Angora Specialty Best In Show Winners

NCAG show A Best In Show winner English Angora white doe Chu's Susie.

NCAG show B Best In Show winner Chu's Katianna.

Casey writes for Judge Susie D. from MN.

Betty writes for Judge Travis F. of MD.

Danielle writes for Judge Susie D. during French Angora judging.

Judge Sara (in orange) joins Judges Susie and Travis in examining English Angora.

NCAG held two specialty shows in conjunction with the West Coast Classic shows in Monterey. Judge Susie D. judged in show A and Judge Travis F. judged in show B.

Best of Breed English Angora went to Betty's two does and the French Angora Best of Breed in both shows were Carol W.'s broken doe. Specialty BIS went to the English Angora.

Youth All Breed Best In Show Winners

Caitlyn V. won youth Best In Show in show A (Earth) and B (Wind) with two different broken Mini Lop. Caitlyn also won the title of Duchess in the youth royalty contest, evidenced by the tiara on her pretty hair.

Justin won youth Best In Show in show C (Fire) with his Mini Satin. Justin is the winner of youth royalty King title.

Mini Lop National and BIS Winners

Chris D. won Mini Lop National with this beautiful steel Mini Lop; the same rabbit also won the open all breed Best In Show in show B (Wind) and then the Champion of Champions.

Chris with Caitlyn who won the youth Mini Lop national with her broken. Two of them work together on their breeding and produce top winners.

Katianna Wins All Breed Best In Show And Reserve In Show

Judge Ruth D. awards the all breed Best In Show to Katianna in show "Fire".

Judge Ruth examines Katianna on the Best In Show table.

Katianna in the double size coop waiting to be judged.

Judge Anna awards all breed Reserve In Show to Katianna in show "Wind".

Judge Anna blows into Katianna's coat during Best In Show judging.

The scenes of the three all breed shows in the West Coast Classic debute shows are Earth, Wind and Fire. In the first show with the scene "Earth" on Saturday, Katianna won the all breed BIS.

On Sunday, shows "Wind" and "Fire" were held. Betty's English Angora tort senior doe Katianna won all breed Reserve In Show to a Mini Lop in show "Wind" with judge Anna D. did the picking.

In show "Fire", Katianna once again won all breed Best In Show under judge Ruth D.

It was a very good weekend for Betty and Katianna.

Katianna Wins All Breed Best In Show

Left to right: judge Dereck Tuntland, Betty with Best In Show winner Katianna, judge Travis Finkle and Rachelle with Reserve In Show winner English Lop.

Judge Dereck exmaines Katianna on the BIS table.

Judge Travis checks Katianna on the BIS table.

The first West Coast Classic show was held in Monterey on Saturday. The format is different from other shows. There is one open all breed show and one all breed youth show; then there are Mini Lop national and Beveren national shows. In addition there are numerous local specialty shows including two Angora specialty shows.

Betty's English Angora colored senior doe Chu's Katianna was awarded the sole all breed Best In Show. The scene of this show is "Earth", the prize for the Best In Show is a potted tree in the shape of a rabbit.

Rachelle won Reserve In Show with her English Lop. Judges Dereck from South Dakota and Travis from Maryland did the picking.

Lindsay Had A Great Time At Cow Palace

Lindsay's white French Angora has been doing really well in shows. In Cow Palace, her white does each took Best of Breed. Here is a picture with judge Randy after he picked the white doe as the BOB.

Lindsay will be missed in Monterey this coming weekend. Her brother and family are visiting from Belgium and she will be spending time with them. It is hoped that she will be back in shows the following week at Stockton.

Terry's New Life

Left to right: Terry's son Michael, husband Larry and stepson Chris.

Beautiful Iris in competition.

For those who were around in rabbit shows in the 90s, Terry was a familiar sight. She used to live in Coalinga now lives around Fresno. She has nice French Angora and Satin Angora, though her first Angora rabbit was an English Angora; and she had her registrar's license.

Michael, her son, was preteen, always tagged along in rabbit shows. One of Michael's favorite activities in rabbit shows was to walk Suzanne B's dog Toyo, a beautiful and even tampered Burmese Mountain Dog.

