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