Sunday, April 23, 2006
Columbia, SC, Show
Once again, going out to eat after the show was one of the best parts of the weekend. My friends Lisa and Cindy, plus Cindy's mother-in-law, and our collective four children went to Ci-Ci's pizza and enjoyed at least an hour of relaxation after the show. All three families had had a good day at table and we enjoyed reliving the day.
I am particularly pleased that The Nature Trail's Nino (The Nature Trail's Geordi x The Nature Trail's Nina) actually beat BBF's Yankee Doodle Dandy for his first leg. He'd been coming in second to him. It was nice that he landed on top for a change. I'm not sure who was more excited: Cindy, her girls, or me!
I'm a bit worried about Fayth, however. She's due for a big letdown soon. She's riding really high right now. Last weekend, she won double BIS with her fuzzy Pepsi. She had a great Nationals, winning BOSG with Dandy. In SC, Dandy was BRIS in Show A, and she won BIS with her homegrown cutie Sugar's Stack House, a broken junior buck out of Sugar's Teacup. That's a double delight. I just hope when she lands back on solid ground that it's a gentle landing!!
One thing that did bring our meal down was the fact that there had been an incident at the youth table. Apparently some child or children did not show their rabbits. It would have been a good time for the parent of the children to model some really good behavior for her children, but she decided to make a scene instead, from what I witnessed.
We had the same situation at the open table. A rabbit did not make it to the table before the first place rabbit was judged. Sometimes with smaller classes, things can go quickly and get confused, even if everyone is trying to do a good job. Luckily at our table, everyone acted like an adult and things were resolved amicably.
Congratulations to Mike & Tiffany Harris who won their first BOB in show A. They were also one of six rabbits that the BIS judge asked to stay on the table while all others were removed. Even though they didn't get the BIS, it's a great accomplishment to be one of six rabbits seriously considered for the BIS and BRIS! They won with a solid senior buck "BIL."
I was especially pleased with the judges we had at this show. I've noticed that the Southern Pride Rabbit & Cavy Club makes a special effort to provide a wide variety of judges. They do that by getting input from the various breeds and then scheduling judges for their first available show, even if it is 18 to 24 months in the future. After all, it's often the judges who are booked up - not the ones that are perpetually available - that we really want to see!
Show A was judged by Bob Shaftoe. He's from Canada, but learned his skills originally in England. I found him to take notice of the underlying structure of the rabbit more than other judges I have observed. He found that one of my young bucks had had a dislocated hip at one time. It went back in, but has left him with slightly uneven hips. It was amazing that he found that. I'm just glad that I have a better brother in that litter to show! He did say it was unlikely to be genetic, so I haven't lost him as a producer. And, he says it's a fault and not a DQ.
Bob gave ample and useful comments. He's also a teaching judge. Several times he invited exhibitors to come behind the table and feel what he was talking about. I got to feel of a hollow spot in the sternum of an English Lop. Of course, the schedule was not tight and that allowed him the luxury. But many judges wouldn't do that if they only had 50 rabbits to judge all day!
I felt that, for the most part, he lined my own rabbits up correctly compared to each other. That is, he put the solid junior buck that I think is better higher than my other solid junior buck that I like, but do not feel is quite as strong. I didn't get to feel the other rabbits, so I can't say whether I'd agree with every placement. But for the rabbits I do know very well, I could tell that he could tell the difference.
Our second judge was David Kroenke from KS. Although he doesn't get the Hollands way up on their front feet, his method of evaluating them still managed to get the right rabbits to the right places. He and Bob were very close or identical in their choices. First and second might flip flop, but that was about it. One long-time Holland breeder asked if he raised Hollands, noting that he had a really good eye for them. He replied that he did not, but had judged quite a few of them.
He tended to like the balanced Holland (as did Bob) rather than looking for the biggest rabbit that didn't go over 4.00. It's a breath of fresh air to have something besides a headhunter or a judge looking for a huge Holland. We're a dwarf breed and we should value the smaller rabbits who are massive for their size, balanced, well-built, and have a real Holland look to them.
I'm sure some of you are saying, "But what about Rio?" I love him and he has some exceptional qualities, but I'd prefer him to be 3.08 or less. I like some of my 3.02 and 3.04 bucks better.
Overall, my rabbits did very well on the table. It was a small show due to recent Nationals, current Nationals, and upcoming Nationals! Add to that the rising gasoline prices and bad weather, and we had a very relaxed, laid back show that finished at a reasonable hour.
In the first show, Panache was BOS. She was my 6th place broken junior doe from Nationals. I picked up four legs, 1 quality, and 1 herdsman point. Not bad.
In the second show, Panache was also the BOS. Java, the solid junior buck who was first place at Nationals, has since turned senior. At just 6 months old, he took the class and was the best solid. I was very pleased he was also named Best of Breed. As a funny side note, I was writing, so I didn't have my own notes in front of me. I thought it was Wizard still on the table (I haven't memorized their ear numbers yet). Mike Harris said that he thought it was Boris still on the table. I didn't realize that Java was the one who got the BOB until I went to put him back into his carrier.
In that show, I picked up four legs, 3 quality points, and another herdsman point.
Then I got busy going over a buck that I had brought for Mike & Tiffany. I just happened to look over their shoulders to see more than one breed on the table. I never heard the BIS call!. Luckily, I got Java to the table in time - they were still checking ear numbers.
Java was Best In Show!
