SHROPSHIRE CHAMPIONSHIP - FEBRUARY 7 2009 Ms Patsy Knight It is an annual pleasure to be invited to 'the Shropshire' my local show, and of which I have been a member for many years. A short journey, loads of parking, delicious real farmhouse lunch, some beautiful cats, and last but definitely not least, the help and support of Anne Ashworth, Emerisle Ragdolls, and the home of the famous Emerisle Diamante, as my steward. AC BIRMAN CHAMPION MALE 1 & Gr Ch Methven's CH LADYPAWS CARUSO 9.1.2008 Chocolate Point. The only exhibit present in the class, but he certainly deserved his win, no doubt of that. One could definitely say of him 'very nice all round'. Full broad head, with a mature look, wide top, medium size ears, full cheeks tapering to a broad muzzle, shapely firm chin of good depth, neat profile dip and medium length nose, and almost perfect scissor bite. Just a hint of brindling around nearly round but not quite, soulful blue eyes. Excellent body length, sound through the middle, and balanced medium length tail, a full plume, what I might call 'white' milk chocolate in shade, and a touch of brindling at base. Long silky coat, lovely texture, beautifully groomed, full ruff framing his face, ivory body colour, definite milk chocolate colour fully developed on ears, mask, and legs. Very good behaviour, I really liked him. AC BIRMAN CHAMPION FEMALE 1 & Gr Ch Methvcn's GR CH LADYPAWS MARSHMALLOW 9.2.2007 Lilac Tortic Point. I did not notice until I read the catalogue that, although there is a difference in age, Caruso and Marshmallow are actually brother and sister from the repeat mating. They are a credit to their owners and were carefully groomed to show them off as befits candidates for a Grand award. There aren't that many 13c 10 s about. Very nice sound but feminine head, wide top, medium size ears lightly mottled in shades of lilac on pale beige agouti background. Gentle profile dip and curve to medium length nose, pink nose leather with black spots. Absolutely level bite. Broad muzzle, firm but not very deep chin. Excellent body length, sound bone, beautiful medium length tail with a full brush, legs and tail in pale shades of lilac on beige. Super silky coat texture, no shading at all. just off-white magnolia all over, and beautifully groomed. Cute face pattern, with fine white whiskers. Feet markings satisfactory all round. Again, the only exhibit present, but well worthy of the award. SEAL POINT BIRMAN KITTEN MALE 1 & BOB Coward's LIZZARA SUNBEAM 28.8.2008 I think that in Chinese finance 8's are considered good luck. Sunbeam was a smart young man, and a good size for his age. Just a little bit apprehensive, but it is a big wide world for a kitten. Good head width, wide top, very good medium size ears sound seal in shade, strong profile dip, with gentle curve below to medium length nose, and deep seal nose leather. Quite full cheeks tapering to a fair depth chin which recedes a little. Very good top teeth, lower row just coming through. Sapphire blue eyes, almost round, good shape for his age Long body, filling out well, and balanced medium length tail, quite a good plume already. Very good development overall. Excellent coat texture, soft and silky, very pale clear beige with a little faint shading on flanks. Good points match all round. Low but level gloves, short socks, very nice pointed gauntlets. SEAL POINT BIRMAN KITTEN FEMALE 1 Slevin s ASHANNAS MAMMA MIA 9.7.2008 First impression, very good contrasts indeed. It is hard to beat the original Birman combination of deep seal and clear pale beige when teamed with the blue eyes and little white feet. And her markings were all but perfect too. Full broad head, medium ears, slight dip in profile, bite a little overshot, broad muzzle, and quite good firm depth of chin Nearly round but not quite sapphire blue eyes. Good body length and boning, medium length tail
filling out. Very silky pale beige coat, with deep seal points. Level gloves, short socks, pointed medium length gauntlets, and pale pink paw pads. Very composed behaviour. A little sweetie pie. just not quitc the bone development of Sunbeam. BLUE POINT BIRMAN KITTEN MALE. 1 Blatherwick's KYNOBI LUCAS 8.8.2008 Talkative! and with a fat pot too. A typical bonnie Birman kitten, full of beans and personality. Broad head with very good ears for shape, and strong blue points. Full cheeks tapering to a broad muzzle, and firm chin of fairly good depth. Neat profile dip and sound sapphire blue eyes, nearly round but not quite. Excellent body weight, good length, strong legs, and balanced medium length tail, both tail and legs rather more pale than the ears and mask, but acceptable for his age. Excellent coat texture, soft and silky, good length and bluish white all over. Level gloves, medium length socks and quite good matching gauntlets. Good grooming completed the picture, and he really enjoyed being shown. 