Labrador Breed Council – Judging Lists
How these lists are compiled
Each breed club asks potential judges to complete a form to collect information on judging experience, seminars attended, successes in the show ring – stud book numbers. The Club Secretary checks the form against the checklist to ensure the judge meets the criteria for the list they are being proposed for.
The forms are reviewed by a sub committee, members of which must be 75% Championship show judges. Judges are then put forward to the Labrador Breed Council.
For A1 & A3 lists information on each judge is circulated to each club and votes are taken in the club sub committee. The Breed club representatives are mandated to vote on each judge at the annual LBC meeting.
For B & Level 1 lists Clubs propose judges who are in the opinion of the sub committee are suitable to judge at Open Show level and if they meet the criteria names & judging forms are sent to secretary of LBC for inclusion on the appropriate list.
Lists are compiled by the Secretary of the LBC and posted on this website thus being accessible to all canine societies & clubs. They are updated when required.
Judges … If you see any errors in addresses, phone numbers or you want to add your Email address please email the Secretary.
The Labrador Breed Council
Judging list criteria
Updated April 2023
A1 list
This list consists of judges who have previously been approved by the Kennel Club to award Challenge Certificates in the breed and have satisfactorily completed their first appointment, and have the support of the Labrador Breed Council.
They can also judge any variety classes, groups and best in show at open and limited shows.
Level 4 List
This list consists of judges have been approved to Award Challenge Certificates in the breed and have attend and passed a breed-specific assessment for the breed run by The Kennel Club
They can also judge any variety classes, groups and best in show at open and limited shows.
A2 list
This list consists of judges who are eligiable to judge unlimited number of classes for the respective breed at limited, open or championship shows (no CCs)
Any variety classes groups and best in show at limited shows.
People who meet the minimum criteria for the A3 list, and who have satisfied The Kennel Club procedure for A2 judges list of being assessed at least 3 times by an approved assessor from the official Kennel Club breed list.
Judges whose names appear on the B list or above may ask to be assessed when judging the breed at open shows or at a breed club seminar / assessment day.
A3 List
This list consists of judges who are eligiable to judge unlimited number of classes for the respective breed at limited, open or championship shows (no CCs)
Any variety classes groups and best in show at limited shows.
Judges who are listed below are supported by the Labrador Breed Council as being suitable to award Challenge Certificates in the breed if invited to do so.
The minimum experience required for the consideration of the proposing club is:
- To have judged Labradors over a period of at least seven years
- To have judged Labradors over a wide geographical area
- To have judged at least One Labrador breed club open show – where a minimum of 50 dogs were present and judged.
- To have judged a minimum of 90 classes of Labradors to include at least 250 dogs of the breed.
- To have bred and/or owned a minimum of three dogs when these dogs obtained their first entry in The Kennel Club Stud Book, save of exceptional circumstances (If you do not meet this criterion, please provide an explanation).
- To have completed remaining 10 Full-day stewarding appointments
- To have attended and passed at least one Advanced breed specific seminar held in accordance with the relevant Kennel Club Code of Best Practice and passed an examination and/or assessment.
- To have attended an Open stake field trial or Open working test and obtained a copy of the event card signed by the chief steward indicating how long the person was at the event.
- A judge already awarding CCs in another gundog breed is exempt from this requirement.
- For Non Breed Judge they must have awared CC’s in another breed
- To have not yet been approved by The Kennel Club for inclusion in the A2 List
Level 3 List
This list consists of judges who are eligiable to judge unlimited number of classes for the respective breed at limited, open or championship shows (no CCs)
Any variety classes groups and best in show at limited shows
- Undergo minimum of three mentoring sessions with a minimum of 12 months between first and third session
- Be observed judging a breed club show, breed supported entry show or championship show without CCs once mentoring sessions have been undertaken
- Complete remaining 10 full-day stewarding appointments (onetime qualification)
- Have owned/bred a minimum of three dogs when they obtained their first entry in The Kennel Club Stud Book – save for exceptional circumstances (one-time qualification for first breed in which a judge awards CCs)
- Attended the appropriate sub-group field trial/open gundog working test for first gundog breed or ring procedure at licensed shows (German Shepherd Dog education programme) online exam (one-time qualification)
- Have achieved the relevant hands-on experience in line with the stated requirements for the Labrador Retriever breed: 125 dogs
B / Level 2 List
This list consists of judges who are eligiable to judge unlimited number of classes for the breed at limited, open or championship shows (no CCs)
Any variety classes, groups and best in show at limited shows
The minimum experience required for the consideration of the proposing club is:
- Minimum of five years proven interest in pedigree dogs
- Take and pass requirements of a dog show judge examination. Judges attending an online requirements of a dog show judge seminar may take the exam via The Kennel Club Academy
- Pass points of a dog assessment
- View ring stewarding seminar and take online quiz.
- Complete critique writing seminar and take online quiz.
- To have judges Labradors for a minimum of 4 years
- To have judged at least 30 Labradors classes (Only required for the B List)
- To have judged at venues with a proportion beyond the mean geographical area
- To have attended at least a Novice Breed Specific Seminar or Attend a breed appreciation day (BAD) and pass a multiple-choice examination (MCE)
Level 1 List
This list consists of judges who are eligiable to judge up to three classes (4 if one is a puppy class) for the breed at limited or open shows.
The minimum experience required for the consideration of the proposing club is:
- Minimum of five years proven interest in pedigree dogs
- Attend a requirements of a dog show judge seminar (but not mandatory to take and pass examination)
- Attend a conformation and movement seminar.
- Complete a minimum of two full-day stewarding appointments.
Guidance and Application
The Labrador Breed Council has compiled a checklist for Breed Clubs to ensure the correct criteria has been fulfilled prior to submission.
For judges the application form may be completed and sent back to your nominating Breed Club. The link to to application form is common to all Clubs and only requires submission to a single Breed Club.
Click the download links for the most recent PDF copy.