My mom, little brother and I didn't leave until a quarter to 8 - the show starts at 8, and check-in is 8, but we wouldn't be there until a quarter after.
Luckily the show was late to starting. There were quite a few newbies in the youth division, which is awesome, because the youth shows are generally very small.
The classes go in this order: Solid senior buck, solid junior buck, solid senior doe, solid junior doe, broken senior buck, broken junior buck, broken senior doe, broken junior doe.
We waited around, watched the classes we didn't participate in, and talked with friends until the solid junior doe class, the first one we had for the day. It was Hazelnut's turn. There were three other rabbits in the class. However, when judge Kevin Rudolph (LOVE him as a judge by the way. He did great with the stressed bunnies and made them feel relaxed), was looking them over for DQs, Hazel's three competitors turned into two because one of them was a buck in the doe's class.
Out of the three rabbits in the class, Hazel took first place! Kevin knew she couldn't compete for Best of Breed (she would just get last), and she was being very jumpy and skittish, so he sent her back with me.
Saige and Rosie's class is the last one, broken junior doe. When the two of them went up, I was hoping Saige would get best in class, but I definitely was not expecting what really happened.
When one of the new breeders had a question about balance, Kevin took Saige from her coop and kept saying how balanced she was. Her width and length and depth are all equal, her head is half the size her body. Her big couple faults are her slipped crown and length of limb, but she has amazing bone.
Holly's Rosemary got third in her class. When he placed Saige as the top of her class, I was so excited! I thought he would give her back to me like with Hazel, because I was sure she couldn't compete with the senior bucks and does.
However, he carried her back to the winning coops. When he said Best Opposite of Breed was the buck I loved, I was sure one of the amazing does was going to be Best of Breed - yet he said, the "broken junior doe", meaning Saige! My girl! I was so ecstatic, I really almost cried. I couldn't believe it. It still seems surreal. Everyone clapped and congratulated me and I got a super nice rosette (big ribbon). I think it's safe to say this has been the best show ever!!!!
The next show (there were 2 youth shows that day), was almost the complete opposite. Hazel got last place out of the same three solid junior does. Saige got fifth place out of the same seven does, and Rosie got second place.
That judge didn't know Hollands very well, or the outcome probably would've been different. I'm excited for the show at the end of the month. I'll have two more chances to win again. This time with (hopefully), Holland judges.
I'm still in shock. What a day!