Guide to showing hamsters?

[Golden_Syrian_Hammmies]

Originally Posted by Fluffagrams

If you're interested in learning more about judging it's worth seeing if there are any opportunities for Stewarding once you've been to show or two. It's a great way of getting a closer look at what kind of things the judges are looking at and since I've been Stewarding I've learnt how to look at hamsters a little bit more objectively.

Awh thanks for the tip fluffagrams il do that. Your going to have to remind me about what stewarding entails lol I can't rembember :/ I think it's pen stewarding right?

[Golden_Syrian_Hammmies]

I've just had a read at your guide fluffagrams again, as steward I organize pens and bring hamsters to the judge for judging that would be a good way to start and then I learn what they look for and get to see the different colours and learn how to determine what's what.

[Fluffagrams]

There are two stewarding roles at shows...

One is the Pen Steward who brings the pens to the judge and arranges them in the correct order on the bench. They are also responsible for ensuring that the pens are not touched or removed by anyone not authorised to do so.

The other is the Book Steward who writes down the judges comments and scores, adding them up to work out a final score. Usually they're the ones that have to fill out the judging slips with the placing in each class that are then given to the Show Secretary.

Both roles will allow you to see how the judges score based on various factors, you'll learn more about colours and I found that it's allowed me to better visualise the standards.

[Golden_Syrian_Hammmies]

Brilliant, thankyou for that information

[DrKMcK]

Wow. I love the guide and the info on this thread. Thanks for asking for it chesca 27. Great guide Fluffagrams.

[kimlck]

I'd like to add to this.
If you do go to a show and are unsure of what to do don't be afraid to ask.

The first half hour or so can be pretty frantic with people sorting out their pens, but as judging starts things tend to calm down. Breakfast baps are eaten and it's the start of a good day.

It depends on a few things as to how long a show will run for, if there are 100 or more syrians it will take a while to judge them all, same as with dwarfies.

It's a great way to meet people, for instance it's how I know Fluffagrams, Vectis, Soufflé and more HC'ers.

Try it, you just might like it ☺

[GhostsInSnow]

Originally Posted by kimlck

It's a great way to meet people, for instance it's how I know Fluffagrams, Vectis, Soufflé and more HC'ers.

Try it, you just might like it ☺

HAHA I've just realised who you are

I agree though. In my first year of going to shows I was nervous and didn't really talk to people. I went for pet class, showed my hams and then left not long after judging.
After having a few changes in my personal life I decided that shying away from people wasn't the way to go if I wanted to enjoy being a part of the hamster community and I started to talk to people at shows a little more. 2 years on and I know lots of people there, I show my hams in main class, I've pen Stewarded and going to shows is something I really look forward to now
Plus we're really not that scary, we're just all crazy mad hamster people

[Vectis Hamstery]

If you're not sure how to initiate a conversation at a show with someone standing looking at the show hamsters who's a club member, a good opener is "do you have any hamsters in the show?". Then a whole world of how are they getting on, how many have you got entered etc. opens up

Another good way of meeting people if you go to the show for the whole day is to volunteer! I've got to know so many people through helping in the kitchen or on the tombola not just through stewarding.

Exhibitors don't bite, though I may want to growl sometimes if I'm in the middle of writing all the duplicate prize cards and someone wants a long chat If someone says now's not a good time, it's not personal and do go back later.

[kimlck]

Originally Posted by GhostsInSnow

HAHA I've just realised who you are

That's so funny lol, I couldn't come up with anything original so just added a few letters