Steven Goss

Exciting news – A new venue!

by [log in to see names] | Apr 2, 2026 | Miscellaneous | 6 comments

We have just heard that some cavy fanciers have resurrected the South West Championship show, which used to be held at Gloucester. They have now secured premises at a venue called Junction 24 at Bridgwater, and their show will be held this year on 3rd May. It’s...

Mice Matter!

by [log in to see names] | Jul 23, 2025 | NMC History | 9 comments

Below is a digitised version of an article which appeared in the Observer in August 1983. I think it is a lovely account of the spirit of the mouse fancy! Just a few comments: Of course Fur & Feather is not defunct, as the article stated (in fact, we have a...

Cup Secretary’s Report – October 2024

by [log in to see names] | Oct 9, 2024 | Cup Secretary's Notes | 0 comments

nother show year has ended with the Annual Cup Show at Sowood where there were four splendid trophies to be won. Many congratulations to the winners, who were…Woodiwiss Bowl – Best in show – Ruth Hollis.Coronation Cup – Best Opposite Age in...

Trophy of the Month – The Jubilee Cup

by [log in to see names] | Mar 21, 2024 | Trophies | 0 comments

This impressive silver trophy is further inscribed “For Best Mouse in Show, Presented by the Members of the Na- tional Mouse Club, 1935”. That was the year that King George V and Queen Mary celebrated the silver jubilee of their reign, and the cup bears a raised...

Trophy of the Month – The Jack Wormald Memorial Shield

by [log in to see names] | Feb 2, 2024 | Trophies | 0 comments

This impressively large wooden shield, in memory of a popular Yorkshire fancier, is inscribed CVMC on the central plaque for Calder Valley Mouse Club, along with the dates 1931 – 1987. It stands 12 inches (30cm) high and is awarded for best champagne at the Spring Cup...

Trophy of the Month – The mendel Gold Cup

by [log in to see names] | Nov 6, 2023 | Trophies | 0 comments

This is arguably the most important of all our NMC cups, and the most valuable. It stands just under 6 inches (15 cm) high on its wooden plinth and is solid 9 carat gold. Inscribed to one side “The Mendel Cup presented by C M Stoney 1933”, and to the other side “To be...

Trophy of the Month – The Withington Cup

by [log in to see names] | Oct 8, 2023 | Trophies | 0 comments

This three-handled silver cup was donated by Mrs Withington and is awarded at the London Championship Show for best Self Black. It stands approxi mately 5¼ inches (13cm) high on its plinth, and is hallmarked for Sheffield 1906 with the mak er’s mark of James Dixon and...

Cup Secretary’s Report – October 2023

by [log in to see names] | Oct 8, 2023 | Cup Secretary's Notes | 0 comments

By the time you read this the NMC will have a new cup secretary. It has been a privilege to have fulfilled the role for the last sixteen months or so, having taken over unexpectedly and at short notice last year, and I am very grateful to Ruth for the help and...

A Look Back to 1981

by [log in to see names] | Jul 3, 2023 | Showing and Judging | 0 comments

After my mother’s death last year, I found an old copy of NMC News among her papers. It is an early edition (number 9) and dates from November 1981. The mouse fancy was originally served by Fur & Feather magazine, but when it stopped including mice, we needed to...

Trophy of the Month – The Woodiwiss Bowl

by [log in to see names] | Jul 3, 2023 | Trophies | 0 comments

The inscription on the front of this silver trophy reads: “The Mouse Club Challenge Cup presented by Sam Woodiwiss”. Today it is simply known as the Woodiwiss Bowl and is an impressively large and important item with little decoration apart from a gadrooned rim and...

Trophy of the Month – The Crystal Cup

by [log in to see names] | Jun 2, 2023 | Trophies | 0 comments

This attractive modern cup is different from other NMC trophies because it features a cut crystal bowl and is on a marble plinth, making it surprisingly heavy. It was originally presented to the Dutch Mouse Club by Denton (Manchester) Canary Club, and is awarded for...

Trophy of the Month – The Warkworth Bowl

by [log in to see names] | Apr 4, 2023 | Trophies | 0 comments

This wonderful silver bowl was donated by R Clark and is in- scribed with the date 1919 on the front. It stands approximately 7 inches (18 cm) high on its plinth and is awarded for Best Cream at the Spring Cup Show. It is one of our most impressive trophies and...

Trophy of the Month – The Dick Espley Juvenile Shield

by [log in to see names] | Mar 1, 2023 | Trophies | 0 comments

A shaped mahogany shield on a square plinth, made by Frank Hawley and donated by Richard Espley to be awarded for Best Tan exhibited by a Juvenile at the Spring Cup Show. It stands just under 81⁄2 inches (211⁄2cm) high. The inside lid of the box records some win-...

Cup Secretary’s Report – February 2023

by [log in to see names] | Mar 1, 2023 | Cup Secretary's Notes | 0 comments

Many congratulations to all the cup winners at Doncaster. It was satisfying to be able to display all twelve of the trophies to be won, and I was pleased that all of the winners were keen to take their trophies home after the show. Less for me to store!The next cup...

Does Size Matter?

by [log in to see names] | Feb 1, 2023 | Showing and Judging | 0 comments

Imagine the scenario … you have planned your breeding to target a particular show and your young mouse is seven weeks and five days old. It is a very good size for an u/8 class. However, the judge compares it side-by-side with a six-week-old classmate and throws...

Trophy of the Month – The American Cup

by [log in to see names] | Feb 1, 2023 | Trophies | 0 comments

This plated, yellow-coloured two-handled cup was donated by American fanciers and is awarded for best AOV at the Spring cup show. It is quite plain except for some laurel wreathing on the rim and handles, and stands 5 inches (13cm)...

Trophy of the Month – The T B Mason Memorial Mouse & Rat Cup [EDITED]

by [log in to see names] | Feb 1, 2023 | Trophies | 0 comments

A silver two-handled cup in the Art Deco style inscribed with the date 1925. It is awarded for Best in Show at the Bradford Championship Show and was first compet- ed for that same year and won by A D Campey. The cup stands approximately 51⁄4 inches (13cm) high on its...

Trophy of the Month – The War Memorial Cup

by [log in to see names] | Jan 9, 2023 | Trophies | 0 comments

This silver cup was donated by NMC members and stands about 10¾ inches (27cm) high on its plinth. The hallmarks are for Sheffield 1904, which makes me wonder which war it relates to, especially as the first inscribed winner was Percy Ashley in 1961. The silversmith...

Trophy of the Month – The Tuck Cup

by [log in to see names] | Dec 1, 2022 | Trophies | 0 comments

This splendid two-handled plated trophy stands an impressive 13 inches (33cm) high and was presented by Arthur Tuck in 1935. . It is decorated with stylised leaves on the lower bowl and handles, and is awarded for best opposite variety to best in show at the Bradford...

Cup Secretary’s Report – November 2022

by [log in to see names] | Nov 1, 2022 | Cup Secretary's Notes | 0 comments

After taking over this role in June I wanted to prioritise two tasks. First, to ensure I had a working template of every document needed by show secretaries, a task made easier with Ruth’s invaluable help. Second, to track down the whereabouts of all the NMC cups and...