Mr Bean: one in 50 million

Heather O’Neil, with Porky, and daughters Nicola, left, with Bean, and Sinead with Sally.

“He won the award for most mischievous in show. If he was going to win anything, that is definitely the most appropriate for his personality,” Nicola O’Neill said.

Nicola was among about 40 competitors who came from three clubs around the North Island to attend the first New Zealand Cavy – or guinea pig – Council North Island
Championship Show to be held at the Cambridge Town Hall.

She told The News on Saturday her pet Bean’s claim to fame was his “mischievous” antics.

A social media video she posted during the last lockdown of Bean running and jumping onto a couch “just like a dog” has been viewed more than 50 million times worldwide – in
the United States, Mexico, Brazil, the United Kingdom and Germany.

“I certainly wasn’t expecting that,” Nicola said of the video’s astounding subsequent reach.

“My phone could barely keep up.”

The weekend’s show was a family affair for Nicola. She was there with her mum Heather and sister Sinead, who were also competing.

Show director Andy Lawrie said competitors came to Cambridge from the Auckland and Waikato cavy clubs, as well as Wellington’s Mana Cavy Club.

Within six breed groups were a range of subsections – including groups for guinea pigs with one colour and multi coloured coats, and a crested category – essentially for a breed of guinea
pig which has a “swirl” of hair on its forehead – rough coat, or short haired breeds, and long coat breeds.

“This is the first time we have held the show in Cambridge, and it has been the perfect venue,” Andy said.

Australian National Cavy Council judge Peter Wright, from Brisbane, scored the entrants. The life-long fan and owner of more than 30 guinea pigs has more than 40 years’ experience competing at shows.

“I love them, I think they are amazing animals. It’s brilliant to see how well attended the show here in Cambridge has been, with lots of
members of the public popping in for a look as well.”

Among the crowd was Cambridge mother and son Tahlia Hopkins and her son 11-year-old son Griff.

Tahlia is a former Waikato Cavy Club president and has competed at cavy shows since she was a young girl.

At the Town Hall on Saturday, she won several best of breed and best of group accolades – as well as the best
in show accolade with her guinea pig Oakleigh Acacia.

“One of the great things I love is that Griff competes now too – it has become something we love being part of together.”

Next year’s North Island championship show will be held in Taupō.