Dennis began his working life as a rural studies teacher and sports coach. He was a Duke of Edinburgh Award assessor, running courses at local youth clubs, and was Chairman of the Yorkshire Schools Athletic Association. He started two rugby clubs at both his schools which are still very successfully in existence today, both now have there own club houses which Dennis was invited to open.
Today the English Angora rabbit is a medium-sized rabbit with an average weight of 6-8 lbs. It is not generally realised that Angora rabbits can be other than white (albino). In fact there are 15 recognised colours in the club breed standard, though some of the colours are now rare.
Here at Bigwigs Angora in the Yorkshire Dales, I keep the Continental type Angora (with French and German breeding) and harvest the fibre by hand clipping with scissors every 16 -18 weeks. Living on a farm, I am fortunate to have an agricultural building especially for the rabbits with runs designed by myself and built by my husband.
Angora rabbits are hardy and can be kept outdoors all year round providing they have solid, weatherproof and fox proof hutches and are kept clean and dry. On outdoor hutches, shutters can be used over the mesh of the front in severe weather, leaving a space for ventilation. A good supply of bedding such as barley straw keeps the rabbit comfortable.The hutch in the picture has wet towels over the wooden sleeping compartments on a hot day.
Mary Tomlin, winner of the product competition
Congratulations to Mary Tomlin who won the Angora rabbit wool product competition at the London Show this year. Her shawl made from angora rabbit wool was superb and hopefully it will encourage potential spinners, knitters and felters to enter future shows with their angora rabbit wool products. Mary has been spinning and knitting angora wool for many years, she no longer keeps the rabbits, but is kept supplied in wool from the Nation Angora Club members. Mary has always supported the National Angora Club with donations and product entries.
Congratulations to Adel Wray of Foxwood Stud for the Best of Breed at the London Championship Show 2017, and also Best in Show in the Stock Show with her white adult doe. Congratulations also to Alan Cargo of Petala Stud who was the runner up with the Smoke adult buck in both the London Championship Show and the Stock Show. Well done to all exhibitors.
The London Championship Show 2017 was held at The Livestock Hall, East of England Show ground, Peterborough, on Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th October 2017. This was a good show and well attended by many National Angora Club (NAC) breeders and members. The main show was judged by Phil Batey and the National Angora Club Stock Show by Geoff Boot. There was also a Product Competition judged by Lesley Hordon. Best Product was won by Mary Tomlin.
Skyrack Angoras is the name of Lesley Hordon’s stud in West Yorkshire. Skyrack is the name of the old Viking Wapentake, and means Shire Oak. Lesley has kept Angora rabbits for 20 years.
Fur and feather magazine has been publishing for many years and is the voice of the fancy, as they say. It is also the official journal of the British Rabbit Council (BRC) and is published and printed by Printing for Pleasure Ltd. Here you can read show reports, forthcoming shows, many interesting articles regarding clubs, rabbit health, welfare , competitions etc. It also reports on British Rabbit Council meetings and other important issues pertaining to rabbits. You can also have your say by writing letters.
Best In Show (BIS) at Coventry
The Coventry Stock Show and AGM will be held on Sunday 26th November 2017. It will be held at the Wyken Community Centre, West Morland Road, Wyken, Coventry CV2 5BP.