VBS Judges’ Rules
- All judges that are on the current VBS judges’ panel must be fully paid up Gold members of the Valais Blacknose Society. Subscriptions must be paid in advance by the 31st January each year. This applies equally to Trainee, B, A and Senior A+ panel judges.
- A judge should remember that it is a great honour to be invited to judge a show. He/She should reply promptly to the invitation replying within two weeks, and, having made the commitment, should honour it. All invitations from individual shows should be directed to go through the Society Secretary, on secretary@valaisblacknosesociety.co.uk . Make sure the Show Secretary knows what response you have made to the invitation.
- A judge who feels unable to judge a class must inform the show secretary well in advance of the show.
- A judge should report to the secretary of the show at least half an hour before judging is due to begin.
- A judge should be neatly and appropriately dressed.
- The use of mobile phones is not permitted in the ring while judging is in progress, either by judge, steward or competitor.
- A judge should avoid meeting exhibitors, their helpers or sheep on the day of the show prior to entering the show ring in which he/she is to judge.
- It should be remembered that each competitor pays the same entry fee and therefore merits the courtesy of having his/her sheep inspected equally.
- No contact should be made between the judge and the spectators during the period between when judging begins and ends.
- A judge must not call any exhibitor by his/her name in the ring and must always remain completely impartial. No social conversation should take place prior to showing or in the ring. Judges must not accept any hospitality from an exhibitor and should avoid staying with a potential exhibitor at shows where they will be judging.
- Instructions to exhibitors generally should be relayed through the steward of the ring.
- The VBS seeks to ensure that all its competitions are judged fairly and that there is not bias or favouritism. This is only achievable if owners, exhibitors and judges observe the following rules, in the spirit in which they are intended.
A judge may not:
- Place in a class a sheep, which to his/her knowledge has been bred, sold, leased or produced by the judge or his/her immediate family, partner, business partner or employer since 1st January of the preceding year;
- place a Sheep that he/she may have a financial interest in since 1st January for the preceding year.
- Should a situation arise when such a sheep appears, a referee, preferably on the appropriate panel of judges, should be appointed by the show secretary to place the sheep in question in its position in the class.
- If a sheep entered in a class is, in the opinion of the judge, unsound, the judge may, at his/her discretion, require the exhibitor to withdraw the sheep from that class, subject to the right of the exhibitor to refer the matter to a veterinary surgeon, should one be in attendance. If no vet is available, then the judge’s decision is final.
- A judge may be accompanied in the ring only by one of the Society’s trainee judges or by a person or persons appointed by the show. A judge should not permit a trainee judge for whom he/she has acted as sponsor to officiate alongside him/her.
- Judges are forbidden to refer to the show catalogue either before or during judging. They are, however, encouraged to carry a schedule, which should be carefully studied, noting the number of rosettes available and any special awards. Also, special attention should be given to the correct procedure for judging the Championships, using the schedule. The steward should be able to advise on this.
- Judges should acquaint themselves with the ring they will be judging in and arrange to meet their stewards at an appointed time. Before judging commences discuss with your steward the procedure you would like to use while judging, such as where to line up. Also make sure the rosettes, qualifying cards etc are all accessible for awarding at the end of the class. Whenever possible issue instructions regarding the conduct of the class through your steward. Always thank your steward at the end of the classes.
- Be cautious and sensitive in any remarks made after judging is complete. However judges should be open to questions from exhibitors regarding reasons for placing of their animals but keep your reasons brief, polite and discreet.
- You know your integrity is beyond question – make sure it is seen to be so. A judge must be totally unbiased and fair. It must also be remembered that it is the sheep only that are being judged.
- Judges should go to the secretary’s office before leaving the showground to check on any queries and thank the show committee for its hospitality.
- All judges must inform the VBS council prior to accepting any engagements to judge abroad, if asked to judge in the capacity of a VBS panel judge – refer to point 2 above.
General
- Judges should exercise discretion in accepting invitations to judge the same type of show in the same area in any one year. Judges must not, under normal circumstances, undertake more than four affiliated shows in any calendar year and the shows musts be well spaced apart geographically. Having judged at any particular show in the UK, a judge must not return to that show to judge within a two-year period other than in exceptional circumstances, in which case the Society must be informed as soon as possible. Society Show and Sales are exempt from this rule.
- Judges must not canvass for judging appointments.
- A judge who judges at a show at which a trainee judge has been accepted should fill in his/her report promptly, providing as much information as possible. Failure to do this may delay a trainee’s progress. Reports should not be discussed with the trainee judge and should give an honest and accurate account of the senior judge’s opinion of the trainee judge as a future panel judge and ambassador of the Society. Reports should be submitted directly to the Society Secretary on secretary@valaisblacknosesociety.co.uk
- Judges should ensure they are familiar with the Guidelines for showing Valais Blacknose Sheep printed at the end of these rules and be aware that they have the authority to request the removal of any owner/sheep who they feel had not complied with the aforementioned rules.
Additional Ruled for Intermediate Judges
- Progression to an A Panel judge from a B Panel judge will be by invitation only and as long as no written sustained complaints have been received by the VBS.
- A judge on the B Panel may not accept an invitation to judge classes on the Society’s behalf at the Society Breed Shows, Royal or County Shows.
- A judge on the B Panel is not permitted to act as an assessor of a trainee judge.
Additional Rules for Trainee Judges
- Trainee judges are requested to study the foregoing Judges’ Rules as many points apply (even in this early stage in their judging career).
- Trainee judges are reminded that they are being assessed not only on their knowledge of Valais Blacknose Sheep, but also their suitability as ambassadors of the Society and should act in a courteous and considerate manner both inside and outside the ring.
- When arranging an appointment to attend a show as a trainee judge, the trainee should first request permission to do so, not only with the officiating senior judge but also with the show secretary. It must be understood that some shows do not permit trainee judges. The Society Secretary must be notified of shows to be attended once permission has been granted.
- A trainee should ensure that the Senior judge, with whom he/she has judged a particular show, is given a Trainee Judges Report form and the email address of the Society Secretary by which to send the completed form to. The Show attended must be affiliated with the Society and the Judge on the VBS Senior A Panel.
- Trainee judges must not attend shows in this capacity alongside a judge who has acted as one of their sponsors or is a close relation.
- Trainee judges are not permitted to officiate at shows linked to Society Sales.
- A maximum of four shows may be undertaken in any one calendar year.
- Trainee judges should remember that the senior judge is the official judge and only the senior judge should direct the steward and exhibitors.
- Trainee judges should offer their opinions on the sheep only when asked by the senior judge, and not discuss the sheep with the exhibitors.