This article aims to help student judges working within the judge training scheme to gain clarity on how to successfully complete this part of their training.
Some of the extracts further down the page (that are highlighted in bold) have been taken from the ‘serving as a student judge section’ (page 18-19) in the Judge Training Guide V7 and these extracts have often triggered questions from candidates. So please take a look at some of the commonly asked questions which may be of help to clarifying exactly what is required when serving as a student judge.
The JPG6 are administering the scheme devised by the JASRG and voted for by council. The JPG6 are part of the pilot scheme and work closely with the JASRG to help make the scheme a success. Please remember this is a working document that will be updated as the scheme evolves.
It may be helpful to keep in mind that it is the aim of the JASRG that judges and candidates that are in transition to the new training scheme will not be disadvantaged.
Judging Miscellaneous and/or Club Classes
c) SJ’s may accept judging engagements for miscellaneous and/or club classes wherein the relevant breeds are included. These should cover adult, kitten and neuter where possible. Any SJ accepting such engagements should not have more than 30 exhibits to examine. (No expenses can be claimed as a SJ).
d) SJ’s must not be contracted to judge any Breed kitten classes at this stage.
Q. Can a student judge actively solicit engagements from a show manager?
A. Yes, student judges may let show managers know they are available to judge miscellaneous and/or club classes, but they must not accept any breed classes at this stage of the training.
Q. If I am a student judge, judging miscellaneous classes at a show, am I able to exhibit my own cats, like when I’m stewarding?
A. No, if you are engaged to judge at a show in the pedigree section then the GCCF byelaws say that you are not allowed to show in the pedigree section, you can of course show in the HHP section.
Parallel Judging
e) A minimum of 5 breed classes, which must include at least one adult/neuter class, to be judged in parallel and under supervision of a full judge. These may be done when stewarding for a FJ or engaged to undertake miscellaneous/club classes.
f) Candidates must approach both the Full Judge and the Show Manager prior to show day, to ascertain approval to undertake a parallel judging and/or a tutorial assessment opportunity.
g) Written reports must be submitted on the exhibits handled when undertaking a parallel judging assessment, such reports may be counted towards the required minimum expected in this stage of training.
Q. Do I need to be stewarding for the judge that I am doing the parallel judging with?
A. No, student judges just need to be engaged to steward or have been engaged to judge miscellaneous of breed classes to be able to perform parallel judging with any full judge of the breeds catered for within the JPG.
Q. How are the cats chosen?
A. The cats are taken from the breed class in the full judges book..
Q. Can I do more than one at the same show?
A. Yes, you can do as many as you feel comfortable doing at any show.
Q. Can I do more than one with the same judge?
A. Yes, you can do as many as you want to with any judge so in theory you could do all 5 with the same judge.
Q. What is parallel judging and how does the judge supervise it?
A. The full judge supervises the candidate by choosing the exhibits from the class in their book and asking the candidate to judge the cats as well. This can be done side by side with the full judge or separately to the full judge. After both the candidate and the full judge have placed the class it may be useful to discuss with the full judge but this is not compulsory. The idea of parallel judging is to give the candidate experience in judging a breed class and should be treated as a learning experience and it is not a test.
Performing Tutorial Assessments
i) A minimum of FIVE (multibreed coverage to be encouraged) tutorial assessments with accompanying reports within the relevant section must be submitted, of which, all must be JPG Breeds specific, wherein the ability of the candidate to apply the SOP to an exhibit, place and report upon will be scrutinised.
j) Tutorial assessments on a listed minority breed, if an example of the breed is present, can be undertaken with any Full Judge of the breed, even if neither the candidate nor the Full Judge does not have the exhibit in their book.
k) Full Judges undertaking tutorial assessments are requested must ensure they submit a tutorial notification form in confirmation.
N.B. any submissions from the candidate will only be accepted as “additional” information rather than counting towards the minimum requirements for a request for promotion should there be no corresponding Full Judge’s tutorial assessment form submitted.
Q. Do I need to be stewarding or judging miscellaneous or club classes to do a tutorial?
A. No, student judges just need to be at a show in any capacity and the same applies to the full judge delivering the tutorial. All that is needed it the cats, the student judge and the full judge to all be at the same show or seminar in any capacity.
Q. How many tutorials can I do on one day?
A. There is no minimum or maximum so do as many as you feel happy to do.
Q. Is it okay to send the tutorial form by email to the full judge in advance of the show?
A. Yes, but if the full judge prefers a paper tutorial form on show day then it is the student judges responsibility to supply one.
Q. Is there a time limit to submit my tutorial assessment forms?
A. Yes, your tutorial assessment form and your accompanying reports need to submitted to the JPG within 28 days. (the same applies with the full judges tutorial assessment form, for your tutorial to count they must submit their copy of the tutorial assessment form to the JPG within 28 days)
Submit Written Reports
l) The candidate must submit reports on a minimum of 10 exhibits (if present) covering the relevant breed or breeds (dependant on the JPG applied for). It is expected that this should take place on every engagement at this level. It is hoped that this be seen as similar to a parallel judging situation, by both the SJ and Full Judge, with relevant notes being made at an appropriate time with care taken not to upset the exhibit, hinder the Full Judge or the overall judging process. Candidates may return to an exhibit to re-examine but should not remove it from the pen.
Q. How many reports do I need to submit in total during my training?
A. A minimum of 10 reports, this is not 10 reports per engagement. In theory you can send reports on two cats at five different shows which would equal ten cats reported on and this would meet the minimum requirement.
Q. Do my reports from tutorial assessments and parallel judging count?
A. Yes.
Q. Should I submit report (s) from each show?
A. Yes, if your are performing an engagement then it is expected that you submit a report (it could be a report on just a couple of cats or more if you want to).
Q. Is there a time limit to submit my reports?
A. Yes, your reports need to submitted to the JPG within 28 days.
Veterinary Assessment
m) Complete a successful veterinary assessment.
Q. If I have a veterinary stewarding that I have already completed on the old scheme will that count?
A. Yes, candidates will not be disadvantaged so if you have already completed the a stewarding engagement with a vet (which is what was required as a steward in the past) then this will count. However, it is advised that you complete a veterinary assessment as this will be required when progressing from speciality or junior judge to full judge.