Some advice please re showing hamsters?

**Spuds Mum** · 09-29-2007, 12:09 PM

Hi - I posted this last night (or at least I thought I did) but can't find it today - I only had 1 glass of wine last night so I'm not sure what happened

I'm thinking of entering Butterbean, Dubaku and Flump into the Main classes at the Mapplewell show. I've emailed the show sec, but wondered whether I can get some advice from people who exhibit.

Is there any paperwork to fill in before? How do I get hold of it to send along with my entry fees?
BB is a LH REC, Dubaku a 10 wk LH BEC satin, FLump a LH yellow - about 14 wks old - what classes should I enter them in? I am getting confused looking at the schedule!
I've asked about hiring show pens, but does anyone know where to buy these if we are going to regularly show (which I hope we are

)?
Sorry for all the questions - and please feel free to give any more advice that I could use

**pophammy** · 09-29-2007, 12:31 PM

You do not need to fill in any paperwork beforehand Spud's Mum. Sue Kilburn (the show sec)'s Email is very unreliable so I would advise you to phone her (the number is on the schedule but I can PM it to you if you like). When you phone her tell her you would like 3 entries, one for class 10 (LH Cream), one for class 13 (LH Satin) and one for class 12 (LH any other colour). You can also enter them in the duplicate classes (14 ~ Junior, 15 ~ Novice, 16 ~ Intermediate, 17 ~ Young stock, 18 ~ Breeder and 19 ~ Grand Challenge) if you like, but you do not have to. You should also tell the show sec about hiring pens if you are going to do this. To buy them you need to email Ken Skill and he will bring some to a show for you. You pay entry fees at the show, and receive your show pen stickers there as well.

Hope this is helpful and if you have any more questions just ask!

souffle · 09-29-2007, 12:53 PM

With regard to the duplicate classes any ham belonging to Rosie can go in junior and novice and grand challange (novice is for your first year of showing. Your own hammies can go in Novice and Grand challange and if you bred them breeder. Any hamster under 16wks on the day of the show can enter young stock. As the schedule does not say e-mail entry you will have to enter by telephone.

**Spuds Mum** · 09-29-2007, 01:04 PM

Thanks Souffle and Pophammy - that was really useful!

I will telephone Sue tomorrow.
I don't expect them to do well particularly in the show - but I think that this is the best way to learn more about my hamsters type etc. if I am going to develop my knowledge and hobby!
Are show pens very expensive? I've seen something somewhere that suggests they are - but what sort of money are we talking about? I'll probably talk to Ken at the show about show pens - although depending upon the experience I may be so traumatised that we decide not to do it again

Oh - I meant to ask - do you get to know the breakdown of any points awarded so that you can relate that to your hamster? I'm just thinking that that is probably the best way I will learn

souffle · 09-29-2007, 01:24 PM

I am sure they will do very well as they are all lovely hammies Spud's mum.
The show pens are about £6.50 second hand I think and about £10 new. As it costs £1 to hire it is worth buying a few really. Send Ken an e-mail and he will let you know what he has and bring them to the show for you. He is bringing us dwarfy ones I hope
You only get the total score for your hammy and not the breakdown but if you can catch the judge at the end you can ask his opinion. It is not always easy! Compare your score to the other hams and look for the differences. All judges judge differently and some will like your some prefer others.
Hope that helps

**Spuds Mum** · 09-29-2007, 01:33 PM

Thanks Souffle - you know what comes next if I do enter them - I will be collaring you at the show to show me all of the differences if I cannot get hold of a judge (and from the shows I've been to previously I've seen that they are incredibly busy all the time!)
lol - I was expecting 'mega money' for the show pens but that is quite reasonable really - will email Ken
As always - you come up trumps with all the answers for me

souffle · 09-29-2007, 01:36 PM

Unfortunatly at this show there won't be many of us milling around as it is the AGM but I'm not sure when it will actually be at so maybe earlier on. I am always happy to be collared after all hopefully I will be a qualified dog trainer soon!

**pophammy** · 09-29-2007, 01:43 PM

You do not get to know the breakdown of points for your hamster as souffle said but I am sure you hams will do fine, and you soon get the hang of showing!

Holly · 09-29-2007, 02:03 PM

Souffle and Pophammy have got it all covered for you so there's nothing for me to add - except to say that, as very much a beginner, they have helped me tons and my showing beginnings have been really interesting.

Looking forward to seeing you at Mapplewell, Spud's Mum - we'll only have Rolo and Turner (ww) in the main show as Caramel will still be nursing our litter - see you there!

Oooh - just to say I got a second hand Syrian pen at Rotherham and it was only a fiver I think....

**Spuds Mum** · 10-02-2007, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by souffle

With regard to the duplicate classes any ham belonging to Rosie can go in junior and novice and grand challange (novice is for your first year of showing. Your own hammies can go in Novice and Grand challange and if you bred them breeder. Any hamster under 16wks on the day of the show can enter young stock. As the schedule does not say e-mail entry you will have to enter by telephone.

I've just tried ringing Sue, but she is out until tomorrow evening so will try again then. I checked the schedule again and it does give Sue's email as well as her phone number, but as I've received no confirmation I will definitely ring tomorrow as I dont want to mess things up. I need to ring Sue anyway as the LH yellow is one of Sue's and I haven't got the pedigree yet, so I dont know his dob to work out whether he can go in novices or not - I am sure he can but without the dob I cant guarantee it!
I've also emailed Ken to enquire about pens

What would I do without Souffle, pophammy and Holly to show me what to do? You are all so helpful