The Kennel Club has released details of its CC allocation for the years 2024 - 2028, formulated using a new model applied to all CC breeds, details of which were first announced in October 2020.
Since the initial announcement, detailed work and consultation have taken place prior to final approval by The Kennel Club Board. In total, 104 breeds have gained one or more sets of CCs overall, and 23 breeds have retained their present number of sets. Whilst 36 breeds have lost at least one set at group and general shows, no breed has lost any sets at breed club level. In further positive steps, the allocation to group and general shows has increased by 42 sets of CCs, excluding the two new group shows which were recently announced.
The key objectives of this new approach include sustainability and transparency of the allocation; fairness across all breeds; the potential to boost entries; separate allocations for breed clubs and general societies; and the encouragement of partnership shows with associated cost reductions for organisers and exhibitors. The latter point is a major consideration as the show scene begins to open up following the prolonged lockdown caused by the pandemic.
Exhibitors will benefit from this, as will the overall average entries, which will lead to more CCs being allocated in future. It is recognised that there is a need to create the best possible exhibitor experience, and thus retain and attract exhibitors. Future increases or reductions in the number of CCs will depend on entries and will be shared between general shows and breed clubs.
In another development, some breed clubs have been offered two sets of CCs in a year (where the second show must be held as a partnership or back-to-back event) in a move designed to give a further boost to the show scene. Breed clubs are seen as key to leading the recovery in show entries. It is also hoped that increasing the number of breed club shows will provide more opportunities for specialists to judge at CC level.
31 breed clubs have been offered a set of CCs for the very first time, something that many could only have dreamt of until now.
As previously announced, The Kennel Club has worked closely with breeds in order to remove complicated CC rotations which were a feature of previous allocations. As a result of the discussions that took place, rotations have been reduced to just six breeds and these are simple, one year on, one year off rotations. The views of breed clubs have been taken into account and in many cases the allocation announced today is the allocation they proposed. Furthermore, any newly amalgamated clubs have been granted CC status in this allocation, guaranteed for a 10 year period, and this offer is still on the table for clubs considering amalgamation.
Another development to grow out of this latest CC allocation has been the recently-announced creation of two new group championship shows, the North East of England Toydog Society and the Scottish Utility Breeds Club, following a rigorous selection process. Each of these societies will hold their first championship event in 2024 and championship status for the years 2025 to 2028 will be subject to the success of their first show. These new societies have come about as a result in the strong position of breed entries in these two groups, and their CCs have been taken entirely from the breed/group allocation.
This new model has been introduced because the previous model, last fully applied for the 2014 allocation, was out of date and contained a number of anomalies. For example, the lowest entry breed did not have the lowest CC allocation. The creation in 2019 of the new ‘all breeds’ shows, which resulted in the minimum number of CCs on offer in some of the numerically smaller breeds to rise from seven to twelve, merely highlighted the need for the new model.
Many breeds were ‘off the existing scale’, as some with increased entries had been allocated no additional CCs or too few, while other breeds had experienced decreased entries but had had no CCs withdrawn. This meant that breeds, exhibitors and shows were not being treated proportionately across the board. To apply the previous model to breeds would have resulted in a net loss of 352 sets of CCs across the championship show scene.
The new model is based on average numbers of dogs entered at shows over a five-year period, and the CC model and stud book bands are now linked together. To view the new model, please see below.
| New CC Stage | Stud Book Band | Average show entries (using last 5 years) per breed per show | Challenge Certificate Allocation | Challenge Certificate Allocation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
National Group & General |
Breed Club + other group shows etc |
|
1 |
A |
0-22 |
11 sets |
Up to 2 sets |
|
2 |
A |
22.01-30 |
13 |
2 |
|
3 |
B |
30.01-35 |
16 |
3 |
|
4 |
B |
35.01-40 |
18 |
4 |
|
5 |
C |
40.01-45 |
20 |
5 |
|
6 |
C |
45.01-55 |
22 |
6 |
|
7 |
D |
55.01-70 |
24 |
8 |
|
8 |
D |
70.01-90 |
25 |
10 |
|
9 |
E |
90.01-115 |
26 |
13 |
|
10 |
E |
115.01+ |
26 sets |
Up to 17 sets |
Entry data will now be published annually and along with the model can be used as an early warning system to indicate where action is needed to maintain entries and consequently the breed’s CC allocation. Similarly, the system can be used to indicate where a breed is on the point of moving up to the next stage where an increase in CCs is possible.
