Show Achievements ~The Early Years
Written by Lorna Wallace:
THE LONG ROAD TO RECOGNITION – PART 1
When Ragdolls were first imported into the UK in 1981 by Lulu Rowley of Petil-lu and Pat Brownsell of Patriarca, they registered their kittens with the Cat Association (CA), as they were not recognised by the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF), however they did allow them to be shown on exhibition at cat shows.
When Lad, Lass and their 3 kittens, along with Proper and Prim were released from quarantine, Pat and Lulu were eager to exhibit them and what better show for their ’coming out’ than The National Cat Show in December 1981. It transpired that Lulu’s entry was accepted, but for no apparent reason, Pat’s entry was refused.
Lulu also exhibited them at her local Suffolk & Norfolk Show on 27 March 1982. A sharp rebuke from the GCCF followed which expressly stated that if they wished to put their cats on exhibition, they shouldn’t again call them Ragdolls and the names of the parents were not to be shown because they were not registered in this country. They were advised to simply describe them by their colour and length of their coat and as being registered in the United States. Disappointed by the attitude of the GCCF, Lulu and Pat continued to show their Ragdolls under the CA where Championship was already established and the following cats were just some of the many that achieved their titles:
CA Grand Champion – Blossom-Time Bananas
CA Grand Champion – Petil-lu Willy Wombat
CA Champion – Blossom-Time Proper of Patriarca
CA Champion – Blossom-Time Romeo
CA Champion – Petil-lu Catty Cat of Caralann
CA Champion – Petil-lu Zarina
CA Champion – Petil-lu Alice Blue Gown of Patriarca
CA Junior Champion – Petil-lu Cassius
CA Junior Champion – Patriarca Ragamuffin
CA Champion Neuter – Petil-lu Benson
As interest in the breed developed, and one or two more people acquired a kitten for showing and breeding, Ragdolls began appearing at CA Shows around the country. At the Cat Association of Scotland Exemption Show held at Glasgow in February 1987, the undernoted Ragdolls took part.
CA Champion Patriarca Raga Doon
Seal Mitted 1 First Place, 1 First Place
Jnr CA Champion Patriarca Rag Toshiba
Seal Colour-pointed 1 First Place, 1 Second Place
Jnr CA Champion Patriarca Ragafulmer
Chocolate Bicolour 3 First Places
Pandapaws Cinnamon Girl
Blue Colour-pointed 2 First Places, Best Kitten
All owned by Anne Ferguson, Glasgow