2. Osborn's SNOWWITCH SUMMERSTORM 25.7.2008 Another fat pussy, but it is so nice to see such bonnie kittens and so well grown for their age. Broad head with excellent ears for shape and points colour. Profile dip and overall nose profile a little straight. Full cheeks, broad muzzle and good chin depth. Top teeth bite only as yet. Good body length and boning, plumy tail just a wee short for balance, but excellent points colour and match all round. Excellent coat texture, soft and silky, clear bluish white all over, and very well groomed. Very neat gloves, short socks, and broad gauntlets a little on the short side, paler round the edges - it is the best way 1 can describe of the white fading into the blue leg around it. A friendly little man. BLUE POINT BIRMAN KITTEN FEMALE 1 & BOB Horton's KYNOBI TRINITY 8.8.2008 I only realised when I read the catalogue that Trinity and Lucas are brother and sister, and Mrs Horton's stud the father anyway. To say quite nice all round is not damning with faint praise because she really has no faults as per the SOP, and apart from the fact that her tail could be a whisker longer for perfect balance, she is very promising. Broad head, wide top, good medium ears with definite strong blue points that match all round, full cheeks tapering to a broad muzzle and firm chin, and neat profile dip. Excellent deep blue eyes, nearly round, looking calm and composed. Top teeth bite at present. Very good body length and overall size, full plumy tail. Excellent silky coat, clear bluish white all over, little ruff just showing, and well groomed. Hint of ghost rings on front legs. Neat gloves, short socks, gauntlets nearly a pair, all sparkling white. Judging her was a pleasure. AOC SOMALI (ex SILVER) NEUTER BOB Watts' CH & GR PR EMANAN BOOTSTRAP BILL 15.7.2005 Blue. I don't think that I have ever met Bootstrap Bill, but 1 can see why he deserved the BOB. The overall impression is that he looks just right for a Somali, and for his colour, warm oatmeal with blue licking. Moderate wedge head, all gentle contours, good width across top, and large ears, pricked and well furnished, blue tips. Full cheeks, muzzle formed with a slight indentation, slight nose break, and firm chin. Just a little white round mouth. Large almond shaped soft green eyes, with spectacles and pencillings, very expressive. Firm body, good length and substantial through the middle, lithe and muscular. Balanced long tail, full and tapering to the blue lip, with spine line to match. Profuse soft fine coat, very good ticking, particularly over the head, warm mushroom under the belly and inside back legs. Blue heels, and mauvish blue nose leather and paw pads If this reads like the SOP, it is because that is how he is. Good grooming and behaviour completed the picture. AV SLH ADULT MALE 1. Taylor's CH BRIZLINCOAT ARABIAN NITE 31.5.2007 Sorrel Somali. Another Somali, would you believe, when there are, unfortunately, not many on the show bench at all. They are such attractive cats, and a lot to get right. First impression, strong
copper colour, and an excellent chin! good head type, large almond shape hazel eyes in slight oblique set, firm lithe body, and balanced long tail. Excellent body, lithe and muscular, bands of ticking a little vague, but the colours just right - rich apricot base coat under belly and so on, with good cinnamon markings, specially the tail tip and heels, spine line and ear tufts. A very smart young man. 2. Davies' CARRISMOON JACKFLASH 23.4.2008 Red Point Birman. Very nice but cross! Good type all round, and large, really masculine. Broad head, beautiful transparent blue eyes, very good contrasts, clear pale cream body with slight golden hue over the shoulders, and neat foot markings clearly visible. Beautiful full red brush, Birman glory. Just a little ragged under the turn, otherwise good grooming. 3. Haworth's GR CH DIZZIPAWS BRUCE 2.8.2006 Seal Colourpointed Ragdoll. Handsome and lovely temperament. X3. Lynch's CHESAWOOD BURLINGTON BERTIE 15.3.2008 Seal Colourpointed Ragdoll Handsome lad with violet-y blue eyes and well groomed like his name. This was a first class group of cats. AV SLH RADIUS ADULT 1. Turner's CAROLMAINE SILVER DOLLAR 14.11.2007 Silver Classic Tabby & White. Fourteen months old, still very much an adolescent, head could be just a little more square and boxy at the muzzle, but very good colouring, absolutely sparkling silvery white base coat, a touch of tarnish on the face, large round deep green eyes in slight oblique set, and sparkling shirt front to match. Despite his youth, very substantial and weighty body, and beautiful long plume of a tail - the classic cat attached to a tail. A real picture in black, white and silver. AV SLH BREEDERS KITTEN 1. Mines' STACYM TANTALITE TEMPTRESS 28.7.2008 Usual Somali Female. Overall impression - colours a little on the dark side but correct, a striking girly. Moderate wedge head, good proportionately large ears, cheeks filling out, chin could be a little more firm. Large almond shaped deep amber eyes in slight oblique set, sparkling bright. Firm body, good length, and balanced long tail, tapering to tip. Black spine line and heels, and ear tips. Rich apricot underneath belly and inside legs.. Very good bands of ticking developing. A promising girly. 2. Griffiths' SHOOKATOO JIMMI CHOO 27.8.2008 Red Tabby & White Maine Coon Male. Good head, tall ears with good long tufts. Shallow profile curve though nose a little short overall. Cheeks flat, not filled out yet as he is young, but broad muzzle and firm chin all there. Large round deep amber eyes in slight oblique set, full of life. Excellent body length and boning, strong legs and large paws to grow into. Glossy topcoat glowing with condition, full long brush of a tail, clear red classic pattern, snowy white feet, belly and shapely ruff and bib. X2. Blatherwick's KYNOBI LUCAS 8.8.2008 Blue Point Birman Male 3. Parkes' QUARENTO TRULY SCRUMPTIOUS 18.5.2008 Seal Tortie Point Ragdoll Female. A funny face pattern, really noticeable, and the best tortie colours and leg and tail markings that I have seen for a long time, especially on a kitten. Nicely balanced head, cute medium length retrousse nose, large pale china blue eyes in slight oblique set, broad muzzle of good depth, and firm chin. Long and deep body, very good development for age and sex, and long tail. Very pale cream background coat shows the colours off to best advantage. AND she was purring.
