Spitting Tintacks!

Crufts is over and was a fabulous event in spite of the pessimists who predicted gloom and disaster. In fact it was the most relaxed and positive event for years – with two of my favourite dogs going BIS and RBIS.

So why am I now spitting tintacks about the KC? A seemingly unimportant little announcement posted on the KC website has reduced me to a gibbering wreck yet again. The KC will no longer recognise FCI International Champion titles. The only reason for this seems to be that the FCI has announced that it is no longer necessary for a dog to hold a British champion title in order to claim the International award. Talk about petulance! The KC are throwing all their toys out of the pram with, once again, absolutely no thought for the exhibitors.

Whilst it is annoying and frustrating for those who show CC breeds (Ch/Belg/Dutch Ch Jeonty Wannabe Buster needs just one more CACIB from a third country to claim the International title – is it worth the time and expense of travelling to Europe to try and achieve that when the KC will refuse to record it ?) for those of us with Rare Breeds (ie those that are not awarded CCs) this decision is like a great big slap in the face.

No matter the quality of an individual dog a Rare Breed, such as the Cesky Terrier, cannot become a champion under the KC system. Yet several dogs being shown in the UK have won CACIBs/CACs in Europe – Collin, Dufek, Gloria, Captain – and Nina before she went to Canada. Gloria was BIS at the Czech Club show, with an entry of 72, Dufek has twice won a CAC at the same show whilst Collin won one of her CACIBs at the World Show in Dortmund. Going over to Europe gave our breed the chance of earning a champion title . Whilst we can still earn the title we cannot use it. Thanks KC!

Just a further thought. If the KC have a problem with the validity of the International Champion title, why do they continue to appoint FCI qualified judges for our breed at Crufts? We do have, as per KC regulations, a judging list with clearly stated criteria. Out of the nine times the Cesky Terrier has been classified at Crufts four of our judges have been approved by the FCI, but are not on our judging list.

Rules and Regs

The Kennel Club takes the training of judges very seriously, and before being passed to award Challenge Certificates a would-be judge has to complete several different courses, as well as being an experienced exhibitor in their own right. One of these courses is officially known as ‘Requirements of a Dog Show Judge’, usually referred to simply as ‘Rules and Regs’.

Those who, like me, had already been passed to award CCs before this examination was brought in are exempt from having to jump through this particular hoop, but yesterday Manchester Championship Show hosted the first Refresher Course at the Staffordshire County Showground, aimed at such people and I was one of those who attended. Six hours spent on thinking about KC Rules sounds both tiring – and boring, but in fact the day was very enjoyable thanks to the interesting way in which the facts were presented by KC Accredited Trainer Yvonne Billows, and most of us opted to take the exam to see how we fared. I’m very relieved to say that I passed – with 100%!