WHAT IS THE NMC AND THE MOUSE FANCY?
Formed over 100 years ago the NMC encourages the breeding and exhibiting of fancy mice, publishes the rules and standards by which mice are judged and gives support to shows throughout Great Britain.
Approximately 40 varieties are now standardised and can be found in close on 200 variations.
A mouse show is very similar to a show for any other exhibition animal and, undoubtedly, the best way to learn about the fancy is to visit one. Make yourself known to the show secretary, and you will be introduced to some of the members who will show you around and answer your questions. Many lasting friendships have been made in this way and you will find, perhaps because of the small cost of mice, while competetive it is one of the friendliest of fancies.
It is of course as difficult to breed a winning mouse as any other animal but with the genuine help of fellow fanciers and the short gestation period, success can be achieved fairly quickly. Another advantage, is that 50% of mouse classes are for under 8 week old mice. In these circumstances you are rarely beaten again and again by the same exhibit as happens in some other fancies.
Mouse shows are staged by local clubs from Preston in the North to Enfield in the South, together with "tented" shows at Agricultural Shows held during the Summer months. The most prestigious show is the "Annual" held in September in conjunction with the Annual General Meeting. Perhaps the most exciting show is the Bradford Small Livestock Championship Show held each January at the Exhibition Centre, Doncaster Race Course where mice share the venue with rabbits, cavies, rats, hamsters and gerbils, and is one of the NMC's five nominated cup shows the others being the "Annual", the London Championship show, and the Spring and Summer Cup Shows. For these shows the Club posesses a large number of trophies which are awarded annually. Championship Certificates are awarded to mice winning the required number of points at three or more shows.
The National Mouse Club offers prospective members a warm welcome and a chance to participate in the competitive showing of a delightful little creature, which is undemanding, clean and easy to breed.
Not all our members are exhibitors. Geneticists and those with interests in other mouse species join us and share the same fellowship. We encourage younger members to care for their pets even if they have no intention of exhibiting them.
The NMC's centenary was celebrated in Lincoln in 1995, with over two thousand entries from several hundred mice. More recently, the NMC staged a special "President's Show" in May 2004, attended by a magnificent 332 exhibits! The photographs on this page are taken from this show. The majority of shows still average between 150 and 200 mice so there is always plenty of competition, making every show different but very enjoyable.
