All the information contained in the press release below supersedes that of the press release on the same subject issued on 1 May 2020 which has been removed from this website in order to prevent confusion.
- Recognition of judging and assessments already undertaken
- A2 and established approval routes available for whole of transition period
- Grandfathering available as of 2021
- Judges may self-submit questionnaires for CC, Group and BIS status
- Judges of non-CC breeds included
Further to the announcement made on 1 May 2020 regarding ‘grandfather rights’ for established judges during the transition phase of the initiative now known as the Judges Education Programme (Breed Shows), the Kennel Club wishes to clarify a number of issues.
The current A2 and established approval routes will continue for the entirety of the five-year transition period, with a review of their comparative uptake and success, taking place once the current routes and the Judges Education Programme (Breed Shows) have been run in tandem for three years.
The other key points to note are as follows:
- The aim of both the A2 and grandfathering routes is to create a pool of pre-approved CC judges to enable the selection and appointment of judges and reduce the perceived uncertainties inherent in the other aspects of the established approval route.
- The current A2 process will continue to operate for those who choose to use it during the five-year period during which it has been agreed that the established approval route and Judges Education Programme (Breed Shows) route will run in tandem.
- For progression by the A2 route candidates must have a minimum of three positive judging assessments on file, be nominated by a Breed Club/Council and be listed on the nominating club/council’s A3 list. Full guidance on this route can be found on our website.
- From 1 January 2021 eligible judges who are seeking pre-approval to award CCs will be able to select from either the current A2 route or the new grandfathering approval route on a per breed basis.
- For progression to award CCs via grandfathering candidates can self-nominate provided they are included on at least one Breed Club/Council A3 list and/or have a pre-existing JDP Credit Pass for the relevant breed. Each judge must also meet all the Kennel Club’s mandatory requirements for approval to award CCs (see below).
Judges of non-CC breeds are advised that they too will have grandfather rights which may make it possible to achieve Level 4 status in such breeds. In those cases it is recognised that breed specialists will not have the three Stud Book Numbers (as required for CC judges), but the Judges Committee will take into account dogs owned and/or bred and any significant wins. Clubs catering for non-CC breeds and therefore not previously required to compile an A3 list are now encouraged to do so to include those judges which the club is prepared to support through the grandfathering route.
Once the grandfathering facility is available at the start of 2021, the Kennel Club will make a further announcement on the process, including details of the relevant questionnaires and how to access them.
It is strongly recommended that breed clubs bring their judging criteria into line with that of the Kennel Club as soon as they are able. Read a previous announcement regarding this.
Any queries regarding the Judges Education Programme (Breed Shows) should be directed to our team via email. Read further information on judging dog shows.
GRANDFATHERING CRITERIA
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Current status |
Criteria required |
Notes |
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A3 list judge (breeds with CC status) |
· To appear on at least one breed club/council A3 judging list at the time of submission to KC · To have met all KC mandatory criteria regarding seminars, stewarding, Stud Book numbers · To have judged the required number of dogs set by the KC according to the relevant Stud Book Band1 · To have passed a breed specific hands-on assessment held in accordance with the Kennel Club Code of Best Practice2 |
· Submission after 1 January 2021 · One submission per breed only permitted; if application rejected no further application can be made for that breed · If approved judge will appear in listings as pre-approved for relevant breed · No appeals will be accepted
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A3 list judge (non CC breeds) |
· To appear on at least one breed club/council A3 judging list at the time of submission to KC · To have met all KC mandatory criteria regarding seminars, stewarding, listing dogs owned and/or bred with significant wins. · To have judged the required number of dogs set by the KC according to the relevant Stud Book Band1 · To have passed a breed specific hands-on assessment held in accordance with the Kennel Club Code of Best Practice2 |
· Submission after 1 January 2021 · One submission per breed only permitted; if application rejected no further application can be made for that breed · If approved judge will appear in listings as pre-approved for relevant breed · No appeals will be accepted |
|
Judge with JDP Credit |
· To have a JDP Credit for the relevant breed · To have met 50% or more of the KC required number of dogs judged for the breed
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· Submission after 1 January 2021 · One submission per breed only permitted; if submission is rejected no further application can be made for that breed · If approved judge will appear in listings as pre-approved for relevant breed · No appeals will be accepted |
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Aspiring Group and Best in Show judge |
· Group submission - To have awarded CCs in the required number of breeds to be approved to judge the relevant group3 · Best in Show submission - To meet the requirements for a Best in Show appointment, and be able to demonstrate a broad experience of judging across all groups4
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· Submission after 1 January 2021 · Only one submission per group and/or Best in Show category permitted. If application rejected no further application can be made for that category · If approved will be appear in listings as pre-approved for relevant group or as Best in Show judge · No appeals will be accepted |
1 Stud Book Band A (including non-CC breeds) – 40 dogs; Stud Book Band B – 70 dogs; Stud Book Band C – 120 dogs; Stud Book Band D – 180 dogs; Stud Book Band E – 250 dogs.
Note the following Stud Book Band A breeds require a minimum of 30 dogs judged: Australian Cattle Dog; Australian Terrier; Basset Griffon Vendeen (Grand); Bloodhound; Bouvier Des Flandres; Brittany; Finnish Spitz; Glen of Imaal Terrier; Ibizan Hound; Kerry Blue Terrier; Lakeland Terrier; Mastiff; Norwegian Buhund; Norwich Terrier; Otterhound; Pharaoh Hound; Polish Lowland Sheepdog; Retriever (Chesapeake Bay); Sealyham Terrier; Skye Terrier; Spaniel (Irish Water); Swedish Vallhund; Welsh Terrier.
Breeds with varieties require the following criteria (automatic approval is given for a further variety or varieties once approved for a CC appointment in an initial variety): Bull Terriers – 80 dogs of any variety; Chihuahua (Long Coat & Smooth Coat) – 200 dogs of any variety; Belgian Shepherd Dogs (Groenendael, Tervueren, Laekenois & Malinois) – 70 dogs of any variety; Fox Terrier – 70 dogs of any variety; German Spitz (Mittel & Klein) – 70 dogs of any variety; Poodle (Toy, Miniature & Standard) – 150 dogs including at least 30 of each variety; Dachshund (all varieties) – 250 dogs any variety.
2 Mandatory for approval to award CCs in first three breeds and desirable for subsequent breeds
3 Current criteria – First time group judges must have carried out CC appointments to a minimum of four breeds (three in the working group) in the relevant group. For second and subsequent groups, three breeds are required. The Judges Committee will take into account the diversity and Stud Book Bands of the previously approved breeds together with the number of dogs judged in the breeds for which the judge is not yet approved and any JDP Credits obtained.
4 Current criteria – Judges must be approved to judge one group and to award Challenge Certificates to at least one breed from two other groups. Judges will be expected to have experience in judging across all groups and all relevant experience will be taken into account.