Michael is now 24 years old, still remembers Toyo; with such a fond memory he keeps talking about Sheriff's Dept or Highway Patrol K-9 division. He is currently a video store manager.

Terry remarried over 3 yrs ago to a wonderful man Larry who supports Terry's hobbies and her need to compete. Terry is now the secretary of the Fresno Iris Society and she competes in Iris shows.

We thank Terry for sharing her photos and updating her life. May be one day she will be back in rabbit shows and competing again.

When Is My Turn?

Heidi sends in this cute baby Mini Lop picture to share. It has been hot in CA; one of the babies finds the feed bowl a cool place to sleep. The other one wants to join in.

Hangin' In There

What is that?

Hi, it's me.

It's hot out there, let me in.

If I'd find a gap, I'm in.

May be a different room?

I am trying to find a way to get in.

I am really trying hard to hang in there. Please......

That's Hot

Someone forgot to tell the weather god that it's only April, it's supposed to be spring.

For three days, California is in a heat wave. Under a tree in the shade, it says 92 degrees F; it's a lot hotter under the sun. Cities by the Bay such as San Francisco and Monterey are usually in the 60s during the summer, but it's in the 90s right now. Records kept since 1906 have been broken in most cities.

It is forecasted that the fog is going to move in and the temperature will drop by 30 degrees by the weekend. It's hoped that this prediction will come true; in Monterey this weekend, there will be breed nationals plus many specialty shows and all breed shows.

Fuzzy Lops Win Big at Bakersfield

Mary and Jenny won all breed Best In Show in the open show B with their Fuzzy Lop AK's Highlander, pick by judge Armando. Highlander is bred by Carol G.

Jenny won Youth Best In Show in show B with her rabbit Waffles.

Waffles on Jenny's grooming stand.

Joe picks Waffles as the Best In Show.

Jenny reports after attending the Kern County RBA shows at Bakersfield. American Fuzzy Lop had a great day, winning Best In Show in both open and youth in show B. Congratulations to mother and daughter team Mary and Jenny!!!

Pudge Is A Mom

Gabrielle reports,

"Just writing to report the arrival of our newest litter: Pudge and Toby are parents to 7 live babies; 6 have pinkish bodies, and 1 has a gray body.

Elsa is VERY excited. She has been counting down the days, and even last night asked me if Pudge could have her babies in the morning. "Yes, she could." Elsa asked me last night to not check on Pudge in the morning, because she wanted to be the first to check. In my last thoughts before I went to sleep, I debated whether I should sneak out there before Elsa woke up just to make sure that none were born on the wire or to make sure that there were no half-eaten bunny bits scattered around the cage. I ultimately decided that I would not try to hide the unpleasant side of nature, if it was the case.


At 6:45 am I was wakened by the sound of Elsa trying to wake up Dominique to check on the rabbits. I hollered for to leave Dominique alone and let her sleep. Elsa then came to my room and asked if she could check on Pudge. "Sure, go ahead," I told her. "I want you to come with me." "Okay." We went to check and there was nothing but more fur in the nest box. "Nope, not yet, " I told Elsa. "I want to stay with her." "Fine." I was too tired to argue, and just wanted to go back to sleep. "Well, I want to have some cereal first." "Good idea," I said groggily. I got her a bowl of cereal and headed back to bed. Elsa kept checking her throughout the morning, despite my pleadings to "just leave her alone." At 9:30, Elsa reported that Pudge was in her nest box. "That's nice, honey." At 10:00, she came rushing in: "She has babies!! I saw one moving!!" We all went out to see.

Elsa got Pudge three baby carrots and fed her those while I started cleaning out the nest box. The girls each got to hold a kit while I continued counting pudgy little bodies, and clipped the long wool into shorter snippets. I've still got the nest box in the cage with Pudge. I'll take it out this evening and bring it into the house. I'm just so thrilled for Elsa!!Here's hoping that, well, she'll share with me, and that Sissy also has a safe and uneventful birth experience too. Yippie!!"

