Classes at open show level for my breed are as rare as hen's teeth and when they are scheduled we are often tagged on to a long list of other breeds being judged by one person often with little interest or knowledge of  the breed. This I am told is because it is not financially viable  for Open shows to pay the lunch costs for many different breed specific judges. But this is a crazy situation , because of this, entries are minimal and so the breed classes are taken off . It also means that fewer and fewer judges on breed club B and C lists are being offered appointments and cannot meet the numbers they need to progress up the judging ladder in order to create the badly needed new pool of CC awarding judges.

In effect our hobby is slowly grinding to a halt because of the price of a hot dinner !.......so here's my question ....if you are a judge, would you be prepared to forgo your free lunch in return for an appointment in your breed ? or if you are an exhibitor would you be prepared to pay  £1 extra in entry fees towards the costs of judges lunches to ensure your breed had classes at your local Open shows ?.

Over to you ......

Yvonne

Yes to all !

I've disagreed for years with club secretaries not putting on breed specialist judges at Open Shows.  They've always told me that they can't afford to put a breed judge on for each breed.

Hot lunch???  I've always argued that for the cost of a slice of ham and a lettuce leaf (which is what they always got at my local shows) entries under a breed judge will will more than cover their cost! :(

I've never been prepared to pay money to go under a judge who has little or no knowledge of my breed.  I can remember many years ago being asked by a whippet man at ringcraft, "What can you tell me about Rough Collies?  I'm judging them at the weekend!"

I wouldn't just want my breed to have classes - I'd want classes and a breed judge! :)

I would most definitely pay a bit extra to have breed classes at open shows and for a breed specialist I will drag out as many dogs as only possible to give them an entry -so it needs to be more than just one single class as well which sometimes is the case for us.

Replying generally, it is not always so simple as the show society feeding the judges, many venues would not allow it and there are all the many food regulations now a days - at many venues it would be impossible to feed a judge for less than £8 per head and then you have to consider the steward as well so that makes £16, add in the share of the other expenses and if the entry is less than about 10 you will make a loss on that breed. And yes judges do need to be fed, they will, at open shows, have travelled at their own expense and some will have paid for an overnight stay at an hotel so a meal a modest thank you.

OK I know a steward will do more than one breed but if a large number of judges are employed the refreshments bill can be several hundred pound, perhaps this is where breed clubs could help instead of sending rosettes to support the breed perhaps paying for the judges lunch providing the judge is on their breed list.

I have a judging appointment coming up, and on my letter it asked if I wanted lunch, and if so then I would have to pay for it. I thought this was a good idea. I know most judges would not turn down a free feed lol

I have judged several times before, and always declined the offer of lunch if offered by the society, as I personally felt that for me to judge usually just the one breed (mine), to have a lunch and cup of tea and even a pud' was taking the pi$$ a bit, as I know the costs of running a show and the expenditures that come about. Also I like to take my own lunch or grab a burger at the venue so I can sit ringside and watch the other breeds/groups being judged, and to chat with other exhibitors

I will be doing a 3hr journey one way to judge 2 breeds. I did tick the 'Do you require lunch?' box but I would be quite happy to just have a sandwich and coffee or even pay something towards it myself. Perhaps on the forms it could be made as a voluntary contribution towards club funds?

Our club has always said we will support shows where they use judges off our specialist list, I've been on it 2years and have not had one single offer.

I would do it with no judges lunch but that's probably more to do with my weird tastes lol.