Trans-Pennine Siamese & Oriental C.C. - 3 December 2011

Thanks to Joan, Ross and the show management team for the invitation to judge - fortunately in rather less dramatic circumstances than last year. Good to see a specialist show holding its own in number of entries, and certainly with plenty of quality present, particularly among the Siamese neuters. I was honoured to be asked to judge best exhibit between the best Oriental, the neuter Pr Starappeal El Cid (62 42), and the best Siamese, the adult UK Imp Gr Ch Mylynn Montoya (24) - and I chose the Siamese who at seven and a bit year old was looking fabulous. My star of the day, though (not in my book, but I saw him for a tutorial) was Pippastro Gilt Edged, a Balinese baby of rare quality - probably the best I have seen at his age, even if he does need re-registering as red rather than cream. Thanks to Joan Pounds for her expert stewarding and good company.

Open Classes

Siamese/Balinese/Pointed Bicolour Imperial Grand Premier, Male

1 (OGPC N/A) Glaubitz's IMP GR PR LITTLEFEAT DISTANT THUNDER (32a) 29 May 09
A lad of very good type but a very restless boy who just would not relax out of his pen, and in it wanted to hide as far under his bedding as possible - in consequence, assessing him was not at all easy. Long wedge, a little overlong in the muzzle, good width between well set large ears. Straight profile a little flat over the forehead, firm though slightly shallow chin, level bite lacking many incisors. Eyes of very good shape and set though a little deep set, of a good depth of blue. Very long muscular body, long legs with neat paws, tail needing an extra inch for balance. Points a good bright red, lightly shaded body, coat fractionally long but of good texture. Excellent presentation. In the end, I thought he just lacked the bit extra required for an award at this highest level, though possibly if he had a more extrovert temperament and been able to sell himself full it could have been different.

Siamese/Balinese/Pointed Bicolour Imperial Grand Premier, Female

OGPC Green's IMP GR CH & IMP GR PR MAPU ALLEGRA (24n) 30 Oct 04
An attractive girl of excellent type, looking as good as I have ever seen her. While not the largest of cats she is beautifully balanced. Medium length even wedge, well set large ears. Straight profile slightly angled down from the brow, firm deep chin and level bite. Eyes of excellent shape and set and excellent depth of blue. Long firm body, long legs with neat paws, balancing length of tail. Colour a darkish lilac-based caramel showing very clear brownish overtones, a more or less ideal example of the colour. Lightly shaded body, close coat of very good texture. Excellent temperament, really knows how to show herself to her best advantage; excellent presentation.

Oriental Cinnamon Adult

BOB McDermand's GR CH BARBECCO TARIA F 27 Sep 09
An attractive girl of good type. Longish wedge with a small pinch, good width at the top, well set large ears. Straight profile, firm chin, level bite lacking incisors. Eyes of very good shape and set of a clear pale green. Long well fed muscular body, long legs with neat paws, balancing length of tail. Colour a good warm cinnamon sound to the roots, free from ghost markings other than on the tail and forehead. Coat short, sleek, close lying and of excellent texture. Excellent temperament and presentation.

Oriental Shaded Adult

BOB Bauerfeind's IMP GR CH SHIMILEETA TOSEXYFORMYFUR (43b) M 18 Apr 09
A lad of really impressive type and masculinity. Longish strong wedge, good width at the top, well set large ears. Profile straight apart from a bump on the nose, firm chin, bite level if rather untidy. Eyes of very good shape and set of a good green. Long weighty muscular body, long legs with neat paws, tail needing an extra fraction. Pattern colour a darkish warm chocolate, pale toffee undercolour covering about two-thirds of the hair shaft, the hairs mostly ticked but showing faint broken surface barring. Coat close and of very good texture. Excellent temperament if preferring the safety of his pen; excellent presentation.

