Becoming a Writer for a Rabbit Show
A "Writer" at a rabbit show records the placement results given by the judge at a show. It is a very important job but one that isn't that hard once you learn the "ropes" or order in which it is done. It is best to sit beside a few different writers at a couple of shows. Not just to pick up tips from those writers but to also hear the different styles that judges give comments and how classes are run. When you first write on your own, tell the judge that you are new, that he/she may have to go a bit slower and to state the tattoo number and placement very clearly. Don't be afraid to ask them to repeat themselves.
There will probably be a sheet on the left hand side of the folder cover to record this along with the top placements which get filled out after the judging is completed. If the judge provides their personal name stamp, stamp it inside the folder, if not write his/her name inside. This is so the show secretary will know who judged which breed. Also write your name inside as writer.
Most control sheets now are computer generated and will have the exhibitor's name, rabbit's ear # and a column to record the placing number and another column to write special awards or other comments such as DQ's. Generally there is a number total at the top of the page that tells you how many rabbits are in the class. There may be scratches or additions in ink that will change this number. Count the number of animals listed and change that number if necessary.
Call out the class for exhibitors to bring their animals up, saying what breed, what class, whether Open or Youth and which judge's table. If you are too shy to do that, ask an exhibitor to do it for you. Count the animals in the coops and see if it matches the number on the sheet. If some are missing, enlist the exhibitors to help you deduce who it is and get their help to track down the missing animal. Generally breeders know each other in a particular breed and they are anxious to get the class going too. Sometimes it is a scratched rabbit that hasn't been recorded as such. If there is a No Show, meaning the animal is not brought up, write NS in the placement column. When the correct number is on the table, tell the judge the class is complete or if you tell him the number of entries expected, he/she can confirm it themselves.
Most judges remove disqualified animals first and you write DQ in the placement column and it is helpful to the exhibitor if you write the reason in the Other column. Various DQ's are overweight, white toenail etc. If the DQ is for being the wrong sex, you must reduce the number count in the class. An animal that is the wrong sex doesn't belong in the class at all, so it cannot count as a class entry. Next the judge will usually start placing the rabbits from last place to first place. Once in a great while, a judge may say his first place rabbit to "close the class." Closing a class disallows anyone putting another rabbit up for judging. This is rare, so I wouldn't worry about it. If the classes are large, there may be animals given a No Place or Outclassed which you record as NP or OC.
I wouldn't worry about this detail too much as it is up to the judge to know and remember this detail and you will seldom see a class of over 21 at the local shows. But I will mention it as it is part of writing. When the judge has to place the required number of animals, he/she will start numbering them. Judges have to give a number placement to at least ten rabbits up until there are 21 total in a class. Any class 22 or over needs to have half the class numbered. Then anything over 49 rabbits a judge has to place the Top 25. He never has to place over 25.
A large class that a judge is making numerous No Place's may ask you to let him know when he gets down to the final 10 and has to give placement numbers. At that point, he may go thru the animals again, shuffle some around and then start numbering them as he sends them off the table.
Generally the class winners will be given special awards that need to be recorded such as Best of Variety-BOV, Best of Group-BOG, Best of Breed-BOB and Best Opposites (BOSV, BOSG, BOSB) of all these specials. Some breeds may require a Best Senior or Best Junior, such as Himalayan. Most judges will be aware of this. Abbreviations are used for noting these specials. This is perhaps the most confusing time to record results, so ask the judge to slow down if you can't keep up. Never, ever hesitate to ask a judge to slow down when announcing these specials or ask he/she to repeat them. They want to make sure you get it correctly recorded as much as you do, so do not be shy, speak up.
Try writing for some small entries first and work your way up. Some breeds are more confusing to write for when they have more colors, groups and varieties that need placing. A few of these would be Netherland Dwarfs, Jersey Woolies and Minirex. Nothing against these breeds but you will find it easier to start with breeds that have fewer classes and smaller entries overall. You can ask for an experienced writer to sit with you a couple of times to verify you are doing things correctly and can answer any question that comes up. Some people learn better when they are in the "driver's seat", others prefer to observe for a while first.
