NORTHERN NON-PEDIGREE STAKES

[ Home ] [ Last NNPS Final ]

Northern Non-Pedigree Stakes 2002-2005

Whiskas for many years sponsored a set of Classes at GCCF cat shows known as the Whiskas Stakes. These Classes produced one overall winner per show, who then went on to compete in the Finals at the Supreme Cat Show in Birmingham each year. Prizes at shows took the form of vouchers for Whiskas food with the 5 Supreme Class winners also receiving additional prizes. Whiskas pulled of all sponsorship in 2002 and the very last Whiskas Stakes heat was held in September 2002, with the last Final being in November 2002.

South Ribble Pet Cat Club was conscious of the gap this left for the non-pedigree exhibitor at most shows and launched a brand new, regional replacement for the North.

THE NORTHERN NON-PEDIGREE STAKES.

This was a regional competition and whilst it did not have the prestige of a final at the Supreme but it did have the advantage of being local, the Final was held at the North West Cat Club Show in Altrincham, there were less cats competing in the final than at the Supreme (more chance for everyone) and there were some super prizes up for grabs.

Heats of the Northern Non-Pedigree Stakes (NNPS) 2002/2003, 2003/2004 and 2004/2005 were held at shows in the north of England from October 2002 to July 2005, with the Finals being held at the North West Cat Club Show in September 2003, 2004 & 2005.

Entry for the competition was open to all non-pedigree male or female cats and kittens with unknown/unregistered parents only. Registered pedigree cats and kittens or cats and kittens with one known registered parents were not eligible, nor were rescued cats and kittens of obviously pedigree type. There were 4 Classes, the winners of which competed against each other to be the Overall Winner. Once a cat or kitten had become an Overall Winner at a show it was not allowed to compete again in that qualifying year. Failure to comply with these rules would result in disqualification.

The Classes were:-

Class 1 Black, white or black & white cat or kitten.

Class 2 Any tabby or tabby & white cat or kitten (except ginger).

Class 3 Any ginger, ginger & white, tortie or tortie & white cat or kitten.

Class 4 Any other colour cat or kitten.

All entrants — free sample of Techni-cal & James Wellbeloved

2nd & 3rd in each Class — rosette (Millfield, later Our Cats) & goody bag (Smylee Pets), later replaced with 400gm Techni-Cal

Class winners (except Overall) — rosette (Millfield, later Our Cats), 1kg Techni-cal, Bio-Catolet cat litter 

Overall Winner—Special rosette (Millfield, later Our Cats), 3kg Techni-cal, Bio-Catolet cat litter, free entry to Final

All entrants — free sample of Techni-cal & James Wellbeloved  & special small memento

2nd & 3rd in each Class — rosette (North West Cat Club) & goody bag (Smylee Pets) - later Techni-cal cat food

Class winners (except Overall) — rosette (North West Cat Club), Techni-cal, Bio-Catolet cat litter, carrier or other prize (Pets At Home), Country Artists cat figurine (later replaced with mounted cat figurine from Carol Walker)

Overall Winner—Special rosette (Millfield, later Our Cats), Techni-cal, Bio-Catolet cat litter, large Country Artists cat figurine (later replaced with mounted cat figurine from Carol Walker), cat scratch & bed centre (Kalven), cat bed or other prize (Pets At Home - first year only), 6 months subscription to Our Cats, 12 month subscription to Cat World (first year only), free photo sitting incl. enlargement from Alan Robinson, trophy.

In 2005 a new deal was negotiated with Royal Canin who took over running of and sponsorship the competition which then became the Royal Canin Non-Pedigree Stakes.