The Governing Council of the Cat Fancy

Notes on Stewarding

Introduction

2. A good steward is of enormous help to a judge, but a bad one is a hindrance. Judges at shows are usually very busy and novices may be asked to act as second stewards on their first engagement. This should not be taken as a slight but will provide an excellent opportunity to learn as much as possible about the duties of a steward. Second stewards are usually asked to pay for their own lunch, as Clubs cannot always afford to finance more than one steward.

3. If GCCF Stewarding Certificates are being collected, the judge should be told before the start of judging.

4. If a show rejection has been received under section C or D, a person may not steward until a GCCF clearance certificate has been received.

General requirements for a steward

6. The ability to concentrate on the job is very important, as the judge should be able to rely on the steward to be ready and alert at all times. The temptation to chatter to the judge, other stewards and particularly to bystanders must be resisted.

7. Stewards are responsible for other people's cats and must learn to handle them correctly and confidently, so that they are not frightened when they are removed from the pen. Cats should be handled gently and not scruffed unless it is essential either to prevent the cat from escaping, or in self defence. People who are nervous or hesitant when handling cats will not make good stewards as it is occasionally necessary to keep hold of a frightened cat in difficult circumstances. In the event of the cat causing any injury, great care should be taken to cover wounds quickly to prevent spillage of blood until such time as the wound can be washed and treated appropriately.

8. Stewards must be tactful and polite to the judge, to show officials and to exhibitors. An effort should be made to appreciate why the judge arrived at his or her placings in the different classes. To assist their stewards in understanding the placings. Judges will normally give a verbal critique on each exhibit. These comments must be treated as confidential. If approached for information regarding the judge's opinion of an exhibit, a steward must refer the exhibitor to the judge, reminding them not to approach the judge until his/her judging has been completed.

9. The GCCF Rules should be studied carefully before embarking on a stewarding engagement and prior to each show any additional club rules should be noted from the schedule. Show Managers sometimes issue instructions to stewards on show day; these should be read carefully before the commencement of judging.

10. It is a GCCF Rule that stewards may not exhibit in an Open (including cats to be considered for Best of Breed only), Grand, Imperial Grand, UK Grand or Assessment Class which is to be judged by the judge for whom they are stewarding. It is important to check this well in advance and also on show day.

Detailed information

12. A steward should wear a clean white overall with pockets and no araticles should be worn that might alarm or harm cats. Mobile phones should be on 'silent' and should not be used in the show hall. Equipment that may prove useful includes: ball point pens, pencils with rubbers, pencil sharpener. tippex pen, pen suitable for signing certificates, a copy of the schedule and a few sticking plasters. Stewards are responsible for their own belongings during the day; the facilities in the Judges Room are for the use of the judges.

13. A ruled chart should be prepared before the show, to be used for recording the numbers of the winning cats in each class to enable a check to be made in order to prevent cross judging. A clip board is not recommended.

14. Judges are not expected to enter the show hall until it has been cleared of exhibitors and it is the steward's responsibility to make sure that the necessary equipment is ready for the judge, including a trolley and disinfectant. There may also be lunch tickets and other vouchers to be kept during the day. The steward should listen to any messages given out over the tannoy system and should see that the judge hands in any paperwork required by the management when it is called for.

15. The judge relies upon the steward to take the cat from the pen and place it on the trolley for judging in a way which causes the cat as little stress as possible. The trolley should be placed as near the pen as possible in case the cat has to be returned quickly in an emergency. If the cat is sitting on a blanket it may be helpful to turn the blanket and draw it carefully to the pen door to enable the cat to be removed as easily as possible. When the cat is on the table do not let go until the judge has it safely held. Try not to let the cat see its neighbour during this time as this may upset it. Make sure that the door is kept open with no obstruction between cat and pen. Return the cat to the pen as soon as the judge indicates that they have finished judging it, settle it comfortably, make sure that the pen is properly fastened. Disinfect the trolley top and hands before moving to the next exhibit.

16. When the class has been judged make sure that the judge has entered the results in all the sections of the judging book, including the correct certificates awarded or a note of certificates or awards withheld, as appropriate. Make sure that the number of prizes offered have been awarded and that the judge has signed the bottom of all the slips. Enter the results on your chart and check that no two cats have been placed in different orders in different classes (cross judging). Cats which have been judged in earlier classes are normally bracketed in the book (repeats) but DO NOT rely on this. When each class is completed take all the outer slips (still attached together) to the "table" immediately; if there is more than one page fold over a top corner to keep them together. The judge's attention should be drawn to any mistakes in the paperwork before it is taken to the "table". It is vital that award slips are correct when they are taken to the table, as it is very difficult to correct errors at a later stage and much embarrassment and disappointment can be caused if mistakes remain undetected until after the results appear on the award board.

17. Best of Breed awards are offered at many shows and these results are normally entered on the Open class judge's slips. Sometimes judges need to confer over these awards and a steward may be sent to find the other judge concerned. This award is offered in three categories: adult, kitten and neuter. Cats to be considered for Best of Breed shall be winners of the Open class, provided that the certificate has been awarded, and cats of that breed that are entered in the "Grand" or "Imperial Grand" class but are not in the Open. The description "Best Opposite Sex" is sometimes given to the Open class winner of the opposite sex to the Best of Breed winner.

18. During the day your judge may be required to hand in Best in Show nominations (not all shows hold a Best in Show); try to ensure that this is done as soon as possible. Cats eligible for nomination for Best in Show are: Imperial Grand Challenge, Grand Challenge, Challenge, Imperial Grand Premier, Grand Premier, Premier and Intermediate certificate winners and Best of Breed/Best Opposite Sex winners. Kitten Open class winners (of Championship and Provisional status breeds) are eligible for nomination provided that Best of Breed, if offered, has been awarded. The opposite sex kitten to the Best of Breed winner is also eligible for nomination provided that Best Opposite Sex, if offered, has been awarded. Where kitten Open classes are split by age or colour, the winner of the split class is eligible for nomination provided that Best of Breed/Best Opposite Sex, if offered, has been awarded. This does not prevent Show Managers from restricting nominations to Best of Breed winners only.

19. When Best in Show judging is announced stewards whose judges have finished their engagement, or whose judge is taking part, should report at once to offer help. There are many different ways in which Best in Show is judged but if it is judged at a table, not in the pens, stewards should collect cats from their pens in their baskets as requested by the organiser, and bring them to the table. After judging has taken place all unsuccessful cats should be returned quickly to their pens and the winner should be placed in the correct Best in Show pen.

20. When all the classes in the book have been judged and the judge has completed Best in Show (if involved), the steward should check to see if any special awards are to be decided. These awards often require consultation with judges who judged other relevant classes and are to decide on the winner of specific cups or prizes, e.g. for the Seal Point Siamese with the best eye colour. After this the steward should return the show equipment to the Show Manager and collect and check any certificates for signing. When they have been signed and returned, collect the judge's catalogue and volunteer to mark any classes the judge requires from the award board. When this has been done, ensure that the judge has transport to the station at the correct time (if required) before leaving.

21. Copies of the GCCF Rules, the Official List of Shows and the Standards of Points book are obtainable from the GCCF Office

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