This is a topic which will no doubt always be discussed as we are talking about a 'hobby' with The Poultry Club offering guidelines on many topics - but not having any ideals enshrined in tablets of stone. It thus falls upon show managers through their committees etc. to adopt different policies when guiding the judges at the end of a show.

The 'ideal' is to have a Championship judge - but only the larger shows could entertain this extra expense, plus at smaller shows (say 200-400 entries) how many judges (if available and that's a big if) would or could spend a day possibly waiting to adjudicate between say up to only 6 or so section winner birds.

There are faults and plusses with every system chosen, but having been a Panel A judge now for several years, I feel the fairest and most beneficial way to the Fancy and all exhibitors is to adopt the 'Barnsley System'. I can hear Dick Ricketts saying the 'system' was used at Reading Show many years ago.

In the 'Barnsley System' all section winners put up by the different judges are numbered say 1 to 10 if there are more than two judges. each judge is given a piece of paper (without his name on) and asked to place the birds in order, with his or her choice starting from number '1' being their first pick down to number '10' being the last choice. while this is going on (if I were Show Manager) I would insist on no talking - unless a less experienced judge was asking for advice from a more experienced adjudicator. The papers are handed back to the Show Manager who tots up the count and the one with the least number of points is the Show Champion.

Whilst obviously no system is perfect, the main advantage is this system gives every judge an equal say in deciding the Champion - not giving chance to the judge with the loudest voice or more persuasive character to override or coerce his or her colleagues with their sometimes biased or even ignorant opinions. Strong words, but believe me it happens and when it does the other judges are not the only ones being overridden, but more importantly the exhibitors. I've seen many a new judge too shy or inexperienced to offer an opinion or not wanting to say anything because they weren't given the chance or think a purported Senior judge couldn't possibly be disagreed with! the 'Barnsley System' does away with this unwanted domineering.

I mention 'no talking' while Championship Judging is taking place (unless someone is understandably asking for advice) because this is where the unscrupulous judge or the 'loudest' can sometimes be heard to say - 'That's rubbish', or 'This doesn't deserve to be in these pens!', etc.

I make this strong point as a Panel A Judge and after many years of experience - I could stick my chest out and shout with some of the others. But how would the newer Judge gain experience if they never get a chance to participate on equal terms?

Adapted from 'Best In Show Judging', by R.A.Rowley, in the Poultry Club Newsletter.