2015 Show: John Smithson

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John Smithson
All Breeds Judge

John became involved with the Cat Fancy in 1977, registering his first cattery name 'Imperatus' with the NZCF in 1978. Over the years he has bred and granded many cats, beginning with NZ’s first Red Persian Grand Champion, closely followed by NZ’s first Himalayan Double Grand Champion. He has also granded Orientals and British Shorthairs in the USA with ACFA and CFA respectively. In 1980 he became Editor of NZ Cats and produced the first NZCF Yearbook. In 1985 he became a Longhair Judge, extending to include Shorthairs in 1990. He has now judged for 30 years and on several continents.

In 1993, he served a term as National President of the NZCF, before emigrating to the United States. In 2001, after his return to New Zealand, John was a co-founder of CATZ Incorporated and proceeded to bring American format shows to our shores with combined Double Specialty and All-Breed Rings. He took up Munchkins in 2004 and successfully bred and exhibited 10 cats to Grand Champion status, taking one to All-Breed Cat of the Year in 2009.

Several years ago, John began to research the Father of the Cat Fancy, Harrison William Weir. As a result of that research, a huge collection related to Harrison Weir, his work, his autograph letters, his prints and his illustrative art, has been established as 'The Harrison Weir Collection', and the basis for a separate book on his life, now nearing completion. John is now the Curator of that collection and currently manages a large web-site dedicated to the artist, at www.harrisonweir.com
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John is from Hamilton and will be judging at our 2015 show.
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