Blue Persian Cat Society Club Overview
The Blue Persian Cat Society has the distinction of being the oldest longhair cat club in the world, founded in 1901 by Miss Frances Simpson who became the Society’s first President.
The ethereal beauty of the blue Persian is breathtaking and has that quality of colour that is often described as a lavender blue. I certainly fell in love with the breed after seeing my first 'blue' and that love has never left me, and I am sure that the many visitors and exhibitors who make it to our show will agree that it is quite a sight to see, with so many beautiful blue cats being exhibited together under one roof.
Our show is one of the most prestigious in the yearly calendar of the GCCF, the club being a founder member and the oldest longhair cat club in the world. It held its centenary in 2001, which was a great achievement. I am also proud to say the blue Persian enhances many other longhair pedigrees with its foundation lines past and present.
The show is the culmination of a lot of hard work and dedication by the Committee and its helpers. Among some of the many notable cats that have gained distinction have been the cats pictured and are a fantastic advert for the breed, reflecting the calibre of the cats and kittens being exhibited at the show, which is held on the first Saturday of November each year.
To give you a flavour and insight into just what happens at our shows, here is an review of some of our blue Persians and their stories:
Grace Wylde's prefix is Cleocath and one of her boys Gr Ch Cleocath Arianglas has had a good career, after being BIS Kitten in a couple of shows, he then went on to be Best Overall exhibit in our own Blue Persian show in 2002. She also bred UK GR CH Cleocath Dewi Sant and UK GR PR Cleocath Carwbach, quite an achievement for anyone and especially for the blues. Visitors to some of the larger cat shows will remember Dewi Sant, who is sadly no longer with us. He was quite a mascot for the Club when he used to sit and pose on his little 'chair' in his harness and loved all the attention that he generated in the 'meet and greet' corner. His post has been taken up by Carwbach who has the same good nature and in fact, winning £100 for club funds in the World of Cats Section of the National in 2005 by having the best interactive and informative presentation, with both Arianglas and Carwbach representing the Club. Grace has also had some measure of success with Ch Cleocath Teganglas, who was young to start her show career, and was Best Adult Female under 3 ½ years in our 2006 show.
Diane Draper's Gr Ch and Gr Pr Cleocath Breninglas (double whammy there!) was Best Opp Sex in 06 and was first cat to win the Barbara Scruton trophy awarded in 2006 for Best Coat Colour. He was also the winner of the points trophy for that year. Brenin is in good company with Gr Pr Orbis Maximilion Blue and Gr Pr Orbis Rudi Valentino known at home as Bagpuss who was Best Opposite Sex at our show 3 yrs ago.
Diane was over the moon on acquiring Janet Ashman's young lady Shahrivar Blue Sonata, known at home as Mia, who was BIS Kitten at our show in 2005 and is fulfilling her show potential. There was no holding her back and she was this year a very proud mum of a litter of kittens so will be back out on the scene after her maternal duties and sharing the limelight with her offspring.
Another stunning kitten to come from Janet's own Shahrivar cattery was promising kitten Shahrivar Bluevision sired by Gr Ch Cleocath Arianglas and who has gone to his pet home, and is now living the life of Riley. Lucky young man! Janet has had consistent quality in her litters with a 'Bluevision' so far in every one and as the mating was so successful she aimed to repeat it again this year, with her young male Shahrivar Blue Haze. This cattery is also the home Ch Morninglory Morgaine Lefey another lovely blue who is part of the Shahrivar foundation line.
Eileen Fryer’s own UK Gr Ch and Gr Pr Prettypaws Bossy Boots (Bebe) and one of only three blue females to achieve this title, has 2 Imperials Certificates so far. Bebe gained Best Overall, Adult and Neuter, Gr Pr Prettypaws Parris got Best Overall Exhibit again attained at our Centenary show in 2001, Gr Ch Hairybear Bluepearl (Poppy at home) got Best Kitten. Quite an impressive line-up! UK Gr Ch Fortina Crieff the father of Bebe is sadly no longer with us but is immortalised in her pedigree lines.
My own bred Orbis Misterteddy who is pure blue, was made up to Champion at the last Supreme show, despite me having to hobble around and hire a motor scooter for the show. Teddy's full sister who is distinguishing herself on the show bench is Orbis Cinzia who was shown for the first time recently and gained her first CC. She is currently the proud mum of a litter of five, so has her paws full at present! I have a passion for pure blue, (that is only blue persians in the pedigree) and also pure dilute breeding which is becoming more and more difficult to maintain so cannot envisage these lines continuing in the future, such a shame but inevitable as there are so few breeders of these pure lines out there.
A prefix which has made its mark is the Palchinno Cattery with breeder Mrs Rose Angus. One of her home bred girls Gr Ch Palchinno Celestial Whisper has done some phenomenal winning on the show bench, with her attaining one of her two Imperial Grands at our 2006 show. She also won the Grace Pond Trophy at our 2004 show so is consistent in her progress, as she has won this trophy previously as a kitten. With one UK Grand already she is one to watch out for in future, a star in the making. Her son, Ch Palchinno Spartacus was Best Adult in Show at this year's show, so he seems to be following in his mum's footsteps.
Many more superb blue cats have graced our show benches in these last few years, those mentioned are just a cross section of them, so maybe this signifies an upturn in the attraction of this beautiful Persian, let's hope so. With more and more breeders giving up and the popularity of other breeds, one can only hope that the fabulous blue Persian will be out in force in the years to come and will continue to show in, what is for us, a showpiece of distinction, and the culmination of a lot of hard work.
Lyn Hudson, Orbis Persians
Finally, a word from our Chairman:
I had quite a surprise when this year, I was presented with an exquisite piece of jewellery from the Committee for marking my 20 years in the Chair, and also the honour of becoming Vice President, but my association with the blue Persian and the Club goes back a lot further than that, as I was also show manager for the club for a number of years. During this time I have seen the club go from strength to strength and celebrate some important milestones in its history. One of these was the Centenary celebration in 2001 when our show was held at the Pump Rooms in Cheltenham and we adopted a Victorian theme which was a great success and enjoyed by all. Our show however is not dependant on a theme as every year we have the cream of the crop of blue Persian entries.
Although the number of blue Persians being shown has decreased in recent years, and is concurrent with most of the longhairs currently being exhibited, this is not apparent at our show as thanks to the hard work of our show management team, committee and loyal supporters, we are also supported by enthusiastic household pet exhibitors. In fact we had some superb blue kittens at our recent show (November 2007), an excellent turn out which we hope to better next year, and which would indicate an increase in the number of blues being bred.
Hopefully those of you who love the breed will show them at our next show on the first Saturday in November 2008, and I look forward to seeing you all, owners, breeders, exhibitors and visitors alike, whether you are experienced or novice owners or breeders. You are most welcome to pop in for a cat chat or to pick up information on this lovely breed.
My thanks to you all.
Eileen Fryer
Chairman
BPCS