NATIONAL CAVY CLUB
National Cavy Club Show Regulations – ratified at AGM 22.10.2022
The National Cavy Club’s Show Regulations (the Regulations) are a constantly evolving set of protocols that are
drawn up to ensure that the exhibition of cavies in the United Kingdom is carried out in a common and accepted
manner. The Regulations reflect the National Cavy Club’s objectives of promoting good and fair competition and
enabling all fanciers to derive maximum enjoyment from sharing their common interest or hobby.
The Regulations present positive agreed principles that will be promoted by the National Cavy Club for the benefit
of all cavy fanciers. In no way are they intended to be draconian or to engender an autocratic culture. The
Regulations are presented at each National Cavy Club AGM, where they are ratified in their contemporary form or
up-dated as decided by the members for a further twelve months. The Regulations may be temporarily updated by
the Executive Committee if circumstances are so required, but any changes must then be ratified by the members
at the next AGM.
1 Application
1.1 These regulations shall apply to all National Cavy Club (NCC) Stock Shows and to all shows held under NCC
Show Regulations.
1.2 When necessary, further regulations will be developed to address specific issues that might otherwise
compromise the application of the Show Regulations; for example, in order to comply with the
requirements of a national pandemic. Such regulations are likely to be time-limited and will be published
in the form of an appendix to the Show Regulations. Where there is conflict between the two sets of
regulations, those in the relevant appendix will take precedent. The NCC will make it clear when the
specific regulations will commence from and when they no longer apply.
2 Breed standards and definitions
2.1 The National Cavy Club recognises the breed standards approved by the British Cavy Council.
2.2 National Cavy Club Judges, when judging purebred cavies within the United Kingdom, shall at all times
apply Breed Standards defined by the British Cavy Council, and in a manner according with the British
Cavy Council Constitution and Rules.
2.3 The NCC recognises that some of its Show Regulations apply to specific breeds only. The NCC has always
accepted that the conditions and details of these breed-specific Regulations will be determined in the first
instance by the members of the Specialist Clubs that cater for those breeds and only when these specific
Regulations have been ratified by the relevant specialist clubs will they be included in the NCC Show
Regulations. The NCC will only challenge conditions put forward for the Regulations if they are considered
to be detrimental to the exhibition of all breeds of cavy or are considered to have detrimental welfare
implications. The NCC will always consult with recognised experts and specialists before adopting any new
or any changes in the present Regulations. It is in the interest of the cavy fancy that members have Show
Regulations or Show Guidance Rules that are universally agreed and exist in one unified form throughout
the hobby and throughout our country.
2.4 Those breeds accepted by the English Self Cavy Club shall be called ‘Selfs’. All other purebred breeds of
cavy shall be called ‘Non-Selfs’.
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2.5 Breeds of cavy that are not recognised by the British Cavy Council as having a full standard should be
shown in the ‘Guide Standard’ section or the ‘New and Emerging’ (NEB) section, as appropriate. NEB
classes are confined to varieties for which there are Guidance Notes agreed by the Rare Varieties Cavy
Club (RVCC) Standards and Executive Committees.
2.6 At RVCC Stock Shows, Assessment classes will be hosted for new varieties that do not have Guidance
Notes. Exhibitors will be expected to explain the background and objectives of the breed and the judge
will be able to comment constructively on its potential.
2.7 Assessment classes may only be included on show schedules with the express approval of the RVCC.
2.8 Guide Standard and NEB sections/classes should not be referred to collectively and erroneously as ‘Rare
Varieties’, and there should be no common award open for competition by Full Standard, and/or Guide
Standard, and/or New and Emerging varieties. No individual cavy may be entered in both pure bred and
pet sections on the same day.
3 AffiliationOverview
3.1 The National Cavy Club invites affiliation applications from all local, area and specialist breed clubs
throughout the United Kingdom. The affiliation umbrella provides:
• Automatic insurance and public liability cover up to £2.5m for all specified shows held by an
affiliated club during the year; insurance covers exhibitors, visitors and workers against accidents
received whilst at club shows.
• Automatic Star Scheme participation for all National members.
• Full National Executive Committee advice and/or mediation where requested, to assist affiliated
clubs with internal disputes or problems.
• Specimen club rules for clubs to use or adapt; clubs may use their own rules, so long as no rule
conflicts with those of the National Cavy Club.
• Guidelines on financial good practice for affiliated clubs.
• Opportunity to apply to host National Stock Shows.
• Inclusion of show dates on the National Cavy Club website and calendar.
Scope of affiliation
3.2 Affiliation covers solely the exhibition of all cavy breeds recognised by the British Cavy Council and pets.
Shows or events held at the same venue for other livestock or other types of cavy (e.g. cuy or hairless
cavies) are not covered by the affiliation. Such events must be entirely separate from the affiliated cavy
show and must not be promoted or misconstrued to be a part of the cavy show.Actions to be undertaken by affiliated clubs
3.3 Affiliated clubs to advertise their shows in the National Cavy Club’s official cavy press (CAVIES magazine).
3.4 Show adverts and schedules to clearly state whether the show is a National CC 1, 2 3, 4 or 5 -Star show,
and that National Cavy Club Rules and Show Regulations apply.
3.5 If the number of stars is not printed on the front of all breed class first prize cards, it should be written on
the back.
3.6 All open and junior purebred and pet judges must be members of the National Cavy Club and fit the
following criteria:
• 1 Stars: Open show. Judge(s) to be current National CC member.
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• 2 Stars: Open show. Judge(s) to be on National CC or Specialist Breed Club judging panel. All
Specialist Breed Club and Area Club stock shows will be granted Two Star status at no cost to the
club, providing their host show is already affiliated to the NCC. If Specialist Breed Clubs hold
independent shows, then an affiliation fee must be paid if they require insurance and/or Stars.
• 3 Stars Open show. Judge(s) to be on NCC Recognised Judging Panel (including Executive Judging
Panel).
• 4 Stars Open show. Judge(s) to be on National CC Executive Judging Panel.
• 5 Stars Open show. Judge(s) to be on the National CC Executive Judging Panel.
• Shows hosting a National CC Points Show will automatically be awarded 5 Stars.
3.7 Visiting overseas judges, who are fully qualified and accredited on their own National judging panels, can
be accepted, subject to the prior ratification of the judge by the NCC Executive Committee.
3.8 For 1 and 2 star shows, and where made clear on show adverts and show schedules, clubs may decide to
discard conventional penning and cavies may be housed in facilities (e.g. crates or boxes) supplied by the
exhibitor for the duration of the show. It is the exhibitors’ responsibility to ensure that all cavies are
housed for the duration of the show in a manner that safeguards their welfare, and which is appropriate
to their age and size.
4 Entering a showConditions of entry
4.1 It is a condition of entry of any show held under NCC Show Regulations that each exhibitor agrees for the
purpose of the show to be bound by the Show Regulations – the Regulations will be published on the NCC
website and other cavy fancy media to allow them to be easily accessible to both members and non
members.Ownership of exhibits
4.2 Every cavy exhibited must at the time of the show be the bona fide property of the exhibitor in whose
name it is entered. Cavy exhibitors may exhibit their stock under a stud name and be recognized for any
results using that name provided the name and the appropriate registration fee have been received and
accepted by the British Cavy Council.Show entries
4.3 The following shall apply:
a/ No changes to entries shall be permitted after the advertised closing date except where a bona fide
and obvious error has been made on the part of the show secretary.
b/ If an exhibitor is unable to attend a show which they have entered, they must inform the show
secretary as soon as possible. The exhibitor is liable to pay all fees if any or all of their exhibits are
absent for whatever reason.
c/ If entries are accepted by email, the secretary should acknowledge receipt of such entries prior to the
show date. It is not usual to acknowledge entries made by post. Whichever method is used to submit
an entry, it is the responsibility of the exhibitor to satisfy themselves that an entry has been received.
d/ If entries are accepted by email and by post, and the closing date for entries is different in each
case, this must be made clear in the advertisement and show schedule.
e/ A club may restrict entries to an Open Show if by not doing so the number of exhibits or exhibitors
would breach health and safety legislation and/or the terms of insurance for that venue. In this
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case, the host club’s paid up members must take priory over visiting fanciers. Clubs planning to host
specialist breed clubs’ shows should bear in mind the safe capacity of their venue.
f/ At time of entry it is the responsibility of the exhibitor to inform the show secretary of the breed,
age and sex of all cavies entered.
g/ In order to safeguard the welfare of exhibits and minimise over-handling, cavies must not be
entered into more than three shows (e.g. the host show plus an area show and a breed show) at
any one event, nor may they be exhibited at more than one event in a six-day period.
