At its recent meeting, the Kennel Club’s General Committee considered a proposal from the Shows Council and agreed to relax the requirement that shows need to attain a four per class average at a show in order to schedule a second Open show in the same year.

It was felt that fewer shows were scheduling numerically small and minority breeds as some societies did not wish to risk reducing their class averages with small entries. This was disadvantaging those in numerically small breeds, who had fewer opportunities to compete, and was reducing the number of opportunities available to judges to build their experience in these breeds.

To try to address this, from 1st January 2010, general canine societies no longer need to include the number of entries made in Breed Club Supported Entry Classes in their Open show class average calculations. Societies are encouraged to contact breed clubs, particularly for numerically small breeds, to explore options for supported entry classes. Breed clubs will be able to suggest an appropriate number of classes, suitable judges and will undertake to encourage their membership to enter the show.

Such steps should mean that these classes are well supported with entries. If these efforts are successful, and the number of entries improves a show’s average per class, they can be included in the calculations. However, if the classes fail to attract the entry hoped for, the society need not include them in the average calculation and risk a drop in their overall average.

Societies hoping to hold second Open shows, or indeed those applying to hold Premier Open Shows, may find this approach very beneficial in improving their overall class averages.
Society secretaries will be provided with Additional Class Fee and Entry Analysis forms that reflect this change in due course.

For more information on Breed Club Supported Entry Classes, please contact the Canine Activities Department of the Kennel Club on 0844 4633 980 ext 207.

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