Much has happened since the last report regarding JEP.
If you want to judge, you must be registered on the JEP account, which is available in a drop-down box on your personal RKC online ‘my account’ by the end of 2025. For those of you who have already passed to award CC’s, this has been done for you, and you will find yourselves on level 4.
For all JEP starters, please register and upload any certificates that you have. It is an easy process, and even I can manage! I would suggest that even if you don’t want to judge or you have done some judging and find it’s not for you, you still register as you may want to come back to it at a later stage, or you change breeds and wish to pursue judging that breed instead.
Whilst many people are using JEP in the advised order, examinations, BAD/MCE, stewarding, 3 mentoring sessions, observation, RKC assessment, it has been suggested that 60 dogs should be judged before an observation and 3 mentoring sessions are the least number of sessions. If it is felt that a candidate needs more mentoring or the mentee wants more sessions, that can be arranged. As Editha, I am happy for people to attend the BAD day just to find more out about the breed so that they have a better understanding of what makes a Whippet and also do informal mentoring for interested parties.
The mentors have been very active over the last 3 months, and many have taken the opportunity to have sessions, and I have a growing number of people who have passed observations and are ready for RKC assessments. It is still stewarding that is holding many people up! Please, whilst the show season is in full swing, do try and get your stewarding done.
After the feedback from the last RKC assessment, I hope to be able to arrange another one which could take place before the start of judging at a Ch show so that candidates, dogs and assessors are fresh and less likely to be stressed out as at Manchester. It has also been suggested that it could be done at a BAD/MCE day or at an open show, which is not a back to back. If there are any secretaries who think they could facilitate this, please let me know.
As of 1st April 2025, the wording for the colour of the nose was changed and it now says NOSE BLACK OR BLUE DEPENDING ON COAT COLOUR., liver nose in creams and other dilute colours, in whites or parti-colours a butterfly nose is permissible.
I have been asked to remind clubs that not only is it courteous at Breed Club Shows to call the reserve best of sex into the ring for Reserve Best in Show, but it is also a rule that you can find within the red book. (F(1) 3.83)Please make sure your ring stewards are aware of this to avoid any confusion.
A rule regarding conflict of interest has been brought to my attention, which some exhibitors may fall foul of, so that it doesn’t unwittingly affect you here, it is: If another exhibitor has handled your dogs for you, it is against Kennel Club regulations for that exhibitor to show under you as a judge. This is in force for 12 months from the time the exhibitor handled your dogs.
An interested observer has suggested that traditionally, at club shows, honour rosettes have been handed to the winners by the opposite sex judge. Perhaps this tradition could be reinstated?
BAD/MCE in 2025
SYWC 13th July with A3 assessment
WCOW and SWWC 5th October TBC
*Whippet Breed Council A3 Assessment Sunday 19th October 2025 (added)
I must thank all the mentors, observers and breed speakers for their time and enthusiasm to ensure that the breed continues to move forward with the times. Some mentors have let me know which shows they will be attending, and it would be very helpful and appreciated if other mentors could do the same. Likewise, if you want mentoring, please let me know which shows you are attending, preferably not the day before!
whippeteducation906@gmail.com 01246 467560 or 07719637969 & WhatsApp
Editha
From the meeting in addition to the above.
Katie Manners (NWA) asked whether Clubs still needed to be arranging supported entries in conjunction with Open Shows. This is unknown and will be followed up.
Feedback is still awaited for those who undertook the RKC Assessment at Manchester Ch Show in January where one person passed. Editha has requested this so that individuals can be aware of what they need to work on. It was not entirely successful holding this at the end of the day, tiring for everyone, especially the dogs and stressful for the candidates. She felt that an Assessment would be better held in conjunction with a BAD, a Club Open SHow that was not back to back or at the start of a Championship Show. There are more all rounders waiting for assessment than breed specialists and Editha is waiting for more breed specialists. Candidates going through the JEP system must have judged 60 dogs prior to having an Observation and 125 dogs prior to being put forward for Assessment. The main hold up continues to be that candidates have not completed the required amount of Stewarding.