Notwithstanding this, the National Cavy Club recommends that each cavy is shown in no more than
two shows at an event. [For the avoidance of doubt, a two-day show where the cavies remain in
situ in their pen will count as one event].Entry in different age limit classes in the show
4.4 An exhibit may only be shown in one age group at any one venue. Young or u/5mth classes are for cavies
that are at least 3 months old and not more than 5mths of age on the day of the show. Intermediate or
5/8 month classes are for cavies that are over 5 months of age and less than 8 months of age on the day
of the show. Adult classes are for cavies of 8 months and over.Prize money
4.5 The basis on which the prize money shall be paid shall be at the sole discretion of the show committee
and must be clearly stated in the show schedule. The best three exhibits in a class, if awarded cards, shall
be paid the prize money as advertised. In the event of there being less than three exhibits receiving cards
then any prize money due to those not awarded shall be forfeited. If the prize money is paid out at the
show and an exhibitor does not collect that due to him/her, then the show secretary/treasurer may
deduct from the prize money due the cost of forwarding the same to the exhibitor and shall do so within
30 days of the show. If the prize money due is less than £20.00 then the show secretary/treasurer shall
not be required to forward the same to the exhibitor and it shall be considered as a donation to the club
staging the show.Exhibition by judges
4.6 The following shall apply:
a/ A Judge may exhibit at any show held at the same venue on the same day, providing they are not
officiating for any common award for which their own cavies may also compete.
b/ No person appointed to judge at a show of cavies shall exhibit in any other livestock section of the
same show if there is a common award for which cavies may compete.
c/ A person residing in the same household as a judge may not exhibit cavies in any show at which
that judge is officiating, and where there is a common award. For example, it may be possible for
them to compete in the Junior section or the Guide Standard section
4.7 Judges exhibiting longhaired cavies in other shows held at a venue where they are judging shall nominate
to the show secretary a suitable person who has agreed to be responsible for presentation of such exhibits
in the relevant show. In all cases the Judge shall have no contact whatsoever with his or her exhibits until
such time as they have completed all their judging. The above show regulations shall not prevent a show
secretary from nominating a ‘referee judge’ who has been showing, providing that he/she does not have
any pigs ‘involved’ in consideration for award in joint duplicate classes.Exhibits previously owned by a judge
4.8 No cavy previously owned by a judge shall be eligible for exhibition under that judge until a period of three
months has elapsed from the date of change of ownership, except when the judge has been changed after
the closing date of entries for the show.
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Eligibility of exhibitors
4.9 Members of a partnership or those who exhibit using a prefix or stud name are ineligible to exhibit in any
class where the age of the exhibitor is limited if one or more of the members concerned are outside the
limits specified for the class.
4.10 Neither 1/ Any person or persons residing in the same household, nor 2/ any person being a member of
the immediate family, nor 3/ any person holding a joint show prefix as a judge of an open cavy show may
not exhibit cavies in the show at which the judge is officiating where there is a common award.
4.11 Exhibitors showing purebred cavies, may enter junior sections between the date of their 7 th birthday and
the date of their 17 th birthday. Exhibitors showing pet cavies, may enter junior sections between the date
of their 5 th birthday and the date of their 17 th birthday. There is an expectation that junior exhibitors will
be present at the show; if this is not the case, then the secretary should be informed. They should attempt
to arrange penning of the exhibit by another junior. There is also an expectation that junior exhibitors will
have prepared their own cavies for the show.
5 Exhibiting at a cavy showResponsibilities for damage
5.1 The NCC, the Show Committee, its organisers, stewards or officers shall not be responsible for any loss or
damage occasioned to any exhibit or exhibitor at the show.Custody of exhibits
5.2 During the show all exhibits shall be considered to be in the custody of the Show Committee and may not
be handled by any unauthorized person without official permission and, except in the case of illness of an
exhibit. All exhibits shall remain at the show until the completion of judging or the published lifting time,
whichever is later, unless special permission has been previously granted by the show committee.Identification of exhibits
5.3 No exhibit shall have any man-made distinguishing marks with the sole exception of a label provided by
the show committee with the pen number of the exhibit written on it. This label should be on the ear of
all breeds of cavy with the exception of longhaired varieties, in which case the label should be put on the
show board. It is the responsibility of the exhibitor to ensure that all pigs are ear labelled correctly before
penning.Preparation of exhibits
5.4 It is prohibited to prepare cavies for exhibition in the show hall after the commencement of judging other
than at the discretion of the show organisers. They may announce that all cavies being considered for BIS
have 10 minutes’ preparation prior to the final challenge class. All long-haired exhibits can be brushed out
and dried if necessary but no other form of preparation can be used. No preparation of exhibits, including
grooming of long-haired exhibits, is allowed at the judging table unless specifically requested by the judge.
All exhibitors of long-haired cavies may provide show boards not more than 50cm (20 inches) square with
a flat top to be covered by plain, natural hessian and not higher than 15cm (6 inches), with no
distinguishing marks or colour; all as approved by the relevant specialist breed club. The show committee
must provide a table for brushing out long-haired exhibits. Exhibitors have a maximum of ten minutes
from being summoned by the judge to presenting their exhibit at the judging table, failure do so means
the exhibit may be disqualified from that class. If a long-hair exhibiter has more than one exhibit in a class
they must if necessary appoint another exhibiter to conform to the 10-minute request.
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Photographing cavies at shows
5.5 An exhibitor shall be deemed to consent (unless they notify the show secretary to the contrary) to their
exhibit being photographed by photographer(s) appointed by the show committee. Permission is given
for authorised stewards to remove exhibits from their pens for the purpose of being photographed by the
appointed photographer.
5.6 The exhibitor shall also be deemed to consent (unless they notify the show secretary to the contrary) to
the reproduction of any such photographs taken by the appointed photographer(s) for the promotion of
the cavy fancy in commercial media.
5.7 The appointed photographer must gain permission from a parent or guardian before photographing a
Junior.Communication with a judge
5.8 No exhibitor shall communicate in any way with a judge prior to the completion of judging regarding the
merits or ownership of an exhibit (with the exception of comments relating to either illness or injury of
an exhibit).
5.9 If any exhibitor does so communicate then the judge may request the show secretary to disqualify any or
all the exhibits of said exhibitor from the show at which the said judge is officiating.
5.10 The NCC condones and encourages judges if they so wish to verbally describe their findings and decisions
during judging (this can only be a one-way exercise) and encourages open discussion after judging. It must
be remembered that the judge is giving a personal interpretation of the standards and his or her decision
on that day is final and will be respected by all exhibiters.Show pens
5.11 The following shall apply:
a/ Cavies must remain in their pens until exhibitors are officially informed by the club secretary that
they may be boxed, e.g. on completion of all judging.
b/ When penning, the exhibitor must provide sufficient bedding to keep the pig clean, dry and
comfortable all day, show adverts should clearly state whether shavings and hay are permitted at
the show venue.
c/ Cavies brought to shows must have hay and water or juicy vegetables provided at all times.
d/ Potentially dangerous items should not be placed in show pens. For example, hay racks and
suspended structures are not considered appropriate.
e/ Each exhibitor is responsible for emptying their show pens at the end of the show and removing all
the rubbish, and taking it off site, to be disposed of in a responsible manner.Other regulations applying to exhibitors at cavy shows
5.12 The following shall apply:
a/ All exhibitors are responsible for not placing boxes and other equipment where they might cause a
health and safety risk to other exhibitors.
b/ Wherever possible, exhibitors should help to clear up and tidy the show hall at the end of the day.
c/ If an exhibitor has won an award they should make sure they are available when they are being
presented.
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6 Stewarding at a showCode of practice for stewards
6.1 These guidance notes are to be available at NCC affiliated shows and NCC Stock Shows, and all stewards
should be familiar with them.
