Abyssinian Cavy Club

ABYSSINIAN NEWS:
Simon has got together the club's long awaited Handbook for 2011. It is crammed full of useful information for the Aby fancier and photos of succesful Abys over the years. It was well worth the wait!

For 2011 the club annouced a new venture the addition of a Scottish Area Rep to promote the Abyssinian in Scotland and support the interest of members North of the Border. Ivan McConachie has volunteered to take on this role. A suite of mini stock shows have also been set up for 2011 for the Scottish Abyssinian fanciers who historically have had very little opportunity to show their cavies at Club shows without travelling vast miles.Show Dates

COMMITTEE & JUDGING PANEL:
The club holds a biennial ballot to select its committee and judging panel; to find out who was elected for 2011 click here for Who's Who

COMPETITION AND ANNUAL SHOWING PROGRAMME:
As with all breeds of animals, breeding and more importantly selection for showing are all important. The Abyssinian in common with other varieties of guinea pigs or cavies as they are known, have a standard by which they are judged. Full details of this standard can be found on the breed standard page; click here Breed Standard

The club is very active in offering its members the chance to compete for a number of different prizes aimed at both the top level of exhibitor, the local fancier, newcomers, and juvenile exhibitors aged between 6 and 17 years old. Schedules can be downloaded from the Downloads page

Each year we operate a points competition, Show Dates, At the AGM in September 2010 It was agreed that for 2011, we would trial a programme whereby points would be awarded only at ACC Mini-Stock Shows and the club's three main Stock Shows (this will again be a combined stock show as agreed at the AGM), and that open classes would not be used to award points. In turn, the club would host more Mini Stock Shows than we did previously.

For local exhibitors or those who do not wish to challenge at the highest level or who are unable to travel long distances to the stock shows, we also run a merit competition where Abyssinians at any show can compete. The rule here is that the best of each age group Aby, that is Best Adult, 5/8 month and under 5 month are awarded a pen card provided there are at least 5 exhibits in the challenge, these pen cards can then be sent to the Secretary of the Aby club in return for a certificate of merit. Through the year the wins are totalled and the three top exhibitors receive a further award of a nice rosette, and the winner a small plaque to keep. To encourage juvenile exhibitors we also offer a similar award scheme but based on winning juvenile section at the local show, as it is accepted that there are unlikely to be 5 Abyssinian exhibits in the juvenile section of that show. If you would like to join the Aby Cavy Club click here to download an application form Membership Application Form

In addition the club awards a Championship Certificate. It is open to any member's cavy which has won five first prizes at open shows, four of which must have been in the Adult Classes. All wins to be under under ACC or NCC judges and must include wins under at least 3 seprate ACC judges. The same ruleapplies to multiple Championship claims for the same cavy, Win in a breed class with less than five entries are not eligible unless the cavy goes on to win an Abyssinian Cavy Club pen card for best Adult, 5/8 months or under 5 months with five or more exhibits in that age group. To claim a certificate contact the secretary for details and the current fee for registration.

Thank you to Lyndon Nowell, Simon Neesam, Julie Ridgley & Jennie Wright for kindly allowing use of their photos on this site.