SPECIALIST & RARE VARIETY OPEN SHOW  -  2010 

reported by Ghalib Al-Nasser, Show Organiser

Once again Markfield Community & Sports Centre was the venue for the 22^nd Specialist & Rare Variety Open Show receiving an increase in total entry to 681 of which a total of 531 birds were benched from 55 exhibitors.

The show committee extends their sincere thanks and gratitude to the following sponsors; Brown & Hutt (50% cost of all the open rosettes for the show); to Geoff Capes (cost of all the ceramic awards to the judges and Best of Colours), Jan Hill & daughter Karen (printing the coloured covers for the schedules and catalogues), Grant Findlay & Nick Flavell (printing cost of the schedules). Financial sponsorship came from Mick Anzara, Dave Moss and Dave & Linda Rafis. Warren Wilson & BRASEA (24 major rosettes for the BOC winners and other coloured awards). Bev Hutt, Guest of Honour, (donated bird to the most benched birds by a beginner on behalf of the Brown & Hutt partnership). Donated birds for the raffle; Alan & Gina Adams, Ghalib & Janice Al-Nasser, Sue & Rod Clarke, Roger Day, Chris Dew, Fred, Sheila & Kevin Eatwell, Malcolm & Pam Freemantle, Chris Fuller, Gren & Pat Norris, Sutton & Frisby and Cy Thorne and also to Norman & June Cox who give so much of their time to assist in running the show.

Next year's show will be staged on 2^nd & 3^rd July 2011 (week 26) at a new venue in Bugbrooke, Northamptonshire.

LUTINOS TOP REDEYES AGAIN

Garry Warren judged the 59 Lutinos and awarded the adult C.C., best Lutino and best Redeye in Show to Ian Fordham (winner for the last 4 consecutive years). Good type of budgerigar with good colour and shape, stood well throughout judging. Ian’s long type hen of good condition was second best. Another type cock of good colour was third best for Jim Mitchell.

Ian Fordham came to the forth with the young birds winning again the first two places with a Lutino cock of good size and condition and winning Best Redeye Young Bird followed by his hen which was not far behind from the winner but slightly paler in colour and winning Best Redeye Opposite Sex in Show.  Ted & Anne Wilson were third with a good type cock but not with the substance of the winner. Best junior Lutino went to Gary Cameron.

Bob Francis judged the 29 Albinos and the Best Albino in Show went to Sam Wildes large quality cock but with slight wing marking that spoilt its appearance. Ted & Anne Wilson were second with another quality cock but was spoilt by blood quill. Michael and Margret Chapman were third with another cock lacking in condition. Best junior went to Gary Cameron.

Ted & Anne Wilson who won Best Albino young Bird

The young bird section was very poor with only two birds benched and the Wilson’s partnership won best with a cock followed by Chris Fuller’s hen in second place.

YELLOW-WING TOPS CLEARWING AWARD

Dave Wall judged the 27 Yellow-wings and Cor Booster from Holland judged the 23 Whitewings.

The adult Yellow-wing award, best Yellow-wing and Best Clearwing in show went to Dave Guppy and Dave Barnes with good solid Light Green cock who also benched a Dark Green hen in third place. Ted & Anne Wilson benched a Light Green cock in second place.

Malcolm & Pam Freemantle were first in the young bird section with nice dark green hen of quality. Another hen, Light Green, from the Wilson’s stud occupied second place followed by a Light Green cock from Guppy & Barnes. Sadly there were no other birds in this section.

The Guppy & Barnes partnership won the adult Whitewing award and also Best Whitewing in Show with a good sized and colour Skyblue cock of good contrast followed by their Violet hen of good colour. Craig & Sandra Tipton were third with a good quality Skyblue cock that lacked in condition.

Guppy & Barnes who won Best Yellow-wing & Whitewing in Show

Roger Day won the young bird section and Best Clearwing Young Bird with a Skyblue hen of good head quality and well balanced. His Cobalt cock of good size was in second place. Ted & Anne Wilson were third with Cobalt hen of good size.

Roger Day who won Best Whitewing Young Bird

CRESTS OF QUALITY

Rod Clarke judged the 45 Crests and awarded the adult C.C. to a Tufted Light Green cock bred by Mick Widdowson; a large bird of quality shown in good condition. Gren & Pat Norris were second with a quality Circular Cobalt cock that lacked in spots size. Dave Moss was third with another Circular Cobalt cock that was shown in good condition but not of the same size quality as the first two placed birds. Dave & Linda Rafis benched the best any age opposite sex award with Circular Opaline Light Green hen.

Alan & Gina Adams won the young bird award and Best Crest in Show with an excellent Circular Opaline Cinnamon Light Green cock staged in good condition and good example of the variety. Dave Moss was second with a Circular Cobalt hen followed by a Tufted Yellowface Cinnamon Cobalt cock bred by Michael & Margret Chapman. Best junior any age award went to Gary Cameron.

QUALITY  SPANGLES

The 54 Spangle Greens were judged by Cor Booster and he awarded the adult CC and Best Spangle Any Age in Show to the Spangle society’s president Jerry Donovan who benched a well balanced Light Green cock of good width of shoulders to capture that award. Mick Anzara was second with an Opaline Cinnamon Grey Green cock of nice face and in proportion. Grant Findlay & Nick Flavell benched a quality Double Factor Yellow cock in third place. The Eatwell partnership a Dark Green hen to win the opposite sex award

Jerry Donovan staged a well balanced Light Green cock shown in superb feather condition to win the young bird award and Best Spangle in Show overall. This was followed by his Double Factor Yellow cock in second place. The Eatwell partnership was third with a well marked Grey Green hen. Gary Cameron won the junior award and Best Junior Any Age with a Spangle Blue cock.

