OUR PARTNERS
Andrew Rainbow Ockwell
A a great ambassador for the YES! Programme who gave passionate support
for the programme at the GCCF Council Meeting in June 2010
The Governing Council of the Cat Fancy’s Young Exhibitors’ Scheme
THE YES! PROGRAMME - ADVANCED LEVEL
Once the Intermediate Level has been recognised, Candidates may complete the application form for the Advanced Level of the YES! Programme. At Advanced Level candidates can work to achieve higher levels for their final certificate as there are three statuses:
- PASS – this means the candidate has achieved a “Pass” at advanced level.
- MERIT – this means the candidate has completed their work to a higher standard or included additional work with evidence they have reviewed and refined their work in order to achieve higher recognition at Advanced Level and an award of a “Pass with Merit”.
- DISTINCTION – this means the work has been completed to the highest standard and achieved a “Pass with Distinction”. What a wonderful way for a candidate to complete their YES! work!
Advanced Level Introduction and Overview
Advanced Level Candidates will continue to gain an in-depth knowledge of different breeds recognised by the GCCF. They will be encouraged to meet Mentors across the breeds and gain an understanding of how breeders translate the Standards of Points applicable to their cats into the attributes and features as recommended by their Breed Advisory Committee.
They will learn the basics of genetics and breeding co-efficient’s which enable cats to be bred which are strong, active and healthy. The GCCF’s core principles, over and above everything else, is the health, welfare and wellbeing of cats.
At this level Candidates will also be introduced to Show and Hall management, with information sheets and practice exercises. With a participating Club/Society/Association the Candidate will also be encouraged to manage a table at a show and other activities such as cuddly toy competitions and treasure hunts.
Advanced Candidates will also be given the opportunity to work at the GCCF Supreme Cat Show in running and assisting in YES! activities.
At the end of the Advanced Level programme, Candidates who are 16+ and meet the current Health & Safety criteria will have the opportunity to join the adult GCCF Stewarding Scheme, and from there progress onto judge training.
Advanced Level Resources
The Administrators, Regional Mentors, Mentors and YES! Presentation Judges who have signed up to the YES! Mentor Scheme are among our most valuable resources. Most of the Mentors are breeders as well as judges, show managers, hall managers and exhibitors. The Mentors have a wealth of knowledge and insight into the behaviours and modality of their various breeds. They will be able to give advice about their care and handling and assist the Candidates in gaining a greater understanding of the feline world.
Within a show setting Candidates should become familiar in working with the Mentors. As part of the Advanced Level of YES! the Candidates are expected to choose and learn about a contrasting breed to their own, Mentors will be especially helpful in achieving this.
Website downloadable information includes the following - suitable for all Levels
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Health & Safety at a Cat Show
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Vetting in at Cat Shows
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Second Stewarding Certificates
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Table Work Certificates
Advanced Level Information Sheets
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Advanced Level Evidence Record Sheet *
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Working with the Duty Vet *
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Woking with a Mentor
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Stewarding Card
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Seminar Attendance Certificate *
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Basic Genetics *
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Breed Advisory Committees*
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In depth Breed Profile*
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Hall Planning *
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Show Management *
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The GCCF Supreme Show *
Advanced Level Course Requirements
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At shows or at home, the Candidate must COMPLETE THE WORKSHEETS provided for the Advanced Level. Work at this stage involves
- a basic knowledge of Genetics
- an in depth profile of the Candidates main or home breed
- the production of a hall plan for a GCCF cat show
- the production of a show table plan
- working with a Duty Vet
- attending a Seminar
- working with a Mentor
- how to enter the GCCF Show online. What is difference between the Supreme and an ALL Breed or Breed Shows?
- The Candidate must show their cat* (Pedigree, Non-Pedigree or Pedigree Pet) at a minimum of SIX GCCF shows, keeping a record of the entry and the results in their folder. They will need to set up the show pen and ensure their cat is comfortably and safely settled ready for judging when their cat is exhibited.
- The Candidate should participate in a minimum of SIX presentations at Advanced Level, gaining critiques from FOUR DIFFERENT judges. At this level the Candidate will be expected to be able to answer complex questions about their breed, AND their contrasting breed. Candidates who regularly attend presentations with a Household or Pedigree Pet will need to know the show criteria for the Household Pet section and need to outline the judging requirements for this section. Candidates should be able to demonstrate working knowledge of the GCCF as a show and registration body.
