Wool/Skein/Garment Contest at the ARBA Convention in MA

National Angora Rabbit Breeders Club sponsors the wool/skein/garment contest during the convention every year.

The class winners of the garment contest are on the honor wall.

In the plastic pouches are the first and second place winners of the skein contest.

This beautiful white shawl is a strong contender for the Best In Show in the W/S/G contest, …

… the Best In Show goes to this colored shawl.

Best In Show Judging at the ARBA Convention in MA

A separate area is used for the Best In Show judging.  It's totally full and those come in late stand behind rows and rows of chairs.   

The youth group winners are on the stage, they are Mini Lop, Silver, Lionhead and Polish. 

The Youth Best In Show goes to Clara's Lionhead.  Clara is from No. CA, we see her in shows week in and week out, she is a delightful young lady who works very hard with her rabbits.     Lionhead is a newly accepted breed, this is the first time a Lionhead gets the Best In Show in an ARBA convention.

Between the youth Best In Show judging and open Best In Show judging, the previous open Best In Show winners are introduced by ARBA president Josh Humphries, far left.    Second from the left to the right are:

Tex Thomas (Silver Marten 1983 and 1996), Betty Chu (English Angora 1992), Jim Bayliss (Satin 1993), Katie and Brad Boyce (Havana 2002 and 2015), Joe Kim (Tan 2003), Ron Riddle (Silver Marten 2004), Amanda and Robin Wampner (Mini Satin 2007), Doug King (Mini Rex 2009), Doug Harrah (Florida White 2013), Chris Zemny (Holland Lop 2014) and Dave Cardinal (New Zealand 2016). 

Open show judging starts.   Judge Cole from MN is one of the group judges.   He has the English Angora on the table.  In the pink carrier is the Giant Angora BOB.

Judge Don from VA is examining the French Angora.

In judge Don's group is also the Satin Angora.

The four group winners are the Silver, Checker Giant, Silver Martin and Florida White.

Judge Randy received the highest vote to be the Best In Show judge.  His job is to decide which one of the group winners is the Best In Show winner.   He is examining the Checker Giant.

The open Best In Show goes to the Silver Marten shown by Tex Thomas.  This is his 3rd convention Best In Show win, probably the highest record of the open convention BIS winning.

Kevin Whaley hands Tex the trophy and the $1000 KW gift card.

Heinold Feeds presents Tex with a $500 check for the Best In Show win. 

If you wish to watch the entire Best In Show judging, here is the link.   

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bUYeABF_SHFyq7-suyXNhIeQtWevB3L8/view?fbclid=IwAR2WESMwjSv5h4jQTkpLZZBkXCxFLRAzkq06EVu_LEkvOiDa2kCAbYmd1RY

Allen and Briony are the commentators.   The video is about 4-1/2 hours long.   You can move it forward to select what you wish to watch.   Youth BIS selection starts at 2:45, previous BIS introduction starts at 3:08 and open BIS selection starts at 4:04.

PBS Filming at the ARBA Convention in MA

A production crew was filming in the ARBA convention.   I got a request to be a part of the filming.

Ronaldo is on the grooming station getting a blowing treatment.

The camera is in for a close up.

The title of the program is called "Remarkable Rabbits".  It will be a one-hour segment for Nature on PBS.  The broadcast date is yet to be determined.

The production team is lead by Susan with a camera person and a sound person.  The team is stationed in Quebec, Canada.  They stay for at least three days during the convention, there will be lots of breeds and moments to be featured. 

Angora Judging at the ARBA Convention in MA, Part 2

There are two tables for Angora judging.  The French Angora are on the table of judge Mike Ross of NY.

Somehow I missed all the colored French Angora judging, so....

… here is the BOB French Angora in her coop.  She is a beautiful chestnut agouti senior doe shown by Eric/Gabe.

On the table are the five class winners of the Giant Angora.   There was no entry in one of the six classes. Judge Mike is about to announce the BOB and BOS.

Matt and Ashley are the proud breeders/owners of these five stunning Giant Angoras.

And here are the happy couple with the beautiful Giant Angora BOB and BOS winners.

Angora Judging at the ARBA Convention in MA, part 1

Judging was supposed to start at 8 am on Sunday October 28, 2018, …

… we waited and waited, it was close to 9 am but the judging table was still being set up.   It came to find out that the table and the carpet were soaking wet.   Margaret found some sheets to cover the table so that our buns would not be sitting on the soaking wet carpets.     We were all grateful for the thoughtfulness.  

Judge Michael Franke from TX starts with the white English Angora.

Now judge Michael is on the colored English Angora.

Still on colored English Angora.

These are shiny!   The Satin Angora are on judge Michael's table.

These four Satin Angora are the winners of BOVs and BOSVs.

The BOB goes to the colored senior doe shown by the Eric/Gabe team.  In the photo is Gabe with the winner.

Seafood Dinner at the ARBA Convention in MA

After a whole day of grooming, a group of us went to dinner together.   Front row left to right are Julie Gordie, Betty and Debbie.   Julie is with a group of 4H moms and daughters from Florida, all in the back row.

Menu from the seafood restaurant.  

It'd be a travesty if I didn't get a lobster when I'm in New England.  

Here is me with the big plate of lobster and clams.

Betty's Grooming Station at the ARBA Convention in MA

  When I was ready to set up, there was virtually no wall space left that was near the Angora isle.    I found this glass panel area vacant with two locked doors, one of the doors posted a sign, "Broken Door, do not unlock!!" (see the next photo, sign behind my head).    I decided to set up there.  My turntable is sitting on my dog kennel that's covered with an old sheet, on the turntable is my French Angora Gifta.

Old friends gathered at the glass panel grooming area that I shared with Debbie.   From left to right are Dru Shepherd of NJ, Debbie McCormick of NC, Louise Walsh of MA and me.   Dru and I have known each other since the mid 1990s, Debbie is my roomie at the convention and Louise Walsh and I have known each other since my first convention in 1987.  On the grooming table is Debbie's Giant Angora buck. 

This picture was taken by Debbie at our grooming station.  Debbie got this metal turntable just before the convention.  On the table is either Ellamae or Brandice, one of the littermate sisters but not sure which.

My "son" Joe Kim came to visit.   

Kevin Whaley, owner of the well-known KW cages and the designer of the Show Pro software program, came to visit.

Next to us is Gabe Hernandez of the well-known Eric/Gabe team grooming their French Angora. 

This beauty later won the BOB French Angora.  She is super typy and super dense.