29/06/2026
I’d be interested to hear exhibitors’ views on this.
Over many years of helping judges at GCCF shows, I have personally seen numerous situations that, in my opinion, created the impression of favouritism. Whether or not the judge was actually biased, the current system allows judges to assess cats they have bred or previously exhibited. I believe this can undermine exhibitors’ confidence in the fairness of the results.
Imagine you arrive at a show and, after receiving the catalogue, discover that the judge for your class is the breeder of one of your competitors’ cats. That cat then wins the top award.
* Would this affect your confidence in the judging?
* Do you think GCCF should do more to minimise actual or perceived favouritism by avoiding these situations?
* Should judges be prohibited from judging cats they have bred or previously exhibited?
* If so, should there be exemptions for rare breeds where there are too few qualified judges?
I know this proposal was recently rejected by the GCCF Council, but I would genuinely like to understand exhibitors’ views and whether there are better ways to improve confidence in the fairness and transparency of judging. Please keep the discussion respectful.