6.2 The following shall apply:
a/ The appointed chief steward/show secretary should ensure enough competent stewards are
available for the whole day, with at least one allocated per table. It is advised that stewards should
wear a badge provided by the club identifying them as official stewards. On request, the NCC
secretary can supply show secretaries with stewards’ badges for a small cost.
b/ Stewards are empowered to handle exhibits during the period of the show, but only for the purpose
of taking the cavy to and from the judging table at the request of the judge.
c/ No one should ever carry more than one cavy at a time.
d/ When retrieving exhibits from a pen, carefully open the door, lift the cavy with both hands, one
under the body, and the other lightly over the top, bringing the exhibit out head first, taking care
not to injure the cavy on the door frame, paying special attention to the legs and feet.
e/ Carry the exhibit to the table, one hand firmly under the body by placing the palm of the hand
between the front and back legs. The thumb and forefinger of the other hand should be placed over
the top of the shoulder just behind the ears.
f/ Never hold a cavy with a tight grip; this can lead to internal injuries.
g/ Never carry an exhibit next to the chest or cover the back of the cavy by placing a hand completely
on top; this can affect the condition of prepared rough coated cavies.
h/ Always ensure you know the correct pen number of the exhibit to be fetched and returned. No cavy
should be placed in a judging stall or returned to its pen without an ear label. If the label is lost the
steward must immediately ask the book steward for a replacement.
i/ A steward should not communicate with the judge other than to advise of a problem.
j/ Politely ask anyone blocking movement to stand aside. If the problem persists, seek help from the
show secretary/manager.
k/ Always ensure the welfare of the exhibit, and if a cavy is injured in any way, this must be reported
to the judge immediately, who will report this to the show secretary and in turn to the owner of
the exhibit.
l/ Junior exhibitors are encouraged to steward if they are confident and competent. Junior exhibitors
aged 7 to 11 years may steward junior purebred or pet exhibits provided that they are supervised
by a competent adult. They are not permitted to steward for open classes.
m/ Junior exhibitors aged 12 to 17 years can steward unsupervised if competent, for open classes or
junior purebreds or pets.
n/ If a junior steward is unable to reach a cavy’s pen, or if the cavy is behaving in an erratic manner,
they must seek adult assistance.
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7 Judging a cavy showCode of practice for judges
7.1 These guidance notes are to be available at NCC affiliated shows and NCC Stock Shows. It is the
responsibility of all NCC panel judges to ensure that they are familiar with the Show Regulations and
particularly the Code of Practice for Judges. Show secretaries should ensure that the Regulations are
understood by appointed judges who are not on the NCC Judging Panels, and/or who judge less
frequently.
a/ When accepting engagements, judges should make the relevant show secretaries aware if they
have previously accepted an engagement in the same area of the country within one month of the
proposed judging date.
b/ Judges must arrive in time and be prepared to start on time, with allowances made for briefings,
etc. It is up to the show secretary to ensure that judging starts at the advertised time.
c/ In order that day’s programme can be maintained, not more than a 1 hour lunch break should be
taken; the show manager to be informed of any variations.
d/ The NCC strongly recommend the use of a book steward to help keep to the day’s schedule.
e/ Judges should wear a judging coat/overall, maintain personal cleanliness and encourage stewards’
personal cleanliness (especially the hands) throughout the judging period.
f/ When accepting a judging engagement, a judge agrees to be courteous to show officials, other
judges, exhibitors and any members of the public present during the course of the show.
g/ A judge must give adequate time to fully evaluate each cavy.
h/ Where possible host clubs should book an uneven number of judges if joint decisions are to be
made.
i/ When joint decisions are to be made, judges should be courteous and always choose the best
exhibit on the day regardless of which section it comes from.
j/ Judges officiating at a show should only pass comments to exhibitors on cavies they have actually
judged unless asked to do so by the appointed judge of another section
k/ Time must be allotted by the judges at the end of each day to answer exhibitors’ questions, to give
a verbal appraisal of judging if so required, and to participate in any award ceremony; they should
consider such actions to be part of their duties for the day.
l/ The NCC requests that if a judge is judging both purebred and pet sections, the pure-bred section
should be judged first.
m/ It is the duty of judges to submit a written report for publication in the cavy press, and to ensure
that this report concurs with the conditions in terms of format and time restrictions laid down by
the cavy press.
n/ It is recognised that it is sometimes necessary for judges to attend meetings or similar during the
show day. It is recommended that these take place during the lunch break or after judging.
Attendance outside these times should only be with the show secretary’s express permission and
must not hold up proceedings.J udging slips
7.2 The Judge shall be responsible for marking all necessary awards on the judging slip after completing each
class and, after signing the slip, must send it to the show secretary (or a deputized officer) as soon as
possible after completing the class. The show secretary/card writer will ensure the reverse of the first
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prize card of every breed class shows the number of absentees in that class (the front of the card must
show the number entered in the breed class, including absentees). No alteration may be made to the
awards as shown on the slip for any class after it has been signed by the judge, unless the judge and show
secretary both agree that a genuine mistake has been made in the awards.Disqualification of exhibits
7.3 The judge shall disqualify any exhibit if he/she believes such exhibit is not in a fit condition of health to be
judged.
7.4 The judge must also disqualify any exhibit he/she believes:
a/ is ineligible for the particular class in which it has been entered (after checking with the secretary
that no mistakes have been made by the show administrators), or
b/ has been excessively or improperly prepared for exhibition, or
c/ is older than the age limit for the class or is in a condition of more advanced development than is
generally considered usual for a cavy of a particular breed at the maximum age limit of the class, or
d/ is subject to any disqualification in the breed standard not covered by the above.Disqualification for excessive or improper preparation:
7.5 In the event of the judge disqualifying an exhibit under 6.3(b) above, he/she must report the matter to
the show secretary who shall inform the judge of the name and address of the owner of the disqualified
exhibit. The judge shall then notify the Secretary of the NCC in writing of the nature of the disqualification,
the name and address of the owner(s) and any other relevant details. In the event of an exhibitor twice
being reported to the club secretary for excessive or improper preparation by two separate judges, then
the NCC Secretary shall inform the exhibitor in writing of such reports. Should a third such report be
lodged with the Secretary then he/she shall pass the matter on together with all associated
documentation to the NCC Investigation Panel.
7.6 It shall be lawful if an exhibit has been disqualified for excessive or improper preparation for the officiating
judge, in the presence of the show secretary and the exhibitor of the said exhibit, to take a small sample of
the coat of the said exhibit by hand grooming. In this event half of the sample taken shall be given to the
said exhibitor for his/her safe keeping and half shall be sealed in an envelope which shall be signed by the
officiating judge and the show secretary and shall be sent by the judge with the report on the disqualification
to the NCC Secretary. It must always be remembered the removal of guard hairs by hand is permissible.Guidance notes for pet judges
7.7 The following guidance notes have been drawn up to help standardize the judging of pet cavies, at shows
under NCC Regulations. The aim is to achieve consistency in pet judging, while allowing the judge freedom
to express their own preferences.
7.8 Wherever possible, a pet judge should be a NCC member, and must have had at least 2 years’ experience
as an exhibitor. The pet section can be judged by a junior aged 14 – 17 years, provided they have the same
qualifications as above. Pets have traditionally been judged on condition, behaviour and cleanliness, and
these still form the main qualities on which a pet cavy should be judged. The judge should bear in mind
that condition and behaviour reflect the everyday care of the cavy, whereas cleanliness shows the ability
of the exhibitor to prepare a cavy for show.
7.9 Cavies being exhibited as pets should be assessed equally on:
a/ CONDITION/FITNESS: all exhibition cavies must be shown in good health and sound physical
condition, and be free from disease. They should be fit, not fat, with a well fleshed, muscled body,
healthy shining coat and bright eyes.
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b/ BEHAVIOUR/TRACTABILITY/FRIENDLINESS: the cavy should be tame, easily handled, friendly and
calm on the table. This is an essential quality in the pet cavy. Allowance should be made for u/5
cavies to be more skittish than those in older age groups.
c/ CLEANLINESS/PREPARATION: the cavy should have a clean coat and grease spot, clean ear flaps, be
free from static and running lice, and have nails trimmed as necessary. (Ears should to be checked
visually without poking cotton buds, fingernails, etc. into ears.)
7.10 The coats of longhaired pets should be free from knots or tangles, and clipped to a length that clears the
board/table.
