The Poultry Club regulates and administers the poultry show structure and status system. Poultry exhibitions are allocated status according to prestige, size, excellence of organisation etc. A show may apply to Council for upgrading and any show found not to be meeting required standards is liable to lose its status. The National Championship Show is the 'jewel in the crown' of all poultry shows, underneath this are the Royal and Championship Shows, followed by Regional Championship, and lastly, Voucher Shows.

National Championship Show
Covered in depth elsewhere, at the top of the hierarchy, this event represents the pinnacle of the breeding season. Held in December at the National Agricultural Centre, Stoneleigh, Warwickshire, the National is the event every fancier wants to win and attracts over 6000 entries with every conceivable breed and colour of poultry exhibited. The Specialist Breed Clubs usually hold their Club Shows at this event and attendance is highly recommended.

Royal Shows
These shows are held at the prestigious agricultural events that are fortunate to enjoy Royal patronage. There are currently six Royal shows, including the showpiece 'Royal' (also held at the NAC, Stoneleigh), the 'Royal Highland', (at the Scottish Agricultural Centre, Ingliston, Edinburgh), and the 'Royal Welsh' (at Builth Wells).

Other 'Royal shows' include the 'Royal Bath and West', the 'Royal Norfolk', and the 'Royal Cornwall'.

Championship Shows
Shows designated as Championship shows are regarded by the Poultry Club Council as main shows serving a specific region and they are reassessed annually. In awarding this status the Council take into account the region served, the classification, provision for the Area Breed Club Shows, the venue, fanciers support, and the public prestige.

Embossed cards are awarded to Best in Show, Reserve, and the main section winners. Winners of five cards in the same section qualify for engraved shields. Winners of five Best in Show and Reserves receive a goblet. Rung birds that win a section qualify for a section champion card and will be known as a 'Champion'.
The following shows have Championship status:

January - Selston, The Scottish National,The Northern Poultry Show, Pool Poultry Club, High Peak, Ballymena.
February - Belper Poultry Society, Ulster Federation, North of England, Devon Fanciers, Peebles and District, Reading.
June - Three Counties, North Yorkshire County.
July - Great Yorkshire.
August - Pembrokeshire Agricultural
October - Ribble Valley, Hants & Berks, Oswestry.
November - Holme and District, Dyfed, Kent Poultry Fanciers, Egremont, Welsh Federation, Welsh Winter Fair.
December - Welsh Winter fair

Regional Shows
The aim of the Regional Shows is to provide regions with a major show which was supported by way of specials from the Poultry Club. The Regionals offer prestige cards embossed in gold and these are much sought after. Five cards of a kind qualify the exhibitor for Poultry Club Special Trophies.
The Regional Shows are as follows:

Scotland - Leslie, Peebles Agricultural, Gattonside, Ayr agricultural Show, South West Scotland, North of Scotland, East Fife Fur and Feather.
North East - Northumberland and Durham Bantam Club, Northumberland Poultry Society.
North West - Bolton, Todmordon, Eden Valley, Ireby, Southport & Ormskirk.
Yorkshire - North Yorkshire County, Barnsley, Halifax, Nidderdale, Egton, Howden, Otley, Driffield.
Derby/Cheshire/Shropshire - Bakewell, Romiley, Cheshire County, Nantwich, Bridgnorth.
Midlands - Stratford, Luton.
Wales - Penclawdd, Anglesey, Denbigh & Flint Agricultural, Conway Agricultural
South East - Surrey County, Portsmouth, Arun Valley.
East Anglia - Tendring, Norfolk Poultry Club.
Wessex - Frome, Gillingham and Shaftsbury.
South West - Cornish Bantam, Taw & Torridge, Taunton, St. Stithians, Bugle.
Northern Ireland - Ballymena Agricultural

Voucher Shows
Voucher shows are the 'grassroots' of the fancy and serve the needs of local fanciers. They provide the novice with a chance to show and gain experience. Usually having between 200 and 400 exhibits they require two or three judges who are encouraged to discuss the qualities of the birds with their owners after judging.

Any Affiliated Show or Breed Club is entitled to offer cards for Best in Show, Best Opposite Sex, Best Eggs, and Best Waterfowl at its main show. These cards entitle the winner of five Best in Show or Best Opposite Sex cards to a tankard, and are not available at Regional or Championship Shows. Eight Best Egg voucher cards qualify for a goblet. These cards must be awarded under Poultry Club rules so eggs in produce sections of agricultural Shows do not qualify unless judged by a Poultry Club judge. It is emphasised that these cards must be signed by the judge or show secretary and dated, without this they are invalid.

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