MAJOR & SECTION AWARDS
Best in Show 205-1 Hale & Davies, Best Young Bird in Show 303-5 J & L McGeehan, Best Any Age in Show 205-1 Hale & Davies ,Best Opp Sex Young Bird in Show 508-1 R & M Miller, Best opp sex Any Age in Show 24-2 B E Sweeting, Best Junior in Show 809-2 J McGovern
Best Champion Any Age 1-11 G J Warren,
2nd Best Champion Any Age 9-10 B E Sweeting
3rd Best Champion Any Age 24-2 B E Sweeting
4th Best Champion Any Age 7-3 H & D Hockaday
5th Best Champion Any Age 44-12 J H Woods
6th Best Champion Any Age 48-4 B E Sweeting
7th Best Champion Any Age 50-3 B E Sweeting
8th Best Champion Any Age 40-9 Crooks & Burne
9th Best Champion Any Age 22-7 J H Woods
10th Best Champion Any Age 11-10 C B Dew
Best Champion Young Bird 111-4 H & D Hockaday
2nd Best Champion Young Bird 101 –24 J R Bell
3rd Best Champion Young Bird 151-3 B E Sweeting
4th Best Champion Young Bird 126-7 T & A Luke
5th Best Champion Young Bird 145-13 K Humphries
6th Best Champion Young Bird 109-20 M & M Chapman
7th Best Champion Young Bird 121-15 AR & TR Terheeege
8th Best Champion Young Bird 146-3 F Dell
9th Best Champion Young Bird 150-2 B E Sweeting
10th Best Champion Young Bird 140-2 Freakley & Ainley
Best Intermediate Any Age 205-1 Hale & Davies
2nd Best Intermediate Any Age 243-1 R Quigley
3rd Best Intermediate Any Age 248-8 J & L McGeehan
4th Best Intermediate Any Age 221-2 R McLean
5th Best Intermediate Any Age 240-12 J & L McGeehan
6th Best Intermediate Any Age 245-2 J Benn
7th Best Intermediate Any Age 211-1 Hale & Davies
8th Best Intermediate Any Age 223-6 D Langton
9th Best Intermediate Any Age 209-16 J & L McGeehan
10th Best Intermediate Any Age 212-4 J & L McGeehan
Best Intermediate Young Bird 303-5 J & L McGeehan
2nd Best Intermediate Young Bird 340-4 Hale & Davies
3rd Best Intermediate Young Bird 321-3 Hale & Davies
4th Best Intermediate Young Bird 317-1 Hale & Davies
5th Best Intermediate Young Bird 314-4 Hale & Davies
6th Best Intermediate Young Bird 357-11 J & L McGeehan
7th Best Intermediate Young Bird 350-1 Hale & Davies
8th Best Intermediate Young Bird 301-11 J & L McGeehan
9th Best Intermediate Young Bird 326-2 D B Austin
10th Best Intermediate Young Bird 325-1 R Quigley
Best Novice Any Age 440-8 A & A Newsham
2nd Best Novice Any Age 403-4 A & A Newsham
3rd Best Novice Any Age 409-2 R & M Miller
4th Best Novice Any Age 407-1 R & M Miller
5th Best Novice Any Age 449-1 P W Gatward
6th Best Novice Any Age 450-1 B A Wilson
7th Best Novice Any Age 411-1 B A Wilson
8th Best Novice Any Age 426-2 L Pennick
9th Best Novice Any Age 410-3 A G Price
10th Best Novice Any Age 412-1 B A Wilson
Best Novice Young Bird 508-1 R & M Miller
2nd Best Novice Young Bird 507-1 R & M Miller
3rd Best Novice Young Bird 503-4 R & M Miller
4th Best Novice Young Bird 505-3 R & M Miller
5th Best Novice Young Bird 548-2 K Fagan
6th Best Novice Young Bird 523-3 R & M Miller
7th Best Novice Young Bird 519-2 R & M Miller
8th Best Novice Young Bird 524-2 R & M Miller
9th Best Novice Young Bird 506-3 R & M Miller
10th Best Novice Young Bird 511-4 R & M Miller
Best Beginner Any Age 611-6 J Thompson
2nd Best Beginner Any Age 607-2 S Lansdowne
3rd Best Beginner Any Age 657-5 S Wildes
4th Best Beginner Any Age 605-2 B Collins
5th Best Beginner Any Age 648-3 S Lansdowne
6th Best Beginner Any Age 650-2 S Wildes
7th Best Beginner Any Age 606-3 P Field
8th Best Beginner Any Age 651-1 B Collins
9th Best Beginner Any Age 603-6 D Husselbee
10th Best Beginner Any Age 609-7 D Leadbetter
Best Beginner Young Bird 721-3 J Thompson
2nd Best Beginner Young Bird 705-3 J Thompson
3rd Best Beginner Young Bird 712-9 S Wildes
4th Best Beginner Young Bird 709-14 D Husselbee
5th Best Beginner Young Bird 724-3 D Leadbetter
6th Best Beginner Young Bird 702-2 M Dunkley
7th Best Beginner Young Bird 723-1 J Thompson
8th Best Beginner Young Bird 728-3 D Leadbetter
9th Best Beginner Young Bird 701-5 D Leadbetter
10th Best Beginner Young Bird 745-4 J Thompson
Best Junior Any Age 809-2 J McGovern
2nd Best Junior Any Age 857-1 L Hutt
3rd Best Junior Any Age 872-1 C Shore
Best Junior Young Bird 917-1 C Shore
2nd Best Junior Young Bird 926-2 C Shore
3rd Best Junior Young Bird 921-1 C Shore
COLOUR AWARDS
JUDGE George Booth COLOUR - LIGHT GREEN
Any Age
Best of Colour really excelled in head and face, with excellent width and depth of mask. A good coloured bird, which also stood well and always showed its best head qualities to full advantage
The second in the line-up was from the Beginner section, another stylish cock shown in excellent condition. It is a good all round bird that showed well and was well presented.
Best opposite Sex was a hen of excellent quality and size. Although not in the best of condition and let down by small spots, it is still a hen of quality
The colour group generally had some good quality birds, but many lacked condition.
Best of Colour 1-11 G J Warren 2nd 601-9 S Lansdowne 3rd 2-8 (Best Opp sex) E Geary 4th 801-3 L A Murray 5th 802-1 S Cliffe-O'Leary 6th 401-6 M K Merrills 7th 402-1 M K Merrills 8th 201-7 L Barker 9th 602-1 S Lansdowne 10th 202-2 L & A Partington
Young Bird
The cock which headed the Young Bird section showed excellent style with superb depth of mask and good colour. It would have been improved by better spots but showed a lovely width of face. A good winner.
The runner up was a good big bird which stood well. Showing a good deep mask, it lacked the width of the winner
The Best opposite sex of colour was a good quality hen, let down by condition on the day, otherwise it may have won!
This was a good line-up of light greens, with some good birds but overall condition could have been better.
Best of Colour 101-24 J R Bell 2nd 301-11 J & L McGeehan 3rd 102-11 (Best Opp Sex) Crooks & Burne 4th 502-5 K Fagan 5th 702-2 M Dunkley 6th 501-14 B Cattell 7th 302-10 R Wilson 8th 901-1 L A Murray 9th 701-5 D Leadbetter 10th 902-2 C Shore
JUDGE Chris Snell COLOUR - DARK GREEN
Any Age
Dave Herring comments on this colour group:-
The leader in this group was staged by J H Woods in good condition and displayed to advantage its wide mask which contained held good spots. This was a bold bird from the stud of J H Woods and it presented itself boldly.
Second in the line-up was a strong Cock which showed a wide face and a mask carrying large spots. A few prominent pinfeathers perhaps prevented it from proceeding further
In third spot lay a very strong cock with good stance and balance. This bird showed a lovely width of face, enhanced by goods mask and spots – a credit to J & L Mc Geehan.
Best of Colour 3-7 J H Woods 2nd 403-4 A & A Newsham 3rd 203-8 J & L McGeehan 4th 204-1(Best Opp Sex) E Fisk 5th 4-2 J H Woods 6th 603-6 D Husselbee 7th 803-2 M Roe
Young Bird
Best of Colour was also ultimately Best Young Bird in Show and is reviewed elsewhere in the report.
Second in the line-up was a lovely Olive Cock with very good size, spots and mask. It was only marred, very slightly, by a degree of ticking.
Best Opposite Sex, and also fourth in the line-up, was a Dark Green Hen which displayed a good face and width – a typical hen , and a very promising youngster. A slightly deeper mask would have completed the picture.