7.11 Pet classes at NCC shows are foremost for new exhibitors bringing in genuine pet cavies and therefore
judges should make allowances for grass stains, etc.
Note 1: The cavy should be handled throughout the judging process in such as way as not to cause it
any distress.
Note 2: While some exhibitors may like to groom their pets to purebred standards, and newcomers
may practice grooming on their pets, the presence or absence of guard hairs on smooth coated
exhibits must not be used as a point of judging.
Note 3: The size of the cavy is not in itself important. Cavies should be fit, not fat. A fit larger cavy
should not be given preference over a fit smaller one, purely on account of its greater size. Size
must not be the winning factor in judging pets. The judge can use their discretion to identify
underweight cavies, and penalize the excessively obese.
Note 4: Purebreds are acceptable as pets.
Note 5: The judge may need to explain to newcomers that they shouldn’t identify their cavies to the judge.
Note 6: It is recommended that after judging has finished, the judge should make him / herself
available for answering questions. This would particularly help newcomers. An announcement
should be made when the Pet Judge is available.Pet judging disqualifications
7.12 These are faults which are of such seriousness that they warrant the disqualification of the cavy:
• Abscess
• Break in skin - whether an open wound or scabbed over
• Sores on feet
• Running lice
• Sow obviously in pig
• Evidence of mite or fungal infections
• Paralysis of cavy
• Obvious ill health
• Head tilt/torticollis - may be congenital, but could be due to an infection
Pet judging faults
7.13 These are faults that are not sufficiently serious to disqualify the cavy, but will penalise it when in
competition with cavies not showing these faults.
• Impacted boar - a failure of preparation
• Cysts / fatty lumps - penalise according to the size of the lump
• Old scars - penalise according to size/number of scars
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• Loss of coat - depending on amount of coat missing
• Static mite - depending on amount of mite present
• Scurfy skin
7.14 The following are not faults when judging pet cavies:
• Presence of guard hairs on smooth coated cavies
• Hemmed ears or torn / chewed ears - if soundly healed
• Extra toes
• Missing toe / Missing toenail - if soundly healed
• Missing eye - if soundly healed
• Fatty eye
• Cataracts
• Neutered cavies
8 Organising a show
8.1 The organisers of the show or their representatives shall:
a/ Be fully responsible for the carrying out and fulfilment of the Show Regulations and the correct
conduct of the show.
b/ Advertise their show in the cavy press in adequate time to enable exhibitors to complete their
entries and receive confirmation that their entries have been received
c/ Be entirely responsible for payment of the advertised prize money.
d/ Provide adequate penning and, when necessary, (and advertised as such) feed for exhibits.
e/ Provide judging tables and, when required, a table for exhibitors of longhaired cavies to brush out
their exhibits.
f/ Ensure that no exhibitor shall be refused entry without the NCC Executive being satisfied that there
is an appropriate reason.
g/ Prepare judging books showing all pen numbers and class and special prize definitions but
containing no information as to the identity of ownership of individual exhibits.
h/ Appoint a judge(s) and be responsible for payment requested by them. The terms of engagement
should be agreed prior to the confirmation of a judging appointment.
i/ Advise the judge(s) of the pen numbers of absent exhibits.
j/ Ensure that all exhibits have an ear label showing its pen number.
k/ Ensure that no person gives the judge any indication as to the ownership of an exhibit not already
placed and that no attempt is to be made in any way to influence his/her awards.
l/ Be mindful that Best in Show judging is a prestigious event, meetings must be avoided at the same
time. It is recommended, whenever practicable, to hold a formal award ceremony at conclusion of
the show
9 Sale pens at cavy shows
9.1 The show committee should satisfy the following regulations when providing sale pens for exhibitors at
cavy shows.
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a/ Sales pens/sale areas are to be manned by officially appointed sales stewards.
b/ Vendors must supply each sale cavy with suitable food for the day, including hay and juicy
vegetables. A water bottle may also be provided (for agricultural shows this is usually compulsory).
c/ The club should provide an advice/information sheet on care of cavies for all purchasers. Such a
care sheet is available for clubs to download and print out from the NCC website.
d/ The vendor should supply their contact details to be given to the purchaser at time of sale. A
suitable box should also be provided for each cavy that is sold.
e/ Undersized cavies should be refused. The NCC set a minimum sale age of 8 weeks.
f/ Sales pens should only contain cavies of the same sex. A maximum of three u/5mths, two 5/8mths
or one adult will be allowed in each pen.
g/ The NCC asks that Skinnies, Baldwins, Werewolf and Giants (Cuy) are not brought into the show hall
and must not be offered for sale at any NCC shows.
h/ The sale stock stewards have the NCC backing to refuse to sell to unsuitable people. No cavies to
be sold to anyone who is under the age of 16 years or appears to be under the age of 16 unless
accompanied by an adult.
i/ Sale of stock between fanciers outside the show hall is permitted for pre-ordered stock. Wherever
practicable, space should be allocated for the storage of boxed, pre-ordered stock being exchanged.
Such exchanges should only be made by host club members or fanciers exhibiting on the day. On
no account should cavies be left in vehicles. Likewise, no cavies should be brought on spec for
onward sale (either in the hall or in the vicinity of the show) save through the official sale pens.
10 Welfare guidance
10.1 The NCC together, with the British Cavy Council (BCC), fully concurs with the guidelines for the welfare
and keeping of cavies in the UK as detailed in the following document, the full transcript of which is
available on the NCC and BCC websites:
WELFARE GUIDANCE FOR THE PROPER CARE OF CAVIES, as produced jointly by the National Cavy Club,
the Southern Cavy Club and the British Cavy Council
10.2 The NCC also demands that all shows in the UK recognize and implement the necessary rules to concur
with the following document:
DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION GUIDELINES, which again is available on the National Cavy Club and
British Cavy Council websites.
10.3 The NCC is able to set guidelines, but believes disease control and prevention is essentially each individual
member’s responsibility. All cavy keepers should at all times be vigilant for any signs of disease in their
animals. If any problem is detected, strict bio security should be practiced for the protection of others. If
there is any reason to believe that there is disease of any sort in a stud of cavies, professional veterinary
help should be immediately sought. The owner of these cavies should not take the animals to shows or to
other fanciers’ premises, nor put themselves in a position where they may be a danger to others. If an
animal is showing symptoms of ill health at a show this should be reported to the secretary or appointed
veterinary officer if one is available. They will decide if the animal is to be excluded from the show. Any
animal that is suspected of suffering from an infectious disease must to be removed from the show hall
or moved to an isolation area. In no circumstances should the animal be returned to its show pen. Judges
must disqualify and report to the secretary any cavy showing evidence of ill health such as obvious
breathing difficulties, significant evidence of mucus or abnormal discharges from the eyes, nose, mouth
or reproductive or intestinal openings. This applies to any animal that the judge suspects is suffering from
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any infectious condition. During judging, cavies should be physically kept apart as much as possible
bearing in mind some contact may be necessary for essential comparison. Excrement, etc. should be
cleared from the judging table as soon as is practicable. Judges and stewards should have facilities to wash
or be provided with and should use hand disinfectants as appropriate. In accordance with NCC Show
Regulations, sale stock must only be sold through appointed sale stewards. When fanciers import stock
from abroad they should keep it in quarantine conditions for a month, this means not taking it to shows
or selling on to other fanciers or in fact being handled by other fanciers during this quarantine period. This
is a disease control and prevention overview; it is supported by a detailed formal code of practice
produced to prevent the spread of infectious diseases (a copy of the detailed code of practice is available
on the NCC and BCC web sites).
10.4 THERE ARE FURTHER GUIDELINES REGARDING THE EXHIBITION OF CAVIES WITH GENETIC OR ACQUIRED
ABNORMALITIES. Cavies with genetic or acquired abnormalities (physical deformities) may not be
exhibited either in the purebred or pet section of shows held under NCC rules. This rule aims to protect
the general health of any afflicted cavies and to guard against any ridicule that might develop from their
exhibition.
Regulations ratified at National Cavy Club AGM 22 nd October 2022.
These Regulations are available on the National Cavy Club website; hard copies are also available on request
from the NCC secretaries.