Oriental Longhair Kitten, Female

1+BOB Browning's PIPPASTRO NIALLE PENDRAGON (62 20b) 17 Jul 11
A promising baby of good type. Medium length wedge, a little short in the muzzle as yet, good width at the top, well set large ears. Straight profile, firm chin and level bite. Eyes of very good shape and set of an olive green. Proportionate firm body, long legs with neat paws, balancing length of tail. Coat of promising length and excellent texture, the plume as yet a work in progress. Spotted pattern unusually good for a longhair and sound to the roots; the pattern colour being a dark chocolate but warm, and the ground colour also showing good warmth. Good facial markings, fully ringed tail, spine line well broken for the most part, a little solid towards the tail, the spots on the body showing reasonable definition - always a problem for longhairs where the hair length will suggest linkage where it isn't actually present. Excellent temperament and presentation.

Oriental Red Neuter

1+PC Mullineaux's MULLSI FOREST FLAME MN 6 Feb 11
A promising young lad of good type showing a degree of maturity commensurate with his age. Long almost even wedge, good width at the top, well set large ears. Profile almost straight, firm though slightly shallow chin and level bite. Eyes of very good shape and set of an olive green. Long slender body, the manubrium still a little prominent, long legs with neat paws, long well tapered tail. Colour a rich bright red sound to the roots, displaying quite a clear spotted pattern; short close-lying coat of excellent texture. Excellent temperament and presentation. Already good, I should expect him to look much better when he matures.
BOB Lord's PR FIORDILISO PANM REDPANTHER MN 30 Jun 10
A handsome lad of very good type. Long wedge with a small pinch, good width at the top, well set large ears. Small dip in profile, firm chin and level bite. Eyes of very good shape and set of an olive green. Long muscular body, long legs with neat paws, tail needs an extra fraction to balance. Colour a very good rich red, sound to the roots, again showing quite a clear spotted pattern. Close coat of excellent texture. Excellent temperament and presentation.
Also considered Webster's GR PR NANPEMA FLAMENCO MN 8 Mar 10
A handsome large lad of very good type, in quite a contrasting way to the winner. Medium length even wedge, good width at the top, well set large ears. Profile with a small dip and a little angled down from the brow, firm deep chin, bite almost level. Eyes of good basic shape but rather full, well set and of an olive green. Very long well fed body, long legs with neat paws, tail needing an extra fraction to balance. Colour a good rich red sound to the roots, again showing a clear spotted pattern (this time classic-based). Coat a fraction long but close-lying, of excellent texture. Excellent temperament though a bit apprehensive; excellent presentation.

Blue Point Siamese Adult

1 (CC N/A) Rathbone's TRABREN ISHIBEE HAMISH M 11 Apr 10
A lad of good type, rather lacking in masculinity as yet. Medium length slightly pinched wedge with a little jowling, good width at the top, well set large ear showing some war wounds. Straight profile, chin ebbs rather, bite overshot. Eyes of very good shape and set of a rather pale shade of blue. Long firm body, long legs with neat paws, tail needing another fraction. Points a darkish blue, moderately shaded body, close coat of excellent texture. Excellent temperament and presentation.

Tabby Point Siamese Neuter

1+PC+BOB Evans's CH BILLSTES GYPSY MOTH (32t3) FN 10 Nov 08
An attractive girl of very good type, even if she does need some persuasion to show herself to her advantage. Strong medium length wedge, good width at the top, well set large ears. Straight profile, firm chin and level bite. Well set eyes of good basic shape; she did open them very wide when out, but much better when persuaded to relax though even then they were on the large side, their colour was a really good deep blue. Long well-fed body, long legs with neat paws, tail needs an extra inch. Well marked in a darkish warm chocolate mingled with shades of mostly pale red including a blaze on the right side of her nose: good tabby markings though the leg bars needed looking for. Lightly shaded body, close coat a little harsh in texture. Excellent presentation.