Best of Colour 303-5 J & L McGeehan 2nd 503-4 R & M Miller 3rd 103-9 4th 504-3 (Best Opp Sex) R & M Miller 5th 703-3 M Dunkley 6th 304-2 Hale & Davies 7th 704-3 P Cheatley 8th 904-1 L A Murray 9th 104-1 C G Holland
JUDGE Maurice Roberts COLOUR - SKYBLUE
Any Age
Heading this certificate group was a Skyblue cock of outstanding quality. This is one of the very best skyblue cocks I have ever judged any where in the world. A great bird benched in good condition for a buff feathered example and a tremendous bird for an Intermediate.
Second in the line-up came from the Beginner section and was a good budgerigar in good condition. A very good example of a skyblue. It was unfortunate to come second to a wonder bird.
Best Opposite Sex was fourth in the line-up, a hen shown in good condition with good substance and shoulders. Again, a very good beginner hen
The section had some good skyblues but some good birds lacked condition and were penalised accordingly. Some good birds in all five sections, but the winner was in a class on its own
Best of Colour 205-1 Hale & Davies 2nd 605-2 B Collins 3rd 5-5 A & B Whattam 4th 606-3 (Best Opp Sex)P Field 5th 405-2 B A Wilson 6th 805-1 7th 406-1 B A Wilson 8th 806-1 L Hutt 9th 6-2 Findlay & Flavell 10th 206-1 L Barker
Young Bird
A Skyblue cock took the certificate for Crooks & Burne. This was a bird of good size and deportment with good shoulders and body length. I would have liked to have seen it in slightly tighter feather.
Second in the line-up was a little on the short side compared to the winner, but was in wonder show condition with a good clean cap and good face. This was a good baby from the Novice section.
Fourth place was taken by the Best Opposite sex hen, which displayed good length and substance, and good shoulders. A small blood spot on the head spoiled it and stopped it from going higher
The first seven birds in the line-up were in good show condition and quite a nice quality for breeder skys. Further down the line-up, the birds fell away in condition and quality.
Best of Colour 105-24 Crooks & Burne 2nd 505-3 R & M Miller 3rd 705-3 J Thompson 4th 106-1(Best Opp Sex) A & D Woan 5th 506-3 R & M Miller 6th 905-1 L Hutt 7th 706-2 Mr & Mrs R A Higgerson 8th 305-3 J A Oxby 9th 906-1 L A Murray 10th 306-2 L Barker
JUDGE Andy Thorpe COLOUR - DARK BLUE
There were some top quality birds presented here, in excellent condition and the Certificate winner, a Cobalt cock went on to take 4th Best Champion Any Age specials for H & D Hockaday, while the runner up was 4th Best Novice Any Age. The winner was a very good, all round cock, well-coloured and showing good spots on a reasonably deep mask.
Best Opposite sex in this colour was a good, solid Violet hen showing good width but with some slight ticking
Any Age
Best of Colour 7-3 H & D Hockaday 2nd 407-1 R & M Miller 3rd 607-2 S Lansdowne 4th 8-3 C L Bowman 5th 608-1 P Tiller 6th 408-1 T Wall
Andy Thorpe's main comment was that it was a pleasure to judge this certificate winner from R & M Miller, which went on to take Best opposite sex Young Bird in Show and Best Novice Young Bird.
This winner is a good solid Violet hen, and pipped the same exhibitors' Mauve Cock into second place. It, in itself, would have been a worthy C/C winnerYoung Bird
Best of Colour 508-1 R & M Miller 2nd 507-1(Best Opp Sex) R & M Miller 3rd 107-13 F & C McGovern 4th 707-3 P Thompson 5th 108-6 C L Bowman 6th 908-1 C Shore 7th 308-1 E Fisk 8th 708-3 Mr & Mrs R A Tonks 9th 307-3 D & E Randall
JUDGE Ian Bleasdale COLOUR - GREYGREEN
B E Sweeting took the Any Age certificate with a medium coloured cock, which stood tall, with a good follow-through, good spots and mask and displaying excellent directional feathering
The runner up came from the junior section and this was a worthy challenger, showing a good lift and directional feathering, although lacking a little in size of spot.
The best opposite sex in this group was a tall bird, showing 'ghost' markings. A nice bird, but the mask could have been deeper.
There were some good birds in this section, especially cocks; the hens were rather weaker.
Any Age
Best of Colour 9-10 B E Sweeting 2nd 809-2 J McGovern 3rd 209-16 J & L McGeehan 4th 409-2 R & M Miller 5th 609-7 D Leadbetter 6th 410-3(Best Opp Sex) A G Price 7th 10-3 A & F Easdon
Brian Sweeting adds "The grey green cock was also awarded 2nd Champion Any Age. He was born on 1st December 2004. How I wish it had been a week or so later, then he might have been 2005 rung. He has won five Best in Shows in the south of England and Wales. He was one of eight youngsters bred in that round and has some very good quality brothers and sisters, four of which where 2005 rung. This bird will now be registered as a Grand Champion."
Young Bird
A cock from M & M Chapman, showing a wonderful face, with good directional feathering, headed a strong Young Bird section. Spots were fair but could have done with being a little bigger. This lovely bird also had good shoulder, with no visible sign of neck, and a wide head.
The runner up and Opposite Sex bird was a neat hen with good lift and directional feathering. Again, spots were fair and the mask could have done with being a little deeper, but this hen showed a wonderful style.
Third in the line up was a cock, which showed similar attributes to the winner, but was a little smaller.
Best of Colour 109-20 M & M Chapman 2nd 110-11(Best Opp Sex) C L Bowman 3rd 509-3 B A Wilson 4th 709-14 D Husselbee 5th 710-1 S Lansdowne 6th 510-2 D J Spruce 7th 309-7 Hale & Davies 8th 310-9 R Wilson 9th 910-1 L A Murray
JUDGE Dave Wall COLOUR - GREY
Any Age
This section was headed, as last year, by C B Dew's Normal Grey Cock, a big powerful bird with plenty of substance, shoulder and head quality. Unfortunately lacking in the condition, which may have again taken it further this year.
Second in the line-up was Hale & Davies' good big bird, which has good depth of face, frontal, and a clean cap. Only some opalescence let it down.
Best opposite Sex in this group, and third in the line-up was Crooks & Burne's hen, which displayed a good brow and condition, although it showed a lot of blue. Clearly the best hen in the selection.
Best of Colour 11-10 C B Dew 2nd 211-1 Hale & Davies 3rd 12-3 (Best Opp Sex) Crooks & Burne 4th 212-4 J & L McGeehan 5th 611-6 J Thompson 6th 811-2 C Shore 7th 411-1 B A Wilson 8th 412-1 B A Wilson 9th 612-1 S Lansdowne.
Young Bird
The Young birds were led by a young cock from H & D Hockaday, which possesses good shoulder and strong head quality. A worthy winner on the day. I was also impressed by the bird, from Crooks & Burne, which was beaten into second place in this class (111) and which had good frontal, clean cap and large, even spots
R & M Miller took second place with another cock, shown in good condition. Not as big as the C/C winner but a beautiful example of the variety.
Best Opposite sex in the group and third in the line-up was shown by S Wildes from the Beginner section. A nice hen this, with good brow and condition, although the cap needed to be cleaned. Easily the best hen in this group
Best of Colour 111-4 H & D Hockaday 2nd 511-4 R & M Miller 3rd 712-9(Best Opp Sex) S Wildes 4th 711-8 D Leadbetter 5th 512-2 K Fagan 6th 311-9 S & J Blakey 7th 312-7 S Simms 8th 112-2 A & D Woan 9th 912-2 C Shore 10th 911-2 M Roe
JUDGE Edgar Swan COLOUR - OPALINE GREEN
D Fowler's Opaline Light Green led this group. A good bird, staged well with excellent 'throw'. Well spotted and a worthy winner.
Second in the line up was a very clean Opaline Light Green Hen, which was thus also Best Opposite sex for the colour. A good-sized hen with good spot.
In the classes I was also impressed by 13-9, from E Geary, which was, perhaps more suited to the breeding cage, as was the hen 414-1 from B Cattell.
Any Age
Best of Colour 13-5 D Fowler 2nd 14-3 (Best Opp Sex) L J Cutler 3rd 814-1 S Cliffe-O'Leary 4th 613-3 S Lansdowne 5th 213-2 A & C Broom 6th 413-1 C E Prince 7th 414-1 B Cattell 8th 614-3 D Cowie
Young Bird
B E Sweeting took the Young Bird certificate with an Opaline Dark Green Cock shown in good condition, with nice top and spots. Body colour could perhaps have been bolder but the only real fault was slight ticking.
