Cast your mind back to the Year 1983. There were some unforgettable moments:
Shergar was stolen
Michael Jackson’s Thriller video was aired on MTV for the first time
Flashdance and Return of the Jedi were box office hits
I got my first rabbit. A Netherland Dwarf called Flopsy.
Even at the age of 9 I had a strong sense of responsibility to provide my rabbit with enrichment. Unfortunately, for poor Flopsy, I opted for sticking up the centre poster of my Smash Hits on the garage wall opposite her. She could look and see which band had made it into the centre of the magazine that week.
My Grandad was a Welsh Welter Weight Champion of Wales, but even he would have never witnessed a fight like this one!
Someone in my family (I am not pointing any fingers or naming names) didn’t close the gate between the two sets of rabbits. I didn’t notice anything was amiss until I looked into the garden a few hours later, only to find fur everywhere! Kevin and Pablo were sprawled out on the floor, panting, totally exhausted. Naturally I panicked! I grabbed Kevin and took him inside. His nose was bleeding profusely, and he had blood all down his back.
Check out Wonderwool Wales on Saturday and Sunday 23rd and 24th April for everyone who likes wool, wool products and everything wool.
Wonderwool Wales is the premier Wool & Natural Fibre Festival in Wales and is held annually on the last weekend in April at the Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells, Powys. It covers everything from the start to the end of the creative process – from exhibits of sheep, through raw and hand dyed fibres, yarn for knitting & crochet, embellishments, equipment, dyes and books to superb examples of finished textile art, craft, clothing and home furnishings.
What a great weekend with lots of visitors to the National Angora Club Stand and many of those bought Angora wool products and Angora wool that was for sale, so thank you for stopping by. Thank you also to all those who helped run the stand throughout the weekend and did demonstrations and gave advice and guidance, we couldn’t do it without you.
Here is a brief update on Jenson who is our 4 year old English Angora house bunny. 2 years ago we were referred to CJ Hall (who are a specialist with small animals) due to the ongoing issues with his teeth. Last year Jenson had a turn for the worse and was extremely unwell to the point where he was refusing to eat, fast heartbeat and fatigue. I took him to CJ Hall and they did lots of tests. Jenson’s blood test results came back and he was diagnosed with Immune mediated Haemolytic Anaemia. Since the diagnosis he has had a bone marrow biopsy to see if there was anything sinister causing the condition. The result was there wasn’t anything sinister. Jenson is now on daily steroids. He is an incredibly strong rabbit who still is full of character even though he is on steroids.
This year we are running a bunny photo competition again so send us your fun Angora rabbit photos.
So what we would like you to do is send in photo’s of your Angora bunny, if you want to send us more than one if you have many good photo’s of one bunny or lots of bunnies then please do, there is no limit on how many entries you can put in.
The competition starts on the 21st March and runs until the 21st June 2022. Once all the photos have been submitted they will be posted on the website and the Facebook group and NAC members can vote by liking each photo entry. The photo with the most likes will be the winner and will get a prize.
National Angora Club Stock Show to be judged by Simon Whincup for 3 star and Peter Biggs for 1 star New judge Stock Show. To be held on Sunday 29th May 2022 at Wyken Community Centre, Westmoreland Road, (off Belgrave Rd), Wyken, Coventry. CV2 5PY. Entires to Chris Baker contact details will be in Fur and Feather the month before Show. AGM 1pm at same venue. Any items for agenda to Lesley Hordon or Chris Hamilton by the 22nd May. Location: Wyken Community Centre, Westmorland Road, Coventry CV2 5PY.
July 2022 Great British Rabbit Show
Great British Rabbit Show 6 star Championship to be held Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd July. Judge Glen Hodson. National Angora Club Stock Show Sunday 3rd July. Judge Gillian Webb-Bailey. We will also have club stand and activities at this show. Venue, George Stephenson Exhibition Hall, Newark Showground Lincoln Road, Winthorpe, Newark, Nottinghamshire, NG24 2NY. Entry fee for open side £6.00 per exhibit (£5.00 same breed colour & age class). For more information visit the Great British Rabbit Show website.
October 2022 National Angora Club 3 Star Stock Show
National Angora Club 3 Star Stock Show to be judged by Albert Aldred on Saturday 8th October at the London Championship 5 star Show. To be held at East of England Showground, Peterborough, PE2 6HE. The Products Show will also be held on Saturday 8th October. Judge, Sian Ann Toon. Venue same as stock show. We will have activities at the club stand on both days Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th October so please join us. Entry forms and online entries will be advertised in Fur and Feather and on The London Championship Show Society facebook page. Do remember there are clipped rabbit classes at stock shows and London Champs open side. Show judges to be decided at the AGM in May.
January 2023 National Angora 5 Star Stock Show
National Angora 5 Star Stock Show and Bradford Championship 7 Star Show.
Entries to open Show which will be advertised in Fur and Feather or on Bradford Small Livestock Society facebook page. The National Angora Club is waiving entry fees and prize money for this one of Show.
Mr Chocolate Pudding comes out of under five months into the adults after an amazing run so far to day, he has achieved an amazing 4 Best in Shows, 2 Runner up Best in Shows, 6 Best Fancy’s and a Runner up Best Fancy at the 3 Star Bradford Championship show which was his first outing. This rabbit is flourishing with age and hopefully this will now continue in his Adult Show career.
Congratulations Christine Hamilton who had best adult angora with her white doe Aphrodite. Also congratulations to Richard Grindey who had best u/5 with his young chocolate buck (Pudding) and Runner up in the Best Fancy (Group). Also Mary Tomlin won best product with her amazing Angora product waistcoat. Thank you to Neil Robertson who sent through photos he took at Doncaster.
The National Angora Club came runner up best stand at the Bradford at the weekend. Congratulations to Lesley Hordon for doing such a great job in making this happen.
What a great show at the ‘Bradford’ Premier Small Animal show this weekend and congratulations to all the winners from all the classes. For the National Angora Club, congratulations go to Christine Hamilton who had best adult angora with her white doe Aphrodite. Richard Grindey who had best u/5 with his young chocolate buck (Pudding) and Runner up in the Best Fancy (Group). Also Mary Tomlin won best product with her amazing Angora product waistcoat.
We will have show reports to follow so watch this post for an update shortly. Thank you again to all our NAC members and volunteers who set up and look after the club stand as well as perform demonstrations and provide on hand advice throughout the weekend. Thank you to all the stewards and judges too as it wouldn’t be a show without you all and your help and support is appreciated.
