On Oct.14-15, 2006 Carol Brewer and I traveled to Olympia Washington to show our Pixie-Bobs in the ACFA Northwest Regional show. Carol Ann showed OM Lana of StoneIsland, a 7 month old, Pixie-Bob, LH (long haired) female. I was showing G Bar G Ranch Romance Dreamer, a 5 month old SH (short haired) female.
We were showing in the new breed section to help make the magic number, to get our breed into ACFA's championship section. Carol Ann's Lana is a very nice PL (Pixie-Bob long haired) girl, with the perfect show personality. You can handle, stretch her out, and stare at her face checking features, as long as you like. Lana was simply putty in the judge's hands. She loved all of the attention.
For my girl, Dreamer, this was her first show so she was a bit scared and squirmy. I have to laugh. She didn't do bad, just a bit impatient with all of the fussing. The judges loved her coat and pattern.
The judges were all very nice, very interested in the Pixie-Bob breed and very welcoming. It was good to have both a PL and SH there so the judges could see the difference between the two breed sections/looks. It was a good comparison of coat type, how it lays on the body, the correct texture, and proper length of coat, especially for what we are looking for in the PL's.
The PL's coat should be around 2 inches in length, can be a little longer at the belly and back of the legs, without the ruff that is seen on the Maine Coon. They asked many questions about the facial features and what we liked about our cats. They also asked what we would like to see improved on our cats. They made enquiries about the PB tail, proper length whether bumps and kinks are acceptable, etc. We showed everyone the proper way to measure a tail with hind leg extended.
Several judges said they were sorry it was so hard to go through the acceptance process. They were glad we have persisted and aren't put off. Some of them also thought it was a shame that a few people had made such a fuss when we first starting out in our approach to ACFA. They are looking forward to when we get into accepted in to championship. A few judges even said they thought our girls would have been placed in their finals, after seeing them and reading the standard. This was exciting to hear, of course. They are looking forward to seeing some of the adult Pixie-bobs.
Saturday night we went to the awards banquet. The banquet was held in a Casino nearby and the food was terrific. I think we were both hungry from talking and laughing all day. The people at our table were welcoming and friendly. We talked of cats and where we had come from.
The award presentation was very nice, pretty awards given with a sense of humor and companionship. Doug Blackmore was especially funny and one of the big boosters of the Pixie-bob. The show was very fun in that there was no pressure or rush, just a mellower atmosphere in general. People seemed kind, willing to help one another and just not as gossipy, as most shows I go to. My impression was that the people in attendance demonstrated less of a "huffy" attitude.
Carol Ann brought her wonderful Pixie-bob books with her. There was a lot of breed history and stories. I saw terrific pictures of some of the old-line cats. It was so much fun going through them and trying to soak up all the history that is part of our breed. It always amazes me how well she knows each and every line. She knows what these lines produce, which is the best to cross with, and when to go out to a different line. It is very fascinating to talk with her. All the people were amazed at the books and amount of detail in them.
Carol Ann arranged for a yummy cake on Sunday. What better way to make new friends then a good bribe? (LOL) She had also worked to get enough money together, so that the Pixie-bob breed group could sponsor a ring for both days.
Another fun thing that happened was that the local paper came in and did an article on the cat show. I was lucky enough to have my girl on the judging table when they came around. The judge was playing with her using a toy. They got the information on my kitten and the breed of cat and it was fun to see her picture in the paper the next day. This exposure is always good advertisement for our breed when it happens. All in all, the Olympia ACFA show was a positive experience and has given further good exposure for our beloved cats.
We were showing in the new breed section to help make the magic number, to get our breed into ACFA's championship section. Carol Ann's Lana is a very nice PL (Pixie-Bob long haired) girl, with the perfect show personality. You can handle, stretch her out, and stare at her face checking features, as long as you like. Lana was simply putty in the judge's hands. She loved all of the attention.
For my girl, Dreamer, this was her first show so she was a bit scared and squirmy. I have to laugh. She didn't do bad, just a bit impatient with all of the fussing. The judges loved her coat and pattern.
The judges were all very nice, very interested in the Pixie-Bob breed and very welcoming. It was good to have both a PL and SH there so the judges could see the difference between the two breed sections/looks. It was a good comparison of coat type, how it lays on the body, the correct texture, and proper length of coat, especially for what we are looking for in the PL's.
The PL's coat should be around 2 inches in length, can be a little longer at the belly and back of the legs, without the ruff that is seen on the Maine Coon. They asked many questions about the facial features and what we liked about our cats. They also asked what we would like to see improved on our cats. They made enquiries about the PB tail, proper length whether bumps and kinks are acceptable, etc. We showed everyone the proper way to measure a tail with hind leg extended.
Several judges said they were sorry it was so hard to go through the acceptance process. They were glad we have persisted and aren't put off. Some of them also thought it was a shame that a few people had made such a fuss when we first starting out in our approach to ACFA. They are looking forward to when we get into accepted in to championship. A few judges even said they thought our girls would have been placed in their finals, after seeing them and reading the standard. This was exciting to hear, of course. They are looking forward to seeing some of the adult Pixie-bobs.
Saturday night we went to the awards banquet. The banquet was held in a Casino nearby and the food was terrific. I think we were both hungry from talking and laughing all day. The people at our table were welcoming and friendly. We talked of cats and where we had come from.
The award presentation was very nice, pretty awards given with a sense of humor and companionship. Doug Blackmore was especially funny and one of the big boosters of the Pixie-bob. The show was very fun in that there was no pressure or rush, just a mellower atmosphere in general. People seemed kind, willing to help one another and just not as gossipy, as most shows I go to. My impression was that the people in attendance demonstrated less of a "huffy" attitude.
Carol Ann brought her wonderful Pixie-bob books with her. There was a lot of breed history and stories. I saw terrific pictures of some of the old-line cats. It was so much fun going through them and trying to soak up all the history that is part of our breed. It always amazes me how well she knows each and every line. She knows what these lines produce, which is the best to cross with, and when to go out to a different line. It is very fascinating to talk with her. All the people were amazed at the books and amount of detail in them.
Carol Ann arranged for a yummy cake on Sunday. What better way to make new friends then a good bribe? (LOL) She had also worked to get enough money together, so that the Pixie-bob breed group could sponsor a ring for both days.
Another fun thing that happened was that the local paper came in and did an article on the cat show. I was lucky enough to have my girl on the judging table when they came around. The judge was playing with her using a toy. They got the information on my kitten and the breed of cat and it was fun to see her picture in the paper the next day. This exposure is always good advertisement for our breed when it happens. All in all, the Olympia ACFA show was a positive experience and has given further good exposure for our beloved cats.
| Olympia Wa. Show Report |
| By Gail Anderson of G Bar G Pixie Bobs Submitted Jan. 07' |
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