National Cavy Club Show Regulations – ratified at AGM 22.10.2022
The National Cavy Club’s Show Regulations (the Regulations) are a constantly evolving set of protocols that are
drawn up to ensure that the exhibition of cavies in the United Kingdom is carried out in a common and accepted
manner. The Regulations reflect the National Cavy Club’s objectives of promoting good and fair competition and
enabling all fanciers to derive maximum enjoyment from sharing their common interest or hobby.
The Regulations present positive agreed principles that will be promoted by the National Cavy Club for the benefit
of all cavy fanciers. In no way are they intended to be draconian or to engender an autocratic culture. The
Regulations are presented at each National Cavy Club AGM, where they are ratified in their contemporary form or
up-dated as decided by the members for a further twelve months. The Regulations may be temporarily updated by
the Executive Committee if circumstances are so required, but any changes must then be ratified by the members
at the next AGM.
1 Application
1.1 These regulations shall apply to all National Cavy Club (NCC) Stock Shows and to all shows held under NCC
Show Regulations.
1.2 When necessary, further regulations will be developed to address specific issues that might otherwise
compromise the application of the Show Regulations; for example, in order to comply with the
requirements of a national pandemic. Such regulations are likely to be time-limited and will be published
in the form of an appendix to the Show Regulations. Where there is conflict between the two sets of
regulations, those in the relevant appendix will take precedent. The NCC will make it clear when the
specific regulations will commence from and when they no longer apply.
2 Breed standards and definitions
2.1 The National Cavy Club recognises the breed standards approved by the British Cavy Council.
2.2 National Cavy Club Judges, when judging purebred cavies within the United Kingdom, shall at all times
apply Breed Standards defined by the British Cavy Council, and in a manner according with the British
Cavy Council Constitution and Rules.
2.3 The NCC recognises that some of its Show Regulations apply to specific breeds only. The NCC has always
accepted that the conditions and details of these breed-specific Regulations will be determined in the first
instance by the members of the Specialist Clubs that cater for those breeds and only when these specific
Regulations have been ratified by the relevant specialist clubs will they be included in the NCC Show
Regulations. The NCC will only challenge conditions put forward for the Regulations if they are considered
to be detrimental to the exhibition of all breeds of cavy or are considered to have detrimental welfare
implications. The NCC will always consult with recognised experts and specialists before adopting any new
or any changes in the present Regulations. It is in the interest of the cavy fancy that members have Show
Regulations or Show Guidance Rules that are universally agreed and exist in one unified form throughout
the hobby and throughout our country.
2.4 Those breeds accepted by the English Self Cavy Club shall be called ‘Selfs’. All other purebred breeds of
cavy shall be called ‘Non-Selfs’.
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2.5 Breeds of cavy that are not recognised by the British Cavy Council as having a full standard should be
shown in the ‘Guide Standard’ section or the ‘New and Emerging’ (NEB) section, as appropriate. NEB
classes are confined to varieties for which there are Guidance Notes agreed by the Rare Varieties Cavy
Club (RVCC) Standards and Executive Committees.
2.6 At RVCC Stock Shows, Assessment classes will be hosted for new varieties that do not have Guidance
Notes. Exhibitors will be expected to explain the background and objectives of the breed and the judge
will be able to comment constructively on its potential.
2.7 Assessment classes may only be included on show schedules with the express approval of the RVCC.
2.8 Guide Standard and NEB sections/classes should not be referred to collectively and erroneously as ‘Rare
Varieties’, and there should be no common award open for competition by Full Standard, and/or Guide
Standard, and/or New and Emerging varieties. No individual cavy may be entered in both pure bred and
pet sections on the same day.
3 AffiliationOverview
3.1 The National Cavy Club invites affiliation applications from all local, area and specialist breed clubs
throughout the United Kingdom. The affiliation umbrella provides:
• Automatic insurance and public liability cover up to £2.5m for all specified shows held by an
affiliated club during the year; insurance covers exhibitors, visitors and workers against accidents
received whilst at club shows.
• Automatic Star Scheme participation for all National members.
• Full National Executive Committee advice and/or mediation where requested, to assist affiliated
clubs with internal disputes or problems.
• Specimen club rules for clubs to use or adapt; clubs may use their own rules, so long as no rule
conflicts with those of the National Cavy Club.
• Guidelines on financial good practice for affiliated clubs.
• Opportunity to apply to host National Stock Shows.
• Inclusion of show dates on the National Cavy Club website and calendar.
Scope of affiliation
3.2 Affiliation covers solely the exhibition of all cavy breeds recognised by the British Cavy Council and pets.
Shows or events held at the same venue for other livestock or other types of cavy (e.g. cuy or hairless
cavies) are not covered by the affiliation. Such events must be entirely separate from the affiliated cavy
show and must not be promoted or misconstrued to be a part of the cavy show.Actions to be undertaken by affiliated clubs
3.3 Affiliated clubs to advertise their shows in the National Cavy Club’s official cavy press (CAVIES magazine).
3.4 Show adverts and schedules to clearly state whether the show is a National CC 1, 2 3, 4 or 5 -Star show,
and that National Cavy Club Rules and Show Regulations apply.
3.5 If the number of stars is not printed on the front of all breed class first prize cards, it should be written on
the back.
3.6 All open and junior purebred and pet judges must be members of the National Cavy Club and fit the
following criteria:
• 1 Stars: Open show. Judge(s) to be current National CC member.
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• 2 Stars: Open show. Judge(s) to be on National CC or Specialist Breed Club judging panel. All
Specialist Breed Club and Area Club stock shows will be granted Two Star status at no cost to the
club, providing their host show is already affiliated to the NCC. If Specialist Breed Clubs hold
independent shows, then an affiliation fee must be paid if they require insurance and/or Stars.
• 3 Stars Open show. Judge(s) to be on NCC Recognised Judging Panel (including Executive Judging
Panel).
• 4 Stars Open show. Judge(s) to be on National CC Executive Judging Panel.
• 5 Stars Open show. Judge(s) to be on the National CC Executive Judging Panel.
• Shows hosting a National CC Points Show will automatically be awarded 5 Stars.
3.7 Visiting overseas judges, who are fully qualified and accredited on their own National judging panels, can
be accepted, subject to the prior ratification of the judge by the NCC Executive Committee.
3.8 For 1 and 2 star shows, and where made clear on show adverts and show schedules, clubs may decide to
discard conventional penning and cavies may be housed in facilities (e.g. crates or boxes) supplied by the
exhibitor for the duration of the show. It is the exhibitors’ responsibility to ensure that all cavies are
housed for the duration of the show in a manner that safeguards their welfare, and which is appropriate
to their age and size.
4 Entering a showConditions of entry
4.1 It is a condition of entry of any show held under NCC Show Regulations that each exhibitor agrees for the
purpose of the show to be bound by the Show Regulations – the Regulations will be published on the NCC
website and other cavy fancy media to allow them to be easily accessible to both members and non
members.Ownership of exhibits
4.2 Every cavy exhibited must at the time of the show be the bona fide property of the exhibitor in whose
name it is entered. Cavy exhibitors may exhibit their stock under a stud name and be recognized for any
results using that name provided the name and the appropriate registration fee have been received and
accepted by the British Cavy Council.Show entries
4.3 The following shall apply:
a/ No changes to entries shall be permitted after the advertised closing date except where a bona fide
and obvious error has been made on the part of the show secretary.
b/ If an exhibitor is unable to attend a show which they have entered, they must inform the show
secretary as soon as possible. The exhibitor is liable to pay all fees if any or all of their exhibits are
absent for whatever reason.
c/ If entries are accepted by email, the secretary should acknowledge receipt of such entries prior to the
show date. It is not usual to acknowledge entries made by post. Whichever method is used to submit
an entry, it is the responsibility of the exhibitor to satisfy themselves that an entry has been received.
d/ If entries are accepted by email and by post, and the closing date for entries is different in each
case, this must be made clear in the advertisement and show schedule.
e/ A club may restrict entries to an Open Show if by not doing so the number of exhibits or exhibitors
would breach health and safety legislation and/or the terms of insurance for that venue. In this
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case, the host club’s paid up members must take priory over visiting fanciers. Clubs planning to host
specialist breed clubs’ shows should bear in mind the safe capacity of their venue.
f/ At time of entry it is the responsibility of the exhibitor to inform the show secretary of the breed,
age and sex of all cavies entered.
g/ In order to safeguard the welfare of exhibits and minimise over-handling, cavies must not be
entered into more than three shows (e.g. the host show plus an area show and a breed show) at
any one event, nor may they be exhibited at more than one event in a six-day period.
