Some questions about shows

[Kissa]

I just got confused trying to find this out, so I thought I'd ask instead Do you have to be a member of one of the NHC clubs to enter a show? And, say you were a member of the southern hamster club, could you enter a show run by the northern hamster club, or would you have to be an affiliate member first?

Secondly... Why are Robos shown in Syrian pens?

[kyrilliondaemon]

Er... The only one I can help with is that you need to be a member for everything except pet class.
Pet class is fine for everyone to enter though

[lisab]

Robos are shown in syrian pens so there is a bit more room to get hold of them in. I asked a dwarf judge the other day as i never knew either lol

if your not a member you just wont be able to take trophys home if you win any or enter any duplicate classes like novice or members points. and you can only hire pens if you are a member
You can show at a sourthen show if you are a midland or northern member and visa versa. you dont have to be a member of every club

Being a member of a club is an advantage if you wanted to show

You would be best contacting a club sec or the nhc to get a definate answer.

[Kissa]

What's a duplicate class?

[lisab]

If you have a look at a show schedule you will see them listed. They are things like novice, breeder ect. They have a description next to them what they are.

[Kissa]

I've seen them listed before, but have never seen a description. Possibly me just not looking hard enough

[Vectis Hamstery]

As the others have said, you don't have to be a member to enter either main class or pets as they are 'open' shows. If you are a non-member, you are not able to take home returnable trophies but are able to hire pens at Southern shows. I have checked the schedules, SHC constitution and NHC constitution and seen nothing prohibiting this. I presume this is also the case for the other clubs, but cannot say for sure. In the unusual event of there being more requests for hire pens than pens available, priority goes to novice then intermediate members.

In terms of duplicates, there is a rough guide in the NHC handbook to what duplicates may be used (on the NHC website and a copy is sent to you if you are a member). Each club can amend the duplicates to suit the club and this is voted on at the AGM, e.g. Sothern and Northern have different duplicates.

Southern duplicate explanations can be found next to the classes on the schedule:

Junior (all Juniors to be under 16 yrs)
Novice (owner in first year of membership of an NHC club)
Intermediate (owner in second year of membership of an NHC club)
Small Hamstery (owners of 12 or less Syrian/Dwarf Hamsters depending on section entered)
Young Stock (aged 6-16 weeks for Campbells and Winter Whites and 8-16 weeks for all other species)
Breeder (exhibitor to have bred Hamster)
Members Points Class (points go to annual award)
Grand Challenge (must enter to be awarded Certificate Of Merit)

Therefore a non-member could enter, if eligible, junior, small hamstery, breeder, young stock and grand challenge. Only members may enter novice, intermediate and members points.

If you are entering a show you need to know your hamster's species, fur type (LH/SH/rex/satin), pattern, colour and sex. Then you can use the show schedule and NHC handbook to work out the straight class. For standard colours, coat texture (rex/satin) takes precedence over colour/pattern, then pattern takes precedence over colour. If you are not sure what to enter, just ask the show sec and explain it is your first show. They will be able to help. As a show sec I have even been emailled photos of the hamsters to try and establish which straight class they should go into!

[Kissa]

I won't be showing for a while, Darla is nowhere near tame enough for a pet class and I'd be worried he'd escape during judging anyway. But once I've graduated and worked out where I'm living (eek) I'm planning on coming to some anyway, for the experience.

[slatted]

I think I read on another thread that you had to have a "pedigree" hamster to enter but am not sure this is true?

[Vectis Hamstery]

You don't need a pedigree hamster to enter a show. Pet class is open to all hams. You don't even need a pedigree ham for main classes, though those from breeders often do better as they have been bred with show standards in mind. Hybrids can't be entered on main class.