Rules of the NZ Recognition of Merit
RECOGNITION OF MERIT (ROM)
1. OBJECTIVE
The ROM Award is recognition of the merit of a select group of dogs who can win at the highest
level of competition under breed specialist judges. The objective of the ROM is to recognise
those animals who given the opportunity are most likely to contribute in our endeavour to breed
better Bull Terriers. Bull Terrier clubs are those recognised by Dogs NZ which cater only to Bull Terriers and/or Bull Terrier (Miniature)
A. Committee Membership
The committee shall comprise two financial members from each of the member clubs.
Nominations for the positions on the committee shall be from the active financial members of each club.
Nominations may only be submitted by financial members.
The nomination and voting of members shall be done in January with the notification of successful candidates by the end of that month.
The term of candidates will be 2 years.
The NZROM committee will allocate jobs among themselves.
Representatives will report back to the NZ Bull Terrier Clubs.
Any changes to this document may only be made with the agreement of the NZ Bull Terrier Clubs.
All correspondence in or out will be cc’d to each NZROM committee member.
B. Finances
a. Member clubs will share equally the cost of running the NZROM.
b. The club of the committee secretary will cover any expenses incurred and will invoice the other club accordingly.
c. Any income will be used to offset expenses.
2. ALLOCATION OF POINTS
A Bull Terrier must obtain seven (7) points to be granted the ROM Certificate.
At least five (5) points must be obtained at a Bull Terrier club specialty show.
At least one three (3) point award must be included in the total.
The remaining two (2) points may be taken from 2c.1 or 2c.2
Points must be obtained under separate judges. See 2.C for point allocation.
B. All points must be gained at an event of a Dogs NZ affiliated Club. i.e. a club that is registered with Dogs NZ.
C. Points are allocated as follows:
1. Dogs NZ affiliated Bull Terrier Club Specialty Shows
Three (3) points may be awarded for Best Dog/Bitch.
Two (2) points may be awarded for Reserve Best Dog/Bitch.
2. Non BTC Dogs NZ Dogs NZ affiliated Championship Shows
Two (2) points may be awarded to the Challenge Dog/Bitch at a non BTC Championship Show.
One (1) point may be awarded to the Reserve Challenge Dog/Bitch at a non BTC Championship Show.
Allocation of Points for ROM Award
Show Award Points
Bull Terrier Club Specialty Best Dog/Bitch 3
Bull Terrier Club Specialty Res Best Dog/Bitch 2
Non BTC Champ Show Dog/Bitch CC 2
Non BTC Champ Show Res Dog/Bitch CC 1
d. ROM points may only be awarded by a Bull Terrier Specialist Judge as defined in Part 4 below.
e. In the event of a Bull Terrier Club engaging a Judge other than a Bull Terrier specialist, as defined in Part 4, no ROM points will be allocated to the Show.
f. The ROM award is an in-house award that is not recognised by Dogs NZ. Therefore the letters ROM must not be included on entry forms.
g. The letters ROM may be used in newsletters behind an animals’ name.
h. Dogs must be 6 months or older to receive ROM points. Baby puppies are ineligible regardless of winning best or reserve of sex.
3. SHOWS
a. Bull Terrier clubs requiring ROM status for more than two Championship and two Open shows per year must apply to the NZROM Committee in writing.
b. Otherwise, shows where the judge and show meet the criteria will automatically be considered eligible for awarding ROM points.
c. Judges at non BTC Shows only and Bull Terrier Clubs must apply to the NZROM committee for the ROM award cards for each show. Also to be included in the application are the:
1. Name of the judge (resume to be included in accordance with Part 4 if necessary).
2. Date of the Show
3. Name of the club organising the show.
d. On receipt of the letter in 3 c. the committee will forward the relevant number of ROM award
cards. These will be numbered consecutively and the name of the Club, date of show and judges name will be recorded against the card number. If for any reason the numbered cards are not used they are to be returned to the Secretary.
e. Judges at Non BTC Championship Shows and BTC clubs are to supply a marked catalogue to the NZROM within 7 days of the event.
f. NZROM committee will appoint a representative to each qualifying Non BTC championship show if possible to assist in handing out cards.
g. If there is a clash with timing and/or location between an ROM approved Bull Terrier Club Show and a non BTC championship show being judged by a ROM approved judge, the Bull Terrier Club shows will take precedence and ROM points will not be available for the add non BTC show
4. JUDGES
a. Those judges able to award ROM points are as follows:
1. Judges listed on the ROM list (Part 4h.),
2. A specialist judge listed by: The Bull Terrier Club (UK), The Bull Terrier Club of America, or any other National Bull Terrier Club overseas in high standing, and
3. Any judge from overseas who has previously awarded ROM points and meets the criteria in
Part 4 f.
OR
b. Bull Terrier clubs wishing to appoint an overseas judge who has not previously awarded ROM points in New Zealand must send a resume of the judge to the NZROM committee to qualify for ROM status for that Show.