Found On The Net: Ram As House Pet

In UK, a guy named David Palmer found a new-born lamb crying in the tall grass, but there was no other sheep near this little lamb.

Mr. Palmer rescued this lamb and tried to find the owner but no one ever came to claim it. His wife used a human baby bottle fed milk to the little lamb and named it Nick Boing. That was three years ago.

Mr Palmer tried to reintroduce Nick to farm-life, he had refused to go near other sheep and would not settle; Nick preferred his home comforts at the Palmer residence, watching TV and taking trips in the car.

Mr Palmer, 53, said Nick had even slept in his bed when he was a lamb but was too big for that now.

Nick has become a hit with the neighbours in the village and Mr Palmer said the sheep knows which gardens he is allowed into.

He said he had built Nick his own little bungalow in the back garden, complete with carpet and windows, but the sheep still likes to spend time in the living room.

"He's more intelligent than your average sheep that's stuck in a field.
He's in the house and in the car and meeting people over the park and around the village."

"He's part of the family. He comes in every evening, head-butts the cushions off the sofa and watches TV. If the biscuit barrel is out he'll butt it on the floor because he knows the lid will come off. Come 11 pm he'll have a swede or an apple and then he's out for the night. It probably smells in here, but I'm used to it."

Mr Palmer said: "It takes me five hours to shear him with a pair of scissors but I only have to do that once a year.

"He loves being shampooed and will lie on his back with his legs in the air for me to wash him."

He said Nick also enjoys lying in the front doorway watching the world go by and that he is the mascot for his son's rugby team.

Mr. Palmer also takes him to visit local schools.

"Who would have thought it? Going up and down the street with a lamb is one thing, I didn't think I could do it with a sheep but there you are. He's such good company and he knows what's what, he's not stupid at all."

Oldies But Goodies

Vera was a very impressive rabbit in 2001.

Betty with Vera in 2001.

Adisson was a very handsome boy in 2001.

No longer show-pretty but have good lives together in 2009, Vera is in charge, Adisson accepts the bottom position.

Even during exercise time, Adisson follows Vera's lead.

The 2009 ARBA convention is to be held on November 1 in San Diego, CA. The last time CA hosted an ARBA convention was in 2001, also in San Diego.

In the 2001 ARBA convention, Chu's Vera won BOB English Angora then went on to win Group, became one of the four finalists competing for the Best In Show. Born at the end of 2000, Vera is now 8-1/2 years old.
Chu's Adisson won colored senior buck class and BOSV in the same convention. Born in early 2001, he is 8-1/4 years old.

Neither is show-pretty, but both are alive and well sharing their lives together. They are like any old couple, lots of companionship and caring for each other but no more burning love. Vera is definitely the boss, Adisson follows her lead, lets her do whatever she wants without any complaint.

It's no fun to be old, whether it's animals or people; Vera and Adisson are helping each other to go through their twilight years.

French Angora At Cow Palace

Carol W. with her colored senior doe.

Carol W. with her broken junior doe.

A long line up of Angora. In the near left, Chris Z. is judging French Angora with Lindsay writing. Carol W. is taking notes while Curt and Elsa are watching. In the far end of the judging table, Keelyn is judging English Angora with Casey writing. Altogether there are over 40 Angora rabbits on these judging coops.

Charlie Goes To Show

Charlie has not been in shows much. At the Cow Palace weekend, he was there for all six shows.

He only has two English Angora white bucks entered, they won BOS or BOSV in five out of six shows. It's a great showing, and it is hoped that Charlie will be back in the show circuit regularly soon.

The Glove Gang

Madison fell in love with the fuzzy gloves, she got all tied up by the price tag.

Now the gloves belong to her, she is untied from the price tag.

The fuzzy gloves proved to be a lucky charm, Madison's Mini Lop took youth Best In Show the next day.

Jessica also likes the gloves, she got a pair of Angora with Merino wool.

Madison and Jessica compare their gloves.

This sweetie got another pair of Angora x Merino.

She certainly is enjoying the gloves.

