So will you remember 10 years from now what you were doing on the above date? Members of the three Clubs affiliated to the National Hamster Council will and so especially will those who had anything to do with organising it!
Wow! What a Show!
A lot of hard work went into organising this show and we hope to highlight some of the stars. Sid and Elaine found the Hall, and a committee consisting of the Skidmores, Tim and Catherine Groves, Mick Turnidge, Sue Kilburn and Peter Logsdail to oversee it was set up. They produced the schedule, organised trophies and rosettes and also judges. Deciding that it would be good if the three Clubs could be represented during the Show, arrangements were also made for Mick Turnidge to finish his NHC Syrian Judge training at Willington. He was presented with his badge before commencing judging at the Anniversary Show.
Supreme were to turn up with a stall. Sid and Elaine also booked someone who makes lovely hamster badges and a man who made and sold fudge and chocolate (well, lots of us were going to need extra energy on the day!). There was to be a huge raffle with amazing prizes such as a big wire-top cage, some small aquarium tanks equipped for hamsters, a sack of food, jumbo wheels and a whole assortment of goodies. Tim Groves and his amazing travelling display was also booked as well as the usual excellent sales table provided by Pete Logsdail and team. There was plenty of room for an information desk, the Show Secs table and three judging rings, as well as a Pet Hamster Show. This Show was going to be BIG!!!
With about a week to go, things seemed deathly quiet. Were we really able to do this? Wrinkles had been ironed, those involved were feeling exhausted before the Show had even begun and the lack of interest seemed overwhelming. Even the entries had been slow to begin.
On Wednesday, the phone rang. It didn't stop. Not through Thursday or Friday. The Media had found us out. I found myself doing two live radio interviews (one squeezed in at 7.25am before we left for the Show!) Pete Logsdail and Elaine and Sid also found themselves in demand on the radio. I found myself hurriedly rushing round to sweep the Hamstery for the Sunday Mercury photographer who was popping in on his way from home for an article on the Sunday (a lesson for us all in that one!). The icing on the cake was when I answered a call from a film crew from a cable company who wanted to come and do a news feature on us. They turned up as well! We also found ourselves answering lots of queries as to the wherabouts of the Show and as to what would happen during the Pet Show.
So what was it like? You should have been there! Most of us did not seem to stop all day. It was always busy. We answered lots of queries, met and talked to members of the public and enjoyed the fudge! The number of entries was not as big as we as Show Secs had hoped: about 170 Syrians and 65 dwarfs. There were about 36 pets entered. Everyone who attended seemed to be having a good time. The success of the Show was that it brought the word "Hamster" seemingly to the attention of the whole of the West Midlands, and alongside that the National Hamster Council. It really felt like a successful day and we would like to congratulate everyone who had a hand in organising it.
Well done to the Judges, Sid Skidmore (Long-Haired Show), Mick Turnidge (Short-Haired Show), and Melissa Chamberlain (Dwarf Show). Thank you also to the Pet Judges, Margaret and Sarah Turnidge and Rachel Cooper (it was a lovely surprise to hear that you and Adrian were coming all the way from Ireland just for the Show).
Congratulations to all of the winners, but especially to Black Country Hamstery with the Best Short-Haired Hamster, Jane Addis with the Best Long-Haired Hamster and to Jean Tye and Carol Leat who won the Grand Challenge in the Dwarf show. Well done also to the Juniors, Fraser Avill who won Junior Short-Haired Hamster, and Laura Sinclair who won both Junior Long-Haired Hamster and Junior Dwarf.
As we wended our way out of the hall, the stalls packed away, most of the hammies heading home (with their owners) and the hall cleared, Sid suggested to those of us that were left that we do it all again next week. The replies he received were not very polite!
A week has gone by and the memory has faded a little. I look forward to the 100th anniversary celebration organised by Catrin, Wain and Baby Groves and a whole new generation of hamster fanciers. Us? We'll be just like Jeannie, sitting, watching the display and proudly showing off our place cards from the 50th anniversary show.
Short Haired Syrian
Judge - Mr M Turnidge (NHC Syrian Judge)
. GOLDEN(11) CREAM(19) AOC MALE(12) 1. J.Tye &.C.Leat Black Country Duncton Hams 2. Wellington Hams J.Tye &.C.Leat Radio Hams 3. Black Country Black Country E.Hornett R. J.Tye &.C.Leat Blackberry Stud Hamper Hams VHC Blackberry Stud Blackberry Stud Valentine Hams HC Greenfield Hams Blackberry Stud W.Wright C Blackberry Stud F.Avill W.Wright . AOC FEMALE(19) PATTERNED(5) SATIN(8) 1. Wellington Hams Black Country Black Country 2. Wellington Hams A.Hodges Greenfield Hams 3. P.Gill Black Country Black Country R. J.Tye &.C.Leat Greenfield Hams E.Hornett VHC P.Gill Minx Hams F.Avill HC Hamper Hams - Towy Vale C Wellington Hams - E.Hornett . JUNIOR(10) NOVICE(2) INTERMEDIATE(12) 1. F.Avill F.Avill E.Hornett 2. L.Sinclair F.Avill Greenfield Hams 3. F.&.J.Evans - L.Sinclair R. F.&.J.Evans - Greenfield Hams VHC F.&.J.Evans - E.Hornett HC F.Avill - Greenfield Hams C F.&.J.Evans - A.Hodges . BREEDER(39) G.CHALLENGE(70) NON-STANDARD(5) 1. J.Tye &.C.Leat Black Country R.Avill 2. Blackberry Stud J.Tye &.C.Leat L.Sinclair 3. Radio Hams Black Country C.Hanby R. E.Hornett Duncton Hams Valentine Hams VHC Blackberry Stud Blackberry Stud W.Wright HC Wellington Hams Radio Hams - C J.Tye &.C.Leat E.Hornett - . GRAND
CHALLENGE Black Country .
