The Top Twenty points system
BIS at NMC Spring Cup Show 2014, bred by Cait Walgate
The NMC in the UK has an "unofficial" points system called the Top Twenty, which is published in the club newsletter, NMC News, monthly. The system keeps track of the achievements of individual exhibitors and studs by awarding them a number of points per significant placing in a show. Over the showing year (September - September) these points are added up and a Top Twenty table of exhibitors is created. Points are adjusted for those who have judged at a show (and therefore cannot exhibit).
Best in Show receives four points, Best Opposite Age in Show three points, Best in Section two points and Best Opposite Age in Section one point. Points are cumulative, so if, for example, you win BIS you will receive six points because you have won Best in Section in order to continue to the Grand Challenge to compete for BIS.
Why strive to win the Top Twenty?
Coming first in the Top Twenty usually means that you have won quite a few awards throughout the year. You may have won less Best In Shows than another exhibitor, but you will have exhibited mice that are consistently good. For example, one exhibitor may have won Best In Show three times in the show year, and you have only won once. However, you could still be at a higher position in the Top Twenty because you have also won Best Opposite Age in Show, nine Best In Section and three Best Opposite Age in Section. The first exhibitor would have 18 points (three times six points, with two for Best in Section and another four for BIS each time) and the second 32 points (one times six points, one times five points, nine times two points and three times one point).
A good way to rank near the top of the Top Twenty is to exhibit mice in all five sections. That way you have a better chance of your mice winning the various Best In Sections and going forward to Best In Show. I have attended a couple of shows where one exhibitor won four of the five sections! This is very uncommon but a great achievement.
Of course, exhibiting mice is not a good way to make money. Prize money is very low at most shows, except at Cup Shows where the BIS may get £20. Breeders of mice do it for the enjoyment, the competition and of course, the reputation/respect. Winning the Top Twenty gives the winner a feeling of satisfaction and the knowledge that he or she has produced some good quality mice that year. It may also create demand for that person's mice as breeding stock because they have demonstrated their quality by accumulating points.
Best in Show receives four points, Best Opposite Age in Show three points, Best in Section two points and Best Opposite Age in Section one point. Points are cumulative, so if, for example, you win BIS you will receive six points because you have won Best in Section in order to continue to the Grand Challenge to compete for BIS.
Why strive to win the Top Twenty?
Coming first in the Top Twenty usually means that you have won quite a few awards throughout the year. You may have won less Best In Shows than another exhibitor, but you will have exhibited mice that are consistently good. For example, one exhibitor may have won Best In Show three times in the show year, and you have only won once. However, you could still be at a higher position in the Top Twenty because you have also won Best Opposite Age in Show, nine Best In Section and three Best Opposite Age in Section. The first exhibitor would have 18 points (three times six points, with two for Best in Section and another four for BIS each time) and the second 32 points (one times six points, one times five points, nine times two points and three times one point).
A good way to rank near the top of the Top Twenty is to exhibit mice in all five sections. That way you have a better chance of your mice winning the various Best In Sections and going forward to Best In Show. I have attended a couple of shows where one exhibitor won four of the five sections! This is very uncommon but a great achievement.
Of course, exhibiting mice is not a good way to make money. Prize money is very low at most shows, except at Cup Shows where the BIS may get £20. Breeders of mice do it for the enjoyment, the competition and of course, the reputation/respect. Winning the Top Twenty gives the winner a feeling of satisfaction and the knowledge that he or she has produced some good quality mice that year. It may also create demand for that person's mice as breeding stock because they have demonstrated their quality by accumulating points.