The beautiful fingerless gloves made by Carol G. were a hit at Cow Palace. Young ladies just love them. Here are three very happy young ladies in these gloves. I hope these three sweeties are reading this blog. Betty is really sorry that she could not find the piece of paper that has the e-mail addresses. Please leave a comment to the blog or send an e-mail to englishangora1@yahoo.com

For those who are interested in getting a similar pair of fingerless gloves, go to http://justasoftie.etsy.com/ or http://angoraandmore.blogspot.com/ Carol can make any color combination that strikes your fancy.

American Fuzzy Lop National Show

Solid senior doe winner Indiana.

Christina is Indiana's mom; she is here with judge Joey.

Carol G. with a Fuzzy breeder in Utah.

Judge Joey is the Fuzzy national show judge.

Fuzzy breeders in Utah. Brian H. won most of the classes including BOB and BOS. He is the second from right and his pretty mom Sherry is in the middle. To Brian's right is Marian, one of our CA breeders.

Katelyn's First Easter

Katelyn with a French Angora, mama Alicia's breed.

Katelyn with a broken English Angora, grandma Deb's breed.

Mama Alicia and grandma Deb; picture taken in the 2007 convention.

Little Katelyn is supposed to arrive in late March 2009, a week or so before Easter. She decided to enter this world three months early on December 30, 2008, weighed 2 pounds and 2 ounces.

She stayed in incubator for months and finally she is health to be with her parents Tim and Alicia and grandma Deb; she is also experiencing her first Easter.

Grandma Deb reports from MN:

"Little Katelyn hasn't decided yet if she wants to show English or French, so we took a picture of her with both. She is even considering Satins, but we don't have any of those to take her picture with. But, I thought I would send you these pictures of her and the bunnies.

Have a Wonderful Easter!"

Indeed it is a wonderful Easter and happy Easter to all.

Youth Best In Show at Cow Palace

Madison won youth Best In Show in show A with her Mini Lop on Sunday.

Youth Best In Show in show B is a broken Havana. Judge Keelyn selected the winner.

Cut Off From the Modern World

Betty says,

"Literally, my city and neighboring cities were cut off from the modern world. A vandal or vandals maliciously went underground to cut off four fiber-optic lines in south San Jose; three counties to the south were totally cut off from communication to the rest of the world, over 50,000 households were affected. Unfortunately my home is one of the 50,000.

For 18 hours, there was no Internet, no cell phone and no regular landline. Emergency 911 was disabled, banks closed, ATM machine stopped working, gas stations took cash only, stores could not scan the prices from their computer, credit card sales went out of the window; hospitals postponed all non-emergency surgeries. A local emergency was declared; instructions were given over the radio and television for residents to go to the police station, fire station, or flag down police cars if there’s emergency, 911 systems did not work. See report in San Jose Mercury News http://www.mercurynews.com/valley/ci_12106300

I stayed home for the whole day; it was quiet other than the radio and television. I cut down a few rabbits and worked on our tax return.

After 18 hours, phones and Internet connection got back to normal. Welcome back, modern world!"

Fawnna Wins Specialty Best In Show on Sunday

Fawnna relaxes on the grooming stand.

Judge Chris Z. holds Fawnna after awarding her the specialty BIS.

NCAG held another specialty show on Sunday at Cow Palace. Judge Chris Z. chose English fawn senior doe Chu's Fawnna as the specialty BIS. Judge Chris commented that Fawnna had such a wonderful texture that she called the Lionhead breeders to the table to learn more about wool and the kind of texture that they should breed for.

Little Girl Wins Specialty Best In Show on Saturday

English Angora white junior doe wins specialty Best In Show on Saturday. She is only 4-3/4 months old.

A perfectly round body.

Troy judges the Angora specialty show, Tracy writes.

Katianna took a break from the NCAG specialty shows. On Saturday, little 4-3/4 months old white doe BC8SV won over all the senior bucks and does and won Best of Breed English Angora, then went over the French Angora and Satin Angora and took specialty Best In Show.

Judge Troy said, "I am really torn between the colored senior doe and this white jr doe," when he was picking the BOB English Angora. "The colored senior doe got more wool and more length but the white junior doe has everything that the standard calls for, but she is so young and so little." Troy said.

