The Long Road to Recognition

 

Show  Achievements ~

The Early Years

 Written by Lorna Wallace:

  THE LONG ROAD TO RECOGNITION  - PART 1
  
  Picture 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 Colourpointed             1 First Place, 1 Second Place

Jnr CA Champion Patriarca Ragafulmer     

Chocolate Bicolour              3 First Places

Pandapaws Cinnamon Girl                             

Blue Colourpointed            2 First Places, Best Kitten

All owned by Anne Ferguson, Glasgow
 
 
 
THE LONG ROAD TO RECOGNITION         - PART 2
 
 
Many people have worked extremely hard over the years to  promote the Ragdoll, not only sacrificing much time and energy, but by giving freely of their resources too.
 
Such was the dedication of Sue Ward-Smith, who with Mrs Pring’s continued help and guidance, finally in 1987 managed to get the Executive Committee to agree to the breed being  registered on the Reference Register where they were    described as Himalayan Longhairs.  However, before any  kittens could be placed on the register, it was  necessary for their parents and grandparents to be registered and this meant Sue obtaining certified pedigrees from the USA,  before she could start the chain of registrations.

 

With Pat Brownsell winding down her breeding in 1987 to move to Spain, Sue had acquired a number of Patriarca Ragdolls which included Rag Cowboyjoe, Ragfearless Fred, Ragmo and Raglarry Motto; Rag Daisymae, Ragablue Bayou and  Ragapassion.  Sue was also in touch with Lulu Rowley who agreed to her buying some of her cats complete with their Certified Pedigrees so that they too could be registered and she became the proud owner of Petil-lu Cardinal, Cherry, Clematis and Carina.  She later also acquired Willy Wombat, Zak, and Cosmos, Blue Surprise, Lucy, Melonie, Zarina and  Pollyanna.
 
It was also around this time that Sue invited a group of  Ragdoll fanciers from around the country to form a club for the breed, since its  popularity was increasing rapidly. Sue and her friends were very aware that it would take team work if the breed was ever to progress within the framework of the GCCF.   The Inaugural Meeting of the British Ragdoll Club took place in London on 28 June 1987 and the Founding Members were: Sue Ward-Smith of Pandapaws, Carol Noel of Catricat, Ann Ferguson of Anzcatz, Marilyn Woolley of Mewcats, Sheila Chandler of Chandella, Viv Walker of Redwood, Grace  McHattie of Superstar and Caroline Whitfield.  Sue was Chairman and Carol Whitfield, Secretary.
 
One of the first functions that the club held was an Open Day at Sue’s home—Gardners Farm, Near Battle, East Sussex.  There was an excellent attendance of 45 people interested in the breed who met for a buffet lunch followed by a most   informative talk by Mr John Hansson, an International Judge who had judged Ragdolls at Cat Association Shows since they  came into this country.  He shared his considerable experience with the owners and breeders present by explaining the Standard of Points using Sue’s Ragdolls to  demonstrate. 
 
 Grace McHattie, the then Editor of Cat World, and the first President of The British Ragdoll Club, was the obvious choice to act as Publicity Officer for the club and she set about organising a media campaign to introduce the Ragdoll to as wide an audience as possible.   Television appearances were arranged and articles were submitted to all the mainstream cat magazines. Perhaps you may have seen Grace with her seal colourpointed Ragdoll, Pandapaws Ragcrystal, on the BBC television children’s programme Going Live!  delighting the many millions of viewers with her antics.  Apparently that morning she wasn’t feeling like being a Superstar, she was more interested in what was going on behind the sets.  Phillip Schofield and Grace chatted as best they could about an invisible cat, while Crystal was occasionally visible crossing and  re-crossing the rear of the picture hotly pursued by the  programme’s two resident comedians. 
 
Sadly Sue’s health broke down in 1989 and she found it necessary to take a backseat and so the flame was passed to the next    Chairman and Secretary of the club, Ann Ferguson of Anzcatz and Graeme Woolley of Mewcats.
 
In order for the breed to progress to the next stage of recognition — Provisional — it was  necessary for the committee of The British Ragdoll Cat Club to set up the Ragdoll Breed Advisory Committee (BAC) in line with GCCF Philosophy and Rules. Before an application for promotion could be submitted, the Ragdoll BAC required to fulfil the following criteria.

 

 

 

 

 

Provisional Recognition of New Breeds

GCCF Rules 46 - 48j.


46. No request for promotion to Provisional status will be  considered until the Constitution and Rules of the relevant Breed Advisory Committee have been approved by the Executive Committee.

 

47. Requests for promotion to Provisional status must be  made in sufficient time for an application to be placed by the Executive Committee, if the request is approved, on the agenda for the October meeting of Council.  The
paperwork must be received at the GCCF by August at the latest.  Only breeds which have been promoted to Provisional status by 31 December will be eligible for inclusion in  schedules for the following show season. (NB: Cats registered on the Experimental Register will not normally have their registration changed when the breed  attains Provisional status, but these cats will be treated as if they were on the Full or Supplementary Register and their progeny will be  registered accordingly).


48. The request for promotion to Provisional status must be made to the Executive Committee by the relevant Breed  Advisory Committee, who must submit to the GCCF Office 21 copies of the following documents:


(NB: Double sided copies should be provided if possible).

48a. The arguments for promoting the breed, including  sufficient facts to confirm the merit of the breed and the significant differences between the proposed breed and     existing breeds.


