JUDGES EDUCATION PROGRAMME

A new system has been developed by the Kennel Club for the education, approval and listing of every level of judge, from those who aspire to judge, right through to open show judges and those who go on to award Challenge Certificates and judge championship show groups, and Best in Show. The system has been designed taking into account the feedback received from exhibitors, show societies and judges.

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 in five years’ time, i.e. judges must either be on the breed club required list and/or at the required JCF 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 (i.e. completely outside the requirements of the JCF) or with the 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).

Level 1 (which applies to JCF and other judges not following the JCF system) and Levels 2 to 4 (which apply to JCF candidates only) are as follows: