SATURDAY 29 NOVEMBER 2008/SUNDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2008 - VIKING CAT CLUB, RUGBY

Last shows of 2008 - didn't go quite according to plan - but do they ever for us!. We took Sonny, Tess and Dino for both days. On Saturday Sonny got his certificate, Tess got her certificate and was nominated for BIS. She came second, in that she was the only other cat to get a vote apart from the BIS winner. Dino - what can we say - never straightforward this boy. Since birth he's been classified as a silver red mackerel tabby. He's won BIS as a kitten and an adult in this class. On Saturday it was decided that he was red and so needed to change class. Unfortunately by the time this decision was made the reds had been judged and so Dino spent his day watching the cat world go by. On Sunday the first thing we had done was a colour assessment. They confirmed him as red. He got his certificate in his new class but nothing else. Problem is that by changing classes there is a chance that he could lose his previous certificates and will need to start again. However Mel at FB has been tremendously helpful and is seeking a dispensation from FIFe for him so that he can carry on as he is. Tess again was nominated but on this ocassion the winning cat got all the votes. But she was the star of our weekend and we couldn't ask for any more. As for Sonny, this colour thing was obviously contagious - they decided he might be a silver!!? Fortunately as he had been judged without question the day before he was finally awarded his certificate but we're now considering retiring him if the question keeps being asked.

So that's the end of showing for 2008. All in all a good year with BIVs, NOMs and BISs for the mistymaine crew. Look forward to seeing you in 2009 when hopefully there will be some more Mistymaine cats out there.

And always remember that the Best Cats in the Show are the ones that come home with you!

30 NOVEMBER 2008 - FELIS BRITANNICA ALL WINNERS SHOW, TOWCESTER LEISURE CENTRE, TOWCESTER

An invite only show for cats that have had success during the year. We took Sonny, Tess and Dino. Sonny only got an excellent 1 and unfortunately failed to get his certificate for the first time in his show career. He was gutted! Tess got her certificate and it was a close run thing for her being nominated for best in show but she was beaten by her short tail! Dino got his third certificate so he is now a Premier. He also got Best in Variety and got nominated for Best in Show. Unfortunately he was beaten three votes to 1 in the best in show judging but as far as we are concerned given the competition that makes our Dino the second best Category 2 Male neuter in Felis Britannica shows in 2008 and we're not complaining about that. Rugby in four weeks time - same three cats - hope to see you there.

5 OCTOBER 2008 - MAINE COON GUILD SHOW, EDENBRIDGE LEISURE CENTRE, EDENBRIDGE

The frustration of cat shows!!!! We took Chi and Dino to Kent for the day. They both got their certificates, Chi's being her first as an adult, but they got nothing else. Dino looked as good as he did four weeks before but the judge's personal preferences were elsewhere. Oh well win some, lose some. We've got invites to the All Winners Show at Towcester at the beginning of November for Dino, Sonny, Tess and Chi so we'll see what happens there.

7 SEPTEMBER 2008 - VIKING CAT CLUB, WHITECLIFFE MORE LEISURE CENTRE, CLECKHEATON

Dino's back!! Dino (aka Mistymaine Sweet Dreams) finally returned to the showbench after his last outing in November 2007 - an enforced lay off following a serious neutering operation late in 2007 and an intersusception in early 2008 meant its taken until now to get him out again. We only took him and Chi because of the distances involved. Chi got an Ex 1 and BIV which we were really pleased about. Dino was our star of the show. We weren't sure what to expect as this was his first show as an adult so when he was nominated we were really pleased. When he won Best in Show Male neuter it confirmed what we thought about him. Best overall neuter - we couldn't quite believe it. Overall Best In Show - speechless. Edenbridge Maine Coon Guild Show in four weeks time - we'll see if it was a fluke.

17 MAY 2008 - VIKING CAT CLUB, NORTH KESTEVEN LEISURE CENTRE, LINCOLN

For once things went from worse to better! We didn't take Sweet Pea in the end, we left her at home to keep Dino company (Dino was really happy to see us when we got home!!) We had Sonny, Tess and Chi. Sonny was up against Ruskita Titan Moon - he hasn't beaten him yet and this weekend was no different. But he did get his certificate towards Grand International Premier so that was a result. Chi got another Ex 1 but went no further but again we were told we had a promising girl so we're looking to the future with her. Tess was a star. After Harborough we were really worried about her but we needn't have been. She looked great and came away with her next certificate towards International Premier and Best in Show Female Neuter. We were so proud of her.

Bit of a break now because of commitments and location of show venues. Not out until later in the year. See you then.

26/27 APRIL 2008 - ARISTOCATS CAT CLUB, HARBOROUGH LEISURE CENTRE, MARKET HARBOROUGH

A weekend to forget for various reasons that we won't go into here but we were still pleased with our results. The Saturday was Chi's first show - she didn't go far but she did get an Ex 1 at her first attempt which we were really pleased with. The feedback was a very promising girl. On the Sunday it was close but this time she got the Ex2 but the same feedback so we'll have to see how she develops. She'll be at the top end of the age range for kittens at Lincoln so we'll see if those three weeks make a difference. Sweetpea got her third CAC certificate on the Saturday so she is now a FIFe Champion. She also got her first certificate towards International Champion on the Sunday. Tess and Sonny both got their certificates on both days, which are their first certificates towards International Premier and Grand International Premier respectively. Sonny also got a Best in Variety on Saturday and was nominated for Best In Show Male Neuter on the Sunday but lost the vote 2 to 1 unfortunately.

27 JANUARY 2008 - VIKING CAT CLUB, STANTONBURY LEISURE CENTRE, MILTON KEYNES

First show of 2008. We had Sonny, Tess and Dino booked in originally. Then Dino developed a rash on his tummy where his fur had been shaved for his neutering operation so we replaced him with Sweet Pea. Then the Wednesday before the show, Madam decided she'd start calling!! Obviously given the choice between a weekend with a handsome boy and stuck in a cage in Milton Keynes, she knew where she was better off. So we took Tess and Sonny. We were so pleased with them both. They both got their certificates and Sonny is now a FIFe International Premier and Tess is a FIFe Premier.