Second in the line-up was Hale & Davies' Opaline Dark Green hen, which was also very slightly marked on the crown. Super mask and spots!
This was a good section and nothing really ran away with the 'blue dot'. The hen 114-3 was a good bird, but had no tail
Best of Colour 113-3 B E Sweeting 2nd 314-4(Best Opp Sex) Hale & Davies 3rd 313-3 D B Austin 4th 514-1 K Fagan 5th 114-3 R Steele 6th 513-1 P A Lucas 7th 714-1 K Sinclair 8th 713-2 D Husselbee
Brian Sweeting comments:- "The opaline was bred from a light green dominant pied cock and an opaline green hen. This young bird has done very well during the summer months taking many CCs and Best Young Bird In Show at the Welsh BS Area Society Show in August."
JUDGE Chris Snell COLOUR - OPALINE GREYGREEN
Any Age
D Herring reports: -
This group was headed by a very typy cock from A & N Michael, which was somewhat marred by rather heavy flecking over the cap. It must have been seriously pushed in the class by the second bird which was clean, typy and carried a good face.
Second in the line-up S & J Blakey's cock bird, a lovely bird but tending to the buff. It showed a good face, and spots, which were carried on a very deep mask.
Third in the selection was another smart bird, but was rather grizzled on the mantle, but has a very nice face and mask.
Best Opposite sex took the fourth spot in the line-up for G C Grieff.
Best of Colour 15-2 A & N Michael 2nd 215-1 S & J Blakey 3rd 615-2 M Richards 4th 216-2 (Best Opp Sex) G C Grieff 5th 415-3 M K Merrills
Young Bird
A & F Easdon gained the Young Bird certificate with a clean cock, bold in head qualities. Unfortunately, when I viewed it on the Sunday it was rather hanging over the perch (as were many of us!) but must have looked a picture when fully alert.
The Best Opposite sex also annexed second spot in the line-up, and deservedly so. This is a nice strong hen of good size, facemask and spots, only slightly spoiled by some grizzling.
Another promising young hen took the third place, despite carrying ticking and some suffusion. She also was strong in face and mask qualities.
Best of Colour 115-8 A & F Easdon 2nd 316-3(Best Opp Sex) Hale & Davies 3rd 516-1 K Fagan 4th 315-1 R Quigley 5th 515-2 R Townsend 6th 116-56 A E Wilkinson 7th 715-12 Mr & Mrs R A Higgerson
JUDGE Phil Procter COLOUR - OPALINE BLUE
Any Age
A very nice Opaline Blue Hen, staged by A & D Woan, took this certificate. She displayed a good depth of face and spot, was nice and thick through the neck and had plenty of width. Additionally, she had one of the cleanest headed birds in the class.
Second in the line-up was an Opaline Violet Cock, another powerful bird from the Champion section, but was not as steady as the hen when it came to judging the line-up - well worthy of the second place slot.
Some very nice birds were exhibited in this section, only to be let down by variety content and flecking.
Best of Colour 18-1 A & D Woan 2nd 17-5(Best Opp Sex) C L Bowman 3rd 217-2 G & A Hill 4th 417-2 H Lecky 5th 617-8 S Conlin 6th 618-3 P Field 7th 418-1 L Pennick
Young Bird
Hale & Davies' Skyblue Cock headed the Young Bird group. This is a good, solid, all round bird and not even some slight ticking, for which it was penalised could prevent it from taking this award.
Runner up and Best Opposite sex was a pleasing all round Opaline Cobalt hen of good substance and balance, which stood well when being judged.
Again, as with the Any Age birds, head flecking spoilt a lot of good birds, variety content is also a major problem with the Opaline. I don't believe the modern day breeder is addressing this problem.
Best of Colour 317-1 Hale & Davies 2nd 117-7 HW & M Hough 3rd 118-4 Mrs K Strong 4th 718-4 D Cowie 5th 918-1 L Hutt 6th 717-1 B Collins 7th 917-1 C Shore 8th 318-3 J A Oxby 9th 518-2 K Fagan
JUDGE Edgar Swan COLOUR - OPALINE GREY
Any Age
A cock from the stud of C & D Jones was an impressive winner here. It was a very good showman which help emphasis its good depth of mask; a very clean bird.
Second in the line-up came from the Novice section. Shown by P Griffiths, this was a good bird but rather spoiled in its preparation, with the wrong spots left on the mask.
This section was disappointing in its numbers for the Club Show. It was pleasing that most birds carried little or no flecking. The third bird in the class was somewhat unlucky in that the spots did not sit properly on the mask.
Best of Colour 19-5 C & D Jones 2nd 419-2 P Griffiths 3rd 619-2 B Collins 4th 219-2 G P Sutton 5th 819-1 E J Hooper
Young Bird
The biggest birds in the section deservedly took this award for A Kelly, its general substance being enhanced by good width of neck and shoulder and good spots.
Second in the line-up also had super spots, but lacked a little in width.
S & J Blakey staged Best Opposite Sex.
The selection in this group was rather better than in the Any Age section. The unluckiest bird in the section was 320-2 a hen which would have easily won the class but for a smashed tail
Best of Colour 119-3 A Kelly 2nd 519-2 R & M Miller 3rd 719-3 4th 319-4 Hale & Davies 5th 320-3(Best Opp Sex) S & J Blakey 6th 520-2 W Cox
JUDGE Marcel Buhler COLOUR - CINNAMON GREEN
Any Age
A Cinnamon Dark Green Hen took Best of Colour, benched by J H Woods was a massive big shouldered hen presented in excellent show condition to put her ahead of a Cinnamon Light Green Cock. This hen also had a deep and wide mask that complimented her other good features.
2nd in line up and Best Opposite Sex was a Cinnamon Light Green Cock which came from A & B Whattam. This cock was sadly a little out of condition in the spot area plus he had minimal pin feathers in the cap area. He, like the hen, was a big shouldered bird but was finished off with a super face and wonderful directional feather. This bird in condition would have won the Colour Certificate.
Another super Cinnamon Light Green cock was third in the line up. He was sadly also a little out of condition plus a slightly flecked. Overall there were some quality birds within this group.
Best of Colour 22-7 J H Woods 2nd 21-1 (Best Opp Sex) A & B Whattam 3rd 221-2 R McLean 4th 422-3 L Pennick 5th 421-3 D Hughes 6th 222-4 L & A Partington 7th 621-3 P Cheatley 8th 622-2 M R Saunders 9th 821-1 E J Hooper
Young Bird
A Cinnamon Light Green Cock, bred by A R & T R Terheege led this group.This cock bird had a lovely face including nice spots. He also had good directional feather and was in excellent show condition.
2nd in line up was a Cinnamon Grey Green Hen from F & C McGovern. This hen had a lovely top end and a good mask; she also excelled in directional feather. If she had a bit more body length she would have won in this line up. As ir was, she took the Best Opposite sex .
Best of Colour 121-15 AR & TR Terheege 2nd 122-11(Best Opp Sex) F & C McGovern 3rd 321-3 Hale & Davies 4th 521-6 A G Price 5th 721-3 6th 522-1 R & M Miller 7th 322-5 D B Austin 8th 921-1 C Shore 9th 922-1 E J Hooper 10th 722-2 M Richards
JUDGE Gwynn Williams COLOUR - CINNAMON BLUE
Any Age
A well-balanced, powerfully shouldered Skyblue hen took this certificate for Brian Sweeting.
Second in the line up and Best Opposite Sex of Colour was a Skyblue Cock of wonderful balance and deportment, but was somewhat lacking in shoulder compared to the hen.
A lovely browy Grey Cock, lacking only in the size of the winner, took third place in a good section.
Best of Colour 24-2 B E Sweeting 2nd 23-12(Best Opp Sex) L & P Martin 3rd 223-6 D Langton 4th 224-1 D B Austin 5th 424-1 B A Wilson 6th 823-2 L A Murray 7th 423-1 A G Price 8th 624-2 P Field
Brian Sweeting explains:- "This hen was also Best Opposite Sex Any Age/Best Opposite Sex in Show - cinnamon sky blue hen
She was born on 6th July 2004, bred from a cinnamon sky blue dominant hen (daughter of 2002 cinnamon light greed pied cock that was Club Show Best Champion Age). The father was a cinnamon light green cock. They are second cousins. This hen has been shown twice prior to the club show, winning Best Opposite Sex in Show each time as well as winning a Challenge Certificate on one of those occasions. She was late-bred 2004, I bred from her during the spring of this year. She produced just two chicks in one round. She will soon be paired to another family member that was bred from her grand father, probably the young opaline cinnamon cock exhibited at the club show this year."
Young Bird
The Young bird section was headed by a Grey cock from the stud of T & L Jukes. This bird was staged in excellent condition, had wonderful capping and length of face. An all-round wonderful bird.
A Cobalt cock, which lacked only in deportment, took the second spot for R & M Miller.
Best Opposite sex was a Skyblue hen- a lovely feminine hen which displayed beautiful deportment.
Best of Colour 123-8 T & L Jukes 2nd 523-3 R & M Miller 3rd 124-6(Best Opp Sex) B E Sweeting 4th 724-3 D Leadbetter 5th 524-2 R & M Miller 6th 723-1 J Thompson 7th 324-3 L Barker 8th 923 1 L A Murray 9th 924-1 L Hutt
JUDGE Marcel Buhler COLOUR - OPALINE CINNAMON GREEN
Any Age
An Opaline Cinnamon Light Green Cock won this certificate for AR & TR Terheege. This is a lovely cock bird, with good spots sitting on a wide mask; he had a mantle that was clear, a requirement for this variety. Congratulations to the exhibitor for achieving this clarity. The bird was presented in near perfect show condition.
2nd in line up, and Best Opposite Sex was an Opaline Cinnamon Light Green Hen -a good hen with a very good mask, required a little more shoulder to make her complete.
In class 25, the first three cock birds were very similar and as mentioned in the comments about the winner, they all had perfectly clear mantles. It was exciting to be able to judge birds with quality, and this feature.
Best of Colour 25-7 AR & TR Terheege 2nd 426-2(Best Opp Sex) L Pennick 3rd 626-1 S Lansdowne 4th 26-2 D Fowler 5th 226-2 J S Cosby
Young Bird
An Opaline Cinnamon Light Green Hen, bred and presented by T & A Luke, headed this group. A super hen with lovely directional feather and very good spots presented in near perfect show condition. She showed exceptionally well. An extremely powerful exhibition budgerigar and was the best bird that I judged in my four Colour Classes.
2nd in line up came an Opaline Cinnamon Grey Green Hen , staged by D B Austin. This was a powerful budgerigar that had minimal flecking plus was not in top show condition.
Best Opposite Sex was R Aplin’s Cinnamon Grey Green Cock, an extremely long budgerigar in good condition with a slightly split mask. The top end was slightly lacking thus not in proportion to the body.
Best of Colour 126-7 T & A Luke 2nd 326-2 D B Austin 3rd 926-2 4th 125-7 R Aplin 5th 526-3 R & M Miller 6th 525-1 P A Lucas 7th 325-1 R Quigley 8th 726-1 Richardson Partnership
JUDGE Geoff Moore COLOUR - OPALINE CINNAMON BLUE
Any Age
This was unfortunately a fairly small colour group, but Ray Steele’s nice Skyblue hen, which showed good head qualities and a particularly nice width of face, headed it.
Runner up and the best opposite sex in the line-up was a Skyblue cock from the Novice section, staged by T Wall in good condition but it was rather short in the mask.
Best of Colour 28-1 R Steele 2nd 427-1(Best Opp Sex) T Wall 3rd 628-4 S Wildes 4th 27-2 Findlay & Flavell 5th 227-2 A & C Broom 6th 627-2 D Husselbee 7th 828-1 M Roe 8th 827-1 E J Hooper 9th 228-1 M & A Beesley
Young Bird
The Young bird group was distinctly better than the Any Age, and the certificate was taken by a Grey cock from H & D Hockaday, which was especially nice for a young bird. This bird possesses a lovely cap and nice width of face, deep mask. Good spots completed the picture.
Runner up and Best opposite Sex in the line-up was a hen staged by the partnership of Hale & Davies. A good hen with a very nice face and decent mask, unfortunately marred by being slightly ticked.
One again, this section was disappointing numerically.
Best of Colour 127-2 H & D Hockaday 2nd 328-2(Best Opp Sex) Hale & Davies 3rd 728-2 4th 128-2 A & F Easdon 5th 727-1 M R Saunders 6th 528-1 K Fagan 7th 928-1 L Hutt
JUDGE Rick Watts COLOUR - LUTINO
Any Age
A hen leads this section, which has almost traditionally been a strong one for a number of years. D A Mullee staged this bird, in good condition. She carried good size, shape and colour, and enhanced these qualities by standing well. This was just a very nice hen and it was particularly pleasing to me to be able to select a bird from outside the Champion section.
Second in the line-up, and Best opposite Sex, came from Alan Kelly with a cock showing a very nice head, size, and shape. It was not quite as big as the hen, but pushed well for the C/C.
The Lutinos generally this year were of a good standard, but the classes were not over-large in number
Best of Colour 230-6 D A Mullee 2nd 29-12(Best Opp Sex) A Kelly 3rd 629-6 C Tipton 4th 30-2 R Steele 5th 229-6 R McLean 6th 430-2 A J Rees 7th 429-4 J Ince 8th 630-2 Mr & Mrs R A Higgerson 9th 829-2 L A Murray
Young Bird
I was again pleased to notes that the winner of this section was not a Champion. This time it came from the Novice section, being a good stylish cock from A J Rees. This bird has good width, shape, a nice wide head and was good throughout. A good winner on the day.
Second in the line-up was a cock which was very much built on the same lines as the C/C winner, but lacked a little in top end – still a nice bird.
Best opposite sex was placed fourth in the overall line-up. A hen of good quality with very nice body length and a wide face, it came up against three good cocks to prevent it winning the C/C
Again, the classes were not over-large and I felt that the quality was not as strong as in recent years. In some classes, the winners selected themselves!
Best of Colour 529-4 A J Rees 2nd 129-15 J W Thompson 3rd 329-2 R McLean 4th 130-3(Best Opp Sex) Brown & Hutt 5th 330-5 S Simms 6th 729-7 D Pickles 7th 730-5 D Pickles 8th 530-2 A J Rees 9th 929-3 A Randall 10th 930-5 C Shore
JUDGE Brian Illingworth COLOUR - ALBINO
Any Age
The adult winner was staged by the partnership of F & C McGovern and was a very good quality bird with outstanding rise and width of head. Unfortunately, its final appearance was marred by its tail.
P Cunliffe took the runner-up spot with a bird which was very close in quality and stood well off the perch.
Best opposite Sex was a very reasonable hen from Mr & Mrs D Bunyan which was also fourth in the overall line-up.
Best of Colour 31-8 F & C McGovern 2nd 231-5 P Cunliffe 3rd 431-3P Griffiths 4th 32-1(Best Opp Sex) Mr & Mrs D B Bunyan 5th 232-3 W Bailey 6th 631-4 S Wildes 7th 831-1 M Roe 8th 432-1 P McGrath
Young Bird
This group was headed by a bird from the Novice section, presented by P McGrath. This is a good all-round bird with a pleasingly even colour and staged in good condition.
Runner up was another good example, but slightly below the overall quality of the winner.
The third in the line-up was also Best opposite sex of its colour. A good example of an Albino hen.
A lot of the birds shown this year, in both the AA and YB sections, displayed suffusion in various quantities and tail discolouration was very evident.
Best of Colour 531-1 P McGrath 2nd 131-15 R Day 3rd 132-6(Best Opp Sex)Crooks & Burne 4th 731-4 S Conlin 5th 332-2 6th 331-2 R McLean 7th 732-1 N Knowles
JUDGE Phil Procter COLOUR - YELLOWWING
Any Age
A very good example of this variety headed the Yellowwing colour Group. Staged by Roger Day, this bird has a very good depth of face and width of head. It fell down a bit on contrast, but otherwise was a very good winner
Second, and Best Opposite sex in the line-up, was a nice powerful hen of good contrast, deep face and width of head, very nice deportment. Unfortunately, the slight damage to the tail put this bird into second place.
Overall, the Champion section was much the stronger, the lower sections lacking the power and size of their Champion counterparts. A nice bird from the Junior section had a nice deep face and goof contrast and was thus worthy of the fourth place in the line-up.
Best of Colour 33-10 R Day 2nd 34-3(Best Opp Sex) M & P Freemantle 3rd 433-2 M Anzara 4th 833-1 A Mahoney 5th 233-2 M & D Walker 6th 633-1 A D M Tait 7th 634-1 A D M Tait
Young Bird
The Young Bird Group was led by a Dark Green Hen, another very good example of the variety. A good faced bird with plenty of width and thus a worthy winner. It was nice to see a young bird,and a hen at that, taking the award of Best Yellowwing in show.
A very nice dark Green cock was the runner-up in this group and Best Opposite sex of colour for R. Day. It did not possess the power of the hen but was a worthy second placed bird of good contrast, although spoiled by a damaged tail.
As with the Adults, the Champion section was to the fore but overall, I thought that the Young Birds were the better.
Best of Colour 134-3 M & P Freemantle 2nd 133-9(Best Opp Sex) R Day 3rd 534-1 M Anzara 4th 333-3 M & D Walker 5th 734-1 A D M Tait 6th 733-1 A D M Tait
JUDGE Michael Harvey (1) COLOUR - WHITEWING
Any Age
D. H. comments:- The certificate winner here was staged by Guppy & Barnes - a Cobalt cock presented in sparkling condition. It displayed a quite good colour contrast and otherwise was of very good all-round quality.
There were some excellent Whitewings shown this year and the Best Opposite sex of colour, second in the line-up, was no exception. This was a skyblue, a typical hen with excellent head qualities and face.
Best of Colour 35-1 Guppy & Barnes 2nd 36-1(Best Opp Sex) Guppy & Barnes 3rd 635-1 P Williams 4th 435-3 M Anzara 5th 636-1 A D M Tait
Young Bird
R Day staged the leader of this colour group with a clean cobalt hen. A very promising young bird which was all the more attractive because of its good colour contrast.
Second in the line-up and Best Opposite sex was another cobalt, a cock whose wing markings were rather dark
Best of Colour 136-7 R Day 2nd 135-3(Best Opp Sex) M & P Freemantle 3rd 735-2 P Field 4th 535-1 M Anzara 5th 336-2 M & D Walker 6th 736-1 A D M Tait
(2) COLOUR - A V CREST
Any Age
A tufted Cinnamon Light Green won this certificate for C & D Jones . This was a well-sized birdwith strong, even variety features and good all-round quality and condition.
Runner up was a full circular Greygreen cock which was perhaps not in the same condition as the winner or it may have pushed harder for the certificate.
Best of Colour 37-6 C & D Jones 2nd 38-12 (Best Opp Sex) C & D Jones 3rd 638-2 P Cheatley 4th 39-7 C & D Jones 5th 639-2 P Cheatley 6th 838-1 7th 439-1 M Anzara 8th 239-1 R McLean 9th 238-1 D & L Rafis 10th 837-1 E J Hooper
Young Bird
The partnership of G & J Al-Nasser took the Young Bird award with a very pleasant sky cock which displayed good head qualities and was shown in very good condition.
Unfortunately, I did not have the chance to view the rest of this group as by then, the exhibits were being lifted!!
Best of Colour 138-9 G & J Al-Nasser 2nd 738-2 P Cheatley 3rd 539-2(Best Opp Sex)M Anzara 4th 137-2 G & J Al-Nasser 5th 737-4 6th 139-2 A Miller 7th 939-1 E J Hooper 8th 938-1 E J Hooper 9th 739-1 P Cheatley
JUDGE Stuart Forbes COLOUR - AV SPANGLE GREEN
Any Age
D.H. notes:- Burne & Crookes staged the winner of this group. A Dark Green cock, this bird was strong in head and face and thus impressed in these qualities. Unfortunately, I was unable to view it perched on the Sunday when I was completing this review.
Runners up here were A & A Newsham whose Dark Green cock went on to take the Novice Certificate of Merit. This was a very strong bird with superb face and colour. Slight suffusion throughout the wings and poor definition of spots perhaps prevented it from taking the Colour certificate.
Best of Colour 40-9 Crooks & Burne 2nd 440-8 A & A Newsham 3rd 243-1(Best Opp Sex) R Quigley 4th 240-12 J & L McGeehan 5th 241-4 P Cunliffe 6th 442-2 H Lecky 7th 41-3 J Donovan 8th 42-2 N Beevers 9th 43-2 Findlay & Flavell 10th 242-1 R McLean
Young Bird
The Young bird group was headed by a Light Green, from Freakley & Ainley, with strong head qualities and only very slight ticking over the frontal. There was slight mismarking of flights (dark feathers) but the face and mask were excellent.
Second in the line-up and Best Opposite Sex was an imposing Olive hen. She was very good in size, particularly for its colour and showed excellent face and mask. Slight ticking on the frontal and some suffusion on the mantle were a slight detraction.
Third place was taken by a double factor - a very attractive one but which slightly lacked the size of the first two birds.
Best of Colour 140-2 Freakley & Ainley 2nd 141-4(Best Opp Sex) Freakley & Ainley 3rd 342-1 R Quigley 4th 340-4 Hale & Davies 5th 143-6 C & D Jones 6th 341-4 P Cunliffe 7th 540-6 B Cattell 8th 740-1 S Lansdowne 9th 541-4 W Cox 10th 943-1 A Palmer
JUDGE Geoff Moore COLOUR - AV SPANGLE BLUE
Any Age
J H Woods, from the champion section, took this award with a Sky Cock This is a bird which displays good head qualities, with a nice width of face and good spangle spots. Additionally, it was enhanced by being benched in good condition.
A Double Factor White took the second place, for T & A Luke. She was also Best Opposite sex and is a lovely hen, with good width, nice depth of mask but unfortunately missing some flight feathers.
The section contained some good birds. The C'C winner was also third in the Champion section, but carried very poor wing carriage.
Best of Colour 44-12 J H Woods2nd 4/7-2 T & A Luke 3rd 245-2 J Benn 4th 244-6 D Langton 5th 444-1 6th 446-2 7th 46 - 1 Findlay & Flavell 8th 644-2 D Leadbetter 9th 447-1 10th 646-1 D Husselbee
Young Bird
K Humphries too this certificate with a Grey hen , a nice bird which has good width of face enhanced by good directional feather.
A Double factor Spangle was second in this line-up, as with the Any Age group, and this particular birds was also Best opposite sex for the selection. This was a White of nice size and good width. Staged very well.
I was disappointed to note that a lot of the birds in this colour group were out of condition. Nonetheless, there were some very good examples of the variety.
Best of Colour 145-13 K Humphries 2nd 146-3(Best Opp Sex) G F Dell 3rd 144-6 HW & M Hough 4th 745-4 P Thompson 5th 544-8 R Townsend 6th 147-4 J Donovan 7th 547-2 R & M Miller 8th 546-2 B A Wilson 9th 344-4 P Cunliffe 10th 744-2 D Leadbetter
JUDGE Geoff Tillson COLOUR AV DOMINANT PIED
Any Age
D.H:- A Light Green cock staged by Brian Sweeting took this certificate. Showing a good variation of body markings, this cock also benefited from an excellent hesd, spot and mask.
Second in the line-up was a very strong skyblue cock again showing a good mask, and spots, with very good width. There was some variation of colour on the body and flights were well marked.
Best Opposite Sex also took the fourth place in the selection.
Best of Colour 48-4 B E Sweeting 2nd 50-3 B E Sweeting 3rd 248-8 J & L McGeehan 4th 449-1(Best Opp Sex) 5th 450-1 6th 648-3 S Lansdowne 7th 650-2 S Wildes 8th 651-1 B Collins 9th 250-3 J & L McGeehan 10th 649-1 S Lansdowne
Quote from Brian Sweeting :- "The light green dominant pied cock was awarded 6th Champion Any Age. This cock is an older bird, 2002 rung that has won many Challenge Certificates and is a registered Champion. It was bred from my pied line which I have been developing, without any outcross pieds whatsoever, since I started in the hobby. The mother was an opaline cinnamon grey green and the father was a super light green cock, winner of many awards during the first two years of this millennium"
Young Bird
The winner of the Young Bird group was a lovely Grey hen with a full round head which culminated in a very good face and mask. Very little variegation of body colour but the flights were well marked.
Second in the line-up and Best Opposite sex was a cinnamon Skyblue cock. Another beautiful bird, excelling in face and spot. Again, there were only slight body colour variations but the wings were suitably marked.
Best of Colour 151-3 B E Sweeting 2nd 150-2(Best Opp Sex) B E Sweeting 3rd 548-2 K Fagan 4th 148-10 A & F Easdon 5th 350-1 Hale & Davies 6th 551-3 K Fagan 7th 348-6 J & L McGeehan 8th 349-8 J & L McGeehan 9th 751-1 B Collins 10th 750-3 S Wildes
Brian Sweeting says:- "The grey dominant pied hen was also awarded 3rd Champion Young Bird. She, like the opaline, has won many awards this year. She won Best Opposite Sex in Show every time she was exhibited, apart from once when she was Best Young Bird in Show. She will also be registered as a Champion Bird."
