed register classes in that group at the show except when acting in the capacity of referee. Subject to the above a group judge is eligible to judge other variety/stakes class(es) at the show. There must be an interval of not less than 9 calendar months between appointments to judge the same group at championship shows.

*A group judge is not eligible to judge any class or classes at a championship show, from which dogs become eligible to compete in his/her appointed group.

(4) Judges for Best in Show (excluding single breed championship shows).

(a) The judge of Best in Show at a general or group championship show, shall not judge any breed or variety classes at the show except when acting in the capacity of referee.

(b)At a sub-group championship show where more than one judge is appointed a separate Best in Show judge must also be appointed, who must not judge any breed or variety classes at the show except when acting in the capacity of referee. At a sub-group championship show where only one judge is appointed a separate Best in Show judge need not be nominated.

(c)There must an interval of not less than 9 calendar months between appointments to judge Best in Show at a General Championship Show.

e.The judge of a Puppy Group* at a Championship Show shall not judge any Breed, Any Variety Not Separately Classified or Any Variety Imported Breed Register Classes in that Group at the show except when acting in the capacity of Referee. Subject to the above a Group judge is eligible to judge other variety/stakes class(es) at the show.

* A Group Judge is not eligible to judge any class or classes at a Championship Show, from which dogs become eligible to compete in his/her appointed Group.

f. The committee shall have the power to grant, withhold, suspend or cancel the approval of any judge, referee, judge of group competitions or judge for Best in Show.

h. Should any Judge named in the Schedule be unable to fulfil the specified engagement, the name of another Judge must be submitted to the Board for approval and the alteration announced in the Canine Press if possible. In an emergency, the Show Committee may substitute as a Judge for a breed with Challenge Certificates, a person who has previously awarded Challenge Certificates in the breed but who has not accepted an invitation to judge the same sex of the breed at another Championship Show within the 18 calendar months following the Show in question. In an emergency, the Show Committee may similarly substitute a Judge for a Group or Best in Show provided that the substitute Judge has been previously approved for, and judged, the same Group or Best in Show but who has not accepted an invitation to judge the same Group or Best in Show within the 9 calendar months following the Show in question. The circumstances of any such substitution must be reported to The Kennel Club without delay.

i. Where a judge is unable to complete all allotted judging, a substitute judge must be appointed to complete the judging. The appointment of the substitute must be in accordance with the procedure and Regulations for appointing judges in an emergency

l. f The Kennel Club will issue the award cards for each Challenge Certificate and Reserve Challenge Certificate offered and the cards for the Best of Sex, Reserve Best of Sex and Best of Breed. once the published Schedule has been lodged with The Kennel Club.

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(Effective 1 January 2021)

F(1)24

Stewards.

Show societies must appoint at least one steward for every ring in which judging is to take place. Stewards shall at all times act in accordance with instructions for stewards (Annex C to these Regulations), a copy of which must be issued to each steward by show societies.

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(Effective 1 January 2021)

F(A)1

For the purposes of Kennel Club Show Regulations, the term ‘Variety Class’ also applies to ‘Stakes Classes’. A Variety Class is one in which more than one breed or variety of a breed can compete. There must be no stipulation that exhibits must be entered for Variety Classes as well as Breed Classes and no minimum number of classes in which a dog must be entered may be fixed.

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(Effective 1 January 2021)

F(A)6

All championship, open and limited shows must schedule at least one Any Variety Not Separately Classified Class per group, unless a class for every breed eligible for classification is provided.

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(Effective 1 January 2021)

F(A)

IMPORTED BREED REGISTER

For breeds confined to the Imported Breed Register and only when an interim breed standard has been published by The Kennel Club. Such breeds may be exhibited in this class  only with the Best Imported Register / Best Imported Register Puppy winning dog being is being eligible to compete for Best in Group / Best Puppy in Group or Best in Show / Best Puppy in Show as relevant. Such breeds may be entered into Imported Breed Register classes and/or Any Variety or Stakes classes, with the exception of AVNSC classes, for which they are not eligible.

ANY VARIETY NOT SEPARATELY CLASSIFIED 

For breeds of dog for which no separate breed classes are scheduled. These classes are not open to breeds which are listed on the Imported Breed Register.

ANY VARIETY

A Variety Class is one in which more than one breed or variety of a breed with a breed standard can compete.

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(Effective 1 January 2021)

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