Brightside Jargon

Jersey Woolies are shown by their respective groups, according to age and sex. For instance, the judge may call for the SELFS group to show. First he/she will judge the Self Senior Bucks, then Self Senior Does, then Self Junior Bucks, and lastly Self Junior Does. The winners of each of these four classes will be judged against one another to determine the Best Of Group winner. This will be repeated with each of the other four Jersey Wooly Groups.

Following are some abbreviations and show terms you will come across in relation to showing rabbits:

ARBA: (“American Rabbit Breeders’ Association”) Governs the showing and registration of all recognized breeds of rabbits.

NJWRC: (“National Jersey Wooly Rabbit Club”) Dedicated to the promotion and support of the Jersey Wooly breed and those who are involved with it.

ARBA CONVENTION: A huge national show, lasting a few days, held in October of every year. (Site of the show travels around the country) All recognized breeds of rabbits are shown, from all over the nation (and some come from other countries, as well!) The next Convention will be Oct. 6^th through the 10^th, 2002, in Peoria, IL.

NJWRC NATIONALS: The annual show held by the National Jersey Wooly Club for Jersey Woolies only. Usually held in the spring (this year it will be on May 18^th, 2002, in Columbus, OH). Breeders from around the nation attend.

SWEEPSTAKES: National breed specialty clubs (like the National Jersey Wooly club, the National Mini Rex club) keep a tally of the points earned in sanctioned shows by each of their listed members in open and youth classes. At the end of their show year, they give out awards to the highest placing members in those categories, usually to the top ten only. The Wisconsin State RBA also keeps a sweepstakes for all its members, showing all breeds, in Wisconsin shows.

SANCTIONED SHOW: If someone pays a small fee to the club hosting the show, they can get that show to sanction a specific breed. That means that when that breed is shown, points may be earned that will go toward the sweepstakes of that breed's national club. Your breed does not have to be sanctioned in order for you to exhibit your animals at a show, but you would not earn any points toward your sweepstakes.

BOG: (“Best of Group”) This means that the rabbit was the best of all entries in that group (ex.: best self, best shaded, etc.) Sometimes mistakenly written on comment cards as BOV (“Best of Variety”) (In some other breeds, such as Netherland Dwarfs, each separate variety has its own individual class.)

BOSG: (“Best Opposite Sex of Group”) If the BOG winner was a buck, then the judge will pick between the first-place senior doe and the first-place junior doe. That winner will be the BOSG. (If the BOG winner is a doe, then the BOSG will be a buck.)

BOB: (“Best of Breed”) All the BOG winners are judged against one another to choose the rabbit which best represents the breed overall. There is only one BOB and one BOSB winner.

BOSB: (“Best Opposite Sex of Breed”) If the BOB was a buck, the judge will choose between all the does which were BOG or BOSG winners. The winning doe will be the BOSB. (If the BOB was a doe, the BOSB will be a buck.)

BEST 4 CLASS: All breeds of rabbits fall into two show categories: “4-class” and “6-class”. “4-Class” breeds show only as senior buck, senior doe, junior buck, junior doe. (In “6-class” breeds, two more classes are added – intermediate buck and intermediate doe.) Jersey Woolies are a “4-class” breed.

The BOB representatives of every “4-class” breed are judged against one another at the end of the show to choose the best “4-class” rabbit overall.

BIS: (“Best In Show”) The best “4-class” rabbit and the best “6-class” rabbit are shown against one another at the end of the show to choose the best rabbit in the whole show, overall. This is the highest award a rabbit can win at any show.

REGISTERED: This means that a rabbit (and its pedigree) has been examined by a licensed registrar, found to be of good quality, and is officially recorded with the ARBA.

GC: (“Grand Champion”) A Grand Champion rabbit is one which is registered, and has won at least three “legs” (see below), and is recorded with the ARBA as a Grand Champion.

LEGS: A “leg” is a certificate, sent from the show secretary, which goes toward helping a rabbit be eligible for Grand Champion status.

A “leg” is earned by winning a class, when there are at least five rabbits in the class and at least three exhibitors. Winners of BOB, BOSB, BOG, and BOSG still must have won over at least five rabbits in those categories with at least three exhibitors to gain a “leg”. Winning Best In Show gains a “leg”.

A rabbit must earn at least three “legs” at three different shows, under at least two different judges (with one “leg” being won as a senior) to become a Grand Champion. These “legs” are sent to the ARBA, along with the rabbit’s registration, and they send back a Grand Champion certificate.

DQ’s: (Disqualifications) As stated by the ARBA’s Standard of Perfection: “One or more defects, deformities or blemishes which render a rabbit ineligible for competition or registration.”

GENERAL DQ’s of any breed may include (not a complete list): wrong color or mismatched toenails, wrong eye color for the variety, wrong color shading or markings, over- or under-weight for the class, illness or injury, ….etc.

JERSEY WOOLY BREED SPECIFIC DQ’s may include (not a complete list): ears over 3” in length, weight over 3.5 lbs. in a senior, tassels on the ears, wool below the ankle joint, wool length shorter than 1.5 inches…..etc.

NP: "No Placing". This might be marked on a remark card when the class was very large (more than 10 entries). The judge would place only the top 9 or 10 entries, and the rest of the class would not be given placings. (There is no such thing as getting "15th place", that is.)

FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF BREED STANDARDS AND DISQUALIFICATIONS SEE THE STANDARD OF PERFECTION, PUBLISHED BY THE ARBA.