Miscellaneous Classes

AC Siamese/Balinese Non-Breeders Adult
Here I have to confess to a mistake - I marked UK IMP GR CH MYLYNN MONTOYA down as absent, when he had merely been moved to a different pen - as no doubt the pen card would have told me if I'd read it. I did met him later in the day, when he was my choice for overall Best Exhibit, and he would have won this class too if that's any consolation; the other exhibits were fortunate, all moving up a place.
1 Brock's IMP GR CH KARAMUSHI TUTTI FRUITY (32b1) F 4 Aug 08
A large and impressive mature lady of excellent type. Longish even wedge, good width at the top, well set large ears. Straight profile, firm chin and level bite. Eyes of very good shape and set and very good depth of blue. Long well fed body, long legs with neat paws, balancing length of tail. Points a good warm seal well broken with shades of red, just missing a greater proportion of bright red though there was some. Moderately shaded body but still showing good contrast, close coat short of excellent texture. Excellent temperament and presentation.
2 Rigby's CH JOHPAS SUMMALOVIN (32a) F 12 Nov 10
An impressive girl of excellent type, though I should prefer her a little larger - but time is on her side. Long even wedge, good width at the top, well set large ears. Straight profile, firm chin with an attractive beard, bite level. Eyes of good shape and set and good depth of blue. Long firm body, long legs with neat paws, balancing length of tail. Points a good bright red, unshaded body, coat a little long but of good texture. Excellent temperament and presentation.
3 Law's CHIKUAI EMUNAH (32a) F 19 May 05
A girl of good type, also not the largest. Medium length even wedge, good width at the top, well set ears which would ideally be a little larger. Profile almost straight, firm chin and level bite. Eyes of good shape and set though she did open them rather wide out of her pen, colour I should prefer to be a slightly deeper blue. Long firm body, long legs with neat paws, balancing length of tail. Points a good bright red, unshaded body, coat close and of excellent texture. Excellent temperament and presentation.

AV Junior Adult

1 Brock's GR CH KEVELS TWICEASNICE (24b) M 18 Apr 10
A handsome lad of very good type. Long wedge with minimal pinch, good width at the top, well set large ears. Profile almost straight, chin ebbs slightly, bite level. Eyes of very good shape and set and a good depth of blue. Long hard muscular body, long legs with neat paws, tail needs an extra fraction. Points a slightly dark warm chocolate, slightly brindled. Lightly shaded body, close coat of excellent texture. Excellent temperament and presentation.
2 Fox's REYNARDS HIGHFLYING ADORED (24) F 19 Oct 10
An attractive girl of very good type. Longish even wedge, good width at the top, well set large ears. Straight profile, firm chin and level bite. Expressive eyes of very good shape and set and good depth of blue. Long muscular body, long legs with neat paws, tail needs an extra fraction. Points of a good warm seal all rather brindled, lightly shaded body, close coat of very good texture. Excellent temperament and presentation.
3 Rehman's AMUN QUEEN ISIS (24) F 27 Sep 10
A girl of very good type. Long wedge with a small pinch, good width at the top, large ears held rather low. Straight profile, firm chin and level bite. Eyes of very good shape and set but needing more depth of blue. Long firm body, long legs with neat paws, balancing length of tail. Points a dark warm seal, lightly shaded body. A talkative girl but handled well; excellent presentation.

AC Oriental Non-Breeders Kitten

1 Moore's METEXA HOT LEGS (37k) F 28 Jul 11
A baby of good type. Medium length even wedge, good width at the top, well set large ears. Small dip in profile, firm chin and level bite. Eyes of good shape and set, clear green in colour. Proportionate firm body, longlegs with neat paws, balancing length of tail. Colour a slightly dark cinnamon sound to the roots, showing slight ghosting. Coat a little long but of good texture. Excellent temperament and presentation.
2 Brown's WESTGARTH SILVERHEELS (29c) F 15 Jun 11
A girl of good type. Longish even wedge needing a little more width at the top, well set large ears. Small dip in profile, firm chin and level bite. Eyes of very good shape and set of a good green colour. Proportionate firm body, long legs with neat paws, balancing length of tail. Colour a very good pale lilac showing some pinky tones, sound though showing quite heavy ghost spotting. Close coat of good texture. Excellent temperament and presentation.
3 Hirst's SHIMILEETA SEXIANCINFUL (37k) M 17 Jun 11
An attractive and promising lad of very good type, who I thought initially was the clear winner of the class. Medium length even wedge, good width at the top, well set large ears. Straight profile, angled down a little from the brow, firm chin, but the bite sadly undershot. Eyes of very good shape and set of a pale green. Long firm body, long legs with neat paws, long tail. Colour a good cinnamon sound to the roots and showing light ghosting, Short close lying coat of excellent texture. Excellent presentation, handled well if inclined to grumble.

