The Kennel Club is introducing capped classes for open obedience shows, effective from 1st January 2017. This will allow show organisers to set a capping level on the number of entries to be accepted in any standard or special class, and decline entries received after the capping level has been reached.
It is felt that this amendment will offer a greater degree of flexibility in the way in which shows are run, and will encourage the running of open shows by societies which have limited space at venues.
Standard classes that are capped under this new regulation will still count towards progression at open shows and for Obedience Warrant points.
In order to address any questions show organisers and competitors may have about the implementation of this new regulation, the Kennel Club has created an FAQ document, which can be found in the following pages on the Kennel Club website:
New Regulation G(A)13
Regulation G(A)13 Capped Classes.
a. Organisers of Open Obedience shows may set a capping level on the entries to be accepted in any standard or special class, and may decline entries received after the capping level has been reached.
b. Wins and places in standard classes capped in accordance with this Regulation will count towards progression at Open shows and for Obedience Warrant points.
c. The capping level must be set at a minimum of 35 entries received. There is no maximum level at which a cap may be set. Capped classes may be split into two or more divisions in accordance with Regulation G30.b.
d. The capping level for each capped class must be clearly specified in the show schedule.
e. The capping level applied may be adjusted upwards by a maximum of 10% after the closing date of a show at the discretion of the show organisers. Capping levels may not be adjusted downwards after publication of the schedule except with the prior permission of the General Committee of the Kennel Club.
f. Where total entries received exceed a capping level, entries must be processed in the order received. Processing of entry forms, and of online entries where applicable, must be managed so that the date of receipt of each entry is recorded. (It is permissible to set different opening and closing dates for online entries from those applying to postal entries.)
g. Entry fees for entries which are received after the capping level has been exceeded must be refunded in full.
h. Entry forms must allow competitors to specify, if their entry for any capped class is declined because the capping level has been reached that:-
(i) they wish the dog to remain entered in all other classes, or
(ii) they wish their entire entry for the dog in question to be cancelled, or
(i) they wish their entire entry for all dogs they have entered at the show to be cancelled.
In all such cases the relevant entry fees must be refunded in full.
i. Notifications under Regulation G24.g (dogs which have progressed to the next class) must be processed in order of the date of receipt of the notification.
Amendment to Regulation G(A)3
The following amendment has been made as a consequence of the new regulation above:
TO:
A dog not qualified to enter Championship Class C must be entered in the lowest Scheduled available class for which it is eligible and may also be entered in another class if desired plus one additional class at the society’s discretion.
(Deletion scored through. Insertion underlined.)