JUDGE Andy Thorpe COLOUR - AV RECESSIVE PIED
Any Age
The relatively recent partnership of Marshall & Shotton took this award with a Cobalt Cock which is a bold budgie that shows well and displays good variety markings.
A Cinnamon Greygreen of the variety took the second place for Findlay & Flavell. This is a well-marked bird, lacking the presence of the winner.
Another cock took the third spot, this time a Light Green staged by D J Spruce
Best of Colour 53-10 Marshall & Shotton 2nd 52-1(Best Opp sex) Findlay & Flavell 3rd 452-2 D J Spruce 4th 454-1 5th 54-3 Adams & Swain 6th 252-1 A & C Broom 7th 55-2 A Wood 8th 253-3 R J Mears 9th 652-2 W Salt 10th 254-2
Young Bird
A Light Green took the Young Bird certificate for D J Spruce, from the Novice section. This bird displays a good width of face and is well marked.
Second in the line-up was another challenging Light Green Cock, this time from the ranks of the Champions, while the accolade of Best Opposite sex was reserved for another exhibit from the Novice section – again from D J Spruce.
Best of Colour 552-1 D J Spruce 2nd 152-3 M & M Chapman 3rd 554-1(Best Opp Sex) D J Spruce 4th 153-6 Adams & Swain 5th 155-3 A Wood 6th 154-4 Adams & Swain 7th 352-2 R J Mears 8th 353-1 L Barker 9th 752-4 W. Salt. 10th 754-2 P Williams
JUDGE Gwynne Williams COLOUR AV YELLOWFACE
Any Age
R Fox's winner was a clear victor here, despite not being in tip-top condition. It still stood out and the condition of other birds in the line-up was not spot-on.
Second in the line up was also Best Opposite Sex, a Cinnamon hen which was the best shown.
Best of Colour 57-2 R Fox 2nd 657-5 S Wildes 3rd 658-3(Best Opp Sex) S Wildes 4th 257-1 R Quigley 5th 58-1 C G Holland 6th 457-1 7th 857-1 L Hutt 8th 858-1 A Palmer 9th 458-2
Young Bird
I Cobalt Cock took this award for H & D Hockaday. This bird has a fantastic face and as well as being a good all-round bird, it had the advantage of being staged to perfection.
Best Opposite Sex, and second in the line-up was a superb, well-balanced hen which was not in the same condition as the cock bird.
Third was another super cock, but this one was spoiled by a broken quill.
Best of Colour 157-2 H & D Hockaday 2nd 158-7(Best Opp Sex) T & A Luke 3rd 357-11 J & L McGeehan 4th 758-2 S Wildes 5th 557-3 K Fagan 6th 558-3 K Fagan 7th 757-2 S Wildes 8th 958-1 L Hutt 9th 358-3 R J Mears 10th 957-2 E J Hooper
JUDGE Mrs. Sue Clarke (1) COLOUR - RARE VARIETIES
Any Age
An Opaline Grey Clearbody cock won this certificate for R Day. This is a very large bird with a good frontal rise, shown in good condition. It also has large spots and blow when needed. It was a pleasure to judge this bird.
Second in the line-up and Best Opposite sex was a Normal Grey Clearbody which was not so large as the first. Shown in very good condition, this was a very nice hen.
Overall, this was a group of good quality. Some unfortunately had no tails, but this was a very good variety to judge. There were also some very good Slates; the third in the line-up was a very nice slate hen, which I would have liked to take home
Best of Colour 61-8 R Day 2nd 462-1 (Best Opp Sex) P McGrath 3rd 264-1 D A Mullee 4th 63-1 G & J Al-Nasser 5th 661-1 E & M Nee 6th 461-1 7th 62-1 C Y Thorne 8th 262-2 D & L Rafis 9th 861-1 A Palmer 10th 662-1 E & M Nee
Young Bird
Headed by R Day's Opaline Cobalt Clearbody, which was a clean, solid bird shown in good condition. It possessed very good colour and the wings were not too dark. Good spots. A pleasure to judge.
Second in the line-up was a Normal Grey Clearbody; a very clean cock with good spots and shown in good condition, but not quite as solid as the best of Colour.
Best Opposite Sex was fourth in the line-up, a Normal Greygreen Clearbody hen in nice clean condition.
Best of Colour 161-5 R Day 2nd 561-4 G French 3rd 761-2 M R Saunders 4th 162-4 (Best Opp Sex) R Day 5th 562-3 P McGrath 6th 762-1 S Lansdowne 7th 362-3 D & L Rafis 8th 560-1 M Anzara
(2) COLOUR - ANY OTHER COLOUR
Any Age
This colour group was headed by J G Grubb's Greywing Greygreen Cock which displayed a nice full frontal and was shown in very good condition. This bird stands well off the perch and was a delight to judge.
An Opaline Blue White cock took the second spot in the line-up for A & D Woan. Not quite in the same condition as the first one, this was nonetheless a big bird, although it does not quite have the same frontal rise as the winner.
Best opposite Sex went to the bird in fourth spot, an Opaline Yellow hen. Staged by a Junior, it was a good bird, well presented in good condition.
This was again a good section but there were also some missing tails. Overall, I found that there were some hard decisions to make - some in good condition, some not so good.
Best of Colour 67-1 J G Grubb 2nd 65-2 A & D Woan 3rd 69-2 Brown & Hutt 4th 872-1(Best Opp Sex) 5th 71-1 E Geary 6th 866-1 L Hutt 7th 70-2 I & P Fielding 8th 469-3 9th 470-1 10th 670-1 E & M Nee
Young Bird
A Greywing Cobalt Cock won this certificate for B E Sweeting. This is a good overall solid bird shown in good condition. Spots large and evenly spaced.
Second in the line-up and Best Opposite sex in the group was a Dark Green Yellow hen in very good condition. This is a hen anyone would like to take home. Shown in a lovely clean condition.
Once again, a number of birds had no tails, but overall the section held birds shown in good condition. There were a variety of birds, including half siders which carried four different varieties.
Best of Colour 167-1 B E Sweeting 2nd 166-1(Best Opp Sex) R Steele 3rd 165-2 A & D Woan 4th 169-1 C Y Thorne 5th 170-1 C Y Thorne 6th 568-1 B Cattell 7th 767-1 Mr & Mrs A R Higgerson 8th 172-1 G & J Al-Nasser 9th 770-4 P Tiller 10th 966-1 L Hutt
Brian Sweeting remarks:-"The Any Other Colour CC winner, a greywing sky blue cock, was new to my show team. He is a son of last year’s Best Young Bird in Show and was only born in May of this year."
JUDGE Brian Illingworth TEAMS
Best in this section came from the Junior Section . The exhibitor was L Hutt who presented an excellent team of four Skyblue Cocks. A credit to this exhibitor and an encouragement to all Juniors to strive to follow her example.
Second in the line up was a strong team of four Cinnamon Light Green Cocks
CERTIFICATES OF MERIT
Novice Any Age - A & A Newsham’s Spangle Green Cock -see Second Best Spangle Green
Novice Young Bird - R & M Miller’s Mauve Cock - see Second Best Dark Blue
Beginner Any Age - J Thompson’s Grey Cock - 5th in the Grey colour line-up
Beginner Young Bird - J Thompson again, with his Cinnamon Green - also 5th in the Cinnamon Green colour line-up
Junior Any Age - J McGovern - 2nd in the Greygreen colour line-up. See comments there
Junior Young Bird - C Shore Opaline Blue Cock - 7th in the Opaline Blue colour line-up
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
B E Sweeting’ s other awards & comments in completion of questionnaire:-
Ring Nos :-S5555 & WCS XS439
- 1. The Budgerigar Society Buckton’s Champion Breeder of the Year (four years in succession)
Champion Any Age 2nd 3rd 6th and 7th: Champion Young Bird 3rd and 9th
Seventh Champion Any Age, a sky blue dominant pied cock, was last year’s Best Young Bird in Show. This cock has been in the breeding cage throughout this year and has produced chicks with four different related hens. Three of his chicks have won Challenge Certificates for me this year, one at the club show (the greywing cock). Another was the Best Opposite Sex Young Bird, the cinnamon sky blue hen. He also had another son in the normal grey class which was placed third. Third and ninth young birds were both dominant pieds, my grey pied hen taking the Challenge Certificate and the cinnamon skyblue dominant pied cock taking the Best Opposite Sex to her
3 I think the show venue is OK and it was laid out better than last year. However, I still consider that it may be much too small should we get a large entry. I was pleased to see that the general organisation of the show was well carried out and controlled very efficiently, in particular the car parking for exhibitors who benched over sixteen birds. It will be difficult to make further improvements to the show hall. I feel, however, that this venue will never generate the same atmosphere we used to experience at the Doncaster Race Course. This is because the show is too fragmented due to the societies and the BS stand not being in the same hall as the exhibits. I was not affected by the lack of sales classes myself, although it is possible that fewer fanciers attended the show because of the loss of this attraction.
