In June 2005 the race began for the first Birmans to win the new Imperial title introduced by the GCCF to be competed for by Grand Champion and Grand Premiers only, and to be awarded to cats "of exceptional quality".  It took nine months for the first Birman to win the five certificates required to achieve an Imperial title.  The first male and female Adults and Neuters to become Imperial Grand Champions and Premiers are as follows:-

UK GRAND CHAMPION SUCETTE ICECOLD INALEX - 6-year-old Lilac male adult
GRAND CHAMPION KLASSYKLOGS KORALLINA - 3-year-old Seal Tortie female adult
UK GRAND PREMIER LINGCOMB ENDYMION - 5-year-old Seal male neuter
GRAND PREMIER ESAYA BRONTE - 12-year-old Seal female neuter

Their photographs and more details can be seen below.  Since March 2006 many more Birmans, in all colours, have become Imperial Grand and our present total of 41 cats at present far outstrips that achieved by any of the other Semi Long Hair breeds.

December 2008

UK & IMPERIAL GRAND CHAMPION
SUCETTE ICECOLD INALEX (13c4)  
(lilac point)
owner breeder Miss Liz Whitby

 the first ever Birman and first male to win the new Imperial Title.  Achieved at the Lancashire Cat Club Saturday 11th March 2006 
 

IMPERIAL GRAND CHAMPION
KLASSYKLOGS KORALLINA 13c6
(seal tortie point)
owner breeder Mrs Jane Tackley

the first female Birman to win the Imperial Title 
Achieved at the Bedford Cat Club Show 29th April 2006

The first  male neuter Birman to attained the Imperial Title
Achieved at the Lakeland Show June 18th 2006
 

IMPERIAL GRAND PREMIER
ESAYA BRONTE 13c1
(seal point) owner Miss Heather Collings

The first  female neuter Birman to attained the Imperial Title
Achieved at the Lakeland Show June 18th 2006
 

June 2008:  and the first Birman and the first Semi Long Hair cat to achieve the  Double Imperial Grand title
UK IMPERIAL GRAND CHAMPION & IMPERIAL GRAND PREMIER MLYWARD SASSAFRAS 13c7
Cream Point female, owned and bred by Ron Mlynek & Dennis Hayward
(UK Gr Ch Rhunacraig Chilli Pepper x Ch Mlyward Titian Princess)
Imperial Grand Champion at the Coventry & Leicester Show 24.2.07
Imperial Grand Premier at the Lakeland Show 21.6.08 - 3 days before her 8th birthday

UK Grand Title Holders