AV Junior Neuter (part 1)

1 Lord's PR FIORDILISO PANM REDPANTHER (37d) MN
2 Webster's GR PR NANPEMA FLAMENCO (37d) MN
3 Halliday's PR TOGHAR ONCE INA BLUEMOON (37a) MN 19 Apr 10
An attractive lad of very good type. Long wedge with a small pinch, needing just a little more width at the top to balance, well set large ears. Straight profile, chin ebbs slightly, level bite. Eyes of very good shape and set of a pure if slightly pale green. Long slender yet substantial body, long legs with neat paws, tail needs an extra fraction to balance. Colour a marginally dark blue sound to the roots, close coat of good texture. Excellent temperament and presentation.
x3 Mullineaux's MULLSI FOREST FLAME (37d) MN
xx3 Clarke's PR FOXYPAWS BENTEY (24) MN 19 Jul 10
A lad of good type. Long almost even wedge, good width at the top, well set large ears. Profile straight apart from a small bump on the nose, the chin distinctly weak though the bite was level. Eyes of good shape and set, a little generous in size, needing to be a much deeper shade of blue. Very long firm body, long legs with neat paws, well tapered tail which rarely is longer than required to balance the body length. Points quite a dark warm seal, lightly shaded body, coat a fraction long but of good texture. Excellent temperament and presentation.

AV Junior Neuter (part 2)

Young they might have been, but all of them very impressive and showing no signs of immaturity - an extremely strong class where even the lowest place deserved much better - perhaps another couple of extra prizes might have been fairer.
1 Thorpe's PR JOHPAS SPARKS WILL FLY (32a) MN 12 Nov 10
An extremely handsome lad of excellent type. Long even wedge, very good width at the top, large ears very well set. Straight profile, firm chin with an attractive beard and level bite. Eyes of excellent shape and set and good depth of blue. Very long strong body, long legs with neat paws, balancing length of tail. Points of a good bright red, lightly shaded body, close coat just a little harsh in texture along the back. Excellent temperament and presentation.
2 Webb's GR PR LITTLEFEAT TEXAS TWISTER (32a) MN 5 Mar 10
Another very handsome lad, also of excellent type but just a whisker behind the winner - my notes make him sound pretty much the same, just with slightly eye shape, though still excellent, a little less so, and not quite the same impressive length of body; on the other side, he did have better coat texture. In the end, he just lost out for type. Interestingly, the last time I saw both of these boys I thought their points colour on the pale side, so either they've changed (in this boy's case in a month) or the lighting flattered them.
x2 Ellis's CH & PR TINTALLY JUST THE TICKET (24n) MN 15 May 10
A large handsome lad of excellent type. Long even wedge, good width at the top, well set large ears. Straight profile, firm chin and level bite. Eyes of very good shape and set and good depth of blue. Long weighty muscular body, long legs with neat paws, long tail to balance. Points a dark sludgy-toned blue-based caramel, heavily shaded body though still showing contrast. Coat short and close-lying and of excellent texture. Excellent temperament and presentation. A little below the top two for type, and with the shading an extra mark against him.
3 Skivington's PR TINTALLY DIZZEE RASCAL (24n) MN 9 May 10
A large boy of very good type. Long wedge with a small pinch, good width at the top, well set ears of adequate size. Straight profile, firm chin and level bite. Well set eyes of good shape, I should prefer their blue a little deeper. Very long, strong body, long legs with neat paws, tail needing an extra fraction to balance. Points of a good lilac-based caramel, very lightly shaded body, close coat of excellent texture. Excellent temperament and presentation. I did consider reversing the placings between these two caramels on account of the other's shading, but in the end thought his type sufficiently better to outweigh it.