writes Vince Hogan...
Congratulations to the National team, Carol, Bryan and all the gang for a great day on Saturday. Despite a disappointing entry in terms of cats, there seemed to be a good buzz about the place, with TV crews, cuddly Garfield, overseas visitors, plenty of public and most of the stands reporting good business.
To still have one big cat show in the capital does hold an appeal, there is something different about it, even though it has the obvious drawbacks for travelling, parking etc. Imagine the horror on the Hogan face when I discovered I had to pay £24 for 10 hours parking at Olympia on Saturday....you can buy a car for that in Manchester!
That being said, the debate rages on regarding the same problems at the NEC and the Supreme where car parking and the attendant problems (no pun intended) seems to have hit a bad note with many of our readers...see letters page.
For me, the Supreme and the National are iconic shows; ever since the days of attending these events with the equally iconic Brian Doyle they have been the pinnacle of the show year and although I know there are shows with bigger entries and many of the club events I attend are brilliant, but we need to nurture these two key shows in our calendar.
Yes there are problems, but what are WE going to do about them? Our Cats will do its bit to help promote, advertise, provide schedules for entries or whatever. After this weeks letters of complaint.....can we have some positive ideas for 2007.
Remember, as with all cat committees, these people are volunteers and do not get payment for what can be a years worth of work. We have made comparisons with the Kennel Club and Crufts (their key show of the year) but there is a full time, salaried team of people working on Crufts, 365 days a year.
Anyway, Brian will be pleased to note that I kept up another tradition in the cat fancy, and that was to have a pint of good old English ale in the Hand and Flower on Saturday night, even though it was served up by someone from Columbia.
Aah, how times have changed!
The Our Cats stand at the National
The National Cat Club - Main Winners
Best in Show Trophies
The NCC TROPHY for the National Cat of the Year
Pen No - 214
Danzante Foryoureyesonly
THE NCC TROPHY for the Best Longhair Exhibit
Pen No - 54
Mavouneen So Scrumptious
THE NCC TROPHY for the Best Semi Longhair Exhibit
Pen No - 170
PR Demilune Lightand Bitter
THE NCC TROPHY for the Best British Exhibit
Pen No -v 214
Danzante Foryoureyesonly
THE NCC TROPHY for the Best Foreign Exhibit
Pen No - 348
CH BambinoPrincipal Boy
THE NCC TROPHY for the Best Burmese Exhibit
Pen No - 288
Rossikhan JohnThomas
THE NCC TROPHY for the Best Oriental Exhibit
Pen No - 433
GRCH Edingorse Charlemagne
THE NCC TROPHY for the Best Siamese Exhibit
Pen No - 463
IMP GRCH Hellfire Castaspell
Non Ped Best in Show Trophies
THE NCC TROPHY for the Best Non Pedigree Exhibit
Pen No - 553
Moon Beam
THE NCC TROPHY for the Best Longhair Pet Cat
Pen No - 527
Charlie
THE NCC TROPHY for the Best Shorthair Pet Cat
Pen No - 532
Duke
THE NCC TROPHY for the Best Semi Longhair Pet Cat
Pen No - 555
Billy Bean
THE NCC TROPHY for the Best Half Pedigree Pet Cat
Pen No - 560
Mascara
THE NCC TROPHY for the Best Pet Kitten
Pen No - 553
Moon Beam
BLUE CROSS CENTENARY TROPHY
Pen No - 553
Moon Beam
Go to www.ourcats.co.uk for reports and photos from the National