There is no better way to learn about a breed, judging styles and how a show runs than to be a writer. Some clubs provide a special raffle just for writer's where you can win a nice item to take home at the end of the day. Become a cog in the wheel that keeps our rabbit shows going because without the writers, everything grinds to a halt.
There will probably be a sheet on the left hand side of the folder cover to record this along with the top placements which get filled out after the judging is completed. If the judge provides their personal name stamp, stamp it inside the folder, if not write his/her name inside. This is so the show secretary will know who judged which breed. Also write your name inside as writer.
Most control sheets now are computer generated and will have the exhibitor's name, rabbit's ear # and a column to record the placing number and another column to write special awards or other comments such as DQ's. Generally there is a number total at the top of the page that tells you how many rabbits are in the class. There may be scratches or additions in ink that will change this number. Count the number of animals listed and change that number if necessary.
Call out the class for exhibitors to bring their animals up, saying what breed, what class, whether Open or Youth and which judge's table. If you are too shy to do that, ask an exhibitor to do it for you. Count the animals in the coops and see if it matches the number on the sheet. If some are missing, enlist the exhibitors to help you deduce who it is and get their help to track down the missing animal. Generally breeders know each other in a particular breed and they are anxious to get the class going too. Sometimes it is a scratched rabbit that hasn't been recorded as such. If there is a No Show, meaning the animal is not brought up, write NS in the placement column. When the correct number is on the table, tell the judge the class is complete or if you tell him the number of entries expected, he/she can confirm it themselves.
Most judges remove disqualified animals first and you write DQ in the placement column and it is helpful to the exhibitor if you write the reason in the Other column. Various DQ's are overweight, white toenail etc. If the DQ is for being the wrong sex, you must reduce the number count in the class. An animal that is the wrong sex doesn't belong in the class at all, so it cannot count as a class entry. Next the judge will usually start placing the rabbits from last place to first place. Once in a great while, a judge may say his first place rabbit to "close the class." Closing a class disallows anyone putting another rabbit up for judging. This is rare, so I wouldn't worry about it. If the classes are large, there may be animals given a No Place or Outclassed which you record as NP or OC.
I wouldn't worry about this detail too much as it is up to the judge to know and remember this detail and you will seldom see a class of over 21 at the local shows. But I will mention it as it is part of writing. When the judge has to place the required number of animals, he/she will start numbering them. Judges have to give a number placement to at least ten rabbits up until there are 21 total in a class. Any class 22 or over needs to have half the class numbered. Then anything over 49 rabbits a judge has to place the Top 25. He never has to place over 25.
A large class that a judge is making numerous No Place's may ask you to let him know when he gets down to the final 10 and has to give placement numbers. At that point, he may go thru the animals again, shuffle some around and then start numbering them as he sends them off the table.
Generally the class winners will be given special awards that need to be recorded such as Best of Variety-BOV, Best of Group-BOG, Best of Breed-BOB and Best Opposites (BOSV, BOSG, BOSB) of all these specials. Some breeds may require a Best Senior or Best Junior, such as Himalayan. Most judges will be aware of this. Abbreviations are used for noting these specials. This is perhaps the most confusing time to record results, so ask the judge to slow down if you can't keep up. Never, ever hesitate to ask a judge to slow down when announcing these specials or ask he/she to repeat them. They want to make sure you get it correctly recorded as much as you do, so do not be shy, speak up.
Try writing for some small entries first and work your way up. Some breeds are more confusing to write for when they have more colors, groups and varieties that need placing. A few of these would be Netherland Dwarfs, Jersey Woolies and Minirex. Nothing against these breeds but you will find it easier to start with breeds that have fewer classes and smaller entries overall. You can ask for an experienced writer to sit with you a couple of times to verify you are doing things correctly and can answer any question that comes up. Some people learn better when they are in the "driver's seat", others prefer to observe for a while first.
There is no better way to learn about a breed, judging styles and how a show runs than to be a writer. Some clubs provide a special raffle just for writer's where you can win a nice item to take home at the end of the day. Become a cog in the wheel that keeps our rabbit shows going because without the writers, everything grinds to a halt.