· Must be licensed to judge in their country or at least have judged a Bull Terrier Open or bull terrier breed specialty.
· Have a minimum of ten years involvement in Bull Terriers.
· Must have an invitation to Judge an ROM eligible show.
· List and include documentation of ten years involvement in Bull Terrier conformation.
· Have bred and raised a minimum of five litters of Bull Terriers. Litters and co-owned litters must have been whelped and raised on the applicant’ premises.
· List five Bull Terrier litters bred.
· Have bred a minimum of three Bull Terrier Champions or ROM awarded dogs or two Bull Terriers registered in your country’s Official Stud Book.
· List three Champions/ROMs bred or two dogs listed in your Country’s Stud Book.
c. At ROM approved shows under ROM approved judges, the judge will have the discretion to withhold ROM points if in his/her view the Bull Terriers are not of a sufficiently high standard for the award. See also 3 d and e.
d. At ROM approved shows under ROM approved judges, the ROM points are awarded automatically unless the judge informs the exhibitor and the ring steward, prior to the exhibitor leaving the ring that ROM points are not being awarded.
e. Show Secretaries should post a copy of the ROM Rules to Judges appointed from overseas.
f. Judges listed in 4h. below who are contracted for a non-BTC show are to follow the guidelines laid down in 3c, d and e.
g. Criteria for New Zealand Specialist Judges to apply for inclusion on the ROM list are as follows:
1. Must have a minimum of ten years exhibiting Bull Terriers in conformation.
2. Must have bred and raised a minimum of five litters of Bull Terriers on the applicant’s premises. Litters and co-owned litters must have been whelped and raised on the applicant’s premises.
3. The first ROM judging appointment in NZ MUST be for one of Dogs NZ affiliated Bull Terrier Club shows.
4. Must be a Dogs NZ licensed judge
5. Must be able to document having accomplished any combination of three of the following components.
· Bred at least two ROM titled dog/s.
· Have personally exhibited two Bull Terriers to their ROM.
· Bred at least two BIS or RIS specialty winners.
· Have bred a minimum of two Bull Terrier Champions.
· Have personally exhibited two Bull Terriers to their Championships.
· Have 15 years of documented experience exhibiting Bull Terriers in conformation.
Alternate NZ
Dogs NZ approved judges who, although not current breeders, have
1. Bred or owned Bull Terriers for not less than ten years
2. Retained a close association with the breed and have demonstrated an abiding interest and recent involvement with the breed.
3. The first ROM judging appointment in NZ MUST be for one of Dogs NZ affiliated Bull Terrier Club shows.
4. Must be a Dogs NZ licensed judge
5. Must be able to document having accomplished any combination of three of the following components.
· Bred at least two ROM titled dog/s
· Have personally exhibited two Bull Terriers to their ROM
· Bred at least two BIS or RIS specialty winners.
· Have bred a minimum of two Bull Terrier Champions.
· Have personally exhibited two Bull Terriers to their Championships.
· Have 15 years of documented experience exhibiting Bull Terriers in conformation.
h New Zealand ROM Approved ROM Judges:
Linda Flegg
Heidi Holland
Diane Riley
*Nicole Adams
*pending first ROM appointment with NIBTC or CBTC
Australian ROM Approved Judges: click here
Paul Berman NSW
Sharon Bover Vic
Pam Brown QLD
Gail Buckley VIC
Stephen Craven NSW
Christine Cook Vic
Di Cross NSW
Diane Cuthbert SA
Les Greenall VIC
Paul Haseldine SA
Chevaun Haseldine SA
Kerry Hellsten VIC
David Hill NSW
Stan Honnery WA
Anne Howell WA
Sandra Irlam NT
Bernard James Qsld
Jess Kada NSW
Kerry King SA
Bernadette Marshall VIC
Linda Martin NSWZ
Tracey Ruch SA
Neridah Sharrett WA
Jamie Watkiss WA
Tony Wiseman NSW
Tamara Yeoh Qsld
Nikki Zullo NSW
5. APPLICATION FOR ROM
a. After gaining the points as detailed in Part 2 above, the owner is to apply to the NZROM committee in writing or by email and include:
1. ROM Award cards (scan or photocopy),
2. A suitable photograph, and
3. Copy or scan of registration certificate.
4. An official application form
b. The award status ROM shall not be recognised until the NZROM committee have approved the award in writing to the applicant.
c. There shall be only one original ROM Certificate for the owner and one for the breeder, copies of
the certificate may be purchased by the new owner. The fee is $25-00 per certificate.
Please note: NIBTC(A) cards awarded in New Zealand prior to September 2018 will be accepted as part of the application for this award.
To ensure continuity of the history of this award in NZ, the numbering of certificates will continue from the last NZROM awarded by the National Bull Terrier Council (Australia).
Official forms to download
*application form for NZ judges to apply for ROM status
*application form for NZ BT clubs to apply for ROM points for a judge at a Bull Terrier show
*application form for judges to apply for ROM cards for an all-breed judging appointment
*application form to apply for a dogs ROM award
Revised December 2023