NIRO's 4th Fancy Rat Show

Our Backyard BBQ show turned out to be a wonderful event! The weather cooperated beautifully and we had such a great turn-out from club members and pet people alike. We had more than enough food to go around and the scaled-down, relaxed atmosphere gave many of us a chance to visit with old friends and get to meet new ones. The raffle baskets were amazing thanks to Dee Hale and all of her tireless efforts in seeking donations from the rat community. Thanks to Bob and Debbie Fratini for opening up their yard and home to all of us, To Ryan Hale for selling raffle tickets (great job!), to all the exhibitors and vendors for their participation and support, to John Nix for being our official "grill man," to all our judges and stewards (thanks to Caesar for stepping in as a Running Steward), and to all who continue to support NIRO by attending our events (even when the price of a gallon of gas is astronomical these days!). We had people come from all over Illinois and other states such as Michigan, Ohio, Colorado, Kentucky and Indiana.

A big CONGRATULATIONS to Kathy Van Barriger and her gorgeous, fawn, dumbo, rex boy, COVE Tequila Sunrise for going Best in Show!

Best in Show
URSA Gr Ch. COVE Tequila Sunrise
Fawn Berkshire Rex Dumbo Male
Bred by Sarah Paterson-Ferrand
Owned by Kathy Van Barriger

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Best Standard-eared Doe
URSA Ch. SGR Fermata
Russian Blue Self
Bred and Owned by Debbie Fratini

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Best Dumbo-eared Doe
URSA Ch FSTR Bright Copper Kettles
Mink Self Dumbo
Bred by Kirstin Allan
Owned by Kathy Van Barriger

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Best Standard-eared Buck
URSA Ch. BVR-FSTR Galumphing
Black Self Satin-Rex
Co-Bred by Gabriel Cuellar and Kirstin Allan
Owned by Jordan Davis

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Best Dumbo-eared Buck & Best In Show
URSA Gr. Ch. COVE Tequila Sunrise
Fawn Berkshire Rex Dumbo Male
Bred by Sarah Paterson-Ferrand
Owned by Kathy Van Barriger

Judge's Comments

WLLW Macy
Russian Dove Self Dumbo Doe
Judge: Gabe Cuellar
Clerk: Kathy Van Barriger
Class Placement: 2nd Place
"Eyes too light. Color is very nice, fantastic. Ears: Nicely placed, but curled at top and flappy. Coat: fantastic & good condition. Nice profile, nose a little pinched."

SGR Here for the Party
Black Self Rex Dumbo Doe
Judge: Gabe Cuellar
Clerk: Kathy Van Barriger
Class Placement: 1st Place
"Terrible knotch in ear. Love her eyes. Good ear position. Muscular body. White toes in front. Thin coat, poor rexing, not silvered, good color."

SGR Sugarland
Black Berkshire Rex Dumbo Doe
Judge: Gabe Cuellar
Clerk: Kathy Van Barriger
Class Placement: 1st Place
"Nice body substanct. Berkshire marking not great, ribcage has black. Ears - nice placement, but roll. Eyes round & bright. [Coat] needs more curling, but is full and soft."

FSTR Bright Copper Kettles
Mink Self Dumbo Doe
Judge: Gabe Cuellar
Clerk: Katy Van Barriger
Class Placement: 1st Place (Best Dumbo Doe)
"Fabulous temperament. Love her ears, one [is] a little irregular. Coat has lots of silvering. White on front feet."

COVE Tequila Sunrise
Fawn Berkshire Rex Dumbo Buck
Judge: Debbie Fratini for Best Dumbo Buck, Claudia Nix for Best In Show
Clerk: Melina Cardona for Best Dumbo Buck, Kathy Van Barriger for Best In Show
Class Placement: 1st Place (Best Dumbo Buck, Best In Show)
Debbie Comments -
"Marked tummy. Nice solid head, big eyes - thick head. Nice coat. Ears a little small but nice and low. Nice big tail, long - very nice. Needs bigger ears. Poofy cheeks."
Claudia Comments -
"Lovely profile! Eyes look like marbles - nice, black & clear. Great condition - nice thick coat. Ears are a very good representation of Dumbo ears - thick, too!"

WLLW Finnegan
Fawn Hooded Dumbo Buck
Judge: Debbie Fratini
Clerk: Melina Cardona
Class Placement: 1st Place
"Sweet little boy, pretty head, big eyes, beautiful coat, nice head. Ears have nice shape but are high set and make nose look pointed. Broken hooded. Very sweet just scared. Very pretty rat. Clean & soft.