Notwithstanding this, the National Cavy Club recommends that each cavy is shown in no more than
two shows at an event. [For the avoidance of doubt, a two-day show where the cavies remain in
situ in their pen will count as one event].Entry in different age limit classes in the show
4.4 An exhibit may only be shown in one age group at any one venue. Young or u/5mth classes are for cavies
that are at least 3 months old and not more than 5mths of age on the day of the show. Intermediate or
5/8 month classes are for cavies that are over 5 months of age and less than 8 months of age on the day
of the show. Adult classes are for cavies of 8 months and over.Prize money
4.5 The basis on which the prize money shall be paid shall be at the sole discretion of the show committee
and must be clearly stated in the show schedule. The best three exhibits in a class, if awarded cards, shall
be paid the prize money as advertised. In the event of there being less than three exhibits receiving cards
then any prize money due to those not awarded shall be forfeited. If the prize money is paid out at the
show and an exhibitor does not collect that due to him/her, then the show secretary/treasurer may
deduct from the prize money due the cost of forwarding the same to the exhibitor and shall do so within
30 days of the show. If the prize money due is less than £20.00 then the show secretary/treasurer shall
not be required to forward the same to the exhibitor and it shall be considered as a donation to the club
staging the show.Exhibition by judges
4.6 The following shall apply:
a/ A Judge may exhibit at any show held at the same venue on the same day, providing they are not
officiating for any common award for which their own cavies may also compete.
b/ No person appointed to judge at a show of cavies shall exhibit in any other livestock section of the
same show if there is a common award for which cavies may compete.
c/ A person residing in the same household as a judge may not exhibit cavies in any show at which
that judge is officiating, and where there is a common award. For example, it may be possible for
them to compete in the Junior section or the Guide Standard section
4.7 Judges exhibiting longhaired cavies in other shows held at a venue where they are judging shall nominate
to the show secretary a suitable person who has agreed to be responsible for presentation of such exhibits
in the relevant show. In all cases the Judge shall have no contact whatsoever with his or her exhibits until
such time as they have completed all their judging. The above show regulations shall not prevent a show
secretary from nominating a ‘referee judge’ who has been showing, providing that he/she does not have
any pigs ‘involved’ in consideration for award in joint duplicate classes.Exhibits previously owned by a judge
4.8 No cavy previously owned by a judge shall be eligible for exhibition under that judge until a period of three
months has elapsed from the date of change of ownership, except when the judge has been changed after
the closing date of entries for the show.
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Eligibility of exhibitors
4.9 Members of a partnership or those who exhibit using a prefix or stud name are ineligible to exhibit in any
class where the age of the exhibitor is limited if one or more of the members concerned are outside the
limits specified for the class.
4.10 Neither 1/ Any person or persons residing in the same household, nor 2/ any person being a member of
the immediate family, nor 3/ any person holding a joint show prefix as a judge of an open cavy show may
not exhibit cavies in the show at which the judge is officiating where there is a common award.
4.11 Exhibitors showing purebred cavies, may enter junior sections between the date of their 7 th birthday and
the date of their 17 th birthday. Exhibitors showing pet cavies, may enter junior sections between the date
of their 5 th birthday and the date of their 17 th birthday. There is an expectation that junior exhibitors will
be present at the show; if this is not the case, then the secretary should be informed. They should attempt
to arrange penning of the exhibit by another junior. There is also an expectation that junior exhibitors will
have prepared their own cavies for the show.
5 Exhibiting at a cavy showResponsibilities for damage
5.1 The NCC, the Show Committee, its organisers, stewards or officers shall not be responsible for any loss or
damage occasioned to any exhibit or exhibitor at the show.Custody of exhibits
5.2 During the show all exhibits shall be considered to be in the custody of the Show Committee and may not
be handled by any unauthorized person without official permission and, except in the case of illness of an
exhibit. All exhibits shall remain at the show until the completion of judging or the published lifting time,
whichever is later, unless special permission has been previously granted by the show committee.Identification of exhibits
5.3 No exhibit shall have any man-made distinguishing marks with the sole exception of a label provided by
the show committee with the pen number of the exhibit written on it. This label should be on the ear of
all breeds of cavy with the exception of longhaired varieties, in which case the label should be put on the
show board. It is the responsibility of the exhibitor to ensure that all pigs are ear labelled correctly before
penning.Preparation of exhibits
5.4 It is prohibited to prepare cavies for exhibition in the show hall after the commencement of judging other
than at the discretion of the show organisers. They may announce that all cavies being considered for BIS
have 10 minutes’ preparation prior to the final challenge class. All long-haired exhibits can be brushed out
and dried if necessary but no other form of preparation can be used. No preparation of exhibits, including
grooming of long-haired exhibits, is allowed at the judging table unless specifically requested by the judge.
All exhibitors of long-haired cavies may provide show boards not more than 50cm (20 inches) square with
a flat top to be covered by plain, natural hessian and not higher than 15cm (6 inches), with no
distinguishing marks or colour; all as approved by the relevant specialist breed club. The show committee
must provide a table for brushing out long-haired exhibits. Exhibitors have a maximum of ten minutes
from being summoned by the judge to presenting their exhibit at the judging table, failure do so means
the exhibit may be disqualified from that class. If a long-hair exhibiter has more than one exhibit in a class
they must if necessary appoint another exhibiter to conform to the 10-minute request.
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Photographing cavies at shows
5.5 An exhibitor shall be deemed to consent (unless they notify the show secretary to the contrary) to their
exhibit being photographed by photographer(s) appointed by the show committee. Permission is given
for authorised stewards to remove exhibits from their pens for the purpose of being photographed by the
appointed photographer.
5.6 The exhibitor shall also be deemed to consent (unless they notify the show secretary to the contrary) to
the reproduction of any such photographs taken by the appointed photographer(s) for the promotion of
the cavy fancy in commercial media.
5.7 The appointed photographer must gain permission from a parent or guardian before photographing a
Junior.Communication with a judge
5.8 No exhibitor shall communicate in any way with a judge prior to the completion of judging regarding the
merits or ownership of an exhibit (with the exception of comments relating to either illness or injury of
an exhibit).
5.9 If any exhibitor does so communicate then the judge may request the show secretary to disqualify any or
all the exhibits of said exhibitor from the show at which the said judge is officiating.
5.10 The NCC condones and encourages judges if they so wish to verbally describe their findings and decisions
during judging (this can only be a one-way exercise) and encourages open discussion after judging. It must
be remembered that the judge is giving a personal interpretation of the standards and his or her decision
on that day is final and will be respected by all exhibiters.Show pens
5.11 The following shall apply:
a/ Cavies must remain in their pens until exhibitors are officially informed by the club secretary that
they may be boxed, e.g. on completion of all judging.
b/ When penning, the exhibitor must provide sufficient bedding to keep the pig clean, dry and
comfortable all day, show adverts should clearly state whether shavings and hay are permitted at
the show venue.
c/ Cavies brought to shows must have hay and water or juicy vegetables provided at all times.
d/ Potentially dangerous items should not be placed in show pens. For example, hay racks and
suspended structures are not considered appropriate.
e/ Each exhibitor is responsible for emptying their show pens at the end of the show and removing all
the rubbish, and taking it off site, to be disposed of in a responsible manner.Other regulations applying to exhibitors at cavy shows
5.12 The following shall apply:
a/ All exhibitors are responsible for not placing boxes and other equipment where they might cause a
health and safety risk to other exhibitors.
b/ Wherever possible, exhibitors should help to clear up and tidy the show hall at the end of the day.
c/ If an exhibitor has won an award they should make sure they are available when they are being
presented.
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6 Stewarding at a showCode of practice for stewards
6.1 These guidance notes are to be available at NCC affiliated shows and NCC Stock Shows, and all stewards
should be familiar with them.
