I came home late last night and as I was doing the usual clean up, I placed Truffles up on the grooming table. And I got this photo:
The 1st Malaysia Rabbit Show is to be held tomorrow and I thought it would be nice for him to be in just for the fun of it. Not to win but just to let this little inquisitive rascal have a go at a show. I certainly did not intend to win at all. So I called up Nico and asked if she could register him together for me since I have some errands to do in the morning and afraid I was going to be late for the show. A big part of me wanted my daughter Beth to be there just for the fun of it. Unfortunately I had to leave without her and my wife because she needs her usual nap in the afternoon.
Nico - she helped register Truffles for me
Showing me the butt in disapproval!
The contender: If it wasn't for the heavy molt, Truffles might have lost to this guy!
Little Truffles being naughty and perky!
So here I was passing Truffles over to the officials to be weighed. At 5 months old, he weighs 1.2 kg which was way below the 1.6 kg mark. There he go unto the show table!
From what I gathered, there were only 4 breeders/owners showing Holland Lops. There were roughly 20 Holland Lops separated in 4 groups namely Solid Buck, Solid Doe, Broken Buck and Broken Doe. There were no classes for juniors so Truffles joined the Broken Buck category.
Being Judged by Christina
A very well behaved Truffles with his proud owner snapping this photo
Photo courtesy of RSF
Before I continue with this long story, please allow me to give credit to Beh & Yo Rabbitry, Pet Shack, Pet Lover Centre, Jaanu & her bf, Bebee & her bf, CocoJune & Nico for putting up together this well organized rabbit show.
Down to top 10!
I must say it is a good start for the Malaysia rabbit market in general. I hope next year we’ll have ARBA sanctioned show. But the best part of it all is that I met a lot of nice people and it was all the friends who came. Darma, thanks for making the effort to come. You really helped me a lot today!
Friends are all we need in a show!
We finally met up!
Very proud of the HLRSC t-shirt Aunt Karen bought me! Love it! Always helping me keep my head held up high! I met so many new friends. I hope all of you are reading this now. Thanks for striking a chat with me. Really appreciate it.
So let’s see what I won. Beside the trophies and ribbon, I got free vouchers. Let’s calculate how much I won in cash value (we were shopping after the show). You see, I always believe in sharing the win with fellow friends. So this was how I shared out the winnings:
1) I had $300 myself
2) $150 to Miss Nico
3) Bebee conned me off my $200 (just kidding!)
4) Darma went home with $200 worth of Oxbow product
Please correct me if I am wrong guys! LOL!
I am just too lost for words at the moment. There are so much to write but I just can’t find the right words.
The score card
The judging was long and there were quite a number of nice Holland Lops. I wasn’t too interested in the rest of the breeds so I did not keep track of all that is happening over that end. I was very surprised when Truffles was transferred to the main stage and later announced as Best In Group for Broken Bucks (no junior group). Christina requested the breeder to come forward and so being an abiding person, I followed her instructions and went up on stage. I shook hands with both Kenneth and her and introduced myself. Christina seemed to look surprise to see me. Then the Best of Breed was announced and I did not think of it too much. Then Truffles got called for Best Opposite Sex of Breed. I thought that was the last.
The Winners!
Best of Opposite Sex of Breed
My head almost pop when I heard he got BRIS!!!! That’s Best Reserve In Show baby!
Can someone send me a clearer photo please?
Best In Show. A Broken Tort Senior Doe. I was quite tickled when she gave Christina a little bite while she was judging. And Christina had to give her a little tap on the head.
Glad he poses naturally...
Did not believe I won until I saw this photo!
The win was a sweet one for many reasons. Truffles is the best kit produced in my rabbitry to far. That makes him my own breeding. Winning with my own breeding is something that I would like to practice and it is a principle I would like to stand by. Truffles is only 5 months old and getting a BRIS is super cool! And thinking that I almost sold him earlier really made me felt lucky! Everything happens for a reason! Sorry for all the exclamation marks! Too excited!
Beth was still in bed when I came home. I showed her all the trophies and ribbon while telling her it was suppose to be her receiving them. She just smiled and said “Beth CHAMPION already, YAY!”
That's MINE!!!
All mine!!!
In the end, I just do not know how breeders in the US could withstand all the waiting. My back almost broke!
My boy posing with the "loot"
Enough posing already!
Thanks to Oxbow for the 2 months supply of Hay & food stuff!
I am adding in more details as I recall how this wonderful day went by. I am seriously looking forward for the next rabbit show. Christina mentioned to both Darma & me that she’ll bring along her good friend Randy Shumaker (if I remember the name correctly) whom is an ARBA licensed judge to come over to Malaysia and also hoping to get the show ARBA sanctioned. That would be lovely.
And so with that….
Great Fun!
I strongly believe that in certain cases, the crown is so badly slipped behind, it pushes the ears down making them look extremely long. This is one of the strong point to prove the Summer ears theory wrong as genetics is still the prime determinant of ear length.
Please correct me if I have used the wrong terms. If not, basically these are the things I look out for in a Holland Lop.
Tru-Luv Rabbitry: Quality Holland Lops in Malaysia 