Certificates and Titles

These are awarded to the first prize winners of entire Adult Open classes for full (championship) status breeds, both male and female. Three Challenge Certificates awarded by three different judges make the cat a Champion.

At ordinary Championship shows, full Champions may compete in special Grand classes for Champions only as well as, or instead of, their Open class. The winner of each Grand class is eligible to be awarded a Grand Challenge Certificate. The second placed cat is eligible for a Reserve Grand Challenge Certificate: this means that if the Grand Certificate winner is disqualified, the Reserve Certificate winner will be awarded the Grand Certificate which will count towards a title. No further placings are made in these classes, even if the certificates are withheld. Three Grand Challenge Certificates awarded by three different judges make the cat a Grand Champion.

At ordinary Championship shows, full Grand Champions compete in Imperial Grand classes for Grand Champions only.  The winner of each Imperial Grand class is eligible to be awarded an Imperial Grand Challenge Certificate. The second placed cat is eligible for a Reserve Imperial Grand Challenge Certificate: this means that if the Imperial Grand Certificate winner is disqualified, the Reserve Certificate winner will be awarded the Imperial Grand Certificate which will count towards a title. No further placings are made in these classes, even if the certificates are withheld. Five Imperial Grand Challenge Certificates awarded by five different judges make the cat an Imperial Grand Champion.

At the Supreme Show only, there are special classes solely for Grand Champions, Imperial Grand Champions, UK Grand Champions and UK & Imperial Grand Champions, again split male and female. The winners are eligible for UK Grand Challenge Certificates, two of which, awarded by two different judges, make the cat a UK Grand Champion or a UK & Imperial Grand Champion if it has additionally gained that title. There is no Reserve UK Grand Challenge Certificate.

These are awarded to the first prize winners of adult Neuter Open classes for full (championship) status breeds, both male and female. Three Premier Certificates awarded by three different judges make the cat a Premier.

At ordinary Championship shows, full Premiers compete in special Grand classes for Premiers only. The winner of each Grand class is eligible to be awarded a Grand Premier Certificate. The second placed cat is eligible for a Reserve Grand Premier Certificate: this means that if the Grand Certificate winner is disqualified, the Reserve Certificate winner will be awarded the Grand Certificate which will count towards a title. No further placings are made in these classes, even if the certificates are withheld. Three Grand Premier Certificates awarded by three different judges make the cat a Grand Premier.

At ordinary Championship shows, full Grand Premiers compete in special Imperial Grand classes for Grand Premiers only. The winner of each Imperial Grand class is eligible to be awarded an Imperial Grand Premier Certificate. The second placed cat is eligible for a Reserve Imperial Grand Premier Certificate: this means that if the Imperial Grand Certificate winner is disqualified, the Reserve Certificate winner will be awarded the Imperial Grand Certificate which will count towards a title. No further placings are made in these classes, even if the certificates are withheld. Five Imperial Grand Premier Certificates awarded by five different judges make the cat an Imperial Grand Premier.

At the Supreme Show only, full Grand Premiers have special classes solely for Grand Premiers, Imperial Grand Premiers, UK Grand Premiers and UK & Imperial Grand Premiers, again split male and female. The winners are eligible for UK Grand Premier Certificates, two of which, awarded by two different judges, make the cat a UK Grand Premier or a UK & Imperial Grand Premier if it has additionally gained that title. There is no Reserve UK Grand Premier Certificate.

Imperial winners can aim higher still and compete for an Olympian Certificate. These cats will be against other Imperial Champions or Imperial Premiers with just 4 certificates offered per show, as males and females compete separately in each category. In pursuit of an Olympian title, bronze silver and gold levels can be obtained, a cat must win 4 of the 5 certificates needed for each level at All Breed Shows, and all 5 of the certificates at each level must be awarded by different judges.

At the Supreme Show, each Best of Variety Winner, Adult, Kitten and Neuter, is awarded a Certificate.

If an Adult is not yet a Champion, this BOV Certificate will count as a Challenge Certificate. If a Neuter is not yet a Premier, this BOV Certificate will count as a Premier Certificate.

If the Winner is already a Champion, the BOV Certificate is considered to be a Grand Challenge Certificate. If the winner is already a Premier, the BOV Certificate is considered to be a Grand Premier Certificate.

Kittens also win Best of Variety Certificates but these do not count towards a title.

Any Imperial or Olympian titled cat that wins Best of Variety will count as an additional Olympian certificate.

The Supreme Adult, Kitten and Neuter are each awarded a Certificate.

If the Supreme Adult is not yet a Champion, this Supreme Certificate will count as a Challenge Certificate. If he or she is already a Champion it will count as a Grand Challenge Certificate. If the cat has already been awarded a UK Grand Challenge Certificate, it will count as the second UK Grand Certificate, giving the cat the title of Supreme UK Grand Champion.

If the Supreme Neuter is not yet a Premier, this Supreme Certificate will count as a Premier Certificate. If he or she is already a Premier It will count as a Grand Premier Certificate. If the cat has already been awarded a UK Grand Premier Certificate, it will count as the second UK Grand Certificate, giving the cat the title of Supreme UK Grand Premier.

Whether the cat is a Champion/Premier, Grand Champion/Premier or UK Grand Champion/Premier, the awarding of the Supreme Certificate adds “Supreme” to the title – Supreme Champion, Supreme UK Grand Premier etc.

The Certificate awarded to the Supreme Kitten does not count towards any future title, but the exhibit may put “(Supreme Kitten 20…)” after his or her name in catalogue entries and on pedigrees.

Adults, Kittens and Neuters of Preliminary status breeds, the first stage of recognition of a breed, do not have Open classes. They are shown in Assessment classes, where each exhibit is assessed individually against its Standard of Points. If the judge considers the cat to conform to its Standard of Points, with none of the listed withholding faults for the breed, a Merit Certificate is awarded.

In order for a cat to become a “qualifier” and help towards the progression of its breed to Championship status, it must win four Merit Certificates from four different judges, of which not more than two may be won in kitten classes.