The National Chinchilla Society

under the lights

SHOW INFORMATION
The N.C.S. has four regions, Northern, West Midlands and Wales, Southern and the Scottish. Shows are held regionally throughout the show season, which starts in September and ends in April with the final and largest show of the year, THE NATIONAL SHOW. These shows whilst being contested in a serious manner are also used as social occasions. They give the opportunity to meet other breeders to exchange ideas and to make new friends.

To be eligible to enter your Chinchilla or Chinchillas at any N.C.S. show you are required to be a fully paid up member of the Society for that show season. A list of all NCS shows can be found on our events page, which you can reach by clicking on the menu button above. Once a member, you can enter your chinchilla into one of our classes for the fee if £1.50 per chinchilla at all nationwide NCS shows.

The NCS runs a "Show Buddy" system for those that want it. Your show buddy is there to help you both before and during the show. They will be your point of contact so you can ask questions prior to the day of the show. They will arrange to meet you there, help you with registration, grooming your chinchilla/s and introduce you to other members. If need be, they can also arrange for you to have the use of show cages.

Please contact the Regional Secretary (Chairman for the Southern Region) of the show you are going to attend so they can assign a show buddy to you. Contact details for each region are on the back cover of the gazettes and on bottom of the "Events" page of this website. As a society, we look forward to seeing and welcoming as many new exhibitors as possible.

SHOW STRUCTURE

The show is split into three different sections to meet the needs of all levels of experience in the exhibition of chinchillas. At all times the skill and experience of a qualified NCS judge is gained for the minimal entry fee.

ASSESSMENT CLASS

If you are new to the NCS and qualify as a Novice Exhibitor (less than 5 years in the society and having not won 3 x Special awards with owner bred chins) then there is a class which is specifically designed to give you a one-to-one appraisal of your chin. This is the Assessment class, and for your entry fee you get a one-on-one appraisal of your chinchilla with an NCS judge, where you have the opportunity to discuss and learn about the qualities your chin has.

This is a great way to start a show career and enables you to learn about your chin without the additional competition which exhibiting brings. If the judge thinks your chinchilla merits an award or has sufficient qualities, they may recommend you to exhibit in the Novice classes.

To enter the Assessment class you have to be a Novice or new member of the Society, and you need to speak to the registrar on the day, and enter your chin prior to the start of the show, giving date of birth and the sex and colour of your chinchilla. If you have recently joined the Society and wish to attend your first show, the assessment class is a great place to start, so ring the Secretary of the regional show you are attending and have a chat. They may be able to supply a show cage if you do not have one, or advise where you can obtain one prior to the show.

national show trophies

NOVICE
In conjunction with the main show a Novice section of the show is run for new members. The Judge will give a detailed appraisal and explanations of the qualities of each individual animal. This helps new members to become more knowledgeable about the animals they own, as well as learning the terminology used to describe Chinchilla qualities. Upon joining the Society you will be issued with your membership card and a free booklet entitled “The Guide to Quality Chinchillas”.

The Novice classes are competitive and you will be entering your chins with other novice members with rosettes on offer. Should your chinchilla win a 1^st ribbon it will be judged for a group prize against the main show exhibits and has a chance to compete for Grand show Champion!

The show classes for the Novice entries comprise of:-
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.
Class NE - Novice Young Mutations under 7 months.
Class NF - Novice Adult Mutations 7 months and over.

THE CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW
Before the shows begin animals are groomed and made to look their best. Once groomed the animals are placed in individual show cages, they are not removed from these cages or handled at any time during the show as this would undo all the hard work the owners have done in preparing them (being nocturnal they soon settle down and spend most of the day asleep, oblivious of what is going on!). The cages are only moved to the judging lights by stewards when their class is being judged, these lights aid the Judge in assessing the quality of the animals.

In the Main Show there are six classes ( A - F ) comprising of:-
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.
E. Young Mutations under 7 months.

F. Adult Mutations 7 months and over.

Code of Practice for Shows