Dave Wall judged the 44 Spangle Blues and awarded the Best Spangle Blue and Best Double Factor in Show to Jerry Donovan who benched a good shaped Double Factor White hen to win the adult CC and Best Spangle Blue. His Cinnamon Skyblue cock of good shape and spots was placed second. Sam Wildes was third with a Double Factor White cock of good shape.

Jerry came to the fore to win his fourth CC with another Double Factor White hen of good shape and colour. His Skyblue cock of substance was second. Andy Benton from the beginner section benched a Skyblue cock of good marking in third place. Best Junior Spangle went to Gary Cameron

Jerry Donovan with his Best Spangle in Show winner

QUALITY IN DOMINANT PIEDS

Garry Warren judged the 66 Dominant Pieds and awarded the adult CC to Gren & Pat Norris’ Yellowface Cobalt cock of good width of face, large spots and nice capping over the eyes. Sam Wildes staged another Yellowface cock of good length and spot down in second place. Jerry Donovan was third with a Light Green cock of good width. Best Clearflight or Dutch Pied in Show went to the Eatwell family with a Yellowface Cinnamon Skyblue cock.

Phil Hodgkins (Beginner) came to the fore to win the young bird award and Best overall Pied in Show with an excellent Cinnamon Light Green cock of good substance and large spots. Jerry Donovan occupied the next two spots with a good wide headed Skyblue cock followed by a quality Grey Green hen.

Phil Hodgkins who won Best Pied in Show

RECESSIVE PIEDS OF QUALITY

This variety had an increase in entry to 102 for Rod Clarke to judge making it the highest entry of any colour group. He awarded Gren & Pat Norris’ Dark Green cock the Best Recessive Pied in Show award; a bird of good size and round large head with good sized spots staged in good condition. Cliff & Darren Jones were second with a nice long Cobalt cock staged in good condition. Ted & Anne Wilson staged a Dark Green cock of good size and substance but not quite the condition of the first two in third place. Best Dark-Eyed Clear in Show went to Ian & Pat Fielding’s Yellow cock.

Sam Wildes headed the young bird section with a nice clean Cinnamon Light Green hen who also benched a Dark Green cock of good length in third place. The Wilson’s partnership was second with a Dark Green cock of good length. Derek Stiling had the Best DEC young bird award with a White hen.

Gren & Pat Norris who won Best Recessive Pied and Best Yellowface

YELLOWFACES HIGH IN NUMBERS

Dominic Avo judged the 43 Yellowfaces which was an increase from last year and awarded the adult C.C. and Best Yellowface in Show to Gren & Pat Norris’ Grey cock of good head and spots staged in good condition. Findlay & Flavell benched the opposite sex with a Skyblue hen of good face and power in second place. Dave Page was third with a Goldenface Grey cock. Gary Cameron was best in the junior section.

Alan & Gina Adams won the young bird award for the second year with a Skyblue cock of nice face and spots. They also occupied the second spot with a Cinnamon hen of good quality. Gary Cameron (junior) was third and overall Best Junior Young Bird

GOOD RARES

Bob Francis judged the 57 Rares and awarded the Best Rare in Show to a quality Texas Clearbody Cobalt hen from Steve Speed of good size and marking. Another Texas Clearbody; Grey Green cock from Les Cutler was in second place. Terry Sadler benched a Slate hen of good size and colour in third place.

Les Cutler headed the young bird section with a Texas Clearbody Opaline Grey hen of good marking and staged in perfect condition. His Texas Clearbody Grey cock was in second place followed by John & Jamie Naylor’s Slate Opaline hen in third best.

Best English Fallow & Saddleback, Mrs. S. Cook; Best Texas Clearbody, S. Speed; Best Rainbow, Findlay & Flavell; Best Slate, T. Sadler.

QUALITY IN A.O.C.

There was a slight increase in entry for this section to 63 for Dominic Avo to judge. The winner of the adult section and best overall A.O.C. was a large buff feathered Grey Yellow cock of good head and mask staged by Malcolm & Pam Freemantle. Sam Wildes was second with a Greywing Cinnamon cock of heavy feather. John Cosby occupied third spot with a Suffused Yellowface cock of quality.

Michael & Margret Chapman benched a quality Violet cock of good substance to win the young bird award followed  by Roger Day occupied the next two places in the young bird section with a White Blue cock and a Grey Yellow hen. Both are of good length and quality.

Michael & Margaret Chapman who won Best AOC Young Bird

Best Olive, J. Donovan; Best Mauve, J. Prothero; Best Violet, M & M Chapman; best Lacewing, T. Sadler; Best Greywing, S. Wildes; Best Yellow, M & P Freemantle; Best White, J. Cosby; Best AOV Clearwing, G & P Norris.

Gary Cameron who won both the Junior awards

TEAMS

Andy Benton benched a team of two pairs of Recessive Pied Greys to win this award.

BEST OF COLOUR AWARDS

*  Best of Variety Overall