4 I did not attend the seminars as I was working as a Chief Steward.
5 Attracting fanciers and newcomers to the show is a difficult one - it’s almost certain that this show in particular would do far better if were to be brought forward about two months. Many potential exhibitors I spoke to during the weekend did not show because they had decided to pair their birds up following the autumn moult. I did start my breeding myself, but I have the luxury of sufficient top quality birds to allow me to do that and take a team to the show.
I would like to say well done to the BS. To get this show up and running was crucial. The hobby has suffered two major set backs during the last two years and it was vital that this show went ahead
THE SEMINARS
It was agreed that this year the Show would again stage a seminar, with two speakers on the Saturday morning, while judging was in progress, but in the event it proved possible only to provide the one full talk, because it was realised that the room in which the seminars were to take place also had to serve as a dining room for the judges, and time was needed for the centre's staff to prepare for this function.
Jeff Attwood had already agreed to "play a double-hander" by giving a different talk on the Sunday morning, in view of the show being somewhat smaller since the Sales classes had to be abandoned, so he actually deferred his scheduled Saturday talk to replace the talk he had planned for the Sunday.
First, however, we were treated to a Powerpoint presentation from Harry Hockaday describing their methods in building a successful stud of exhibition budgerigars, entitled "Breeding Budgerigars the Hockaday Way".
Harry said that he and Don, his father had in fact wasted a great deal of time over a considerable number of years and left the fancy twice before they returned a third time, when finally "the penny dropped" and they realised what they were now trying to pass on to others that "You have to get the foundations right" If you do not do so, you are struggling ever afterwards, as they did in their first two spells in the hobby.
He explained that their successful methods are built around the concept of forming a stud of birds, which is basically of inter-related birds (although in their case using two largely strictly separated lines), rather than just a collection of unrelated birds to which top class birds and equally unrelated are added on a frequent basis. He acknowledged that there are some very successful fanciers who employ the latter method. Certain fanciers have a true gift for selecting two unrelated birds and using them to breed winners. The problem with this method is that it is not possible to fix certain features in a collection – this can only be done by inter-breeding and inbreeding to actually form a stud.
So, if you are just starting up or getting down to securing successful birds, from whom should they be purchased? If you just want a collection, he suggests that you will buy from whoever you wish providing that the birds you get are of the visual standard that you require. If, however, you want to found a stud, he would suggest carefully selecting the fancier from whom you wish to buy – it must be someone who has a stud and not just a collection. Harry them advocates buying your birds in pairs and matched by the seller if possible. Otherwise, he suggests buying two related cock birds to pair to your own two best hens, but stresses that the progeny from these pairings must not be paired back into your own stud: to do so would be to ruin the whole object of acquiring foundation stock from one source. Instead, those two hens which have been used more as a vehicle for establishing the new line should be returned to ones own flights and the youngsters paired back into the "imported" stock.
It is, in their opinion, essential to follow a programme of pairing related birds together in order to form a stud within the meaning of the definition. Favourite matings include Grandfather to Granddaughter and Grandmother to Grandson, but they regard carefully selected cousins as almost as good.
The accepted danger of inbreeding is, of course, that as well as fixing good points; it can equally fix and highlight faults, including such old torments as Flecking.
However, having mentioned flecking, Harry urged the gathering not to become too obsessive or paranoid about it: it is true that in an ideal world we would not need to be troubled by the fault - we would breed it out and that would be that! However, in the world we have got, flecking is a fault which usually occurs in birds which excel in other points, as if those features tended to go together. The skill of the breeder lies in using such birds wisely.
Harry then confirmed that there are two main lines in their stud, and he illustrated these with slides of examples from those lines. Line One, he said, was based on Dave Topliss's birds and the features that they particularly sought to produce and fix in the face qualities were thus illustrated.
They particularly look for directional feather, from around the cere, moving out, down, round and back thus providing the essential appearance of browiness. This was perhaps the one main feature of most of the birds that he used to illustrate this description.
In Line Two, the common denominator is in birds from Jo Mannes, and they retain the essential qualities of feathering and capping. Their use of these birds have suggested to them that again, that bloodline works best when our home-bred birds are just occasionally "dropped in to" the Mannes bloodline, rather than that line becoming lost in the English lines.
Harry then commented that they do not seek to breed bigger and bigger hens, because they have found that this all too often leads to difficulties in breeding. They therefore (and this is what they consider to be among the main thrust of their theory) aim to pair cock to cock, in as much as it is usually the certain features shown by two cocks that they seek to amalgamate. This they do by using suitable hens as an intermediary -the vehicle which will eventually deliver the features of one cock into the line of the other cock. Obviously, this does take at least a couple of years but they have found that following this plan has provided them with the results that they hoped to achieve.
Having explained that they do not look to breed from hens which are too big, most of the audience would still have been surprised when he showed a slide of a hen which, he stated, the average fancier would not have selected to pair to a high quality cock bird. He justified the selection of such a pair by showing slides of the progeny, then went on to explain that this pair illustrated their theory of pairing cock to cock, using the hen as a vehicle.
Harry went on to show a series of other examples of their related stock from the two lines. He explained that only recently have they visited one line with a bird from the other line, but this was fully intentional and decided upon for a set purpose; the move had proved successful, but they now seek to re-separate the two lines once again.
Building a stud of budgerigars, he concluded, is exactly that- building from the right foundations and what he had described was their way of setting about it.
At the conclusion, the audience confirmed, with resounding applause, their appreciation of an excellent presentation.
Jeff Attwood
In introducing his slide show, Jeff explained that he had had to get rid of most of his birds some five years ago because of on-going serious illness. He is now rebuilding and trying to rebuild a quality stud of normals, but is doing so slowly. He comments that it is always difficult to acquire the birds you want. Many of us can recall the days of Jeff’s success with Normals at a succession of major shows including the BS Club show. Unfortunately, this success was prematurely halted when the bulk of his stud disappeared in a burglary and he was left with little more than a handful of his magnificent stock; it was always suspected that these birds went abroad!
Jeff has, however, always had a great interest in the history of the BS and the various mutations that appeared over the eighty years since the Budgerigar Society was founded in 1925. He reminded that the range of colours is not the only great change that has been made in the variety, for the budgerigar itself has been greatly changed by Man's intervention. It must be accepted that, to Nature, the wild budgerigar is perfection: Man has moved the bird from that perfection into greater and greater degrees of imperfection.
Over the years, therefore, and especially in the first 25 years after the society was formed, many mutations have taken place. The most spectacular of these have been some of the colour mutations to provide new varieties. All these have occurred and been fixed since the society was founded. Why is this? Jeff believes that it is because in its aim to change the features of the budgerigar, we have applied methods of closer breeding and thus concentrated the gene pool. This tendency towards mutations in these circumstances is the reason that, for we humans, the Church introduced its Table of Kindred and Affinities to determine what relations could not legitimately "marry together".
This pattern of mutations in such circumstances has also occurred with other species which have been bred in the same way; Zebra Finches and Parakeets are typical examples.
Jeff Attwood sees in the rarer varieties considerable hope for the future of the fancy and the BS, commenting that it is in the keeping of these varieties that growth has been really apparent. He suggests that this may well be the way of bringing more folk into the hobby.
He acknowledges, however, that of the new varieties, the Recessive varieties are most difficult to breed and improve because of their recessive nature. The Dominant forms are, of course, the easier and next are the sex-linked varieties, once those laws of inheritance have been grasped. Jeff advises, however, that whatever varieties one breeds, it is necessary to keep introducing one of two new birds annually in order to maintain fertility levels.
His interest in the various mutations has been firm for a number of years, even while he was achieving success with the more 'mainstream' varieties, and he continued to keep a few and continue his studies of them when he disposed of most of his birds. Perhaps the variety with which he is most associated nowadays in the Spangle, especially since he first announced what he believes to be a new variety, which he has provisionally named the Melanistic Spangle. As with all Spangle, he maintains that the best mating is actually Double Factor to Single factor and not, as many state, Single factor to Normal: he believes that the former formula gives the best prospect of maintaining good variety content in Spangles.
