Major Australian Shows 2006

[greydove]

It works differently in Australia, you do say a 2 year course I think of theory, anatomy exam and attendance at a seminar on each breed....then you have to do a practical exam wher eyou place a class of dogs and/or bitches and there are 3 assessors and if you pass the whole thing you can judge dogs in your state and award CCs to the WHOLE gundog group. Once you have done 250 in your state you can judge interstate.

Narelle

PS Lois can you chime in with timing if I am wrong.

[daniela]

Well, as neither us appear to know the real answer, I imagine the hands on experience and the number of dogs actually judged must come into the equation as I cannot pinpoint it to any other factor.

Holland may well have a more difficult judges' training programme in place, I wouldn't know, all I can do is try to throw out reasons as to why it is not reciprocated, whether I agree with them or not.

[Lois]

[/PS Lois can you chime in with timing if I am wrong.]

That's right Narelle. Thats how it is done in your State and as of this year our State has adopted some of those rules. When I started my Gundog judges training about 14 years ago I had to attend all breed lectures for 1 year (usually one or two lectures per month) as an 'Aspiring Judge' At the end of that year I had to undergo a theory exam (75% correct to pass) and a Practical Exam. Once I passed both exams I became a 'Trainee Judge' and had to attend lectures for 2 years on the various Gundog Breeds. You could not miss more than 2 lectures per year. We had to judge at least 250 dogs at Open Show level before you could sit the final Theory and Practical Exams. Those numbers of dogs to judge were not that hard to get for the popular groups but when I did Terriers it took years to get the numbers up due to the lack of entries in the Terrier ring at Open Shows. Sometimes you would only get 10 or 15 dogs entered! Also just to make it harder there had to be at least 4 months between your judging appointments.

Once you have passed both exams you can then judge dogs at championship shows anywhere in the world for the groups that you are licensed for. You can see why it takes so long to become qualified to be a 'Allbreeds' judge.

Lois

[daniela]

I did Terriers it took years to get the numbers up due to the lack of entries in the Terrier ring at Open Shows. Sometimes you would only get 10 or 15 dogs entered! Also just to make it harder there had to be at least 4 months between your judging appointments.

It's also hard to get your numbers up here too. An entry of 10-15 Weimaraners at an open show here would be considered a good entry.

We also have to wait in-between accepting appointments. The society will usually ask that you have not judged the breed within a certain time frame prior to the show and also within a certain mile radius before accepting the appointment.

[Jaeger]

I could not sleep last night and the whole conversation went throgh my mind. But I think I now know your answer on my question.

[syrinx]

We rarely have open shows in our State, NSW, but Victoria have lots. I live in NSW, but only 12km from the border of the Australian Capital Territory, and they use Open Shows for training their judges as there are so few dogs. Open Show in Australia means no CCs. That may not be the understanding for everyone on the list. Also, Championship shows here offer CCs for every breed. A friend of mine has the only Bassett Fauve in Australia, and she is a champion, even though she has never beaten another dog at breed level. She has at Group and Show level, but that is not a requirement. There is a statement on the certificate that the judge signs, that says they are clearly of the opinion that this exhibit is of sufficient merit to be awarded the title of Australian Champion. But if a challenge is refused, there is a fuss!
As far as numbers go, Sydney Royal 2004, had an entry of 54 Weis and here that doesn't include longhaired, of which there were only 5. Our recent Nationals had 220 or so. And you can judge the same breed next weekend that you judge this weekend, but I think there is a distance requirement.
I usually (but not always) prefer OS judges as there is less risk of them being confused about which end of the lead to judge.
Wendy, being a cynic, and ducking for cover!

Added later- on the topic of crits, we only get one at a Specialty, not even at Royals any more. I really wish we did! And evaluations, never had one at a Specialty I have been to, just at the National. If that is the case, and perhaps it depends on the nationality of the specialty judges, then evaluations only every five years.

[daniela]

I could not sleep last night and the whole conversation went throgh my mind. But I think I now know your answer on my question.

Sorry to read it played on your mind and caused you to lose sleep! I can relate to that, sometimes you just want your brain to switch off.....

[acewild55]

Hi Aussies... anyone got the critique booklets yet from the National.. Cheers Maree

[syrinx]

Nope, but then I am still waiting for the catalogues I pre-paid for !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wendy