English Championship

English Championship Show

In England also is a completely different class division for males and bitches separately, and sometimes not all classes are offered at a show:

  • Veteran class-For dogs of not less than seven years of age on the first day of the Show.
  • Special Veteran class-For dogs of not less than ten years of age on the first day of the Show.
  • Minor Puppy class-For dogs of six and not exceeding nine calendar months of age on the first day of the Show.
  • Puppy class-For dogs of six and not exceeding twelve calendar months of age on the first day of the Show.
  • Junior class-For dogs of six and not exceeding eighteen calendar months of age on the first day of the Show.
  • Yearling class-For dogs of twelve and not exceeding twenty four months of age on the first day of the Show.
  • Special Yearling class-For dogs of six and not exceeding twenty four calendar months of age on the first day of the Show.
  • Graduate class-For dogs which have not won a Challenge Certificate or four or more First Prizes at Championship Shows in Graduate, Post Graduate, Minor Limit, Mid Limit, Limit and Open classes, whether restricted or not where Challenge Certificates were offered for the breed.
  • Post Graduate class-For dogs which have not won a Challenge Certificate or 5 or more First Prizes at Championship Shows in Post Graduate, Minor Limit, Mid Limit, Limit and Open classes, whether restricted or not where Challenge Certificates were offered for the breed.
  • Special Beginners class (late Novice)-For owner, handler or exhibit not having won a Challenge Certificate.
  • Mid Limit class-For dogs which have not become Show Champions under Kennel Club Regulations or under the rules of any governing body recognized by The Kennel Club or won five or more First Prizes in all at Championship Shows in Mid Limit, Limit or Open Classes, confined to the breed, whether restricted or not, at Shows where Challenge Certificates were offered for the breed.
  • Limit class-For dogs which have not become show Champions under Kennel Club Regulations or under the rules of any governing body recognized by the Kennel Club or won 7 or more First Prizes in all at Championship Shows in Limit and Open classes, confined to the breed, whether restricted or not, at Shows where Challenge Certificates were offered for the breed.
  • Open class-For all dogs of the breeds for which the class is provided and eligible for entry at the Show.
  • Special Open Black, Brown or Landseer-Same as for Open but restricted to colour as stated in the classification.
  • Good Citizen Dog Scheme Class-For dogs that have achieved their GCDS Bronze Award Certificate or above.
The so-called "Open-Shows" are not counting. A dog can earn Challenge Certificates only at Champion-Shows. Each year the English Kennel Club decides, how many pairs (for male and bitch) of certificates may be awarded for each breed, therefore it may happen that on a Champion-Show no certificate can be awarded. Certainly there is always a Reserve.

A dog needs 3 certificates from 3 different judges, one of them must be awarded at an age of minimum 12 months. Please note: In England exists no champion class, all champions have to start in open class!

Multiple entries in different classes are possible.
Depending of the number of entries besides the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place there may be also a 4th place (Res = reserve) and a 5th pace (VHC - very high commended).
The numbers behind the class names mean: 1st number = number of entries in the class, 2nd number = number of absent dogs in the class.

JW is a title called "Junior Warrant". It is a points system. You have to get 24 points between the ages of 6 months and 18 months. You get 3 points for every 1st place in puppy or junior classes at Championship Shows, but there has to be more than 3 dogs present in the class.

ShCM is another title called "Show Certificate of Merit". This is another points system but points can only be won at Open Shows (not Championship Shows). You get 1 point for every best of breed, also points for Group Placings and Best in Show awards. You have to get 24 points but there is no time limit.