- 24/12/2011
Jumping Bunnies Jet in from Sweden - 01/12/2011
Celebrating 90 Years of the Small Animal Show - 29/11/2011
2012 Small Animal Show Hotel Partner - 01/11/2011
Countdown to the 90th Small Animal Show - 01/09/2011
Celebrating 90 Years of the Bradford Small Livestock Society - 09/02/2011
Small Animal Show Hits Headlines for Burgess Pet Care - 24/01/2011
Showcase Square Line Up Announced! - 21/01/2011
Jet-Setting Bunnies Hop to Yorkshire for the UK's First Rabbit Grand National - 18/01/2011
Young Grand Designers Win Pet Palace Competition - 23/12/2010
Ready Steady Show!! - 06/12/2010
Last Call for Traders... - 25/11/2010
Little Hoppers Set For Big Competition At The UK's Largest Small Animal Show - 17/11/2010
Have you got the Pet Factor? - 09/11/2010
Setting the Stall Out for Success - 04/10/2010
Design Your Pet A Palace - 17/09/2010
Burgess Premier Small Animal Show Celebrates the 100th Edition of Fur & Feather Magazine - 18/08/2010
New website and identity launched for January event - 17/05/2010
Big changes for the Small Animal Show...
Countdown to the 90th Small Animal Show
It’s Showtime!
The best of the UK’s Small Animal breeders are getting set to step into the spotlight at the Burgess Premier Small Animal Show in Harrogate on 28th-29th January 2012 and welcome more than 10,000 visitors to celebrate its 90th Anniversary.
A Trip Down Memory Lane
The Shows long history clearly demonstrates an appreciation of Small Animals that reaches through the generations. Originally staged as The 'Bradford Championship Show' the idea was conceived by
Mr J.E. Watmough of Bradford, the owner and publisher of this publication 'Fur & Feather'.
At that time the Cavy, Hamster, Mouse, Rabbit and Rat fancies each had their own Specialist Club, and whilst Fur & Feather provided a central outlet for written material, each Club was still regularly holding their own individual Shows separate from all the other Small Animal fancies.
Watmough's dream was to bring together all the fancies under one roof to hold the ultimate Championship Show and in 1920 he appealed to his readers for support. The very first show in 1921, staged at Manningham Barracks in Bradford, was an instant success and was to become an Annual Event.
In 1929 a specialist Committee of volunteers was formed to organise the Show, called the Bradford Small Livestock Society. This Society still exists and organises the Show to this day.
Bradford Championship Show soon became the world's largest and most famous Small Animal Event and last year it changed its name to the Burgess Premier Small Animal Show to mark the strengthened partnership with Show Sponsors Burgess Pet Care. The recent move to the Yorkshire Event Centre in Harrogate presented opportunities to introduce new activities and events as well as an extended trade and exhibition area.
Making History
The Show has been a key date in the Small Animal world since 1921, and this year’s Event is set to be a celebration not to be missed for all Small Animal lovers. The Show’s continuing success is thanks to all the fanciers, young and old, who over the Show’s history have come together to compete for the ultimate honour of ‘Best in Show’. It’s the longest running and biggest Small Animal Show in the UK and the 2012 Event will feature yet more new attractions as its popularity continues to grow almost a century since its launch.
Paul Threapleton, Chairman of the BSLS Committee, said: “With less than two months to go until our 90th Show, preparations are well under way to build on last year’s success and keep this prestigious event firmly in the fanciers show calendar. As a special 90th Anniversary celebration, this year we will be staging a Young Stock Show in the Rabbit Section for the very first time, which along with other `specials` over the Show weekend will make this year another momentous milestone in the Show’s proud history.”
Naomi Chatterley, at Burgess Pet Care, added: “We are proud to be part of the ongoing success of this spectacular Show. Last year was one of the most successful in the Society’s history with 10,000 visitors and a sold out trade area. As a company passionate about pets, we have pledged to help build on this success for 2012 and honour the Shows 90th Anniversary. Fanciers across the country looking to compete, trade or just attend the Show can expect to see further new attractions in 2012 including a bigger and even better central activity area. This area was introduced to the Show for the first time last year and following its success, the Showcase Strip, as it’s now known, will be the focus again for interactive activities such as the Rabbit Grand National display. We are expecting a truly international flavour as competitors from Sweden will do battle with the UK’s best rabbit jumpers!”
Your Chance to Get Involved in the Show
The challenge of designing jumps for the Rabbit Grand National has been thrown open to young designers and artists in a competition. As well as encouraging interesting and eye-catching designs for spectators and challenging jumps for participants, the competition aims to showcase the event among new audiences.
Five winning drawings will be made into professional jumps by Libra Artic (www.libraatic.com) in Sweden and used during the annual Rabbit Grand National event taking place throughout the weekend.
Young animal lovers can also snap up an opportunity of a lifetime in a competition to become the Burgess Official Photographer at the Show. Show organisers are searching for talented young photographers to help document the show weekend, going back-stage to capture images of handsome hamsters and remarkable rabbits. With more than 3,000 Cavies, Gerbils, Hamsters, Mice, Rabbits and Rats there will be plenty of fantastic opportunities to record the events of the Small Animal extravaganza.
Visit www.smallanimalshow.co.uk for more details on how to enter both competitions.
Don’t Delay. Book Today!
Trade packages have sold extremely well this year, but there are still a few opportunities left to promote your brand and attend the Show. With packages starting at just £99, don’t delay and book today! If you do wish to take a Stand or sponsor the event, showcasing your products or services to Small Animal enthusiasts,
please contact Hatch Communications on 01943 855630 / burgess@hatchpr.co.uk for details
or visit www.smallanimalshow.co.uk for further information.
With entry costs unchanged from last year starting at just £3 for under 16’s and £7 for adults, the Show is an inexpensive fun-filled day out for all the family.
Alternately, you can purchase a family ticket for £18 which admits two adults and up to three under 16’s.
To book tickets please visit www.smallanimalshow.co.uk and download the booking form. A small number of tickets are available on the door, but to avoid disappointment we recommend you book in advance.