Rabbits rule at The Royal

TORONTO, Nov. 16, 2015 /CNW/ - On the final day of at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair (RAWF) rabbits and cavies took centre stage at the Scotiabank Ring of Excellence. After several hours of judging, the Northey Challenge Trophy for Best Overall Cavy or Rabbit was awarded to a French Angora rabbit named Rebecca Smiles, owned by Charlotte Schweikart of Pennsylvania – beating out the Reserve Champion, a guinea pig named Newman owned by Bev Leslie of Roxiter, ON.

"It's hard to get Grand Champion for a wool breed because they have to be right on," Schweikart said. "Winning the Northey Trophy is an even greater achievement!"

Schweikart says this is her first time entering at The Royal and she only did it because she was invited by friends to come to the RAWF. Schweikart has been showing rabbits for 15 years and it all began when her children were in a rabbit 4-H club. After the children were no longer involved, she says, it became her "thing" instead.

Showing rabbits takes commitment and a love for the furry critters. Shannon Carter of Cambridge, ON, raises French Angora rabbits as well. Her French Angora doe named Rae came fifth in her class, but Carter is not terribly disappointed. She says she learns from showing at The Royal.

"There's a challenge to breeding a better rabbit," Carter said. "Then you bring it to a show like The Royal to see how you are doing."

The Royal is supported in part by the City of Toronto and the Province of Ontario.

The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair is the world's largest combined indoor agricultural and equestrian show. This year, the 93rd Royal Agricultural Winter Fair runs November 6-15, 2015 at Exhibition Place, Toronto. For competition schedules, live webcasting, results and to purchase tickets, please visit www.royalfair.org.

SOURCE Royal Agricultural Winter Fair

Image with caption: "Visitors checking out the rabbits at the 2015 Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto. (CNW Group/Royal Agricultural Winter Fair)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20151116_C6306_PHOTO_EN_545823.jpg

Karen Poncelet, Marketing Communications and Community Relations Mgr, The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, 39 Manitoba Drive, Exhibition Place, Toronto, ON M6K 3C3, Direct: 416-263-3411 Fax: [phone]