Halloween Show 2006
This was the second rat show I ever entered. There was quite much nervousness and stress, but not as much as with the first.
For Ville and James, this was the first time ever at a rat show.
They both did great, especially as it was their first time.
James performed much better than I ever imagined he would!
He even got an honor price in the Pet class, something I never thought the little suspicious guy would get.
He seldom relaxes in the hand, at least not as the other does, and especially not in a stranger's hand.
But, here he did. Wonderful little boy, it seems I underestimated him.
Sudden was yet again surprising me this day, by being all cuddly, almost falling asleep in the hands of the judge and just being loveable in general. Not that he usually isn't, more like, he doesn't like too much things going on at home. But at a show, it is ok it seems! He was cuddled and cuddled and petted by two friends of mine, who had him on their shoulders most of the time they were there ^^ Sudden was riding along, being sweet.
Relatives
At the show, we also met lots of relatives to my rats.
All of them had at least one sibling at the show.
It's very fun to meet rats related to your own;
see if they are alike, how they grow, how they are and just greet them.
Tuss and Sudden had most relatives there, I think! And most of them where siameses and himalayans.
All the boys from their litter, some sisters and some uncles.
Their sister SilennA's Solsken won her Pet class, as best junior female.
I was secretary at the table where an uncle was being shown,
and they sure have some really impressive size and mass on their father's side!
I so hope they'll grow as big and wonderful as them...
Ville had a sister, Ale's Pi, at the show. A very cute little dumbo eared blue agouti.
She was a tad bit wilder than Ville, but as nice to handle.
I know her a little from before, as I brought her along to her owner when I got Ville.
With Pi, there was also his aunts; Ale's Rhea, black american berkshire dumbo, on his father's side,
and Ale's Clementin, fawn, on his mother's side.
Pi, Ville's oh-so-cute sister!
James also had a brother there, Yanko, who is a very (compared to James, the biggest boy in the litter...) small mink varigated boy.
Then there was Todde's family. They have a special place in my heart, as they all are related to my beloved and missed Benjamin. Many of his wonderfully cute sisters where there, and his mother Nässla came along with their breeder. He also had two brothers there. They are so alike in that litter! His sister Astral Warrior was participating in the agility too, and she had lots of the same tics as he had. She stopped momentarily at the same obstales. She was as interested by scents as he was. And in the end, she got through quite nice. Faster and more gentle than her brother at least. ^^
The results
In the end, it went fine for everyone. They all got an A, highest grade, at the Pet class.
The judge thought they all, except James, were a little bit too yellow in their skins
and Tuss just barely passed the A. Sudden had a little thing at the tip of the tail,
but the whole was so nice, he passed the A anyway.
James behaved much better than I thought.
He recieved an honor price for "Great temperament" in the Pet class.
He was up to second round judgement, but didn't quite make it to the top three.
Though, in the competition of 21 other rats, it's quite cool!
In the agility I and Todde got our first Clear Round!
Last time, we didn't make it within the time, but this time we did.
There was a misunderstanding at the hole obstacle, the exactly same obstacle Todde last time didn't quite agree to go through last time either...
They still thought he was promising, and that the start was nice! I wasn't as pleased though, as my little racer rat had much more concentration on the scents than on me...
With Ville it went so much better than expected!
I missed a little at the second obstacle and the slalom, but the round was fast and he got nice critiques.
The over all expression was "Very promising agility rat" and you bet we are going to continue this!
Sweet little boy, kept his eyes on me all the time.
Tired boys, after a whole day of showing, cleaning, last-minute-polishing and lots of things happening all around.
...afterwards.
I'm quite proud of my little ones.
They were at the edge of exhausted after the day, and were all very happy to recieve at home!
Both I and my boyfriend was too. He helped me with handing the rats to the right places, and was in general very patient with my unusual intrest, rat shows. I guess I have to say I was quite pleased with him, too... ;D
They all got a big package of corn as soon as they were home in their cage.
They sure had earned it this time!
