The Daily Prophet: 2 August 1997
PAGE THREE Champion Crowned at Lincolnshire Puffskein Show Barnaby Snell
A ginger-and-white puffskein named Macavity was named Best in Show at the 15th Annual All-England Puffskein Show at Merlin's Hall, Lincoln. Macavity was named the best specimen of a field of 100 puffskeins presented to the judges by proud owners and breeders from across England.
Macavity's owner, 12-year-old Emmy Mackenzie of Cleethorpes, was presented with the winner's rosette by the three-person judging panel, and beamed happily afterwards.
"I knew I had the prettiest puff in all of England," she said, hugging Macavity tightly. "I'm glad the judges agreed."
When asked about her puffskein's name, young Emmy replied, "He steals things. Keys, sweets, everything. We always find them in his blanket after tearing the house apart looking."
The voting was not unanimous, as it turned out. Judge Theodore Pucklechurch, one of the most respected authorities on puffskeins in Britain, voted against Macavity because, he claimed, he did not like the puff's name.
"Naming a Magical creature after a Muggle poem doesn't sit well with me," he explained. "If the girl had named it Babbitty Rabbitty, I would have been more generous."
"Nonsense," said judge Hortensia Bootblack when told of Mr. Pucklechurch's reasoning. "He's just upset Macavity piddled on him during judging. The poor little puff was so nervous."