Long Haired Syrian
Judge - Mr S Skidmore (NHC Syrian Judge)
. CREAM(17) WHITE(7) AOC MALE(15) 1. P.Milward Tulip Tree Wellington Hams 2. Wellington Hams Valentine Hams E.Hornett 3. H.Scott Tulip Tree P.Gill R. H.Scott Towy Vale P.Milward VHC J.Tye &.C.Leat Tulip Tree J.Tye &.C.Leat HC P.Gill J.Tye &.C.Leat Greenfield Hams C J.Tye &.C.Leat P.Gill Towy Vale . AOC FEMALE(21) PATTERNED(9) SATIN(7) 1. Blackberry Stud Towy Vale Hedgehog Hams 2. H.Scott L.Sinclair Towy Vale 3. W.Wright Minx Hams L.Sinclair R. Minx Hams Hedgehog Hams Duncton Hams VHC Greenfield Hams L.Sinclair P.Milward HC Hamper Hams H.Scott Hamper Hams C Duncton Hams Greenfield Hams Hamper Hams . JUNIOR(5) NOVICE(2) INTERMEDIATE(11) 1. L.Sinclair F.Avill E.Hornett 2. L.Sinclair F.Avill L.Sinclair 3. L.Sinclair - L.Sinclair R. F.Avill - Greenfield Hams VHC F.Avill - Greenfield Hams HC - - L.Sinclair C - - Greenfield Hams . BREEDER(45) G.CHALLENGE(73) NON-STANDARD(4) 1. Blackberry Stud Blackberry Stud L.Sinclair 2. Wellington Hams Wellington Hams Duncton Hams 3. P.Milward P.Milward Towy Vale R. H.Scott Wellington Hams Greenfield Hams VHC H.Scott H.Scott - HC P.Gill W.Wright - C P.Gill H.Scott - . GRAND
CHALLENGE Blackberry
Stud .
Dwarf
Judge - Mrs M Chamberlain (NHC Dwarf Judge)
.
CAMPBELL(17)
CAMBELL ALB(8)
WINTER WHITE(14)
1.
H.Scott
J.Tye &.C.Leat
Duncton Hams
2.
Hamper Hams
Hamper Hams
W.Wright
3.
Hamper Hams
L.Sinclair
Duncton Hams
R.
Hamper Hams
Hamper Hams
J.Tye &.C.Leat
VHC
Hamper Hams
Duncton Hams
Hamper Hams
HC
Hamper Hams
Greenfield Hams
J.Tye &.C.Leat
C
Duncton Hams
W.Wright
Hamper Hams
.
CHINESE(20)
JUNIOR(13)
NOVICE(6)
1.
W.Wright
L.Sinclair
C.Hanby
2.
T.Stokes
F.Avill
F.Avill
3.
T.Stokes
L.Sinclair
H.Avill
R.
W.Wright
H.Avill
F.Avill
VHC
W.Wright
F.Avill
F.Avill
HC
Black Country
L.Sinclair
F.Avill
C
Hamper Hams
L.Sinclair
-
.
INTERMEDIATE(11)
BREEDER(37)
G.CHALLENGE(52)
1.
T.Stokes
Duncton Hams
J.Tye &.C.Leat
2.
T.Stokes
H.Scott
Duncton Hams
3.
L.Sinclair
Hamper Hams
H.Scott
R.
Greenfield Hams
Hamper Hams
W.Wright
VHC
L.Sinclair
W.Wright
Hamper Hams
HC
L.Sinclair
Duncton Hams
Hamper Hams
C
L.Sinclair
J.Tye &.C.Leat
Hamper Hams
.
NON-STANDARD(11)
.
.
1.
J.Tye &.C.Leat
.
.
2.
H.Scott
.
.
3.
Hamper Hams
.
.
R.
L.Sinclair
.
.
VHC
Duncton Hams
.
.
HC
Hamper Hams
.
.
C
Hamper Hams
.
.
.
GRAND CHALLENGE
J.Tye &.C.Leat
.
More 1999 Hamster Show Results