Anyone going to the Dundee show in May?

[Hreow]

Show-day. Up early, chase cat up and down back road to tire him out - think it was I who was the more knackered, but he enjoyed it. Pack the last things and off. Rover's comments ringing loud all the way there. He's not distressed, just irate that I won't let him investigate everything on the way. Got there early, so Rover had a stroll in the carpark. Vetting in went smoothly and very quickly. Met up with breeder and friends who were very pleased to see him and the former were obviously pleased with how he's turned out - which was a boost for me. Glad they approve. Volunteered to help, so ended up on the podium writing rosettes. Bad - couldn't spend the whole day oogling cats, good - because I didn't have to worry Rover by hovering around and I got to see most of my results without having to eel my way to the front of the pack by the boards.

This is Rover today; What, me worried?

Bemused... Thought he'd be hammered in the classes, but no. He got a first, two seconds and two thirds. He got second in the open, beaten by his brother, as I thought he would be. He beat his brother in one of the side-classes, though. Informed eavesdropper told me there was little in it. They're both good little Abys.
Here's the swag and the glowing eyes of the beastie:

Packing up and the ride home went smoothly, if no less loudly accompanied. He's now up on the dresser, jammering after the black-birds in the garden as usual, de-stiffed by a nice long walk (now *really* knackered...) and full of nice, moist chicken. Early bed for me, I think...

[Fran]

Awww Well done Rover and you of course!! Congratulations indeed. Have you got the show bug now Hreow?

[Hreow]

I can see us going to Dundee on a regular basis. I don't know if I can hack being yelled at for more than a couple of hours to get anywhere else...
Rover quite liked having other cats about and people-watching, he was also quite good and unconcerned about being judged, but I don't think he'd miss going much. It's a long day for both of us, and I don't have ambitions to "beat" the competition or to have an acclaimed show-cat, so it will be once a year plus incidentally. Think it was good for his "education" to give it a go.

All praise to Rover, I did absolutely nothing.

[dandysmom]

Glad to get the report on the show...Rover is really a stunner! Good that you both had a pleasant time & that he's full of chicken (what is it with Abys and chicken...Sultan would KILL for chicken!!) But it's nice to be back home & relax, isn't it?

[Hreow]

I roasted two chickens for our lunches, thinking he'd wolf a lot and wanting him to have *something* nice if the show was a wash-out. He was too busy to eat much, and I got fed a lovely lunch for volunteering to help, so I've lots left. : / He's stuffed his face with chicken this morning as well and has retired to his igloo to "meditate". I'll have some in my chicken soup (from the rest of the roast) for lunch. Going to have to throw the rest away, though.
Did Sultan also teleport chicken? There is no perceivable movement but in a millisecond, the chicken is no longer there. Now you see it, now you don't.

Very nice to be home. Wet, nasty weather outside as well today, so I have the perfect excuse to curl up in a corner next to the cat and read and do nothing.

[Mags]

Congratulations to Rover........and Hreow!!

[dandysmom]

Originally Posted by Hreow

I roasted two chickens for our lunches, thinking he'd wolf a lot and wanting him to have *something* nice if the show was a wash-out. He was too busy to eat much, and I got fed a lovely lunch for volunteering to help, so I've lots left. : / He's stuffed his face with chicken this morning as well and has retired to his igloo to "meditate". I'll have some in my chicken soup (from the rest of the roast) for lunch. Going to have to throw the rest away, though.
Did Sultan also teleport chicken? There is no perceivable movement but in a millisecond, the chicken is no longer there. Now you see it, now you don't.

Very nice to be home. Wet, nasty weather outside as well today, so I have the perfect excuse to curl up in a corner next to the cat and read and do nothing.

Sultan embarrassed me by extorting chicken from the neighbor when he was walking on his lead....long story!! Terrible day here also, pouring rain & only in 50's...will settle with the NY Times crossword when I get off line. Rover is really gorgeous.

[smudgley]

Sounds like you had a good day & well done on those prizes. Just an observation, you say his brother beat him in one class & he beat the brother in a different class at the same show? (hope I got that right) well I have not got a clue about showing cats, not a clue - but wondered if this was 2 different judges or just how they behaved in each class? Interesting because in the rules of dog showing that couldn't happen in the breed classes of a dog show (but could if also shown under a different jusdge at the same show ie a stakes class)
So how do they judge a cat at a cat show? Is it just looks or temperament or both or behaviour too?

[Hreow]

With the experience of a *whole show* behind me...
There's the Open class which is the big thing, then there are side classes.
The Open is divided into classes by breed/age/colour and male/female/neuter unless they're kittens (sometimes adults as well) when they're all in one for the gender. This is judged very much on breed standards. Winners go on to best-of-breed etc.
The side-classes split the cats/kittens by how far they have travelled to get to the show, how many prizes they have won, club-classes which is a mini Open for just the cats from that club, "best Persian adolescent", "Best kitten not shown by breeder" etc. This would be judged by the judge best suited to find the best in that category.
So they are not all judged by the same judge. I was given the advice to sign Rover up for classes where he would have different judges (you get told the class judge in the sign-up form for the show), just to get as wide an opinion-base as possible.

Rover was beaten by his brother in the Open. His brother is slightly smaller, Rover has a slightly quirky nose-break. They're both minor hitches, so it depends on what that judge on that day thinks is the slighter problem. Behaviour will influence the scoring only after the breed standard has been given first say - except if the cat bites or claws the judge or steward, that's a disqualification.
Rover beat his brother in the "Foreign kitten over six months" side-class. Judged by a different judge who would have "Foreign" as a specialisation, rather than "Abyssinian" specifically.
My personal, lay-man opinion is that Rover will always be beaten in the Open by his brother, but that it will depend on interaction chemistry which of them does the better in the side-classes.

Oh, there's a "Household Pet" in the Open as well, which wouldn't have a "best of breed", but the winner does go on to compete for the best in show. Now *that* would be a tough call...
Moggies are of course not judged by breed standards, just by how good they are at being cats, and thus purely judged on character, looks (shiny fur, proportionate, symmetry...) and the judges preferences.

[Hreow]

I shall reanimate this again for 2007. Laziness ftw!

No great surprise, the Dundee show is on this year as well and I will be there. I've promised the Roverian breeders baked goods, and there will be some spare, if you need added incentive . There's a link to the club-page if you want more details (visitors allowed in from 12:30:ish) and do feel free to ask questions here, if you're no more energetic than I am today. ^^ Caird Hall is close to Dundee rail-station, if you're carless.


12.05.2007 Nor'East of Scotland Cat Club Caird Hall, City Square, Dundee, Tayside, Scotland, DD1 3BB