6.2 The following shall apply:
a/ The appointed chief steward/show secretary should ensure enough competent stewards are
available for the whole day, with at least one allocated per table. It is advised that stewards should
wear a badge provided by the club identifying them as official stewards. On request, the NCC
secretary can supply show secretaries with stewards’ badges for a small cost.
b/ Stewards are empowered to handle exhibits during the period of the show, but only for the purpose
of taking the cavy to and from the judging table at the request of the judge.
c/ No one should ever carry more than one cavy at a time.
d/ When retrieving exhibits from a pen, carefully open the door, lift the cavy with both hands, one
under the body, and the other lightly over the top, bringing the exhibit out head first, taking care
not to injure the cavy on the door frame, paying special attention to the legs and feet.
e/ Carry the exhibit to the table, one hand firmly under the body by placing the palm of the hand
between the front and back legs. The thumb and forefinger of the other hand should be placed over
the top of the shoulder just behind the ears.
f/ Never hold a cavy with a tight grip; this can lead to internal injuries.
g/ Never carry an exhibit next to the chest or cover the back of the cavy by placing a hand completely
on top; this can affect the condition of prepared rough coated cavies.
h/ Always ensure you know the correct pen number of the exhibit to be fetched and returned. No cavy
should be placed in a judging stall or returned to its pen without an ear label. If the label is lost the
steward must immediately ask the book steward for a replacement.
i/ A steward should not communicate with the judge other than to advise of a problem.
j/ Politely ask anyone blocking movement to stand aside. If the problem persists, seek help from the
show secretary/manager.
k/ Always ensure the welfare of the exhibit, and if a cavy is injured in any way, this must be reported
to the judge immediately, who will report this to the show secretary and in turn to the owner of
the exhibit.
l/ Junior exhibitors are encouraged to steward if they are confident and competent. Junior exhibitors
aged 7 to 11 years may steward junior purebred or pet exhibits provided that they are supervised
by a competent adult. They are not permitted to steward for open classes.
m/ Junior exhibitors aged 12 to 17 years can steward unsupervised if competent, for open classes or
junior purebreds or pets.
n/ If a junior steward is unable to reach a cavy’s pen, or if the cavy is behaving in an erratic manner,
they must seek adult assistance.
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7 Judging a cavy showCode of practice for judges
7.1 These guidance notes are to be available at NCC affiliated shows and NCC Stock Shows. It is the
responsibility of all NCC panel judges to ensure that they are familiar with the Show Regulations and
particularly the Code of Practice for Judges. Show secretaries should ensure that the Regulations are
understood by appointed judges who are not on the NCC Judging Panels, and/or who judge less
frequently.
a/ When accepting engagements, judges should make the relevant show secretaries aware if they
have previously accepted an engagement in the same area of the country within one month of the
proposed judging date.
b/ Judges must arrive in time and be prepared to start on time, with allowances made for briefings,
etc. It is up to the show secretary to ensure that judging starts at the advertised time.
c/ In order that day’s programme can be maintained, not more than a 1 hour lunch break should be
taken; the show manager to be informed of any variations.
d/ The NCC strongly recommend the use of a book steward to help keep to the day’s schedule.
e/ Judges should wear a judging coat/overall, maintain personal cleanliness and encourage stewards’
personal cleanliness (especially the hands) throughout the judging period.
f/ When accepting a judging engagement, a judge agrees to be courteous to show officials, other
judges, exhibitors and any members of the public present during the course of the show.
g/ A judge must give adequate time to fully evaluate each cavy.
h/ Where possible host clubs should book an uneven number of judges if joint decisions are to be
made.
i/ When joint decisions are to be made, judges should be courteous and always choose the best
exhibit on the day regardless of which section it comes from.
j/ Judges officiating at a show should only pass comments to exhibitors on cavies they have actually
judged unless asked to do so by the appointed judge of another section
k/ Time must be allotted by the judges at the end of each day to answer exhibitors’ questions, to give
a verbal appraisal of judging if so required, and to participate in any award ceremony; they should
consider such actions to be part of their duties for the day.
l/ The NCC requests that if a judge is judging both purebred and pet sections, the pure-bred section
should be judged first.
m/ It is the duty of judges to submit a written report for publication in the cavy press, and to ensure
that this report concurs with the conditions in terms of format and time restrictions laid down by
the cavy press.
n/ It is recognised that it is sometimes necessary for judges to attend meetings or similar during the
show day. It is recommended that these take place during the lunch break or after judging.
Attendance outside these times should only be with the show secretary’s express permission and
must not hold up proceedings.J udging slips
7.2 The Judge shall be responsible for marking all necessary awards on the judging slip after completing each
class and, after signing the slip, must send it to the show secretary (or a deputized officer) as soon as
possible after completing the class. The show secretary/card writer will ensure the reverse of the first
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prize card of every breed class shows the number of absentees in that class (the front of the card must
show the number entered in the breed class, including absentees). No alteration may be made to the
awards as shown on the slip for any class after it has been signed by the judge, unless the judge and show
secretary both agree that a genuine mistake has been made in the awards.Disqualification of exhibits
7.3 The judge shall disqualify any exhibit if he/she believes such exhibit is not in a fit condition of health to be
judged.
7.4 The judge must also disqualify any exhibit he/she believes:
a/ is ineligible for the particular class in which it has been entered (after checking with the secretary
that no mistakes have been made by the show administrators), or
b/ has been excessively or improperly prepared for exhibition, or
c/ is older than the age limit for the class or is in a condition of more advanced development than is
generally considered usual for a cavy of a particular breed at the maximum age limit of the class, or
d/ is subject to any disqualification in the breed standard not covered by the above.Disqualification for excessive or improper preparation:
7.5 In the event of the judge disqualifying an exhibit under 6.3(b) above, he/she must report the matter to
the show secretary who shall inform the judge of the name and address of the owner of the disqualified
exhibit. The judge shall then notify the Secretary of the NCC in writing of the nature of the disqualification,
the name and address of the owner(s) and any other relevant details. In the event of an exhibitor twice
being reported to the club secretary for excessive or improper preparation by two separate judges, then
the NCC Secretary shall inform the exhibitor in writing of such reports. Should a third such report be
lodged with the Secretary then he/she shall pass the matter on together with all associated
documentation to the NCC Investigation Panel.
7.6 It shall be lawful if an exhibit has been disqualified for excessive or improper preparation for the officiating
judge, in the presence of the show secretary and the exhibitor of the said exhibit, to take a small sample of
the coat of the said exhibit by hand grooming. In this event half of the sample taken shall be given to the
said exhibitor for his/her safe keeping and half shall be sealed in an envelope which shall be signed by the
officiating judge and the show secretary and shall be sent by the judge with the report on the disqualification
to the NCC Secretary. It must always be remembered the removal of guard hairs by hand is permissible.Guidance notes for pet judges
7.7 The following guidance notes have been drawn up to help standardize the judging of pet cavies, at shows
under NCC Regulations. The aim is to achieve consistency in pet judging, while allowing the judge freedom
to express their own preferences.
7.8 Wherever possible, a pet judge should be a NCC member, and must have had at least 2 years’ experience
as an exhibitor. The pet section can be judged by a junior aged 14 – 17 years, provided they have the same
qualifications as above. Pets have traditionally been judged on condition, behaviour and cleanliness, and
these still form the main qualities on which a pet cavy should be judged. The judge should bear in mind
that condition and behaviour reflect the everyday care of the cavy, whereas cleanliness shows the ability
of the exhibitor to prepare a cavy for show.
7.9 Cavies being exhibited as pets should be assessed equally on:
a/ CONDITION/FITNESS: all exhibition cavies must be shown in good health and sound physical
condition, and be free from disease. They should be fit, not fat, with a well fleshed, muscled body,
healthy shining coat and bright eyes.
National Cavy Club Show Regulations
Ratified 22.10.2022
b/ BEHAVIOUR/TRACTABILITY/FRIENDLINESS: the cavy should be tame, easily handled, friendly and
calm on the table. This is an essential quality in the pet cavy. Allowance should be made for u/5
cavies to be more skittish than those in older age groups.
c/ CLEANLINESS/PREPARATION: the cavy should have a clean coat and grease spot, clean ear flaps, be
free from static and running lice, and have nails trimmed as necessary. (Ears should to be checked
visually without poking cotton buds, fingernails, etc. into ears.)
7.10 The coats of longhaired pets should be free from knots or tangles, and clipped to a length that clears the
board/table.
