JUDGING COMPETITIONS

· 2006 National Judging Competition Results (PDF 57 kb)

This page includes information and documents provided to assist in judging competitions.

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Information for Overjudges, Competitors and Spectators
Hormel Computing Slide. Judging competitions conducted by agricultural societies throughout Australia are based on the use of the Hormel Computing Slide, which allots points for the placing of animals within groups of four. The Hormel Computing Slide is copyright produced in USA, and is recognised as consistent and completely fair in its application. Please contact the VAS Ltd office for further information.

The over-judge plays no part in the operation of the SLIDE, but is required to provide the vital information which enables it to be set up. If possible, three groups of four animals, preferably of the same sex and approximate age, and numbered one to four, are selected for the judging competition. Each group is judged separately. Before the animals are presented for competitor judging, the over-judge is requested to place them in order of merit, and to allot points out of 100 for each animal.

The competitors will then judge each group separately, and fill in their judging cards simply by placing the animals in THEIR OWN order of merit. Each group of animals will enable competitors to qualify for a maximum of 50 points, which they will be allotted by the HORMEL COMPUTING SLIDE if they have placed them in the same order as the over-judge. There are 24 different combinations in which the animals within a group of four can be placed, and the SLIDE will allot scores from 1 to 50 according to the degree of error. This system enables a competitor to obtain a maximum of 150 points by visually assessing the three groups of animals.

Competitors who score well in the objective assessment of the animals will be required to undertake an ORAL examination on one group of four animals. Usually the competitor has the choice of groups. It is therefore helpful for the competitor to take notes on the judging card for use during this ORAL examination. The COMPETITOR'S NOTES on half of the judging card should be retained with this in mind. On the back of this half of the card is information to help a competitor complete the ORAL part of the competition to best advantage. This information states that the competitor will be allowed to parade the animals - if they are cattle - for one circuit of the ring, and place them in his/her order of merit. If they are sheep they should also be placed in order of merit. Two minutes are then allowed to express to the over-judge and spectators, the reasons why they were placed in that order. The objective is to convince the over-judge that each animal in the class was seen and compared. It is important that comparisons between animals are made, and that particular animals are not just described. The competitor should commence his/her reasoning as follows:- "I placed this class (eg. 1 3 4 2)"; and then follow with reasons why the first choice was placed ahead of the second, (first pair). He/she should then proceed in similar manner with the middle pair, and finally the bottom pair. The speaker should be concise; show conviction in decision making; give most important reasons first; and use comparative terms.

Depending on the skill displayed in this part of the competition, another 50 points may be allotted by the over-judge. It is therefore possible for a maximum of 200 points to be scored.

Stewards intending to conduct judging competitions should obtain copies of, and abide by the rules and regulations for the conduct of competitions as provided by VAS Ltd secretariat.

Show Societies and Groups wishing to conduct judging competitions are advised that, unless the show is conducted over at least two days, when time and animals might be satisfactorily arranged, it is advisable to schedule competitions for a time and place that will permit maximum participation. An important reason for this requirement is that to maintain interest in competitions, and introduce entries on an ongoing basis, it is advisable to conduct a judging clinic before or after the competition. The over-judge, when selected, should be made aware of this requirement, and if the clinic is conducted before the competition, which is preferable, only one animal should be examined. lf at all possible, the animal examined will NOT be included in the line up of four to be used for the competition.

Too much importance cannot be placed on the use of the HORMEL SLIDE (obtainable from VAS Ltd). A copy of guidelines detailing how to use the HORMEL slide are attached. The operation of the slide may be difficult for some people, but if instructions are carefully followed, and/or some time is spent with a person familiar with its use, any problem may be quickly overcome. Please take particular note that four animals of similar age and breeding, and clearly numbered from one to four (1,2,3,4) are essential for its operation, and at least two, but preferably three groups of four animals are necessary for a satisfactory result, taking into account the possibility of an entrant "fluking" a good score on one group of four.

Having appointed a competent over-judge, and selected the groups of animals to be judged, it is important to prevent any competitor from obtaining an advantage by examining them either alone, or in conjunction with another person, before the commencement of the competition. The rules and regulations appropriate to the successful running of the competition should be explained to competitors as a group, and any questions asked should be answered so that all competitors will hear what is said. It is also necessary to outline to competitors the method of marking their judging cards/sheets; COMPETITOR'S VISUAL PLACING, (first half) to be handed in at the conclusion of judging of each group of four; and the use they may make of the second half, REASON CARD FOR COMPETITOR'S NOTES, which they may retain for use when and if they are interviewed for the oral class.

The timing of the competition depends to some extent on the animals to be judged. Cattle judging is fairly straight forward, with all competitors (any number) being permitted to judge each group of four animals (one group at a time) as they are paraded and lined up by the timing steward/s. For sheep, no more than 12 young judges can operate at one time (where there are three groups of four sheep before the competitors at the same time), and due vigilance must be maintained by the stewards to timing, and the moving on of competitors from one animal to the next; at the same time restricting four entrants to one group of four animaIs until they have completed judging that group. (Adjustments have to be made if there are fewer than 12 competitors by allocating as nearly as possible, the same number of competitors to each group of four).

These methods of conducting the competitions are necessary for the expedient completion of each competition, and in order to maintain competitor and spectator interest.

Cooperation of all stewards involved in the running of the competition is essential. It has often happened that, despite over-judges being given instructions for them to use when assessing animals, their individuality may result in them not complying with those instructions, and the steward/s keeping the records will have to adjust their scoring of animals to comply with the HORMEL SLIDE rules. This should not be a problem if undertaken by someone familiar with the animals/breed, and certainly does not necessitate a confrontational approach to anyone. It is always possible that two entrants at the top of the list may end up with the same number of points. It is vital in that situation that a winner be named, and so the over-judge should be invited to re-examine the oral scoring of the candidates with this end in view. But remember that two entrants from each competition are entitled to compete at the next highest level, (the exception is the State winner, as only one person is invited to compete for the National title) so no great disadvantage is involved.

Copies of the judging cards, with, on the reverse side, competitor information and a sketch of the salient points of the animals to be judged, should, if possible, be on display for competitors to peruse before the commencement of the competition, or should be given to the competitors to study for an appropriate time before the commencement of the competition. This is particularly necessary for inexperienced competitors at the local show and group level.

The provision of suitable material for the conduct of the competition is vital. Three sets of numbers from one to four (1, 2, 3, 4,) are required for the animals. For cattle, the numbers should be large enough to be clearly seen when hung around the animal's neck. Sheep numbers may be smaller, and can be safety pinned on the wool at the back of the head, or for bare shorn sheep, either stuck on the animal in a conspicuous place, or tied to the animal where they can be clearly seen. Competitors must also be clearly numbered ? the number being pinned to clothing on the arm near the shoulder ? where the over-judge may easily see it. Pencils should be available, and the stewards may need a rubber. Pieces of semi solid material, such as stiff cardboard, to which the score sheets can be attached, are of distinct benefit to competitors.

Where possible, a public address system should be available for the competitor to use when being interviewed for the oral class, as this will be a requirement at State and National level. It is also of value for the steward-in-charge, to advise onlookers and competitors on the conduct of the competition, and for use during presentation of awards, and for the over-judge when addressing competitors at the conclusion of the competition.

Groups should find little difficulty in organising and running competitions, depending on the availability in the region of cooperative stud breeders. The assistance of secondary and tertiary educational institutions can be vital in obtaining entries. All relevant scoring sheets for competitors and stewards, are available from VAS Ltd.

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