JUDGING CRITERIA AND JUDGES’ LISTS

AMENDMENTS TO JUDGES EDUCATION PROGRAMME CRITERIA

The Kennel Club Board has approved amendments to the Judges Education Programme (Breed Shows) Level 1 and Level 2 criteria. These amendments will come into effect for shows held on or after 1 January 2024 and apply to judges signing contracts from the date of this announcement (21 August 2023). Existing CC judges are exempt from this requirement.

Judges Education Programme (JEP) Level 1 is as follows, with amendments in italics:

  • Minimum of 5 years proven interest in pedigree dogs
  • Attended a conformation and movement seminar hosted by a Kennel Club Accredited Trainer
  • Complete a minimum of two full-day stewarding appointments
  • Attend a Requirements of a Dog Show Judge seminar and pass associated exam (either in person or online via Kennel Club Academy)
  • Pass the Points of a Dog assessment conducted by a Kennel Club Accredited Trainer

Previously it was a requirement that passing the Points of a Dog Assessment and Requirements of a Dog Show Judge exam was part of JEP Level 2 criteria.

Consequently, JEP Level 2 Criteria is now amended as follows:

  • Attend a Breed Appreciation Day (BAD) and pass a multiple choice examination for the respective breed
  • View ring stewarding seminar and take online quiz via Kennel Club Academy
  • Complete critique writing seminar and take online quiz via Kennel Club Academy

Whilst completing the critique writing and stewarding seminars remain a JEP Level 2 requirement, the Board has agreed that they can be undertaken at any time, and that the judge does not need to wait until they meet Level 1 criteria, and are recommended to view prior to stewarding or judging.

Judges sitting multiple choice exams held at Breed Appreciation Days from January 1 2024 will be required to meet the amended Level 1 criteria.

Helen Kerfoot, Chief Operations Officer at the Kennel Club, commented: “The change to JEP Level 1 criteria will further enhance education of upcoming judges and equip them with the necessary means to judge as they undertake their first appointments.

“We have listened to  feedback and it is hoped that these changes create a more logical order of education for judges and will also ensure that exhibitors have confidence that judges have attained a preliminary level of training at any level of show.”

Further information is available by emailing judges.education@thekennelclub.org.uk

CRITERIA FOR JUDGES’ LISTS

For a copy of the current NWGRC Judges’ list, please click the download link below.

NWGRC Judges’ List – Updated May 2022Download

To be placed on any NWGRC judges’ list, a person must have 75% vote of the committee present at the meeting and entitled to vote.

A1 Judges who have been passed by the Kennel Club to award Challenge Certificates in Golden Retrievers and is confined to persons the Society would support.

A2 For persons who fulfil all the requirements for the A3 list and have been assessed in accordance with Kennel Club requirements, accepted by the Kennel Club for inclusion on the A2 list and have the support of the Society. To have attended any Field Trial or Open Gundog Working Test for a gundog breed in the relevant Sub-Group.

A3 (Breed Specialists) Judges who the club would support to award Challenge Certificates but have not been passed by the Kennel Club, provided they:

  1. Have a minimum of seven years judging experience.
  2. Have judged at least one Breed Club Open Show
  3. Have judged the breed a minimum of 15 times at Open or Championship Shows without CCs, over a wide geographical area.
  4. Have judged a minimum of 100 breed classes.
  5. Have judged a minimum of 350 dogs in breed classes.
  6. Have attended a seminar given by a KC accredited trainer and passed the relevant examination on KC Regulations and Judging Procedures.
  7. Have attended a seminar given by a KC accredited trainer on Conformation and Movement.
  8. Have attended at least one breed specific seminar, run with the relevant KC Code of Best Practice and have passed an examination/assessment, where applicable.

i) Have attended “Points of a Dog Assessment” conducted by a Kennel Club Accredited Trainer and passed the assessment.

  • Save in exceptional circumstances to have bred and/or owned a minimum of three dogs when they obtained their first entry in the KC Stud Book (effective 1st July 2001).
  • Have stewarded (any breed) over 12 days at shows.
  • To have attended a Kennel Club Field Trial at Open Stake level, or an Open Gundog Working Test for the relevant Gundog sub-group (KC Policy as of 1st January 2011). To have a copy of the events card (programme/catalogue) signed by the event’s Chief Steward, indicating the time spent at the event by the judge.

A3 (non Breed Specialist) Judges who the club would support to award CCs provided they:

  1. Have a minimum of seven years judging experience in any one breed but must include at least five years judging experience in Golden Retrievers.
  2. Have judged the breed a minimum of 15 times at Open Shows or Championship Shows without CCs over a wide geographical area.
  3. Have judged a minimum of 100 breed classes.
  4. Have judged at least 350 dogs in breed classes.
  5. Have awarded CCs in at least one other breed.
  6. To have attended at least one breed specific seminar, run in accordance with the KC Code of Best Practice and passed an examination and/or assessment, where applicable.
  7. Have bred or owned a minimum of three dogs of any breed when they obtained their first entry in the KC Stud Book (save in exceptional circumstances).
  8. To have attended a Kennel Club Field Trial at Open Stake level, or an Open Gundog Working Test for the relevant Gundog sub-group (KC Policy as of 1st January 2011). To have a copy of the events card (programme/catalogue) signed by the event’s Chief Steward, indicating the time spent at the event by the judge.

B List (Breed Specialists and non Breed Specialists)

  1. Judges who have been approved by this club to judge at Open Shows.
  2. To have judged at least 50 classes and 200 dogs, over at least 5 years.
  3.  Preferably over a wide, geographical area.
  4. To have attended Breed Seminars and Workshops, run in accordance with the relevant KC Code of Best Practice and passed an examination and/or assessment where applicable.
  5. To have stewarded at least four times.

C List

  1. Others who do not fall into the other categories.
  2. Persons who have been active in the breed for at least five years.
  3. Judges who have the support of the Society and who have shown interest in the breed.

If you wish to apply to go on the NWGRC judges’ lists, please click the link below to download the relevant form which should be returned by email to NWGRC Acting Secretary Mrs Pat Blackburn at info@nwgrcrescuegoldens.co.uk

JUDGES QUESTIONNAIREDownload