- The Candidate should be responsible for
- all aspects of the cat he/she is showing – including grooming, feeding, general care and welfare*
- The Candidate should be capable of demonstrating their breeds compliance to their Standard of Points and a thorough knowledge of show preparation or the equivalent in the Household Pet Section
- The Candidate should also be able to talk through their contrasting breeds Standard of Points demonstrating a good knowledge and understanding of health and breed characteristics
- a thorough knowledge of health requirements for VETTING IN
- The Candidate should participate a minimum EIGHT Stewarding Engagements, covering where possible all the current sections of a GCCF show, to gain knowledge and insight on handling different breeds.
- The Candidate should work with a minimum of FIVE different judges.
- It is recommended at least TWO of the Stewarding Engagements should be in the Household Pet section.
- The Candidate should keep a Steward’s Card for each of their engagements.
- Certificates for Second Stewarding should be collected and filed.
- The Candidate needs to produce a minimum of THREE Table Work Certificates demonstrating that they are gaining a working knowledge of the Show Managers table on show day. Certificates for Table Work should be collected and filed.
- The Candidate needs to produce a minimum of SIX Certificates for ‘Working with a Mentor’. It would be helpful if the Candidate could choose different Mentors from different show sections so to gain a more in depth understanding of various breeds.
- The Candidate needs the minimum of TWO ‘Working with the Duty Vet Certificates and be able to demonstrate that they have a thorough knowledge of the health requirements for VETTING IN as well as a good working knowledge of:-
- The Duty Vet’s main responsibilities on show day
- the reasons why a cat to be vetted OUT – during the vetting in process at the start of a show day
- what would cause a judge to call the Duty Vet to a cats pen on show day
- the use of the isolation pens on show day
- The Candidate needs to shadow a Show Manager ONCE during Show Day and fill in the associated Certificate to be kept as evidence in their folder.
- The Candidate needs to shadow a Hall Manager ONCE during Show Day and fill in the associated Certificate to be kept as evidence in their folder.
Sample Questions For Candidates At Advanced Level
- How many presentations have you given at Advanced Level?
- Why do you think vetting-in at cat shows is so important?
- Which two diseases MUST a cat be vaccinated against in order to be exhibited at shows?
- What information for judges is found as the Preface to the GCCF Standard of Points for all breeds?
- Name FOUR sections at a cat show where you could find TABBY patterned cats?
- Name a group of cats that may have a marbled coat pattern rather than classic tabby?
- What are the different levels for an Olympian title in GCCF and how is that title achieved?
- Can you name TWO different pattern groups in the Persian Section?
- Can you name TWO different groups of cats in the British Section?
- Can you name at least TWO different breeds of cats that have both short-hair and long-hair coats?
- What is meant by a “tipped” cat? Can you name a breed of cat that has a tipped pattern?
- What is the important GCCF rule about stewards, the cat they are showing and the judge they will be working for?
- What is the name of the group that organises and monitors the GCCF Stewarding Scheme? When can a YES! Candidate join that group?
- What must a cat or kitten have won in order for it to be considered for Best of Breed?
- What does Best of Variety mean?
- What would you have to do if you were asked to “Check Slips” when you were working on the table at a show?
- What is the MINIMUM number of Table Work Certificates you would need to collect at the Advanced Level of the YES! Programme?
- What are the different levels of award that can be given for Certificates of Achievement at the end of the Advanced Level of the YES! Programme?
- What are the four most important things for a Hall Manager to consider when laying out the plans for a show?
- What does a Certificate Writer do? Do they need special equipment for this?
- When can a judge collect their catalogues on Show day?
- Name five different jobs on a Show Managers table?
- What is a breeding co-efficient? What is the GCCF recommended maximum between to breeding cats?
- Any other questions? *
(*If the Candidate is working regularly with a cat NOT in their household, they will STILL be expected to be aware of the cats daily routine, its grooming and feeding regime, and vaccination date and type. Whether the cat is allowed outdoors, or has restricted access to an outside garden, what type of access and how the restriction applies.)