48b. A provisional Standard of Points agreed upon by the  relevant Breed Advisory Committee. This standard must   include details of all patterns to be included in the  application.  If there is an intention to restrict the colours permitted in the breed, a list of permitted colours with their
descriptions must be included in the Standard of Points.  If all recognised colours are permitted, this should be stated and the colour descriptions included if relevant.  Any           differences between this Standard of Points and
the Preliminary Standard of Points for the breed must be shown clearly.


48c.  Confirmation of the Registration Policy as agreed at Preliminary recognition stage or the submission of an amended Registration Policy.  Any amendments must be shown clearly.


48d. Confirmation of the list of full judges of the breed.  If so wished, a list of candidates for appointment as probationer judges of the breed, in accordance with the GCCF Judge    Appointment Scheme, may be submitted.


48e. A list of at least 20 bona fide breeders who have held a GCCF registered prefix for at least three years, who state in their application that they are working actively with the breed.  The Executive Committee has discretion to consider  applications which do not meet these requirements.  (One copy of the formal applications signed by these breeders must be supplied to the GCCF Office).


48f. A list of at least 50 specimens of the breed which have been registered with the GCCF.  The Executive Committee must be satisfied of the existence of these specimens and of the viability of the breed. (one copy of a four generation pedigree, which must be in accordance with the Registration Policy supplied, must be provided to the GCCF Office for each of these specimens).


48g.  A list of Merit Certificate winners demonstrating that at least 15 cats of the breed have been awarded 4 Merit  Certificates from 4 different judges, of which not more than 2 may be won in kitten classes, plus a list of other cats of the breed who have been awarded Merit Certificates.  These lists should include the names of the judges who awarded the certificates and the shows and dates when they were awarded.


48h.  A selection of critiques of cats of the breed, transcribed from Assessment slips, to illustrate that the breed is of sufficient quality to progress.


48j. A list of Miscellaneous class results for a selection of cats of the breed, including the show, class title, judge, place and number in class, together with a selection of Miscellaneous class critiques, as evidence of success in competition.

 

Stage 2 : Provisional Recognition

On 1 June 1996 Bicolour Ragdolls were promoted to Provisional status and on 1 June 1998 Colourpointed and Mitted Ragdolls moved up to join them. 

 

Ragdolls were eligible to compete against each other in the Open Classes for an Intermediate   Certificate (IC) and Best of Breed (BOB).  Two classes were available in each section; one for   Bicolours and the other for Colourpointed/Mitteds; if numbers      permitted, classes were split male/female.   The same applied in the Adult Neuter Open Classes.   Kitten classes did not qualify for a  certificate, but could compete for Best of Breed and 1st, 2nd and 3rd placings.  

 

Stage 3 : Championship Status

GCCF Rules 49 - 51.


49.  Requests for promotion to Championship status must be made in sufficient time for an application to be placed by the Executive Committee, if the request is approved, on the agenda for the October meeting of Council.  The paperwork must be received at the GCCF Office by August at the  latest.  Only breeds that have been promoted to Championship status by 31 December will be eligible for inclusion in schedules for the following show  season.


50. The request for promotion to Championship status must be  made to the Executive Committee by the relevant Breed  Advisory Committee, who must submit to the GCCF Office 21 copies of the following documents:


(NB: Double sided copies should be provided if possible).


50a.  The arguments for promoting the new breed.


50b. Confirmation of the Standard of Points as agreed at    Provisional recognition stage or the submission of an amended Standard of Points.  Any amendments must be shown clearly.
50c. Confirmation of the Registration Policy as agreed at      Provisional recognition stage or the submission of an amended Registration Policy.  Any amendments must be shown clearly.


50d. A list of at least 100 specimens of the breed, bred in  accordance with the Registration Policy, which have been  registered with the GCCF.


50e. A list of Intermediate Certificate winners demonstrating  that at least 20 cats of the breed have been awarded 3   Intermediate Certificates from three different judges, plus a list of other cats of the breed who have been awarded   Intermediate Certificates.  These lists should include the names of the judges who awarded the certificates and the shows and dates when they were awarded.  When the breed applying for Championship status consists of one sex only for genetic reasons, the number of cats required to have been awarded 3 Intermediate Certificates shall be reduced to 10.


50f. A selection of Open class critiques.


50g. A list of shows throughout the country with the numbers of cats of the breed which appeared at each show, as evidence of the popularity of the breed.


50h. A list of Miscellaneous class results for a selection of cats of the breed, including the show, class title, judge, place and number in class, together with a selection of                Miscellaneous class critiques, as evidence of success in  competition.


51. When a breed is granted Championship status the classes to be provided shall be those which were provided at  Provisional status.

 

Stage 3 : Championship Status

From 1 June 2001 all three patterns of Ragdolls have been eligible to be shown at Championship status.

 

Ragdolls compete against each other in the Open Classes for a   Challenge Certificate (CC) and Best of Breed (BOB).  There are two classes available in each section; one for Bicolours and the other for Colourpointed/Mitteds; if numbers permit, classes are split male/female.   The same applies in the Adult Neuter Open Classes.  Kitten classes do not qualify for a   certificate, but can compete for Best of Breed and 1st, 2nd and 3rd placings.   Each cat on gaining 3 Challenge  Certificates from 3 different judges becomes a Champion.

 

Champions can then go on to compete for 3 Grand Challenge   Certificates, again from 3 different judges, to become a Grand Champion.   At this stage cats have to compete in the Champion of Champion classes against other Semi Longhair breeds.   It is  therefore much harder to achieve a Grand Challenge Certificate and only the “creme de la creme” of the breed will ever achieve this award.

 

Grand Champions are eligible for the final accolade at the Supreme Show - a UK Grand Challenge Certificate; two UK Grand Challenge Certificates are required before a cat is titled UK Grand Champion.

 

 

 

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