X3. Jones' GROOVICATS COSMOPOLITAN 11.10.2008 Seal Colourpointed Male. Four months old and very talkative! a real live wire. Good width top of head, excellent deep seal points colour on ears, mask and tail. Medium blue large round eyes in slight oblique set, chin could be a little stronger. Very good body length and boning for his age, and balanced long tail, filling out nicely. Well groomed pale beige coat, very even all over, and good points contrast. RAGDOLL KITTEN 1. Davison's RAGAPOST KISSED BY AN ANGEL 15.8.2008 Blue Colourpointed Female. What a lovely name. Broad head with rather a rounded forehead, but flat plane between the ears. Cheeks quite full, rounded muzzle and good chin depth. Medium length nose with a gentle dip, quite nice viewed in profile. Good depth of blue colour in large well opened eyes, slight oblique set. Good body size overall, firm legs, and long tail, tapering to tip, to balance. Good greyish blue points colour, nicely matching all round, and definite blue mask. Dense soft coat, bluish white with just a hint of shading over the back. 2. Jones GROOVICATS COSMOPOLITAN 3. Lynch's MAGISRAGIS PERSEPHONE 4.10.2008 Seal Bi-Colour Female. AV SLH SENIOR NEUTER 1. Brown's GR CH & GR PR DALTEEMA DIAMOND DAN 26.1.2006 Red Point Birman Male. Brief description - very large Red! very good all over. Broad head, good type, beautiful translucent nearly round blue eyes, firm chin. Excellent body and bone, balanced medium length full tail, good points colour all round, definite red. Good foot markings, sparkling white, with long paw tufts. Excellent grooming and temperament. 2. Methven's GR CH FARRARI DINO 25.6.2003 Lilac Point Birman Male. Lovely lilac! thats him in a nutshell! lovely broad head, limpid blue eyes, substantial body and boning, balanced medium length tail, and well defined lilac points, all matching, Thick soft coat, off-white magnolia and beautifully groomed, excellent contrasts which is not so easy for a lilac, and quiet temperament. X2. Woodcock's GR PR DARKTOWER SAXON KING 27.10.2000 Black & White Maine Coon Male. Excellent head type, really masculine with square muzzle, and very good firm chin. Even shallow profile curve, tall ears with long tips. Large golden eyes in slight oblique set. Excellent body and bone, long flowing tail, and glossy top coat over back. All well groomed, and smart white chin, bib and all four feet. 3. Bunce's GR PR COONTASTIC NIJINSKY 27.10.2005 Brown Tabby & White Maine Coon Male. Superb ears were his star feature. The fact that I had to put a Grand Premier in Third place shows the overall quality of the class. All nine exhibits could have taken the win, and it was a difficult but very enjoyable decision to make. I love being given a Senior class to judge, and there is no doubt that 'old ones are usually good ones' which makes the end of the day a pleasure in more ways than one. AV BIRMAN NEUTER 1. UK GR PR FORMONA APOLLO 27.4.2001 Seal Point Male. Apart from scallopy gloves which I think look cute anyway, and are cosmetic rather
than 'type' he could not be faulted. Head, body and boning, tail a balanced medium length full brush, beautiful deep blue nearly round eyes, all first class. Excellent coat for texture and colour, and perfect contrasts between the very clear pale beige body and deep seal points, demonstrate just how good the original seal can be. Super all over, including grooming and temperament. 2. Methven's IGR CH NORVIN FARRARO DINO X2. Brown's GR CH &. GR PR DALTEEMA DIAMOND DAN 3. Hough's PR LAVALNA SUNBEAM 1.5.2007 Seal Point Male. A very nice young one. His nearly round deep blue eyes stand out from the seal mask, and wonderful contrasts all round, from very clear pale beige body to deep seal points. Chin a fraction curvy. Faint back shading. Symmetrical foot markings, lovely temperament and grooming. There were FOUR definite First's in this class, and I hate having to decide in such circumstances. It just speaks for the overall quality of the exhibits on this day. A wonderful afternoon end.