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry
Holland Lops Of Distinction
Precious Pet Rabbits
Pet Rabbit Care Information, Quality Pet Rabbit Breeders, and Rabbit Fun
¶ 9:11 AM
I am particularly pleased that The Nature Trail's Nino (The Nature Trail's Geordi x The Nature Trail's Nina) actually beat BBF's Yankee Doodle Dandy for his first leg. He'd been coming in second to him. It was nice that he landed on top for a change. I'm not sure who was more excited: Cindy, her girls, or me!
I'm a bit worried about Fayth, however. She's due for a big letdown soon. She's riding really high right now. Last weekend, she won double BIS with her fuzzy Pepsi. She had a great Nationals, winning BOSG with Dandy. In SC, Dandy was BRIS in Show A, and she won BIS with her homegrown cutie Sugar's Stack House, a broken junior buck out of Sugar's Teacup. That's a double delight. I just hope when she lands back on solid ground that it's a gentle landing!!
One thing that did bring our meal down was the fact that there had been an incident at the youth table. Apparently some child or children did not show their rabbits. It would have been a good time for the parent of the children to model some really good behavior for her children, but she decided to make a scene instead, from what I witnessed.
We had the same situation at the open table. A rabbit did not make it to the table before the first place rabbit was judged. Sometimes with smaller classes, things can go quickly and get confused, even if everyone is trying to do a good job. Luckily at our table, everyone acted like an adult and things were resolved amicably.
Congratulations to Mike & Tiffany Harris who won their first BOB in show A. They were also one of six rabbits that the BIS judge asked to stay on the table while all others were removed. Even though they didn't get the BIS, it's a great accomplishment to be one of six rabbits seriously considered for the BIS and BRIS! They won with a solid senior buck "BIL."
I was especially pleased with the judges we had at this show. I've noticed that the Southern Pride Rabbit & Cavy Club makes a special effort to provide a wide variety of judges. They do that by getting input from the various breeds and then scheduling judges for their first available show, even if it is 18 to 24 months in the future. After all, it's often the judges who are booked up - not the ones that are perpetually available - that we really want to see!
Show A was judged by Bob Shaftoe. He's from Canada, but learned his skills originally in England. I found him to take notice of the underlying structure of the rabbit more than other judges I have observed. He found that one of my young bucks had had a dislocated hip at one time. It went back in, but has left him with slightly uneven hips. It was amazing that he found that. I'm just glad that I have a better brother in that litter to show! He did say it was unlikely to be genetic, so I haven't lost him as a producer. And, he says it's a fault and not a DQ.
Bob gave ample and useful comments. He's also a teaching judge. Several times he invited exhibitors to come behind the table and feel what he was talking about. I got to feel of a hollow spot in the sternum of an English Lop. Of course, the schedule was not tight and that allowed him the luxury. But many judges wouldn't do that if they only had 50 rabbits to judge all day!
I felt that, for the most part, he lined my own rabbits up correctly compared to each other. That is, he put the solid junior buck that I think is better higher than my other solid junior buck that I like, but do not feel is quite as strong. I didn't get to feel the other rabbits, so I can't say whether I'd agree with every placement. But for the rabbits I do know very well, I could tell that he could tell the difference.
Our second judge was David Kroenke from KS. Although he doesn't get the Hollands way up on their front feet, his method of evaluating them still managed to get the right rabbits to the right places. He and Bob were very close or identical in their choices. First and second might flip flop, but that was about it. One long-time Holland breeder asked if he raised Hollands, noting that he had a really good eye for them. He replied that he did not, but had judged quite a few of them.
He tended to like the balanced Holland (as did Bob) rather than looking for the biggest rabbit that didn't go over 4.00. It's a breath of fresh air to have something besides a headhunter or a judge looking for a huge Holland. We're a dwarf breed and we should value the smaller rabbits who are massive for their size, balanced, well-built, and have a real Holland look to them.
I'm sure some of you are saying, "But what about Rio?" I love him and he has some exceptional qualities, but I'd prefer him to be 3.08 or less. I like some of my 3.02 and 3.04 bucks better.
Overall, my rabbits did very well on the table. It was a small show due to recent Nationals, current Nationals, and upcoming Nationals! Add to that the rising gasoline prices and bad weather, and we had a very relaxed, laid back show that finished at a reasonable hour.
In the first show, Panache was BOS. She was my 6th place broken junior doe from Nationals. I picked up four legs, 1 quality, and 1 herdsman point. Not bad.
In the second show, Panache was also the BOS. Java, the solid junior buck who was first place at Nationals, has since turned senior. At just 6 months old, he took the class and was the best solid. I was very pleased he was also named Best of Breed. As a funny side note, I was writing, so I didn't have my own notes in front of me. I thought it was Wizard still on the table (I haven't memorized their ear numbers yet). Mike Harris said that he thought it was Boris still on the table. I didn't realize that Java was the one who got the BOB until I went to put him back into his carrier.
In that show, I picked up four legs, 3 quality points, and another herdsman point.
Then I got busy going over a buck that I had brought for Mike & Tiffany. I just happened to look over their shoulders to see more than one breed on the table. I never heard the BIS call!. Luckily, I got Java to the table in time - they were still checking ear numbers.
Java was Best In Show!
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry
Holland Lops Of Distinction
Precious Pet Rabbits
Pet Rabbit Care Information, Quality Pet Rabbit Breeders, and Rabbit Fun
¶ 9:11 AM
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obviously your rabbits just R-O-C-K! Congratulations on your millionth win laurie..:)
Keep up the streak!
Your friend
Peter
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Keep up the streak!
Your friend
Peter
# posted by 
: 6:46 PM
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