What a great show!! I had such a great time and I KNOW I want to make the Richmond show part of my yearly calendar; it’s not just for the Ethiopian food or the River District in town, but I can’t help but be drawn to a pedestrian community feeling I got in town after the show.  Now the show is not in town-- it was easy to find right off the freeway (95) with a cheap stay that accepts rabbits 2 miles away, same exit, but I’m not about freeway living, and Richmond has real SLOW FOOD alternatives, so delicious.

I took Appalachian Rain’s BEAUTY and he took first in his class in both shows, and Best of Variety and Best Opposite in Variety with very high compliments from the judge who had a writer and shared.  The judge who was very clear on not being required to give comment cards was the one who gave him BOV, so I have no issues at all.

Beauty was awarded for massive head, strong ear base, very nice top line, very good width of shoulder, midsection and the width of highly developed haunches.  He was complimented on balance, flesh and structure, and given marks for very good condition.  I was very pleased  to have him recognized and he was also registered at 16.05 at the show.

He was faulted on a coat condition that is caused by spraying the wall on his hutch and then sitting up next to it and getting a color scald.  I can set up a wire barrier to the back wall to perfect his coat and I think I will do this, because I truly believe he might have made BOB without that fault.

AR’s Beauty is my biggest and nicest Flemish Giant and I like to think of him as the Grandaddy of my FG herd, although I am not breeding him until he plateaus for size.  I was planning on a breeding January 18, but he did so well, I think I’ll wait and see how his weight goes-- if he is still gaining, I will wait.

The English Angoras had some great competition with DRU and DONNA.  I didn’t even stick by to watch the BOB, and we didn’t take anything higher than second, but AR Bluewater was recognized for very good head and body and both bucks got very good for density, although they are neither more than 2 inches at time of showing-- Bluewater is a bit coarse; his guard hair is coming in first and is stiff.  It’s part of what keeps him virtually matt free.  AR Achilles beat his son, SP Fiver, in both shows, but SP Fiver looked good, albeit aggressive.  They were faulted on lack of length, which is fine.

The EA does-- AR Dionysis, AR Lavender and AR Tahoe were all complimented on type, AR Tahoe the most, I think, as she is smallest and had the least length, they pointed out her strongest points.  One judge said AR Dionysus might be a little flat across the back, so I’ll be careful in choosing her breeding partner to round that up and keep the body short, after I confirm at clipping time.

Next Year-- more time in Richmond, a rented van, and someone working at home to feed and water rabbits in my absence.  Def will eat Ethiopian again-- so yumm!  Addis on 17th.