The trial will start on 1 October 2026 with a review date of 31 December 2027.
For the duration of the trial, S20l will be relaxed enabling judges to compete their dogs at the same licensed competition that they are officiating where it will not impact on the smooth running of the event. This will be subject to the following guidelines.
Guidelines
- Competition Organisers may accept entries from judges to compete with their own dogs on the same day they are judging, noting that the judge’s official role always takes precedence over working their own dogs.
- Judges may submit no more than three entries on the day they are judging.
- If agreed by the Competition Organisers judges may enter their normal standard and/or special classes – noting that they must withdraw from any class on or before the day which clashes or conflicts in any way with their judging appointment.
- Judges whose classes are scheduled to start at the beginning of the competition must complete all of their judging obligations before engaging in any activity related to competing with their own dog (e.g. course walking). Judges’ obligations include signing certificates and awards being made to other competitors. Competition Organisers to note that awards should be available to competitors as soon as possible after each class is completed.
- Judges whose classes are scheduled to start later in the day must be ready to withdraw as a competitor from any classes entered, but not yet worked, as soon as their ring space becomes available. As soon as their ring space becomes available they must prioritise their official role as judge. This includes abandoning any run offs, withdrawing from any classes which clash – including walk throughs. Any certificates/awards earned should be collected after their own judging is completed.
- Judges must not expect that they will automatically be able to work all rounds entered. Circumstances on the day may mean that arrangements have to be altered and the smooth running of the competition always takes priority.
- Judges on their initial appointments should consider whether they will be able to give sufficient attention to their judging obligations.
- To reduce the likelihood of timing conflicts judges are advised to enter near to or on the closing date to assist Competition Organisers when considering capping, splitting, and ring layout planning.
- Competition Organisers may choose to accept judges’ entries after the closing date as long as it is before the class lists are published.
- Where possible Competition Organisers should try to adopt a consistent approach across their event regarding whether judges’ entries will be accepted. Each entry received from a judge should be reviewed on an individual basis before acceptance.
- Competition Organisers retain the right to refuse entries from judges at their competition if they believe it will not work at their venue. This must be stated on the judge’s invitations for that competition and referenced in the post competition report to the RKC. (Please refer to Annexes A & B below.)
- Competition organisers may decline judges’ entries where they would necessitate a split in the class.
Eligible classes
For the duration of the trial where a judge is contracted to judge their lowest eligible class they may enter their subsequent higher level class but no further higher level classes.
For example if a judge is contracted to judge Level 3 and they have a Level 3 dog then they cannot enter Level 3 (as they are judging it) but they may enter Level 4, however, they still cannot enter Level 5 or 6.
Where a class splits into 2 or more parts, the Competition Organiser may accept an entry for a part which they are not judging. Continuing with the above example if Level 3 splits into 2 parts and the judge is judging Part 1 they may enter Part 2.
Capped Classes at Competitions
The requirement that entries must be processed in the order in which they are received is relaxed for judges’ entries only during this trial period - where classes are capped, Competition Organisers should consider any judges entries after the close of entries where space is still available, rather than at date of receipt. Competition Organisers may make use of the 10% upwards adjustment to fulfil judges entries where necessary.
Complimentary or Paid Entries
Competition Organisers should carefully consider their budget, planning and other management issues. Where judges have paid at the point of entry the society should endeavour to refund fees for any reasonable entries which they cannot honour.
Trial Monitoring & Reporting
During the trial period Secretaries must complete the Reporting Form (attached as Annex B) listing all judges who competed at their competition and detailing the judge’s name, the level judged, the number of classes entered and subsequently worked. If no judges competed on the day which they were officiating then the form should state this. This form should accompany the incident report.
Any disruption to the smooth running of the competition, however minor, relating to judges competing on the day where they are judging must be entered in the incident book.
ANNEX A - Sample Judging Invitation and Acceptance for the trial period