How does a Judge get to judge at Crufts? There are so many established and well known judges out there but only so many get to judge the big one. Is it down to a committee to see who gets the chance to judge or is there another way?

Ah - I know the answer to this one.  Well I know the answer in respect to a large breed such as my own.

The Crufts Committee get the list of everyone approved to award CCs in our breed.  They then cross off everyone who has judged before.  They then look at the remaining judges (we have two for our breed each year).  They set out the judges who have not judged in order of who has awarded the most sets of CCs without actually having judged Crufts. They then look at where they have judged and if their entry was higher than average, average or lower.  They then shortlist about 6 and work their way down.   This is how it was when I asked a couple of years ago and to the best of my knowledge is how they do it.  I know who is doing Crufts for the next few years in our breeds and I have checked the method and it is pretty well accurate.

What they do for a small breed I do not have a clue!
Becky

I think Downstream is right, but with smaller breeds I doubt if they have as many as 6 to choose from. One thing I'm sure about, breed club committees have absolutely no say whatever in who judges there.

yup its done from a list, smaller breeds i guess have just as long list but with many more "big alrounders"  The breed club will have a say by who is on the Judging list and who isn't.

Rox

The breed clubs do have a say on who is on their lists, but just like with any other show they have no say on who the committee choose to appoint, it is the committee who are charged with having a successful show and that is where the buck stops. Mine is a small breed but have something in the region of 70 judges on our club list who are passed to give CC's but it is surprising how often the same judges seem to come round. But again it is up to the committee to appoint the judges whom they think will bring in a good entry and it is up to the members of that show society to make sure they do or the society would soon be in financial trouble.