After going back and forth several times, he went with the little white doe.

Keelyn's Mini Rex Wins Double Reserve In Show

Keelyn and her gorgeous Mini Rex.

Keelyn with Julie and Judge Kevin who picked the two top winners.

Keelyn is a remarkable young lady. As we know, she is the youngest judge in CA and probably in the entire country, receiving her judge's license at 16. She is an excellent judge and an excellent breeder of Florida White and Mini Rex. On Sunday at the California Rabbit and Cavy shows, her Mini Rex took Reserve In Show in both show A and show B.

If anyone wonders why Keelyn's pony tail is shorter than in the past, a few weeks ago she and her sister Melanie each donated their long hair to the "Locks of Love", a public non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children under age 18 suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis.

Julie's Havana Wins Double Best In Show

Show A BIS Julie and her Havana, picked by judge Kevin.

Show B BIS Julie's Havana picked by judge Allen.

CRCS holds double shows on Sunday at Cow Palace, a day after the Grand National Livestock show. Jule's broken Havana wins Best In Show in both show A and show B. What a wonderful day for Julie S. and her beautiful Havana.

Katianna Wins All Breed Best In Show

Left to right: Betty with Best In Show winner Katianna, judge Melissa and Lorena with Reserve In Show winner Rhinelander.

Judge Melissa examines Katianna during the Best In Show judging.

Grand National Livestock Show is going on at the Cow Palace on Saturday and Sunday. Rabbit shows are in full swing during the livestock show. In the all breed show A, Betty's English Angora colored senior doe Chu's Katianna wins all breed Best In Show. Lorena's junior Rhinelander wins Reserve In Show. Judge Melissa picks the two top winners out of a lineup of more than 25 breeds.

Gabrielle's Oregon Trip Experience

The metal dragon outside of Yreka.

Yreka is the big town at the northern tip of CA.

Crossing the border from CA to OR.

Just outside of Grants Pass is this wonderful wildlife rehabilitation center. When Terri Irwin moved to Australia (Crocodile Hunter fame), some of her animals, including her mountain lion, Malina, came here to live. The girls have adopted a mountain lion, a bobcat, and a bear. (This picture was taken December 2007.)

In order to get to Myrtle Point from I-5, you take H-42 through the town of Winston where my grandma lives. Winston is home to Wildlife Safari. This is the view from my grandmother's front door. She lives on the South Umpqua River

Just outside of Myrtle Point, I found myself behind this van: It's Betty!!

On the drive home, it was pouring rain. On Sunday morning, before heading to the show room, Lindsay and I checked traffic conditions, knowing that we would have to climb up the Siskiyou pass in order to get home. Although we did not have to wear chains, all vehicles were required to carry them. Sure enough, it was snowing when we climbed Mt Ashland, but not cold enough to stick yet.

And... when we got to the agricultural checkpoint upon entering California, look who was directly in front of us: Lindsay!

More Photos From OR Trip

Fujiyama or Shasta Mountain? They certainly look alike. This photo was taken at the northern tip of CA before entering OR.

It rains a lot at Myrtle Points, OR. Dawn called it the "Oregon Sunshine". The overnighters at the parking area outside the showroom, the grounds were all wet.

The red van in the photo is Betty's Sienna. At the time of loading bunnies to the van around noon, it poured. With a slopped parking space and pouring rain, everything got wet.

This was the driving condition leaving Myrtle Points. An hour after entered CA border, it was totally dry.

Fuzzy Lop Arts

Two prizes for the top winners in the American Fuzzy Lop National Show this coming Saturday in Utah.

Three prizes for the same Fuzzy National.

Found On The Net: Extreme Grooming

Poodle as a Clydesdale Horse.

Poodle as a camel.

Poodle celebrates St. Patrick's day.

Poodle as a vineyard.

Poodle gone fishing.

Poodle as a peacock.

Poodle as a buffalo.

Angora people are familiar with grooming; it is a fun thing and it is also a necessity. However, it is not likely that any of the Angora people has seen or done any grooming remotely similar to the Poodle Extreme Grooming contest posted on the net.

What do you think? This blogger is speechless.