So what is a Melanistic Spangle? Basically, it appears as a bird with a normal body and wing markings with a clear tail. Paired to a standard spangle, it can produce a percentage of Double factors, thus confirming its Spangle description. Nonetheless, despite this compatibility with the other Spangle forms (he holds that there are six Spangle varieties in all) he maintains that this is a separate variety, while the BS have ruled that it is a mismarking - a fault that should be treated as such on the showbench.
Incidentally he said that Borg Strenstrom of Denmark has been breeding the variety for some fifteen years and the variety has now been recognised by Denmark as the Danish Dominant.
As to the Clearbody variety, he explained that Bob Travnicek of USA had introduced him to the variety many years ago. He has now persuaded him, over the last couple of years or so, to try the Frosted or Flighted Pied. He has been involved with the Clearbody and studied it as a variety for a number of years. And he made one or two observations on this. The main thrust of his research has led him to assert that the variety has been seriously marred, as have other mutations, by indiscriminate breeding – largely through fanciers continually pairing into normal varieties in order to increase size and enhance the other exhibition qualities. In order to maintain the integrity of the Clearbody’s variety content, it is essential to use Red-eyes on a regular basis. This is believed to be one of the varieties from which the mutation sprung, and using it wisely ensures that the desirable lightness of body colour and markings is preserved.
The Frosted or Flighted Pied is a variety of which few of us have heard, let alone seen and the slides that he showed us were fascinating. Jeff explained that the frosting (a lightening of markings) down the body and wings actually increases as the bird rows older – basically with each moult. It is a dominant variety and some examples take on the appearance of a Danish Dominant Pied. In order to improve the frosting, it is advisable to pair the variety to a Recessive Pied. Such a pairing produces a proportion of Dark-eyed clears, which can then be paired to Normals to produce offspring with the desired increased lightness of marking.
Moving back to Clearbodies, as far as Jeff can determine, the Easley and Texas clearbodies have no real connection. They are visually dissimilar, have different breeding patterns and he therefore queries why they should be grouped together as an exhibition variety.
Jeff Attwood then briefly, to finish his talk, touched upon other varieties including Dilutes, Yellow-races and Golden-faces
Frankly, Jeff ran out of time. He held his audience throughout his talk and many would have sat there for the same time again, because of the knowledge and enthusiasm he disseminates. However, other events called in the main show arena, and the audience enthusiastically demonstrated its appreciation in the usual way.
Dave Herring
Publicity Officer
....... and The Convention .........
Budgerigar Society Convention 2006
This was, if anything, the convention which triumphed over adversities, confounding all odds to allow it to o ahead. Originally scheduled for 2005, the event had to be re-scheduled when, as the final details and arrangements were being put into place, the convention headquarters were dramatically overwhelmed by fire, thus making it impossible to stage the event, even in modified form.
The fact that it was possible to reorganise such an ambitious event for a date only twelve months later than first planned, and at a venue at the other side of the country, speaks much for the versatility of the organising committee and we congratulate them on such a magnificent achievement.
Southport has really just about everything going for it as a holiday venue: a location near to the sea (when the tide’s in!) is always special and Southport combines this attractive feature with a vibrant and attractive town centre, complete with one of the most famous high street in this country – Lord Street with its Edwardian canopied shop fronts
The Royal Clifton Hotel, despite an ambitious programme of refurbishment with all desirable modern day conveniences readily to hand, still evoked for me memories of BS functions from decades ago, and this made everything seem ‘right’ for a get-together like this. Rooms were excellently appointed and the standard of catering throughout complemented this. The fact that all function rooms/suites are named after royal residence seemed particularly fitting for these regal surroundings.
Added to this, the weather was superb throughout the week-end - in fact it was too hot for much of the time, but we cannot say that we were not warned as we were told what to expect by Dave Cottrell who appeared to be trying to take the credit for even this aspect of the success story, on behalf of the BS – but I suppose that that is part of the President’s job !!
All in all, the venue selected could not have been more apt, sited as it is in the home area of the main sponsors for the convention, the Fanciers Stand, who I understand are now finally bowing out of the fundraising role that they have occupied for a number of years now. Dave Cottrell, President, in opening the event officially made particular reference to this fact, regretting that one of the three leading lights, Brian Redman, sadly died while the event was in its final planning stages.
Dave welcomed Eric Simister and Jack Singleton, as the surviving partners, thanking them warmly for their efforts which have allowed us all to meet together for this event, as well as for their contributions to the financial success of a number of events over a number of years. Brian had made a number of requests that a convention be held in the Lancashire area and the LC & NWBS deem it an honour to welcome the BS to their area.
Dave also felt it fitting that the first speaker should be someone he met when he first came into the hobby, thirty plus years ago, before he even had joined the BS or Area society. They had formed a friendship from that day, having been partners for part of the time.
Dave Hislop, as Vice President formally introduced that first speaker, the worldwide renowned artist and lecturer Eric S Peake. He said that it was his pleasure to introduce someone who started in budgerigars at 16 years of age, and who has now been in that fancy for fifty years. A dedicated worker for the budgerigar society, who gives talks all over this country.
Eric S Peake
Before starting his presentation proper, Eric explained that he has brought some of his budgerigar prints for sale at £15 each, that money to go towards raising funds to seek the importation of the vaccine developed by Dr Ritchie (USA) to prevent Beak and Feather syndrome and allied diseases. (French Moult etc).
On to the presentation, Eric asserted that budgerigars in this country are in danger of going "beyond the point of no return". He is rather discouraged and disappointed when he reads in the likes of "Cage & Aviary Birds" about the issue of ‘directional feathering’ and particularly the ‘Buffalo effect’ because what fanciers who pursue this road are doing is creating a different form of feathering to that which nature intended. Nature demands that the species should be propagated via a system of ‘survival of the fittest; this means that the birds which don’t make it will fall by the wayside. This being so, we have to determine that the birds we rear to be the strongest are also the most suitable for breeding for the benefit of the species generally.
Budgerigars are Colony birds, gregarious and promiscuous and in fact even in our own semi-controlled colony systems it is impossible to be entirely sure about which cock birds sired which clutches of chicks.
Budgerigars, although the most domesticated birds in the world, should be kept in conditions favourable to them. His birdroom is constructed in a garden surrounded by flowers, this attracting insects and providing something of a bird haven for wild birds, and it faces South to maximise the amount of direct sunlight that it receives.
Really, what he was inviting us to consider is the way that we keep birds. What we do is we put a basically wild bird into a closed confinement, in a aviary, shed, birdroom cages or whatever we like to call them – giving them causes of stress, when they should really be flying about in a colony and group where they are happy and would reproduce more birds as fertility would be higher in such an environment. We take them away from their natural group situation to pair them as we wish. Additionally, we tend to keep far too many birds, and this fact in itself militates against a birds natural inclination to reproduce – they will not breed when they do not have a conducive environment.
This was only one major point of many which Eric made in a very wide ranging talk, illustrated by colour slides of his own birdroom, birds, paintings etc. The use of paintings also presented his with the opportunity to compare the modern day budgerigar with the original drawing made by John Gould who first observed and important the species to these shores, and we were also given the chance to look at other version of the budgerigar from the intervening years – very interesting and instructive comparisons.
On the issue of size of budgerigars, and the ideal which we strive for, Eric drew our attention to his painting of the Ideal which he completed for the Budgerigar Society and showed us a slide of this print – 8.5 inches in length, correctly mounted in a show cage. In doing this, he demonstrated that 8.5 inches is still a very large budgerigar and this alone was sufficient to cast doubts as to whether this size has yet been truly achieved!
Among other points made were that we appear to have lost a complete row of secondary light since the birds observed and recorded by Gould. Eric Peake believes that this is because we have changed the variety so much in our quest for size –we have increased the feather rather than the body – this is the biggest problem with today’s birds and is something which we will have to address sooner rather than later. (644words)
Janice Al-Nasser, our President Elect, "Face to Face" interview, with Geoff Capes.
The subject was a very interesting one, and specifically was aimed at looking at the budgerigar fancy from a woman’s viewpoint. For a great many years men have, sadly, dominated the fancy; unfortunately many of those men have been rather strident in advancing their views that, even in the fancy, the woman’s place is in the kitchen.
Happily, in recent times, this attitude has been challenged and the cause has found no greater ‘Champion’ than Janice Al-Nasser. In an often humorous, bu
