HOW DO I OBTAIN A CERTIFICATE OF MERIT?
DO I HAVE TO GAIN POINTS? AND IF SO DO YOU GET THESE AT OPEN AND/OR CHAMP SHOWS AND HOW MANY HAVE TO BE IN THE CLASS TO GET A POINT?.DO I HAVE TO APPLY TO THE KC ?

THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR THE REPLIES
JO

Hi Guest, Yes you have to accumulate points. These are available from Open Shows only, 1 point for Best of Breed,
1 point for group 4
2 points for group 3
3 points for group 2 and
4 points for group 1
4 points for a Best in Show at a single group show
5 points for Best in Show all breeds
There is a form available from the Kennel Club on which to claim the award.
I can't remember how many, but you have to win a certain number of points in group competition, 25 best of breeds wouldn't do it I'm afraid.
Dawn R.

thanks for the reply, i am a complete novice having just started showing in november. so what are group 1, 2 etc i understand gundog working toy etc

Hi Dawn,
I've been out of the showing scene for a season - what is a Certificate of Merit? I've never heard of it!

Hi JeanGenie,

I'd also not heard of the above-mentioned award in the show context, so went hunting around. On the Kennel Club website under KC Forms, there is a form for claiming your "Show Certificate of Merit", which does sound like the award that Dawn is describing. I have never seen ShCM in a show catalogue though.

However, I have often seen the "Certificate of Merit" award (COM) when used in the context of Working Gundogs participating in Field Trial competitions.

Hope this helps :D Monty's Mum

Thanks, Monty's Mum! So we reckon it only applies to Field Trials?

i know that there is a new certificate of merit in showing but cant remember where i have seen it. i will try to find out, and give the details
joze

ermm, PASS! :D :D :D

Kennel Club Website link, if that's any help.

Edited to add the following link to the info I read earlier:

ShCM Form

Hi Monty's Mum,
Just been on that link (great, thanks!) and the only mention of a Certificate of Merit refers to Field Trials....as I know zilch about field trials I'm not surprised I hadn't heard of them! :)

Hi everybody,
The award known as the Show Certificate of Merit has only just been introduced as of Jan 1st 2003. Points are accumulated at Open Shows as previously described. It entitles the holder to use the abreviation Sh CM following the name in show catalogues. It's one of the new initiatives introduced by the Kennel Club, to boost the falling entries at Open Shows. Hope this helps to clarify.
Dawn R.

Thanks Dawn, that's great. :) Monty's Mum

Thanks Dawn! :)

thanks, hopefully this might be easier to get than a junior warrent. it gives us beginners something to aim for.Has there to be more than your own dog in breed classes to gain your point for b.o.b.

It is a new award, and wins from 1st of Jan 2003 onward only count. You need to win 25 points. You get one for a BOB or Best Not Sep Classified, and 4 for a Group win, 3 for second in Group, down to 1 for 4th in Group, also 5 for BIS at an All breed Open show, or 4 for a single Group BIS. 5 Points have to be won in Group wins.

It isn't clear if wins of BOB at Champ shows where the breed doesn't have CCs or the NS classes will count though.

Out of curiosity I wanted to see if my Champion bitch would have qualified for this if it had been available previously. If the Non CC champ shows don't qualify, then my girl has 15 Points (and has the Group points needed), and if th4e Non CC wins count then she has 19 points. So it won't be an easy award to get, especilally if your breed rrarely has classes, or doesn't win AVNSC or get placed in Groups at Open shows.

It will give some sort of reward for consistent good placing at open show level. Previously there was nothing to gain, (especially in breeds that never get a look in in the Group) except the chance for an unknown judge to practice on you, and for this we have to pay!

Imust add that I don't show a huge amount. Last year I only did 8 champ and 5 or 6 Open shows (mainly because I had treated myself to a trip to the World Show. Previous years I would average a dozen Open shows, and 6 to 8 champ shows a year.