7.11 Pet classes at NCC shows are foremost for new exhibitors bringing in genuine pet cavies and therefore
judges should make allowances for grass stains, etc.
Note 1: The cavy should be handled throughout the judging process in such as way as not to cause it
any distress.
Note 2: While some exhibitors may like to groom their pets to purebred standards, and newcomers
may practice grooming on their pets, the presence or absence of guard hairs on smooth coated
exhibits must not be used as a point of judging.
Note 3: The size of the cavy is not in itself important. Cavies should be fit, not fat. A fit larger cavy
should not be given preference over a fit smaller one, purely on account of its greater size. Size
must not be the winning factor in judging pets. The judge can use their discretion to identify
underweight cavies, and penalize the excessively obese.
Note 4: Purebreds are acceptable as pets.
Note 5: The judge may need to explain to newcomers that they shouldn’t identify their cavies to the judge.
Note 6: It is recommended that after judging has finished, the judge should make him / herself
available for answering questions. This would particularly help newcomers. An announcement
should be made when the Pet Judge is available.Pet judging disqualifications
7.12 These are faults which are of such seriousness that they warrant the disqualification of the cavy:
• Abscess
• Break in skin - whether an open wound or scabbed over
• Sores on feet
• Running lice
• Sow obviously in pig
• Evidence of mite or fungal infections
• Paralysis of cavy
• Obvious ill health
• Head tilt/torticollis - may be congenital, but could be due to an infection
Pet judging faults
7.13 These are faults that are not sufficiently serious to disqualify the cavy, but will penalise it when in
competition with cavies not showing these faults.
• Impacted boar - a failure of preparation
• Cysts / fatty lumps - penalise according to the size of the lump
• Old scars - penalise according to size/number of scars
National Cavy Club Show Regulations
Ratified 22.10.2022
• Loss of coat - depending on amount of coat missing
• Static mite - depending on amount of mite present
• Scurfy skin
7.14 The following are not faults when judging pet cavies:
• Presence of guard hairs on smooth coated cavies
• Hemmed ears or torn / chewed ears - if soundly healed
• Extra toes
• Missing toe / Missing toenail - if soundly healed
• Missing eye - if soundly healed
• Fatty eye
• Cataracts
• Neutered cavies
8 Organising a show
8.1 The organisers of the show or their representatives shall:
a/ Be fully responsible for the carrying out and fulfilment of the Show Regulations and the correct
conduct of the show.
b/ Advertise their show in the cavy press in adequate time to enable exhibitors to complete their
entries and receive confirmation that their entries have been received
c/ Be entirely responsible for payment of the advertised prize money.
d/ Provide adequate penning and, when necessary, (and advertised as such) feed for exhibits.
e/ Provide judging tables and, when required, a table for exhibitors of longhaired cavies to brush out
their exhibits.
f/ Ensure that no exhibitor shall be refused entry without the NCC Executive being satisfied that there
is an appropriate reason.
g/ Prepare judging books showing all pen numbers and class and special prize definitions but
containing no information as to the identity of ownership of individual exhibits.
h/ Appoint a judge(s) and be responsible for payment requested by them. The terms of engagement
should be agreed prior to the confirmation of a judging appointment.
i/ Advise the judge(s) of the pen numbers of absent exhibits.
j/ Ensure that all exhibits have an ear label showing its pen number.
k/ Ensure that no person gives the judge any indication as to the ownership of an exhibit not already
placed and that no attempt is to be made in any way to influence his/her awards.
l/ Be mindful that Best in Show judging is a prestigious event, meetings must be avoided at the same
time. It is recommended, whenever practicable, to hold a formal award ceremony at conclusion of
the show
9 Sale pens at cavy shows
9.1 The show committee should satisfy the following regulations when providing sale pens for exhibitors at
cavy shows.
National Cavy Club Show Regulations
Ratified 22.10.2022
a/ Sales pens/sale areas are to be manned by officially appointed sales stewards.
b/ Vendors must supply each sale cavy with suitable food for the day, including hay and juicy
vegetables. A water bottle may also be provided (for agricultural shows this is usually compulsory).
c/ The club should provide an advice/information sheet on care of cavies for all purchasers. Such a
care sheet is available for clubs to download and print out from the NCC website.
d/ The vendor should supply their contact details to be given to the purchaser at time of sale. A
suitable box should also be provided for each cavy that is sold.
e/ Undersized cavies should be refused. The NCC set a minimum sale age of 8 weeks.
f/ Sales pens should only contain cavies of the same sex. A maximum of three u/5mths, two 5/8mths
or one adult will be allowed in each pen.
g/ The NCC asks that Skinnies, Baldwins, Werewolf and Giants (Cuy) are not brought into the show hall
and must not be offered for sale at any NCC shows.
h/ The sale stock stewards have the NCC backing to refuse to sell to unsuitable people. No cavies to
be sold to anyone who is under the age of 16 years or appears to be under the age of 16 unless
accompanied by an adult.
i/ Sale of stock between fanciers outside the show hall is permitted for pre-ordered stock. Wherever
practicable, space should be allocated for the storage of boxed, pre-ordered stock being exchanged.
Such exchanges should only be made by host club members or fanciers exhibiting on the day. On
no account should cavies be left in vehicles. Likewise, no cavies should be brought on spec for
onward sale (either in the hall or in the vicinity of the show) save through the official sale pens.
10 Welfare guidance
10.1 The NCC together, with the British Cavy Council (BCC), fully concurs with the guidelines for the welfare
and keeping of cavies in the UK as detailed in the following document, the full transcript of which is
available on the NCC and BCC websites:
WELFARE GUIDANCE FOR THE PROPER CARE OF CAVIES, as produced jointly by the National Cavy Club,
the Southern Cavy Club and the British Cavy Council
10.2 The NCC also demands that all shows in the UK recognize and implement the necessary rules to concur
with the following document:
DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION GUIDELINES, which again is available on the National Cavy Club and
British Cavy Council websites.
10.3 The NCC is able to set guidelines, but believes disease control and prevention is essentially each individual
member’s responsibility. All cavy keepers should at all times be vigilant for any signs of disease in their
animals. If any problem is detected, strict bio security should be practiced for the protection of others. If
there is any reason to believe that there is disease of any sort in a stud of cavies, professional veterinary
help should be immediately sought. The owner of these cavies should not take the animals to shows or to
other fanciers’ premises, nor put themselves in a position where they may be a danger to others. If an
animal is showing symptoms of ill health at a show this should be reported to the secretary or appointed
veterinary officer if one is available. They will decide if the animal is to be excluded from the show. Any
animal that is suspected of suffering from an infectious disease must to be removed from the show hall
or moved to an isolation area. In no circumstances should the animal be returned to its show pen. Judges
must disqualify and report to the secretary any cavy showing evidence of ill health such as obvious
breathing difficulties, significant evidence of mucus or abnormal discharges from the eyes, nose, mouth
or reproductive or intestinal openings. This applies to any animal that the judge suspects is suffering from
National Cavy Club Show Regulations
Ratified 22.10.2022
any infectious condition. During judging, cavies should be physically kept apart as much as possible
bearing in mind some contact may be necessary for essential comparison. Excrement, etc. should be
cleared from the judging table as soon as is practicable. Judges and stewards should have facilities to wash
or be provided with and should use hand disinfectants as appropriate. In accordance with NCC Show
Regulations, sale stock must only be sold through appointed sale stewards. When fanciers import stock
from abroad they should keep it in quarantine conditions for a month, this means not taking it to shows
or selling on to other fanciers or in fact being handled by other fanciers during this quarantine period. This
is a disease control and prevention overview; it is supported by a detailed formal code of practice
produced to prevent the spread of infectious diseases (a copy of the detailed code of practice is available
on the NCC and BCC web sites).
10.4 THERE ARE FURTHER GUIDELINES REGARDING THE EXHIBITION OF CAVIES WITH GENETIC OR ACQUIRED
ABNORMALITIES. Cavies with genetic or acquired abnormalities (physical deformities) may not be
exhibited either in the purebred or pet section of shows held under NCC rules. This rule aims to protect
the general health of any afflicted cavies and to guard against any ridicule that might develop from their
exhibition.
Regulations ratified at National Cavy Club AGM 22 nd October 2022.
These Regulations are available on the National Cavy Club website; hard copies are also available on request
from the NCC secretaries.