WLLW Reagan
Fawn Bareback Rex Dumbo Buck
Judge: Debbie Fratini
Clerk: Melina Cardona
Class Placement: 2nd Place
"A little scared. Beautiful clean and soft coat. Nice head, eyes and ears. Not much curl to the coat, but has twisty whiskers. Very personable. Couple of spots on the "bareback". Very sweet."

EKO Don't Break the Ice
Black Self Standard Doe
Judge: Melina Cardona
Clerk: Dee Hale
Class Placement: 3rd Place
"Slight silvering, coat is of good quality. Color to toes on the front and to the nails on the back feet. Good tail and tail length. Nose is long, head is of good size, nice bright eyes, nice & big ears, condition is nice, soft coat."

EKO Chlotilde Van Dankelein
Russian Blue Self Doe
Judge: Melina Cardona
Clerk: Dee Hale
Class Placement: 2nd Place
"Very nice size - not fat but thick. Nice head but a little long. Big bold eyes. Nice and big ears - a little pointed. Tail thick but slightly short. Nice smooth coat with little silvering. Color goes to toes on all four feet. Ears flappy. Very sweet."

SGR Fermata
Russian Blue Self Doe
Judge: Melina Cardona
Clerk: Dee Hale
Class Placement: 1st Place (Best Standard Doe)
"Coat very nice & soft. Nice big, wide head. Nice, round, very big clear eyes. Nice and large ears - a little pointed. Right ear has a nick missing. Long thick tail. A little hefty. Slight hind end weakness. Very nice temperament."

AZUR Chortletorte
Black Satin Self Buck
Judge: Melina Cardona
Clerk: Dee Hale
Class Placement: 1st Place
"Nice wide head - a little long. Minimal satin coat with some silvering. White toes on front paws. Very nice ears and length of ears. Very good temperament."

SGR Raining On Me
Black Self Double Rex Buck
Judge: Melina Cardona
Clerk: Dee Hale
Class Placement: 1st Place (Best AOV)
"Partial balding which is good. Nice head, nose a tad long. Nice temperament - very personable. Good self, black color to the toe on some feet. Some silvering of coat. Tail not as thick but of good length. Cute mohawk! Nice coarse/wirey coat. Very photogenic."

AZUR Squishadish
American Blue Self Buck
Judge: Melina Cardona
Clerk: Dee Hale
Class Placement: 1st Place
"Nice head, evenly placed ears, slightly silvered coat, nice tail length, nice self but some white on front feet."

BVR-FSTR Galumphing
Black Self Rex Buck
Judge: Melina Cardona
Clerk: Dee Hale
Class Placement: 1st Place (Best Standard Buck)
"Very nice coloration, very dark. Nice short and stout head. Good ear size and placement. Plush coat - very wirey. Nice color on toes - some white on front. Good thick long tail."

SGR Finale
Russian Blue Buck
Judge: Melina Cardona
Clerk: Dee Hale
Class Placement: 2nd Place
"Nice short head, nice size ears - a little far apart. Nice thick tail. Nice self color to the toes. Coat a little coarse with heavy silvering. A little hefty, slightly stressed, but good temperament."

AZUR Montecompatri Colonna
Black Self Rex Dumbo Buck
Judge: Melina Cardona
Clerk: Dee Hale
Class Placement:
"Big boy. Solid rat. Tight curling whiskers. Hair a little short. Eyes not quite big. Nice head and shape of head. Big tail but not as long. Ears could be a little lower. Nice coat. Very sweet."

EKO Stratego
Black Self Rex Buck
Judge: Melina Cardona
Clerk: Dee Hale
Class Placement: 2nd Place
"Nice size for a youth. Nice size head. Bright & round eyes. Nice big ears, big and wide ear flaps. Not a great rex coat and has a little silvering. Self coloration goes to the nail on front and back feet. Tail short but thick. Good temperament."

#SGR Cowboy Troy
Black Self Rex Buck
Judge: Melina Cardona
Clerk: Dee Hale
Class Placement: 1st Place
"Good balance and good temperament. Nice size boy. Good, thick tail. Nice head - a little pointed on the nose. Good sized ears. White on front feed - white on the back. Good temperament. Plush and wavy coat with slight silvering. Large goolies. Nice sized round eyes. White whiskers."