Created: 11/11/2014
THERE is to be a two-year suspension of AV
stakes classes and unbeaten dog regulations.
It will start from January 1 and apply to regulations
which stipulate that dogs must be entered and exhibited in a breed class before
exhibiting in any variety and stakes classes.
The Kennel Club said it had been noted that exhibitors
often withdrew their bests of breed from AV/stakes classes in order to
remain unbeaten for the group.
"Therefore, while many exhibitors initially entered the
AV/stakes classes not all were able to compete, a KC spokesman said.
Additional entries
"As a consequence of suspending the regulation it is
anticipated that not only would this encourage exhibitors who have dogs entered
in both AV/stakes classes and breed classes to compete in all classes for which
they had originally entered, thus reducing the absentee rate for AV classes,
but also generating additional entries from exhibitors who for one reason
or another may not wish or be eligible to enter their dogs in the scheduled
breed classes.
It has also been agreed to suspend the regulation that
only unbeaten dogs are eligible to compete in a group or best in show, again
for two years. Therefore, a dog declared BOB who has been beaten in a
variety/stakes class will remain eligible to compete in the group and BIS. The
changes apply also to puppy groups and BIS.
The move comes after deliberations on the part of the
KCs Dog Show Promotion Working Party, which is looking into ways to improve
and increase the popularity of dog shows. It chairman Keith Young said:
"We believe that this proposal will have a positive impact on entries at
shows, and will make for better competition in AV/stakes classes.
These policy changes follow a recent one which allows
breed clubs to hold their championship shows in conjunction with another breed
club, or with a larger general or group championship show. From January 1, this
new policy will allow two sets of CCs in the same breed to be awarded at two
different championship shows on the same day, at the same venue.
The KC is to publish a list of questions and answers to
help show societies and exhibitors with the implications of the changes.
Updated specimen schedules will be available on the C website. For further
information email breedshows@thekennelclub.org.uk.
See Comment on page 8 of this
week's DOG WORLD.