The Kennel Club has announced a new and exciting format for the Kennel Club Breeders Competition starting in 2018, offering prize money sponsored by Agria Pet Insurance. Breeders will be able to start taking part in this competition from next year’s Boston and District Canine Society Championship Show from 4th – 7th January 2018 in order to qualify for the first final at Crufts 2019.
The competition will take place at every general and group championship show throughout 2018, with points being given for 1st – 4th place. New for the competition will be the allocation of prize money courtesy of Agria Pet Insurance, where teams awarded first place will be awarded 30 points and £20, or £25 if an Assured Breeder.
Teams in second place will be awarded 15 points, third place 10 points and fourth place 5 points. The top 40 teams will qualify for the final at Crufts 2019, of which two positions will be for the Breeders Competition winners from the European and World Dog Shows.
All general and group championship shows will be scheduling a Kennel Club Breeders Competition class each day of their show for the relevant groups in the main ring and there will be a suggested entry fee of £15 set by the individual shows. Points will be recorded and published by Our Dogs, which will publish a leader board within their newspaper throughout the year.
Gerald King, Crufts Chairman, said: “The Breeders Competition has proved itself to be a very popular feature at Crufts after its inception at Crufts 2011. Although the competition took a break in 2016, it returned by popular demand in 2017. The competition is always a sight to behold with all the breeders’ teams competing in the main arena, and we hope that the new competition helps to provide the opportunity for breeders to showcase their pedigree breeds and stockmanship, while at the same time promoting the importance of ensuring dogs are bred to lead long, healthy lives.”
While qualifiers for the final at Crufts 2019 begin next year, a competition similar to this year’s will take place at Crufts 2018. The format of this competition will be a stand-alone event where entries are limited to 40 teams and accepted on a first come, first served basis. The entries for this competition will open shortly. Each team will comprise three or four dogs of one breed, all bred by the same breeder or breeding partnership.