Open Top Winners at Gridley

California Rabbit and Cavy Shows hold triple all breed shows at Gridley, CA on Sunday, November 3, 2019.

In show A, judge Daniel with judge's assist Lindsey award the Best In Show to the Mini Satin shown by Sam and Lauralee.

Betty's English Angora receives the Reserve In Show in show A.

In show B, judge Scott picks the same Mini Satin shown by Sam and Lauralee as the Best In Show, the Reserve In Show goes to Julie's Mini Rex.

In show C, judge Kate once again picks Sam and Lauralee's Mini Satin as the Best In Show and the Reserve In Show goes to Timmy and Danielle's Netherland Dwarf.      This is Sam and Lauralee's first triple Best In Show win.

Fawndella Wins All Breed Reserve In Show at Gridley

At the CRCS show A on Saturday November 3, 2019, English Angora Fawndella wins the Reserve In Show from judge Daniel Barret of CO and judge's assistant Lindsey Vaught.  

Fawndella out and about.

Little wind makes Fawndella's wool even more appealing.

Broken Satin Angora Presentation: The Past and the Current

The first broken Satin Angora COD holder is Charlene Duncan.  She took out the COD in 1994 and did the presentation in 1996 and 1997.  

The second broken Satin Angora COD holder is Polly Holmes.   She did the presentation in 2001.

The third broken Satin Angora COD holder is Joan Hastings who did the presentation in 2007 and 2008.   

Now the COD process allows a team effort.  The 2014/2015 presentations were done with Charlotte Schweikart as the team leader and team members Joan Hastings and Kellyjo Younggreen.

The current COD team is led by Kellyjo Younggreen with team members Joyce Holliday and Sandra Wight.  The first showing received unanimous vote in 2018 and the second showing again received unanimous vote.   Due to the superb quality, the third showing is waved.   Broken Satin Angora will an accepted variety when the official announcement is published in the coming issue of Domestic Rabbits in a few weeks. 

Broken Satin Angora Presentation: Judgement Day

Tuesday, October 22, 2019, the judgement day for the broken Satin Angora presentation second showing.   On table 86 are 8 of the presentation animals.

The other 4 are on table 87 to make the 12 required for the second showing. 

The ARBA Standard committee starts working.   Each rabbit is weighed and recorded.

Cheryl Blackman weighs the rabbits, Chris Zemny records.  

Cheryl Blackman and Michael Franke start examining the rabbits.

Phil Woollet and Cathy Szychulda work on the broken Satin Angora.

Casey, Pattee, Eric, Charlene are watching and waiting...

Arie and Betty watch and wait....

Sandra and Kellyjo are at the standard committee table.  They hug each other to ease their nervousness.

It's good news, no, it's great news!!!  It's unanimous vote, it's the best presentation ever, it's exemplary status, … it's a super pass!    Broken Satin Angora will be a new variety as soon as the next issue of Domestic Rabbit is published.

Charlene hugs the COD team members Joyce, Sandra and Kellyjo.   The three team members are excited and happy, Charlene has a mixed emotion; she started the process 25 years ago with the support of her daughter Laika.  Today she witnesses the success of the current team, however, Laika is no longer with us.  It's bittersweet.

     

Broken Satin Angora Presentation: The Final Grooming

Tuesday morning, the COD team does the final check and groom.

Cheryl Eng-Link checks all the presentation animals to make sure that there isn't anything overlooked in the pre-examination.    Cheryl was the ARBA standard chair up to a couple of years ago, she knows how the committee works.  All the rabbits are weighed to make sure that all rabbits are within the weight range.

While Cheryl is checking every little details of the rabbit, Gabe is busy grooming.    Gabe has been the major groomer for this presentation.    He works harder than anyone else.

Isn't it embarrassing for the rabbit? The genital area is open for all to check!

Sandra with her favorite chestnut doe.

The helpers: Cheryl, Betty, Eric and Gabe.

Our lead groomer.

Betty and Casey feel very honored to be the groomer helper.   The COD team works so hard for so many years, we got the chance to feel and handle these magnificent rabbits.

Sandra is keeping an eye on her favorite chestnut doe on Betty's grooming table.

Two juniors are waiting for their term to be groomed.

Just before going on to the ARBA standard committee table, a last second hustle to make the rabbits look good.   The three COD team members Kellyjo, Sandra and Joyce put the rabbits on Gabe's and Betty's grooming tables to get the final touch.   

Broken Satin Angora Presentation: Charlene Visits

In the mid 1990s, Charlene Duncan took out the first COD (Certificate of Development) on broken Satin Angora.   At that time, there was only one person who held the COD.  Charlene's daughter Laika worked alongside to develop the broken Satin Angora.

Charlene did the first showing in 1997, had success but unfortunately the subsequent showings were not successful.  Coupled with difficulty in getting time off from work, Charlene gave up the COD.

At Reno, Joyce mentioned that we should find Charlene.  Betty dialed Charlene's number and here she is, Charlene herself appeared at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center.  Charlene lives with husband Patrick in the area.    Joyce is the host showing the broken Satin Angora to Charlene and Betty is the photographer behind the camera.   

Charlene has not had rabbit for a few years, she's happy to come visit and see the broken Satin Angora.

Charlene is impressed with the chestnut senior doe.

"I love this one", Charlene says.    Joyce agrees.

Here comes Gabe, the lead groomer.    

The one who held the first COD of the broken Satin Angora and the current COD team;

from left to right are: Kellyjo, Joyce, Charlene and Sandra.

Broken Satin Angora Presention: Pre-Examination

The Broken Satin Angora passed the first showing last year with unanimous vote, see 

https://ncag.blogspot.com/2018/11/broken-satin-angora-presentation-at.html , 

this year again passed the second showing with unanimous vote.   It received the "super pass" or "exemplary status" to skip the third showing and becomes an accepted variety.  The journey to get to this point has been a length 25 years, many tried and failed then this super success thanks to the dedicated team of Kellyjo Younggreen, Sandra Wight and Joyce Holliday.     There will be many posts to show the current success and also visit the history of this journey.

On Monday, one day prior to the formal presentation, the broken Satin Angora are all on the table for examination.  There are a total of 19 on the table brought to the convention by Kellyjo, Sandra and Joyce.  The NARBC standard committee chair and his members select 12 to be used for presentation to the ARBA standard committee.  For the second showing, the rule is to have at least 2 senior bucks and 2 senior does among the 12 animals, the other 8 could be seniors or juniors, bucks or does.

There are 5 senior bucks available for selection, a minimum of 2 are needed for presentation.

There are 5 senior does available and a minimum of 2 are needed for presentation.

There are 5 junior bucks, no minimum nor maximum.  

There are 4 junior does, no minimum nor maximum. 

NARBC standard chair is Eric Stewart starts the examination process.    There are 4 others including yours truly going through all 19 of the potential candidates then discuss which 12 to be presented to the ARBA standard committee the next day.

Many of the animals came from Sandra's barn, of all of them, this broken chestnut senior doe is her favorite.

I'd agree this senior doe is superb.  I have the honor of doing the finish grooming on her the next morning.  She is absolutely beautiful.