TIM Westcott of Techni-Cal cat food (AJM Pet Products) has stepped in to save the day for the remainder of the 2004-2005 Northern Non-Pedigree Stakes Competition, writes CAROL WALKER of the South Ribble Pet Cat Club.

Techni-Cal were already sponsors of the competition by providing First and Overall winners prizes plus free samples for each entrant, but they are now also providing bags of food for Second and Third placed cats in each class following the sudden and total withdrawal of Smylee Pets from sponsorship, a move which would have left the competition struggling for the remainder of the year were it not for the generosity of Techni-Cal.

Smylee Pets’ withdrawal was as unexpected as it was sudden, said Carol, and it left the competition high and dry with less than a week to go before the SRPCC show in February.

Luckily for that show, and for the Lancashire CC show at the beginning of March, there were enough goody bags and Techni-Cal food left over to make up the prizes, with the help of the addition of some small items funded by Carol herself and the SRPCC, so exhibitors did not miss out.

It did, however, leave a major headache for the remainder of the year, especially as there were still 12 shows, almost half the competition, to go. However, the organisers approached Tim, who stepped into help without hesitation. “He is a real hero, and has really saved the competition from becoming a huge disappointment to exhibitors”, said Carol.

Apart from OUR CATS themselves, Techni-Cal are the only heat sponsors who have supported the competition from the very beginning, although the main Final Sponsors - Alan Robinson, Kalven, Bella Penning, Pat Creaton, SRPCC and the North West Cat Club - have also remained loyal, other heat sponsors have come and gone.

Carol said that updated adverts would be sent to Show Managers but realised that most of these would now be too late for inclusion in schedules, although she did hope that they would be able to get into the catalogues. If any Show Manager has not received the updated advert,

please contact Carol on 01772 321869 or at nnps@srpcc.co.uk