This prestigious title goes to that one and only, very special Birman who manages to achieve top honours on the show bench each year, scoring the most points during that particular show season. Our gorgeous 1998 winner, Supreme Premier KYAT DAMANYANTI, certainly falls in that "special" category! This lovely lady was born on the 2nd of November 1996 at Kyat Cattery in Gauteng. Having been hand-reared as a kitten, this brave little girl soon found a wonderfully loving home with Jeff and Elsjé Tilley in Kempton Park. With her perfectly symmetrical gloves, stunning white coat with it's golden hue, and dense point colour, it was soon obvious that this little beauty was going places!!! Her show career took off and on the 6th of September 1997, at the tender age of only 10 months, Yanti gained her Champion title! Her Grand title was awarded in March of 1998 and her Supreme title followed only 4 months later! And so Yanti became only the second Seal point Birman ever in South Africa to achieve a Supreme title! These achievements also qualified her for the prestigeous "S.A. CAT OF THE YEAR" Competition, in which she did very well and ended in 15th position. At the very young age of only 2, Yanti currently holds no less than 12 Supreme Certificates, and was also the 1997 Best Seal point Birman Female. This year, she took Best Seal point Birman Neuter, Best Birman Neuter and BIRMAN OF THE YEAR 1998! Our warmest congratulations to her very, very proud owners Jeff and Elsjé, and to Hildé Wiegand of Kyat Cattery for breeding such a show stopper!!!

Uno visited South Africa during 1998 while the CFA was not accepting the red series for competition. He soon obtained his Supreme title, totally wooing judges with his exquisite colouring and nature. He also qualified for the S.A. Cat of the Year Competition, but "mom" Ellen was missing him so, he returned before the competition and so ended being 20^th Best Entire Cat in South Africa during the 1998 Show Season…

Grand Champion KYAT DE'ARTE REUCHE, Seal point Birman female owned by Elize Faurie and bred by Hildé Wiegand.

KYAT JENNY JELLY BABY, Blue Tabby point Birman female kitten owned by Norma Boshoff and also bred by Hildé Wiegand.

The Top S.A. Birman Breeder for 1998 is (yet again!) Hildé Wiegand of KYAT HOLY BIRMANS. Congratulations, and may we see many more Kyat beauties on the show bench this year!

SOME HIGHLIGHTS OF 1998:

The first Cream point Birman in South Africa, KYAT BELLEBIR UNO and our top Birman of 1998, KYAT DAMANYANTI, both gain their Supreme titles at the Rand Cat Club Show.

The first Chocolate points born in South Africa: CLASSICATS BEST BUDDY, CLASSICATS BUSTER BOY, CLASSICATS BEAUTY BLOSSOM & CLASSICATS BABY BUNTY, bred by Jeanne le Roux and Hildé Wiegand.

First Red point Birmans in South Africa born at Hopewell Cattery: HOPEWELL'S BILLY THE KITT & HOPEWELL'S BUTCH CASSIDY. Sired by Hopewell's Laurant Montague (Imp UK), Dam Ch Hopewell's Snoshu Marigold Finalee (Imp UK).

The first "home-bred" Cream point Birmans in South Africa are born at the Kyat Cattery, KYAT ADA DYLAN, KYAT ADAH DHANI & KYAT A DAY IN HEAVEN…

For suggestions, additions, comments or corrections, please email the Webmaster at hopewell@saol.com