Regulations for judge requirements and eligibility as of 1 January 2021
Published on24 November 2020 at 3:39pm
Further to the press statement of 24 February 2020 announcing the resumption of the Judges Education Programme (JEP) in tandem with the traditional routes for judges approval to award CCs, The Kennel Club has introduced regulations to support the introduction of the JEP, including judge requirements and eligibility as of 1 January 2021, it has been announced.
In line with these new regulations and as previously announced, breeds clubs will be required to:
appoint a breed education coordinator (BEC) who will oversee the education of judges for the breed and work alongside all breed clubs and/or the breed council
hold a breed appreciation day (BAD) at least once every two years. Clubs may combine efforts to stage such events with other breed clubs, if necessary
select and promote at least two supported entry open shows for its breed at general or group open shows each year. A formal written agreement is to be reached with the licensed show societies, and 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 JEP level 2 or level 3 (or B list or A3 list). Regional breed clubs are advised to approach societies within their geographic area if possible
From 1 January 2021, no one can judge unless they meet JEP level 1 requirements (existing CC judges excluded). The exception to this is where a valid contract was in place before the 24 February 2020 press announcement and the appointment complies with Kennel Club Regulation F(1)20.b.
To be able to judge more than three classes of a breed (four if a puppy class is scheduled) at any show or any number of classes at a championship show without CCs, a judge must be listed on a breed club/council B list or above or meet level 2 requirements. The criteria for breeds at stud book band E have been rescinded. All breeds now have the same class number criteria.
Full requirements for JEP Levels can be found at www.thekennelclub.org.uk/jep.
Eligibility to judge at each JEP Level
Level 1
Up to three classes (four if a puppy class is scheduled) for any breed at limited or open shows
Level 2
Unlimited number of classes for the respective breed at limited, open or championship shows (no CCs)
Any variety classes, groups and Best in Show at limited shows
Level 3
Unlimited number of classes for the respective breed at limited, open or championship shows (no CCs)
Any variety classes groups and Best in Show at limited shows
Level 4
Award Challenge Certificates in the respective breed
Any variety classes, groups and Best in Show at open and limited shows
Judges are reminded that on accepting an appointment they must ensure that their name is included on a relevant breed council/club judges list or that they meet the appropriate level of the JEP. In the case of the latter, judges are asked to keep records to support their JEP level.
The Kennel Club have published their Judges’ Competency Framework here https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/media/1159841/jcf-cobp-for-observation.pdf
Click here for KC letter regarding Hands-on Judging Experience – 28 Feb 2020
JUDGE REQUIREMENTS AND ELIGIBILITY ANNOUNCED
Following the recent announcement about the future of the Judges Competency Framework, further details have now been issued which outline future judge requirements and eligibility.
Judges may be appointed by societies based on either the current judge regulations or the new system until the end of the transition period, i.e. judges must be on the required list and/or at the required Level.
From 1 January 2021, no one can judge unless they meet the new Level 1 requirements.
Otherwise, judges can accept appointments either in accordance with current Kennel Club regulations or Judges Competency Framework requirements (see below). In both cases, an exception can be made where a valid contract is in place prior to the date of this announcement (24 February 2020).
Levels 1 to 4 are as follows:
|
Requirements to meet this Level |
Eligibility to judge |
Level 1 |
|
|
Level 2 |
First breed:
Subsequent breeds:
|
|
Level 3 |
|
|
Level 4 CC Judge |
|
|
Current judging lists will be valid until the end of the five-year transition period. Breed clubs/councils should continue to maintain their judging lists during this period.
Allowing for the fact that many contracts will already have been issued, the Kennel Club advises societies to use the following wording for shows held from 1 Jan 2021: “In accepting this appointment I confirm that I comply with the requirements of the Judges Competency Framework or Kennel Club Regulation F20b”.
Any contracts in place prior to 24 February 2020 will remain valid.
Please note that further press releases will be issued containing more details of the new judge education and approval system.
Please direct all enquiries to email jcf@thekennelclub.org.uk.
¹ A judge must meet the revised Level 1 requirements in order to be eligible to take multiple-choice exams at Breed Appreciation Days. Any MCEs already taken and passed will still be valid.
THE NORTHERN KING CHARLES SPANIEL CLUB
JUDGING CRITERIA
A1 LIST
Judges who the Club would support and have previously been approved to award C.C.’s in the Breed and have carried out the appointment.
A2 LIST
For Judges who fulfil all the requirements of the A3 List and who have been assessed in accordance with Kennel Club requirements and accepted by the Kennel Club for inclusion on the A2 List and who the Club would support to award C.C.’s if invited to judge by a society to award C.C.’s in the Breed for that occasion.
A3 LIST
Specialist
Judges who the Club would recommend to award C.C.’s in the breed but are not yet approved by the Kennel Club for inclusion on the A2 List and have the support of the Club and have passed all relevant mandatory requirements of the Kennel Club. Must have a minimum of seven years judging experience in the Breed and as a specialist must have been a breeder or exhibitor or closely associated with the breed for at least seven years and have judged a minimum or one hundred and ten King Charles Spaniels, or at the discretion of the Committee. As a specialist must have bred and/or owned a minimum of three dogs when they obtained their first entry in the Kennel Club Stud Book (save in exceptional circumstances)
Non-Specialist
Judges who the Club would recommend to award C.C.’s in the breed but are not yet approved by The Kennel Club for inclusion on the A2 List and have the support of the Club and have passed all relevant mandatory requirements of the Kennel Club. Must have a minimum of seven years judging experience in the breed and as a non-specialist, must have judged a minimum of one hundred and ten King Charles Spaniels, or at the discretion of the Committee. As a non-specialist must have bred and/or owned a minimum of three dogs when they obtained their first entry in the Kennel Club Stud Book (save in exceptional circumstances)
B LIST
Specialist
Judges who have a minimum of two years’ experience of judging King Charles Spaniels at shows without C.C.’s or open shows. As a specialist, should have been a breeder or exhibitor for a minimum of four years and to have judged twenty-two dogs of the breed at Open Shows or Championship Shows without C.C.’s. and attended and passed a breed specific seminar
Non-Specialist
Judges who have been approved by the Club to judge King Charles Spaniels at shows without C.C.’s or open shows. As a non-specialist must have shown an interest in the breed and toy dogs in general for a minimum of seven years. As a non-specialist must have judged twenty-two dogs of the breed at Open Shows or Championship Shows without C.C.’s (save in exceptional circumstances) and attended and passed a breed specific seminar
C LIST
For aspirant judges who have shown an interest in the breed and have the support of the Club but who do not fall into any of the above categories either as a specialist or non-specialist.
HONORARY LIST
Judges who are no long active.
When a person is proposed for inclusion on the Judging List, it will be the responsibility of the Committee to check whether the person possesses the necessary qualifications for inclusion on that List.
Acceptance or rejection will be decided by a two thirds majority of Committee Members.
MARCH 2015