How did everyone do at Alcester?

[Catja]

Hi, how did everyone do today, Mollz how did you do with Gizmo?

Lovely to see you Gill, sorry I mised you Julie.

The sable roan on the sales table didn't stay around long!

[souffle]

Do you mean you now have a sable roan Catya

[I_am_plankton]

I think Sheryl bought that? It was lovely and was snapped up really fast!

I got second intermediate out of 7 and third satin out of 6. I also got 2nd pets out of 11

I also picked up my blue fawn and opal Campbells girls and they are pretty as anything

Well done to all today

[Mollz]

We very nearly had that sable roan Catja, but it got snapped up before we could get it!

Thanks for thinking of me and Gizzy, Gizmo came 5th in non-standard, not as good as I had hoped and I'm sure people who were there can account for the fact that I was a bit down about it (although he is over the moon as he got rather spoilt once we got home ). He lost out on the length of his skirt apparently, and was only 3.5 points away from the joint 2nd, 3rd and 4th hamsters (so after thinking about it on the drive home, he really didn't do that bad - especially as he is still a baby).

Everyone else did quite well, well done Leanne - I know that you almost got 1st in intermediate if it wasn't for the judge being slightly finatical! How did you start book stewarding Leanne? Do you need any experience? I would love to try it out, but obviously have no experience - I would just love to learn exactly what it is that judges are looking for. Is it possible to sit with someone else (i.e. you) to learn about it before you do it the first time as I would not want to make a mistake

It was nice to see you Catja, and everybody else, hopefully you will be able to stay a bit longer at the next one

[Holly]

How did I miss you Catja?

It was a really nice day - lovely to see everyone (except Catja!) and have a natter. The hall was interesting too.

I wasn't expecting to do anything much with Smartie (pregnant, hopefully) and Mars (still recovering from his wound) missing from my line up and my points were a lot lower than at previous shows - I don't know if that was becasue my hamsters were worse than previously or of it was just a low scoring show generally

Anyway Molly got a third and Rolo Reserve in LH Satin and Toby got Reserve in Non-Standard - sounds great but there were only four entries in LH Satin and five in Non-standard!!!! :P

We did get First in Intermediate - our first one - and our first trophy to boot

Even better we've also had two (yes two!) Dove Stud male offers for Aero ...and Bean didn't dive out of the judges hands in Pets (and he came third in Male Pet Hamsters)!

Well done everyone who went and hope you all enjoyed it.

[Spuds Mum]

I think points were generally lower Julie, Mollz and Leanne from my unbiased opinion (not entering any hams today was quite novel and strange!)

Julie's Molly (who came from my last litter) didn't do as well as previously points wise I think, but the judge was very taken with her colouring and pattern and was saying "Now I really like her" and comparing her to another roan, who got higher points overall but not necessarily higher comments!!

I think she just needs to do some more growing and filling out Julie, like my Amelie (just like her actually ) they seem to take after their father.

And Molly, Gizmo is lovely, and I am sure will grow too. He has a very sweet face! I'm glad he is being spoilt rotten, it was a big day for him.

Leanne's Pearl is gorgeous too, and if she hadn't been holding on to her tightly I may well have run off with her! I've loved her since she was one of Gill's tiny pups and seeing her in the flesh its not hard to see why!

I had another look at Amy's sable boy Oscar, and think he will be a wonderful father when the time is right too!

I really enjoyed meeting everyone, seeing three of my babies, lots of other people's babies including Bean and Aero (and Julie, you can thank me later for being so cheeky with Anita/Sheryl ) I can't wait to see those dove babies!!!
I had a great day! Best of all, finally meeting Gill who I feel as though I know because we yack so much on here, and who is as lovely in real life as on the forum. We hit it off immediately!

But gosh am I shattered now!!!

[Matty Day]

shame i could not go but i had no transport the sooner i get my driving licence the better.

well done every one

[souffle]

Sounds like you all had a good day and well done all. It seems strange to hear no new hamster tales (or tails ) though everyone.
Once you have attended a few shows Mollz you can offer to be book steward. Usually at Northern you do pen steward first then graduate to book steward. You have to write down comments from the judge, note scores, add up points and write them on the pens then stick on place stickers. Take a calculator!

[Basia]

I had a really nice day, met so many people and, of course, spuds mum - but it didn't feel like we had just met!
My points were lower this week and I didn't have Truffle with me who did the best last week. I got 2nd, Reserve & HC in novice and reserve in SH cream with little Cara.
I realise from actually entering a couple of shows how much I need to improve my hamsters though and wonder if it is really feasible with so few hamsters. I think the shows will just become a day out socialising rather than a serious effort at winning anything!

[I_am_plankton]

Molly and anyone else who wants to pen or book steward (you start with pen stewarding) then offer on the day I am happy to have people sat with me when I book steward to see how it works, and it is always handy to have 1 or 2 people pen stewarding and getting to grips with how the table ends up at the end etc.