Judging Welsh Springer Spaniels

WELSH SPRINGER SPANIEL CLUB

THE PARENT CLUB FOR THE BREED – FOUNDED 1923

Criteria For Inclusion On The Judging Lists Of The Welsh Springer Spaniel Club

The Criteria for Inclusion on the Judging Lists of The Welsh Springer Spaniel Club may be amended from time to time. Please check on the Club’s website at www.wssc.org.uk for any changes.

* Potential Judges should wait until they meet the criteria before submitting an application.

* For applicants to all lists, for judges resident in the United Kingdom, only experience of judging in the UK is taken into consideration. In respect of judges living overseas, the same criteria will apply but overseas judging experience may be taken into consideration.

* All Judges should note that failure to provide a written critique, without a valid reason, will result in the Committee removing that person from the Judging List.

From 1 January 2021, no one can judge unless they meet Judges Education Programme (JEP) level 1 requirements (unless previously approved to award Challenge Certificates). The requirements for level 1 are:

  • Minimum of five years proven interest in pedigree dogs
  • Attend a Conformation and Movement seminar hosted by a Kennel Club Accredited Trainer
  • Complete a minimum of two full-day stewarding appointments
  • Attend a Requirements of a Dog Show Judge seminar and pass associated exam (either in person or online via Kennel Club Academy, exam effective from 1 January 2024)
  • Pass the Points of a Dog assessment conducted by a Kennel Club Accredited Trainer (effective from 1 January 2024)
A1 List

Judges who have previously been approved to award Challenge Certificates in Welsh Springer Spaniels, have completed their first appointment and have the support of the Welsh Springer Spaniel Club.

A2 List

For judges who fulfil the requirements for the A3 list who have been assessed in accordance with the Kennel Club requirements and accepted by the Kennel Club for inclusion on an A2 list and have the support of the Welsh Springer Spaniel Club.

JEP Level 4

Judges who fulfil the requirements of JEP Level 4 to award CC’s in the breed but do not meet (or have not applied for) Welsh Springer Spaniel A3 List status. The requirements for level 4 (includes those to attain level 3) are:

  • Undergo minimum of three mentoring sessions with a minimum of 12 months between first and third session (required to attain level 3)
  • Be observed judging a breed club show, breed supported entry show or championship show without CCs once mentoring sessions have been undertaken (required to attain level 3)
  • Complete remaining 10 full-day stewarding appointments (required to attain level 3 – first breed only)
  • Have owned/bred a minimum of three dogs when they obtained their first entry in The Kennel Club Stud Book – save for exceptional circumstances (required to attain level 3 – first breed only)
  • Attended the appropriate sub-group field trial/open gundog working test for first gundog breed (required to attain level 3 – first breed only)
  • To have judged a minimum of 60 dogs hands on (required to attain level 3 – Welsh Springer Spaniel hands on requirement)
  • Attend and passed a breed-specific assessment for the specific breed run by The Kennel Club (required to attain level 4 – can only be undertaken when level 3 is attained)
A3 List (Breed Specialist)
  1. To have a minimum of seven years judging experience in the breed and have the support of the Welsh Springer Spaniel Club.
  2. To preferably have judged at one Breed Club Open Show. 
  3. To have judged a minimum of 120 dogs hands on.
  4. To have attended a seminar given by a Kennel Club Accredited Trainer, and passed the relevant Kennel Club examination on Requirements of a Dog Show Judge.
  5. To have attended a seminar given by a Kennel Club Accredited Trainer on Confirmation and Movement.
  6. To have attended a Points of the Dog Assessment conducted by a Kennel Club Accredited Trainer and passed the assessment.
  7. To have attended at least one Breed Specific Seminar run in accordance with the relevant Kennel Club Code of Best Practice and passed an examination and / or assessment where applicable.
  8. To have bred and / or owned three Welsh Springer Spaniel dogs / bitches when they obtained their 1st entry in the Kennel Club Stud Book (save in exceptional circumstances)
  9. To have stewarded at 12 shows.
  10. To have attended an Open Field Trial or an Open Gundog Test (GWT) for a Gundog Breed in the relevant subgroup.
  11. To have owned and exhibited in the breed for a minimum of 10 years.
A3 List (Non Specialist)
  1. To have a minimum of seven years judging experience in any gundog breed, to include five years in Welsh Springer Spaniels and have the support of the Welsh Springer Spaniel Club.
  2. To preferably have judged at one Breed Club Open Show.
  3. To have judged a minimum of 120 dogs hands on.
  4. To have attended at least one Breed Specific Seminar run in accordance with the relevant Kennel Club Code of Best Practice and passed an examination and / or assessment where applicable or attained a Judges Development Panel (JDP) Seminar Credit for the breed.
  5. To have attended an Open Field Trial or an Open Gundog Test (GWT) for a Gundog Breed in the relevant subgroup.
B List (Breed Specialist)
  1. To have a minimum of five years active involvement and three years judging experience in the breed and have the support of the Welsh Springer Spaniel Club.
  2. To have judged a minimum of 25 dogs hands on.
  3. To have attended at least one Breed Specific Seminar or Breed Appreciation Day (and passed Mulitple Choice Exam(MCE)) run in accordance with the relevant Kennel Club Code of Best Practice.
B List (Non Specialist)
  1. To have a minimum of three years judging experience in the breed and have the support of the Welsh Springer Spaniel Club.
  2. To have judged a minimum of 25 dogs hands on.
  3. To have attended at least one Breed Specific Seminar or Breed Appreciation Day (and passed Mulitple Choice Exam(MCE)) run in accordance with the relevant Kennel Club Code of Best Practice.
JEP Level 2

Judges who fulfil the requirements of JEP Level 2 in the breed but do not meet (or have not applied for) Welsh Springer Spaniel B List status. The requirements for level 2 are:

  • Attend a breed appreciation day (BAD) and pass a multiple-choice examination (MCE) for the respective breed (attendance strongly recommended but not mandatory for group judges in the gundog group)
  • View ring stewarding seminar and take online quiz (first breed only)
  • Complete critique writing seminar and take online quiz (first breed only)
JEP Level 1

Judges who fulfil the requirements of JEP Level 1 but do not meet Welsh Springer Spaniel B List status. 

Judging List Application

You can download the full Welsh Springer Spaniel Club judging list application form below. Once complete either scan and email to the Judges List Co-ordinator or post to the address on the form.

DOWNLOAD THE JUDGING LIST APPLICATION FORM