Our stock show this year for the National Angora Club was on the 12th of May and it was held at Wootten Bassett Hall Swindon. We had 7 exhibits in all. Not a huge level of entries but they were all of excellent quality. Our Stock show was Judge Mrs Pauline Griffiths and our main show judge was Derek Medlock. A big thank you to all who entered as well as all of those involved in the show.
Summer is here and the National Angora Club are attending three craft festivals, along with our Angora rabbits. Do come and see us to talk about the rabbits, and see what can be made from Angora fleece. All our wool is from our English Angora rabbits, cared for in Britain. We obtain the wool ethically by shearing. We give spindle spinning lessons on the stand, with no booking, fee or purchase needed. For those that don’t spin, we have Angora and wool blended yarn for sale.
The Cumbrian Wool Gathering, at the edge of the Lake District, is the first of our Craft Festivals. This is held at J36 Rural Auction Centre, Milnthorpe, Cumbria LA7 7FP. Tickets are sold IN ADVANCE, although if not sold out on line may be available on the door from midday.
There will be Angora fleece for spinning and felting, Angora/wool blended yarns and books about rabbits for sale, along with our drop spindles. You can see two Angora rabbits in travel hutches and attend informal spinning, carding and combing demonstrations. Just ask!
One week later we will be at Wool@J13 near Stafford, a smaller and particularly friendly craft festival. Here exhibitors get spoilt, being looked after by a dedicated team of volunteers! A lovely green site for street food, relaxation and (hopefully) sun, with marquees and gazebos full of all sorts of fibrey good things. For more information visit their website https://wool-j13.uk
The Summer Wool Festival in Bedford is our last Craft festival. More details will follow!
We hope to see you at one or more events. Don’t forget to come up and say hello, even if we look busy. We love talking about rabbits, whatever the breed!
For more information visit their website: https://wonderwoolwales.co.uk/
Dates: 27th and 28th of April 2024 at the Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells, Llanelwedd, Builth Wells LD2 3SY
Times: Saturday 10am – 5:30pm, Sunday 10am – 4:30pm
Meet Coco, a Chocolate Angora Rabbit who is around 12 weeks old and the daughter of Jirachiri and Lin Chung who was reared by a Dwarf lop.
Come and see us at the Bradford small animal show held at the Doncaster Racecourse on the 3rd and 4th of February 2024, tickets are available but only on line.
We look forward to seeing you all there.
The product competition had a Halloween theme this year……. for winners watch this space.
Line up at Stock Show AA challenge was Whincup & Grindey 1st and 2nd with adult whites, Sally May, Bourne Stud 3rd with a smoke doe 4th Whincup & Grindey with a Chocolate, 5th Christine Hamilton with a gold, 6th Orrey Pike with a blue, 7th Sally May with a lilac.
Coloured challenge 1st Sally May, with a smoke, 2nd Whincup and Grindey with a chocolate, 3rd Christine Hamilton with a gold , 4th Orrey Pike with a Blue, and sally May with a lilac. The full breakdown will be posted in Fur and Feather.
It is always good to watch how your Angora rabbits develop over time and photographs are a good way to document their process. Despite trying to assess which one may have a better show coat or body type from a very young age, this does not always help if they turn out to be a rabbit who is messy or one who chews their coat.
Here are some of my babies developing well and grooming will be the key in preparation for their show day, too much can damage the coat so grooming needs to be done carefully to ensure you maintain as much of the guard hairs as possible.
Meet Maple and Albie, they are both neutered rabbits who are used to living indoors and need a new home and have now found one.
Maple is a two-year-old who is fully vaccinated and spayed and bonded with Albie who is 18 months old and also fully vaccinated and neutered. Maple is ringed while Albie is not.
I can confirm they have now found new homes, thank you to everyone who offered.
I hope all members have been keeping well?
Following the invitation to publish some content regarding my rabbits, I thought I’d share some exciting things that have been happening out in my shed since my last post.