My first hamster show!

Emma · 03-06-2005, 05:11 PM

Well, I visited a hamster show for the first time yesterday and thought I'd post a little bit about it

It was a SOEHC (South of England Hamster Club) show, which is affiliated to the NHC (National Hamster Council). I learnt a bit about all the UK hamster fancy politics (whew it is complicated - who is affiliated to who!). I met some completely loopy, but lovely people who were all more than willing to spend hours chatting with me about hamsters - breeding, colours, genetics, showing, vets, diabetes, polyoma virus and whatever else. I met Peter and Chris Logsdail who I have seen on UK mailing lists, and read their book. It was lovely to meet them and they were so friendly and helpful. I'm hoping to visit their hamstery in Llandovery soon.

The show itself was pretty much laid out as I expected, but the hamsters - wow! I am not used to such good quality animals. Both dwarves and Syrians were about twice the size of the pet shop hamsters I'm used to. They were also all incredibly handlable, showing how well they were kept. The variety of colours was very interesting and several experienced breeders were kind enough to take some time to point out different colours and patterns to me. I watched a bit of the judging too to try and understand a bit about what they were looking for.

The sales table was quite small as this was only a club show, but I really had to be hard on myself to not take something home that wasn't *exactly* what I was looking for (actually had to ring my boyfriend to tell him what I was thinking so he could stop me).

It was a lovely day and I plan to go to more hamster shows when they are near me. It completely whetted my appetite for breeding Syrians but I have to sit on my hands and wait a while for that!

SnuggleHam · 03-07-2005, 05:30 AM

I'd love to attend a hamster show! Sounds like I would have had a blast running around to look at all the cute and different looking hamsters.

So do breeders bring extra good quality hamsters to sell, or do they sell the ones they come to show? I'd imagine that a hamster bought from a hamster show would cost more then the average pet store since these are top of the lines hamsters?

I wish I could have seen the Blue Fawn Campbell’s Russian Dwarf hamster you mentioned in another post.

Emma · 03-07-2005, 06:30 AM

Unfortunately I don't have a camera of my own so didn't take any pictures on the day. The Campbell's were gorgeous though, I'm particularly enamoured with Argentes.

The hamsters on the sales table are excess stock - so the pups there are those that aren't required by the breeder, either because they don't quite match up to top show standards (like poor bands etc) or they are just surplus to requirements. There is also sometimes ex-breeding stock, so older females perhaps that are past breeding, or just older stock that the breeder doesn't want to show them themselves anymore, so they may as well go to a pet home where they can be the centre of attention.

All the hamsters on the sales table were in brilliant condition and had been handled since a young age so were all incredibly tame, plus the breeders were on hand to tell you all about their background, and they all come with pedigrees so you can see their ancestry. The cost if anything is less than pet shops - most Syrians were going just for a donation to the club (£1 minimum), and a dwarf breeder had both Winter Whites and Campbell's Russian Dwarf Hamsters in various colours at just £4 each. For comparison, in UK pet shops Syrians are usually £5-6, dwarf species maybe £6-10 depending on how common they are in that area.

SnuggleHam · 03-07-2005, 06:32 AM

I wonder how much that is american, but if its less then a pet store would charge I have a good general idea

Emma · 03-07-2005, 04:13 PM

(using www.xe.com/ucc)

The Syrians were a minimum of £1 donation to the club - thats $1.90

The dwarves were £4 each - thats $7.66

That sounds much cheaper than the pet shop prices I've heard some people say (like $35 because it was a "panda bear" or something!). Pet shops are trying to make money out of their stock, whereas the breeders are just looking for a good home.

SnuggleHam · 03-07-2005, 07:14 PM

Yup, most of the "fancy" Syrians here I see for 19.99 US and I bought my two Roborovski for 25 bucks each...

I saw some Campbell’s that were 12.00 in one pet store.. in another that was local the same place I got my robos from they had some nice looking camp bells for 25 each aslo..

I almost bought them lol

**babyboos** · 03-10-2005, 03:09 PM

Are you a member of the club Emma?

Emma · 03-13-2005, 05:26 PM

I am now a member of SOHEC so I'll get the NHC journal. I'm probably going to visit a SHC show in a few weeks time, might join them too depending on cost to get the BHA journal. It seems such a shame there's this apparent split in the UK hamster fancy, especially as everyone I met said they all go to both sets of shows anyway!

**babyboos** · 03-14-2005, 05:22 PM

A shame but one which many are happy to perpetuate unfortunately

Before 1992, the only governing body in the UK was the National Hamster Council and it had three main clubs under its umbrella - the Northern, Midland and Southern Hamster Clubs. Between 1990 and 1992 some 'differences of opinion' arose in the National Hamster Council committee and a number of key figures in the debate felt there was a need for an additional national body. This new body was the British Hamster Association (BHA), established in 1992.

In 1992, the UK clubs could choose which body to affiliate themselves to. The NHC and MHC elected to remain under the National Hamster Council. The SHC chose to affiliate to the newly formed BHA and a new club, the Northern and Midland Hamster Society (NMHS) was formed to serve the rest of the UK. Some time later (about 2 years?) a vote was taken to rename the club 'The Hamster Society'. Of which I am a member

If anyone wants an application form please ask

**pophammy** · 03-30-2005, 11:55 AM

Emma was it Thame show? The three hamster clubs still exist - Northern, Midland and Southern however last year Northern became dissafiliated from the other two and operates on its own. Private message me if you want further info. It was all down to silly politics but Midland and Southern still exist under the banner of National Hamster Council and it will be that journal you get. All the clubs are great and truly love hamsters. It's a pity they couldn't all stick together. We are members of both as it is the love of hamsters and not club politics that intersets us