The Kennel Club Breeders Competition is the perfect chance to show off your breeding skill and knowledge and offers prize money sponsored by Agria Pet Insurance for the winners. The competition will take place at every general and group championship show throughout 2021 with points being given for 1st – 4th place with the added bonus of prize money courtesy of Agria Pet Insurance. Teams awarded first place will be awarded 30 points and £20, or £25 if an Assured Breeder. Teams in second place will be awarded 15 points, third place 10 points and fourth place 5 points. The top 40 teams will qualify for the final at Crufts 2022, of which two positions will be for the Breeders Competition winners from the European and World Dog Shows. All general and group championship shows will be scheduling a Kennel Club Breeders’ Competition class each day of their show for the relevant groups.
Question – At what shows can these classes be scheduled?
Answer – The competition will be held at all General and Group Championship shows.
Question – Is it mandatory for societies to schedule these classes?
Answer – Yes it is.
Question – How many dogs should be entered in each team?
Answer – 3 or 4 dogs of the same breed will make up the team, and each dog must have its own handler. The breeder’s details for each dog must be identical.
Question – What is the entry fee for the competition?
Answer – The recommended entry fee is £15 per team.
Question – Can a breeder enter multiple teams?
Answer – Yes, provided all the dogs in each team have identical breeder details, the breeder may enter as many teams as they wish.
Question – Do all the dogs entered in the team have to be previously entered at the show, or can this be a first entry?
Answer – One dog must be entered in another class, and the total number of dogs in the team must be shown on the entry form, so that the correct number of admission passes for the Breeders Competition can be issued and benching allocated.
Question – As the breeder is entering the team, who is responsible for ensuring the dogs are under control and have not been in contact with contagious diseases etc?
Answer – The breeder confirms on the entry form that they are entering on behalf of the other competitors within the team.
Question – As the competition is being entered by the breeder, could a judge of a different breed exhibit a dog within the Breeders Competition?
Answer – No – a judge at the show may not exhibit in the Breeders Competition at that show.
Question – If the dogs are entered in other classes is there still an entry fee for the Breeders Competition?
Answer – Yes the breeder must pay the entry fee of £15 per team.
Question – What information is required by the breeder when entering?
Answer – The breeder must provide their own details (the breeder’s details) and the Affix / Kennel Name (if they have one) together with the total number of dogs that will be part of the team at that show, to ensure the correct passes and benches are allocated.
Question – As it is the breeder who is entering the competition, will it be permissible to have different dogs in the team at different shows?
Answer – Yes that is permissible.
Question – Which dogs should be exhibited at Crufts in the Breeders Competition for each breeder?
Answer – It is up to the individual breeder which dogs they invite to represent them at Crufts.
Question – Who can own the dogs taking part in the Breeders Competition?
Answer – The dogs may be in any ownership.
Question – Can a team compete with both dogs and bitches within the team?
Answer – Yes.
Question – Can the team be entered on the day?
Answer – No, the team must be entered by the closing date.
Question – If the dogs are not entered in any other class, is the Society still required to provide benching for the dogs entered in the Breeders Competition?
Answer – Yes, all dogs that are entered at the show must be provided with an individual bench.
Question – Do exhibitors have an award book and if so how would they obtain one?
Answer – There is no need for exhibitors to have an award book, Our Dogs will collate the points after each show and will maintain the leader board, so there is no requirement for breeders to maintain their own records.
Question – How will the competition work?
Answer – The team awarded 1st place will gain 30 points, the team awarded 2nd place will gain 15 points, 3rd will gain 10 points and 4th will gain 5 points. The top 40 teams at the end of the year will be eligible to enter Crufts 2019.
Question – What will happen if there are several teams on the same points, meaning there are more than 40 teams qualified?
Answer – If there is an equality of points after all the heat results have been calculated, the teams which have achieved the highest place at a heat will take preference in the final allocation of places.
Question – Who can judge the Breeders Competition?
Answer – A Group judge or a judge who awards Challenge Certificates in 3 or more breeds.
Question – How will the entry be listed in the catalogue? Is the breeder issued with a ring number or do they use the individual dogs’ ring numbers?
Answer – The breeder should be allocated a separate ring number for this competition.
Question – If the breeder is an Assured Breeder how is that identified in the catalogue?
Answer – At the time of entry there is no requirement to provide evidence of Assured Breeder membership and therefore this information will not be shown in the catalogue.
Question – What is the prize money that will be awarded for this competition?
Answer – The winner of each Breeders Group competition will be awarded £20 prize money. If the winner is an Assured Breeder they are entitled to an additional £5.00. They must show a copy of their current membership certificate to the secretary to claim the additional prize money.
Question – Will the Kennel Club be issuing prize cards and providing rosettes for this competition or is that the responsibility of the Society?
Answer – The Kennel Club will not be supplying prize cards or rosettes.
Question – Can this class be scheduled at any time in the main ring?
Answer – Yes the competition can be held at any time to suit the Society.
Question – Is the Breeders Competition the same as a Stakes Class?
Answer – Yes. Therefore this competition does not affect the breed judging and any dogs exhibited in Breeders Competition are still eligible to compete in their breed classes and any further competition.
Question – Is the Society required to schedule a Breeders Competition for each group or is it permissible to hold one competition per day for the groups scheduled on that day?
Answer – A separate competition is required for each individual group.
Question – How will the Society be issued with the prize money from the Kennel Club / Agria?
Answer – Each General and Group Championship Society needs to contact the Kennel Club’s Breed Shows team after the show to be reimbursed with the appropriate prize money. This request needs to be on club headed paper but may be emailed to breedshows@thekennelclub.org.uk. A cheque will subsequently be issued.
Question – Are docked dogs allowed to compete at the heats during the year?
Answer – Docked dogs are not permitted to compete at any show where the public pay an admission fee, which includes Crufts. Therefore whilst it would be possible to enter some shows it would not be permissible to compete at Crufts should the breeder qualify.