In this transitional period the total number of CCs allocated to breed clubs in each breed has been protected. Many of the breed clubs concerned have told The Kennel Club that by increasing their CC allocation they expect average show entries will increase. However, the clubs will need to work together to achieve this. The next allocation will be announced in 2026 and cover the four-year period 2029 - 2032. This approach is intended to help clubs have more time to increase entries and influence their CC allocation, and shows will have more time to plan ahead. It is hoped that this transparent approach will inspire clubs to strive for improvement.
Kathryn Mansfield, Kennel Club Secretary, said: “In this latest CC allocation, there is no reduction in the number of CCs given to breed clubs but additional CCs have been allocated, with the great benefit that new clubs have been offered a championship show and some clubs have been offered a second championship show in a year. We even have two new group championship shows for the first time in over 35 years, which is very positive news indeed.
“I would like to extend my thanks to the breed clubs which have worked very hard over the past nine months, along with the staff team at The Kennel Club, in order to finalise this CC allocation. The new model is based on average numbers of dogs entered at shows over a five-year period, and the CC model and stud book bands are now linked together, so in future it will be much easier to see what breeds need to do in order to attract additional CCs. The success of future shows very much depends on us all working together.”
Over the next week, The Kennel Club will notify clubs and societies individually of their championship status. Therefore, there is no need for clubs to apply for championship status as in previous years.
For full details of the 2024 - 2028 CC allocation in each eligible breed, please see the August 2021 edition of The Kennel Club Journal which will ‘go live’ on Thursday 29 July.
FAQ about the CC allocation is available to view below.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the new model which has been used to formulate this allocation?
Unlike its predecessor, this new model has separate allocations for breed clubs and general shows. It is also aligned to the Stud Book bands, making the whole system much more transparent and easier to monitor. - Why is The Kennel Club introducing a new model now?
The previous formula was applied in 2014. Many breeds are currently off the scale as CCs have increased for some breeds but no CCs have been reduced in breeds where entry numbers have fallen. The new model is more transparent and treats each breed in exactly the same way. - Will this mean a reduction in the number of CCs allocated to breed clubs?
Absolutely not. For this transition period, it was agreed that breeds would see no net loss of CCs amongst their breed clubs. In fact, 214 extra sets of CCs across 106 breeds have been given to breed clubs in this latest allocation. Thirty-one breed clubs have gained CC status for the first time - Is it true that some breed clubs are going to be offered two sets of CCs in a year?
Yes, that is true. This will apply in breeds where the number of breed clubs is not enough to ‘soak up’ the entire breed club allocation. - What if a club is offered a second set of CCs and, for whatever reason, feels unable to take up the offer?
Breed clubs are under no obligation to accept a second set of CCs if they do not wish to. - Which breed clubs will be allocated a second set of CCs?
Those clubs with a proven track record of running successful championship shows, and where the new scale indicates additional CCs are available and all eligible clubs have received a set of CCs. - Are there any stipulations for a breed club accepting a second set of CCs?
Just that at least one of their two championship shows must be held either as a partnership show or a back-to-back event. - Why is that?
It is recognised that the dog show calendar is already full, and there is no desire to see a further increase. Partnership and back-to-back shows bring cost savings not just to clubs but to exhibitors too, e.g. reduced travel costs. They also have the potential to increase entries at general championship shows, which in turn could lead to a breed moving into a higher Stud Book band and receiving additional CCs in future allocations. - Is it true that CC rotations among breed clubs have been stopped?
Following extensive consultation with the breeds affected, all the most complex CC rotations have been stopped, which surely must be good news in the main. However, in a small number of cases rotations will remain for the time being but these are now simple ‘one year on, one year off’ rotations and where the breed clubs made a strong case for their continuation. - Is it true that where breed clubs amalgamate, they will be given guaranteed CC status for ten years?
Yes, any newly-amalgamated clubs have been granted CC status in this allocation, guaranteed for a ten-year period, and this offer is still on the table. Those breeds where their breed club allocation is over scale during the transition period might wish to consider this offer.