Showing for beginners
What is the British Rabbit Council?
The British Rabbit Council (BRC) is an organisation which allows exhibitors to show rabbits in the UK. There are over 60 breeds recognised by the British Rabbit Council and over 500 varieties. These are divided into four groups:
The Netherland Dwarf falls within the Fancy group. |
Mission Statement - taken from the BRC website: http://thebritishrabbitcouncil.org/index.htm
"To protect, further and co-ordinate the interests of all British rabbit breeders; to assist and extend the exhibition rabbits, to influence, advise and co-operate with central and local authorities, departments, education and other committees and schools in promoting the extension of the breeding of rabbits, and to promote and encourage education and research of a scientific and/or practical nature for the welfare and benefit of the rabbit."
"To protect, further and co-ordinate the interests of all British rabbit breeders; to assist and extend the exhibition rabbits, to influence, advise and co-operate with central and local authorities, departments, education and other committees and schools in promoting the extension of the breeding of rabbits, and to promote and encourage education and research of a scientific and/or practical nature for the welfare and benefit of the rabbit."
Membership
To enter BRC rabbit shows participants are required to be members of the BRC, and their rabbits must be registered in their name. Memberships run from 1st January to 31st December each year. To become a member please see the following link - http://thebritishrabbitcouncil.org/members.htm
What will you receive as a member?
Junior Membership
Junior membership is available between the ages of 5 and 16. There are separate Junior classes that are available to enter at BRC shows.
To enter BRC rabbit shows participants are required to be members of the BRC, and their rabbits must be registered in their name. Memberships run from 1st January to 31st December each year. To become a member please see the following link - http://thebritishrabbitcouncil.org/members.htm
What will you receive as a member?
- Articles of Constitution & Rules Book
- Breed Standards Book
- Year Book
- Five Freedoms
- Benefits of Vaccination
- Top Tips How to Look After Your Rabbit
- Composting Rabbit Manure
- Recommended Reading; and Ring Order Form, in all Adult packs.
Junior Membership
Junior membership is available between the ages of 5 and 16. There are separate Junior classes that are available to enter at BRC shows.
BRC Rings
Members rabbits must be rung with a metal ring around one hind leg. These rings can be purchased directly from the BRC, and will be registered to you. The ring will display the following information:
These rings are placed on the rabbits legs when they are young (approximately 5 weeks old). If you purchase a rabbit which is already rung and you wish to show them, then a ring transfer form will need to be sent to the BRC to register the rabbit into your name.
Members rabbits must be rung with a metal ring around one hind leg. These rings can be purchased directly from the BRC, and will be registered to you. The ring will display the following information:
- The year the rabbit was born. E.g. for 2020 the ring will display '20'
- The size of the ring - for Netherland Dwarfs the size will be 'X'
- A unique number to identify the rabbit. E.g. '12345'
- Overall example - 20X12345
These rings are placed on the rabbits legs when they are young (approximately 5 weeks old). If you purchase a rabbit which is already rung and you wish to show them, then a ring transfer form will need to be sent to the BRC to register the rabbit into your name.
Getting Started
The BRC also have a helpful article on how to get started with rabbits - http://thebritishrabbitcouncil.org/GETTING%20STARTED%20WITH%20RABBITS.pdf
The BRC also have a helpful article on how to get started with rabbits - http://thebritishrabbitcouncil.org/GETTING%20STARTED%20WITH%20RABBITS.pdf
- Understand the Breed - make sure that you have done your research and choose the bred that is right for you.
- Attend Shows - talk to experienced members for advice and see who is doing well at shows.
- Show in the Pet Class - this can be a good first step in learning how to show rabbits.
- Choose a colour - decide on a colour that you would like to concentrate on. It can be very difficult to breed / show too many colours at once.
- Find a trio - take your time and invest in a good quality trio of rabbits from an exhibitor (1 buck and 2 does).
- Mentor - feel free to request a mentor from the MANDRC to help guide your through the process of breeding and showing.
- Keep Space Free - ensure that you don't buy too many rabbits to start with, and that you have space to keep your own babies to show in the future.
BRC Shows
How to Find a Show
The dates of shows are listed on the BRC website - https://thebritishrabbitcouncil.org/shows-current-year.php
Further details of the show are then in a show advert which is advertised in the Fur & Feather magazine.
How to Enter
To enter a show you will need to contact the show secretary. You will find the details to contact then in the show advert in the Fur & Feather magazine. You will need to provide them with the following information:
How to Find a Show
The dates of shows are listed on the BRC website - https://thebritishrabbitcouncil.org/shows-current-year.php
Further details of the show are then in a show advert which is advertised in the Fur & Feather magazine.
How to Enter
To enter a show you will need to contact the show secretary. You will find the details to contact then in the show advert in the Fur & Feather magazine. You will need to provide them with the following information:
- Your name or Stud name
- The breed of your rabbit
- The colour of your rabbit
- Whether the rabbit is an Adult or Under 5 Months
- Whether the rabbit is a Buck or Doe
- Let the Secretary know if you are a Junior Member as you will be entered into different classes
Show Rating
Shows are rated from 1* to 5*, with 1* being the lowest and 5* the highest. Exhibitors will collect stars when they gain a challenge certificate at a BRC show. E.g. If a show is 3* then a challenge certificate would be worth 3* from that show. Stars can be collected and then submitted to the BRC for Championship Diplomas. |
How Shows Run
The number and range of classes at a show will vary depending on the show. A basic over of classes is as follows:
The number and range of classes at a show will vary depending on the show. A basic over of classes is as follows:
- Colour Class - E.g. Agouti class for a Netherland Dwarf - these are split into an Adult class and an Under 5 months class. The best overall Agouti will receive a Challenge Certificate.
- Best Of Breed - The best of each colour Netherland Dwarf will then be judged to determine the Best of Breed
- Best Fancy - The Best Of Breed Netherland Dwarf will then be entered into the Best Fancy Class
- Best in Show - The Best of each Group (Fancy, Lop, Normal Fur, and Rex ), will then be judged to determine Best in Show.
Stock Shows
The National Breed Club (National Netherland Dwarf Rabbit Club), and Regional Breed Specialist Clubs such as Midland Area Netherland Dwarf Rabbit Club hold approximately 4 stock shows throughout the year. These are sometimes held alongside standard shows, and are an excellent opportunity to meet fellow exhibitors of the breed. |
How Are Rabbits Judged?
Each breed has a breed standard as to which they are judged against. To view the breed standards please see the following link: http://thebritishrabbitcouncil.org/standards.htm Or find further information about the Netherland Dwarf on our Breed Standard Page. |
Fur & Feather
To keep up-to-date with the latest from the Fancy and see show adverts / reports you need to subscribe to the Fur & Feather monthly magazine - http://www.furandfeather.co.uk/subscribe
To keep up-to-date with the latest from the Fancy and see show adverts / reports you need to subscribe to the Fur & Feather monthly magazine - http://www.furandfeather.co.uk/subscribe
The British Rabbit Council
Please feel free to contact us for any further advice, or visit the British Rabbit Council website for further information - http://thebritishrabbitcouncil.org/index.htm
Please feel free to contact us for any further advice, or visit the British Rabbit Council website for further information - http://thebritishrabbitcouncil.org/index.htm