Saturday 3rd October 2009 saw the 24th Championship Russian Blue Breeders Association Cat Show take place at The Guildhall, Abingdon for the fifth successive (and successful) year.

We are pleased to report that everything was even better this year, entries were up – 58 cats this year – 10 more than last so we are heading in the right direction! The ‘gate’ took considerably more than last year as did the raffle, and the smiles on the stall holders faces spoke volumes.

We are a happy band of cat lovers and had some visitors from Belgium and Holland, we have friends far and wide!

Keith Anderson and I were lucky enough to be able to judge our beautiful Household Pets and Pedigree Pets, which we enjoyed immensely – even though there were only a few to challenge us.

The Show Buddy scheme was in place again this year with some new exhibitors, they are the future after all and we, as all clubs, need to take great care of them to develop their passion for showing their beautiful cats.

We gave plenty of leaflets out in the town, dressed as a cat again! I absolutely must say a big thank you to Freyja Noble and Hannah Williams who helped me – they both sported some lovely whiskers and a black nose and Hannah even wore the head of the costume – a challenge in itself – it’s very hot!

For those of you who don’t know there is a new section for exhibitors, being ‘Pedigree Pets’, these new classes started in June this year, this means that any cat you own that is a pedigree but not generally up to show bench standard due to faults of some kind can been shown and are judged purely on personality. So, if you have a cat who usually likes to spend their Saturdays purring under the duvet, you could bring them out for an airing and perhaps win rosettes of your own – you too could be bitten by the show bug! We’re a friendly bunch who love to meet new people and new cats and would welcome you with open arms.

Next year marks a milestone for the club, the 25th Championship show! Put the date in your diaries now, 2nd October 2010. We would like to make this the biggest and best show we’ve ever had, we plan to do something very special – only you can help us make it a success so please do enter your show cats, Pedigree Pets or Household Pets and make it a day to remember for us all.

Amanda Roberts
Show Publicity
Russian Blue Breeders Association