JUDGES

The JEP (Judges Education Programme (Breed Shows) )Breed Education Coordinator is Penny Gowland and each Golden Retriever Club has its own Education Representative with delegated responsibilities to arrange seminars and mentoring sessions etc in the local area. For further advice regarding JEP events for the SGRS area, please contact: Hilary Male hilary_male@hotmail.com,

Up to date Guidance (as of 21st January 2023) regarding Judges Education Programme (Breed Shows)

FOR GOLDEN RETRIEVERS
The Breed Education Coordinator is Penny Gowland and each Golden Retriever Club has its own Education Representative with delegated responsibilities to arrange seminars and mentoring sessions etc in the local area.

For further advice, please contact:   

Southern Golden Retriever Society
Breed Education Representative
Hilary Male – hilary_male@hotmail.com – Tel No 01903 767582

Breed Club judging lists
Clubs with effect from 1st January 2026 will no longer be required to maintain judging lists in the future as the Kennel Club will be publishing lists of judges, via its online Find A Judge facility.

The proposals include additional mandatory seminars.

Breed Appreciation Day
All breed clubs are required to hold a ‘Breed Appreciation Day’ (BAD) at least every two years from 1 January 2021.

JEP (BS) Level progression

Briefly the detail for each level is:

Level 1 Judge

• Minimum of five years proven interest in pedigree dogs
• Attend 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

A JEP Level 1 judge can only judge up to 3 classes (4 if one is a Puppy class)  for any breed at Limited or Open Shows.

Level 2 Judge

First breed:

• Attended a Breed Appreciation Day (BAD) and pass a Multiple Choice Examination (MCE) for the respective breed.
• View ring stewarding seminar and take online quiz
• Complete critique writing seminar and take online quiz.

Subsequent breeds:

• Attend a Breed Appreciation Day (BAD) and pass a Multiple Choice Examination (MCE) for each breed. Note: Not mandatory for Group Judge for breeds in the group that they are not approved at Level 4, but attendance strongly recommended.

A JEP Level 2 judge can judge

• Unlimited number of classes for the respective breed at Limited, Open or Championship Shows (no CC’s).
• Any Variety Classes, Groups and Best in Show Limited Shows.

Level 3

• Undergo minimum of 3 mentoring sessions with a minimum  of 12 months between first and third session
• Be observed judging at a breed club show, breed supported entry show or championship show without CCs.
• Have achieved the relevant hands-on experience in line with the stated requirements for the relevant Stud Book Band
• Complete remaining 10 days full day stewarding appointments (one-time qualification)
• Have owned/bred a minimum of 3 dogs when the obtained their first entry in the Kennel Club Stud Book – save for exceptional circumstances. (one-time qualification in which a judge awards CC’s).
• Attended the appropriate sub-group Field Trial/Open Gundog Working Test for first gundog breed or Ring Procedure at Licensed Shows (German Shepherd Dog Education Programme online exam (one time qualification)

A JEP Level 3 judge can judge:

• Unlimited number of classes for the respective breed at Limited, Open or Championship Shows (no CC’s)
• Any Variety classes Group and Best in Show at Limited Show

Level 4 – CC Judge

• Attend and passed a Breed Specific Assessment for the specific breed run by the Kennel Club

A level 4 Judge can judge:

• Award Challenge Certificates in that respective breed.
• Any Variety classes, Groups and Best in Show at Open and Limited Shows

A list of BECs is available on the KC website at

https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/events-and-activities/dog-showing/judging-dog-shows/breed-education-co-ordinators/

Fill information about Judging at Dog Shows can be seen at the KC website at

https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/events-and-activities/dog-showing/judging-dog-shows/

A1 list

For persons who have previously been approved by the Kennel Club to award Challenge Certificates in the breed and have satisfactorily completed their first appointment. Nominees must have the support of the majority of the Judges Sub Committee.

A2 list

For persons who fulfil all the requirements for the A3 list and who have been assessed in accordance with Kennel Club requirements and accepted by the Kennel Club for inclusion on an A2 list. Nominees must have the support of the majority of the Judges Sub Committee.

A3 list

The KC requirements are to have:

judged at open show level, at championship shows without CCs
a minimum of 250 dogs of the breed (in accordance with KC policy) over a period of 7 years (including 5 years in Golden Retrievers for non-breed specialists).
attended any Kennel Club Open/Novice Field Trial or an Open Gundog Working Test for the relevant gundog sub-group – Effective 1/1/2011
owned and/or bred a minimum of 3 Golden Retriever (or any breed for non-breed specialists) when they were first entered into the KC Stud Book (save in exceptional circumstances).
stewarded for a minimum of 12 days.
for non-breed specialists, to award CCs in at least one other Breed and to have shown a genuine interest in Golden Retrievers.
For Breed Specialists:
Attended a seminar given by a KC Accredited Trainer for each of the following topics
Requirements of a Dog Show Judges (Rules and Regulations) and have passed the relevant exam. (Copy certificate to be supplied).
Points of the Dog Assessment (Conformation and Movement “Hands on Assessment”) and have passed the assessment. (Copy certificate to be supplied).
Conformation and Movement and have passed the assessment. (Copy certificate to be supplied).
Attended at least one breed specific seminar run in accordance with the relevant KC Code of Best Practice and passed an examination and/or assessment where applicable, but for Non Breed Specialists who Award CCs in at least three different breeds this is not applicable. (Copy certificate to be supplied) – Effective 1/7/2001
the support of the majority of the Judges Sub Committee.

B list

For Breed and Non-breed specialists, the requirements are to have:
Judged a minimum of 50 dogs.
Minimum of five years proven interest in pedigree dogs. **
For Breed Specialists:
Attended a seminar given by a KC Accredited Trainer for each of the following topics.
Requirements of a Dog Show Judges (Rules and Regulations) and have passed the relevant exam. (Copy certificate to be supplied).
Points of the Dog Assessment (Conformation and Movement “Hands on Assessment”) and have passed the assessment. (Copy certificate to be supplied).
Conformation and Movement and have passed the assessment. (Copy certificate to be supplied).
Attended at least one breed specific seminar run in accordance with the relevant KC Code of Best Practice and passed an examination and/or assessment where applicable, or have attended and passed a Breed Appreciation Day, but for Non Breed Specialists who Award CCs in at least three different breeds this is not applicable. (Copy certificate to be supplied) – Effective 1/7/2001
the support of the majority of the Judges Sub Committee.

C list

For Breed and Non-breed specialists, the requirements are to have:
Minimum of five years proven interest in pedigree dogs **
For Breed Specialists:
Attended a seminar given by a KC Accredited Trainer for each of the following topics.
Requirements of a Dog Show Judges (Rules and Regulations) and have passed the relevant exam. (Copy certificate to be supplied).
Points of the Dog Assessment (Conformation and Movement “Hands on Assessment”) and have passed the assessment. (Copy certificate to be supplied).
Conformation and Movement and have passed the assessment. (Copy certificate to be supplied).
Complete a minimum of 2 full day stewarding appointments **

** Existing CC judges are exempt from these elements of the criterion in order to be eligible for the Breed Clubs judging list.