About Showing and the NCS

The NCS website provides a complete overview of the NCS it's aims and objectives along with details of forthcoming events and show results www.natchinsoc.co.uk. However I have given a brief outline about the NCS and what showing is about and how you do it. The NCS was originally the Chinchilla Fur Breeders Association but changed its name to the National Chinchilla Society. It is split into 4 regions, Southern, West Midlands and Wales, Northern and Scottish. Each region holds shows at its chosen location throughout the show season, from min to late September until the beginning of April. Shows are generally judged by a judge from another region; however members from any region can attend the shows. In order to enter a chinchilla into a show you have to be a member of the NCS When you join the NCS you get a membership card that needs to be produced in order for you to enter your chinchilla/s, additionally you receive 6 Gazettes a year that are full of details of events and articles written by breeders from around the world that provide valuable tips for both Show breeders and pet owners. What happens at a show? The show venue opens at 9am, this is to give breeders the opportunity to groom their chinchillas before they are entered into the competition. The show manager starts taking entries from 10:30 and then all the chinchillas are "Benched" by 11:00 when the judging starts. All the classes are judged and awards from 1st - 3rd are awarded to chinchillas that meet certain criteria. This means that if there is not a chin in a class that is of a 1st place quality then the awards start with 2nds and so on. There are also highly commended awards that can be awarded at the judges discretion. Before lunch the Standard chinchillas are judged. They are split into the following classes Main show classes A. Young Standard Females under 7 months. B. Young Standard Males under 7 months. C. Adult Standard Females 7 months and over. D. Adult Standard Males 7 months and over. Novice show classes Class NA. Novice Standard Females under 7 months. Class NB. Novice Standard Males under 7 months. Class NC. Novice Standard Females 7 months and over. Class ND. Novice Standard Males 7 months and over. These classes can be split into colour phase if there are more than 3 of each colour phase in a class. After lunch the mutations are judged in the following classes Main show classes E. Young Mutations under 7 months. F. Adult Mutations 7 months and over. Novice show classes Class NE. Novice Young Mutations under 7 months. Class NF. Novice Adult Mutations 7 months and over. Again if there are more than 3 of each colour in mutation classes they are split into separate classes. If there are chins entered that don't fit into a particular colour phase then there is an AOC (Any Other Colour) class. Winners from each colour phase compete for the mutation awards. The winers from each class compete for the following awards Standard awards Best standard male Reserve best standard male Best Standard female Reserve best standard female Best young standard Reserve best young standard Best adult standard Reserve best adult standard Best standard Reserve best standard Mutation awards Best young mutation Reserve best young mutation Best adult mutation Reserve best adult mutation Best mutation Reserve best mutaion Top show awards Grand show champion Reserve grand show champion The difference between novice and main shows. When you first start to show chins you are given 5 years of Novice status where you compete against other novices. This is done so that you have enough time to get in your breeding stock and breed your own lines and get up to a certain standard before you have to compete against established breeders. You do get 3 exemption cards that you can use at any time to enter the main show for a day. It is also possible to forfit your novice status when you feel you are ready but once done there is no turning back. Although novice exhibitors don't compete in their classes with the established breeders if a novice chinchilla gets a 1st award it does compete for the shows special awards. In addition to this, the novice status is automatically terminated when the novice wins three special award with an own bred chinchilla.