Ferret Showing

Ferrets are classified by colour for showing purposes the main colours groups are

POLECAT STANDARD

POLECAT DARK

SANDY

SILVER

COLOURED

MITTS

(not all ferret shows have mitt class)

COPPER

(Not all ferret shows have a Copper class)

ALBINO

The main colour classes are judged by gender so that males and females are not judged together but have separate classes

Most Shows also have classes for kits (baby Ferrets but they have to be at least 10 weeks old to show and most kits are born at the beginning of the year from late April onwards but you can get kits as late as August)  veteran, disabled, working , working pairs, pairs, rescue, junior handler and members class.  If the ferret show is aimed at raising money for a charity then fun classed are sometimes added like ferret with the longest tail, pink nosed polecat’s, ferret with the widest or longest yawn, ferret with the largest feet,  or smallest ferret, etc.

It is usually 50p to £1.00 for each entry.  This money goes to pay for the rosettes and trophies.  Any left over goes to the next show or equipment to provide a good show or ferret PR or ferret rescue and neutering of rescued ferrets and ferret welfare in general.  Each club committee decided how any extra monies are used.  Most clubs run open shows this means that anyone can show their ferret they do not have to be club members.

There are two types of judging:

Ring Judging

In the case of ring judging all competitors take their ferret or ferrets into the ring and pay their class entry fee in the ring.  Sometimes however, the ferrets are booked into their class in advance before any judging takes place so that records can be kept and class numbers monitored.

Each ferret is examined by the judge and appraised accordingly the rosettes are awarded in the ring along with any prize or prize money each class is called in turn.  Sometimes the Judge stands behind a table and each ferret with owner is called forward once the ferret is in the hands of the Judge the owner takes a respectful step back until the Judge indicates that he is satisfied

Blind Judging

In the case of blind judging the judges are separated from the main marquee where the ferrets and competitors are lodged and put into a small secluded marquee so that they cannot see where the ferrets have come from.  Some times they have a recorder to note down the marks awarded to each ferret.  Blind Judges always have a steward each sometimes two.  It is the stewards job to carry the ferrets between judge and owner.  The stewards job is taken very seriously.