GCCF Champion & UK Grand Premier

* Klatringkatt Merlin - 67 14c - green eyed white - 30 October 1996

Champion and UK Grand Premier * Klatringkatt Merlin is a Green eyed White NFC who is totally mad !! He was born on 30 October 1996 to Elfentanz Marit (67 20) and Danish Import Hakon Rein Felis Jubatus (67 14b). Merlin was one of a litter of two kittens - both white !

Merlin's achievements (in order) are:

FIRST MALE CHAMPION

FIRST FOREST CAT TO HOLD 2 GCCF TITLES

FIRST WHITE GRAND PREMIER

FIRST MALE UK GRAND PREMIER NFC

THE FIRST WHITE UK GRAND PREMIER

Very many thanks to all the judges who have made Merlin's career so illustrious.

Merlin's successes have been acknowledged by the Norsk Skogkatt Society:

BEST Adult for the Show Year 1997/98.

BEST overall NFC 1997/98.

BEST Neuter for the Show Year 1998/99,

BEST overall NFC 1998/99.

BEST Neuter for the Show Year 2000,

The Norwegian Forest Cat Club has awarded him:

Kyrrekatt Salver for Best White Neuter 1998

Klatringkatt Trophy for Male with Most PC's (Shared with Gr Pr Lizzara Bardolph) with 6 PC's 1998

Kyrrekatt Salver for Best White Neuter 1999

(Not bad considering that Merlin was only shown 5 times in 1999).

Kyrrekatt Salver for Best White Neuter 2000

(Not bad considering that Merlin was again only shown 5 times in 2000).

Merlin's History:

Merlin has the honour of being the first Male Forest Cat to become a GCCF Champion. He achieved this at the age of 1 year and 11 days, and by attending only 3 straight shows.

Merlin's show career started at the Norwegian Forest Cat Club's First Show in February 1997. Merlin and his sister Solveig were the youngest Forest Cats there - they were just 14 weeks and 3 days old. Merlin came 3rd in his Open class (there were 4 entries, who were all present). Merlin's next show was Midland Counties in May 1997. (I was busy taking Dagwood out to the other earlier shows) Here the Open class was not split so the boys were judged against the girls. There were 4 kittens present, 2 boys and 2 girls. Merlin once again came 3rd. The only bonus was that Merlin thoroughly enjoyed himself, and attracted a lot of attention with his antics. I next took Merlin to the Merseyside Show in June 1997 - this was the first show where NFC's could be awarded certificates, as they were now finally at Championship Status with the GCCF. Merlin was now just over 7 months old, and this would be his last kitten show (and his last chance to qualify for 1997's Supreme Show). The gods smiled on us that day - Merlin got his much wanted 1st in the Open (much wanted by me that is) and was also awarded the BoB. This turned out to be the turning point in his career.

As with Dagwood, Merlin had the Summer to rest and grow, before he appeared again in September, this time as an adult, and competing for Challenge Certificates. Merlin attended the North West, the Cumberland and the Cheshire Shows, and came home with the Challenge Certificate and BoB from each of these 3 shows. * Klatringkatt Merlin was now Champion * Klatringkatt Merlin. After attending the 1997 Supreme Show, Merlin was neutered.

Merlin re-appeared on the Show bench in early 1998 as a neuter. He was awarded the Premier Certificate and BOB at his first 3 shows, Coventry & Leicester, Lancashire and Preston & Blackpool.

So Merlin became Champion and Premier * Klatringkatt Merlin - the first NFC in the UK to hold 2 GCCF titles.

Merlin's first attempt at a Grand was at the Merseyside show in June 1998, he came home without either the Grand or the Reserve. But he did get his PC and the BOB.

At his second attempt in a Grand Class - North West Sept. 1998, Merlin came home with the Reserve Grand - there were 13 cats present . He also brought home the PC and BOB.

Merlin also come home with a Reserve Grand from the Cumberland Cat Club Show (his 3rd attempt) and the PC and BOB again.

Merlin finally received his first Grand Premier Certificate on Saturday 21st November 1998 at the SUPREME Show. This was out of 4 cats. He also went on to get the BOB out of 16 cats. This meant that he went thru to Best Of Variety. Unfortunately, he was not chosen as the Best Semi Longhair neuter, but he was included in the final 3 that the judge asked to look at again. The judges eventual choice was a UK Grand Champion Birman female (who had been neutered) aged nearly 6 years.

So during 1998 Merlin went to 8 shows: (including the Supreme were he received his first Grand Premier Certificate) He was awarded 6 PC's with BOB, 1 Grand PC with BOB and 1 Second Open (only the second time that he has been beaten since he was 9 months old).

On February 6th 1999 at the Shropshire Cat Club Show, Merlin won his second Grand certificate. There were 11 cats present. He also won the PC and BOB.

On February 27th at the Coventry & Leicester Cat Club Show, Merlin won his 3rd Grand certificate. There were 10 cats present. Again he won the PC and BOB.

So Merlin became a Grand Premier, being awarded 3 Grand's in a row.

Merlin attended a number of other shows in 1999, both on exhibition and in competition. Most importantly though he attended the Supreme Show hoping to gain his first UK Grand certificate. The UK Grand class consisted of 1 Somali, 1 Turkish Van and Merlin. I am very proud to announce that Merlin was awarded the UK Grand (Thanks to Mrs Bullock). He also went on to win the BoB for the second year running, beating 12 other NFC's, (including the very first UK Grand titled NFC).

The year 2000 started very well for Merlin, at the beginning of February he attended the Shropshire Show. He came home with the BoB (he was not entered in the Open Class), the Grand PC and first's from all his side classes - a red card day. He also was nominated for Best in Show. During the rest of the year he gained a further 3 PC's and BOB and 2 more Grand's.

At the Supreme in November 2000 Merlin was after his 2nd UK Grand. In his class this year was one of the same cats as in last year's UK Grand class. I am very proud to say that Merlin was again awarded the UK Grand certificate and so became UK Grand Premier and Champion * Klatringkatt Merlin.

This 2nd UK Grand Premier certificate made Merlin the first male NFC to hold this title.

Boy am I proud of you Merlin. !!!!!!!!

Since the Supreme in 2000, NFC's only compete against each other for UK Grand's - prior to this they had to compete against a number of other breeds of Semi Longhaired Championship status cats.

At the Supreme Show in 2006 2 new cats gained their UK Grand Premier titles - one female, aged 8 and one male, aged 3.

Merlin is still as nutty as ever. He continues to bring us much pleasure.

 Visit Merlin's photo gallery

* All registered names on this site that include the prefix Klatringkatt are the copyright of Mrs Vanda Clunas.