SPECIALIST & RARE VARIETY OPEN SHOW  -  2011
reported by Ghalib Al-Nasser, Show Organiser

The 23^rd Specialist & Rare Variety Open Show receiving an increase in total entry to 697 of which a total of 535 birds were benched from 54 exhibitors at its new venue in Bugbrooke, Northamptonshire. As always many overseas visitors attended this national prestigious show from Belgium, Germany, Holland, Norway and Sweden making it a truly international event.

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), Les Martin (donated bird to the most benched birds by a beginner and financial sponsorship), Jan Hill (printing cost of the coloured covers for the schedules and catalogues), Grant Findlay & Nick Flavell (printing cost of the schedules). Financial sponsorship came from Mick Anzara, Don Rowell & Linda Heighton and Dave & Linda Rafis. Warren Wilson & BRASEA donated major rosettes for all the BOC winners and other coloured awards and Frank Barnes sponsored the show with a show cage for the raffle. The show also received sponsorship in the form of products from The Birdcare Company, Johnson & Jeff Ltd, Johnson’s Veterinary Products Ltd and Murphy & Son Ltd. Donated birds for the raffle came from Jerry Donovan, Fred, Sheila & Kevin Eatwell, Malcolm & Pam Freemantle, Dave Guppy & Dave Barnes, Jan Hill, Dave Moss, Gary Sutton & Cy Thorne. All members of the show committee also sponsored the show with raffle prices.

Our Guest of Honour this year to present the 45 trophies was Shirley Risebrow, past show secretary and past president of the Crested BC. Next year's show will be staged on 30^th June & 1^st July 2012 (week 26) at the same venue in Bugbrooke, Northamptonshire.

LUTINOS TOP REDEYES AGAIN

Jac Cuyten, Our overseas judge from Holland, judged the 84 Lutinos and awarded the adult C.C., best Lutino and best Redeye in Show to Ian Fordham (winner for the last 5 consecutive years). This long cock bird was of very good colour that stood neck and shoulder but could improve on condition. Gren & Pat Norris’s were second in the line up with good directional feathering and width but paler in colour. Another type cock with good head blow was third best for Jim Mitchell.

Ian Fordham came to the forth with the young birds winning again with a Lutino cock of good length, size and colour and winning Best Redeye Young Bird. Ghalib & Janice Al-Nasser (not renown in this variety) were second with a hen of paler colour but with good directional feathering and strong shoulders. Chris Fuller was third with a good feathered and shouldered hen but lacking in condition.

John Cosby judged the 26 Albinos and the Best Albino in Show went to Jim Mitchell’s strong and well balanced adult cock. A good wide shouldered hen was second in the line up for Rick Watts followed by Gren & Pat Norris’s good sized cock but lacking in condition.

The best young bird in section was won by Michael & Margaret Chapman with a quality hen followed by Chris Fuller’s stylish hen. Cy Thorne was third with a good wide cock of quality.

Michael & Margaret Chapman who won Best Albino Young Bird	Ian Fordham who won Best Lutino
Jim Mitchell who won Best Albino Any Age

YELLOW-WING TOPS CLEARWING AWARD

Mick Freakley judged the 25 Yellow-wings and Ian Ainley judged the 27 Whitewings.

The adult Yellow-wing award, best Yellow-wing and Best Clearwing in show went to Dave Guppy and Dave Barnes for the second year with a large sized Dark Green cock staged in good condition but slightly darker in the wings. They followed in second place with a stylish Dark Green hen but again with darker wings. Mick Anzara was third with his stylish barrhead Light Green cock.

The Guppy & Barnes partnership occupied the first two places with a Light Green hen (Best Clearwing young Bird), well prepared and of good wing colour and variety content. Their Dark Green cock benched in good condition was second. Andy Benton from the beginner section was third with a barrhead Dark Green hen.

The Guppy & Barnes partnership won the adult Whitewing award and also Best Whitewing in Show with a well balanced Cobalt cock staged in good condition. Malcolm & Pam Freemantle were second with a Violet hen of good colour contrast. Mick Anzara was third with a Cobalt cock lacking in condition.

Bob Allen won the young bird section with a nice feathered Skyblue cock of good variety content. Guppy & Barnes were second with a Cobalt hen of power followed by Mick Anzara’s barrhead Cobalt cock.

Guppy & Barnes partnership who won Best Clearwing

Bob Allen who won Best Whitewing Young Bird & AOC Any Age

CRESTS OF QUALITY

Alan Adams, last year’s winner in this section, judged the 37 Crests and awarded the adult C.C. to last year’s winner the Tufted Light Green cock of Mick Widdowson; a large bird of good size and shape and staged in good condition. Dave Moss was second with a quality well balanced Circular Opaline Cobalt cock but slightly ticked. The junior Daniel Norman was third with a Circular Dominant Pied Opaline Cobalt cock of nice crest and body shape. Daniel’s Circular Dominant Pied Opaline Cinnamon Skyblue hen was best any age opposite sex.

Mick Widdowson won the double and Best Crest in Show with a large good spotted Half Circular Skyblue cock staged in good condition. The partnership of Paul Cheatley & Terry Alcorn were second with a typy Full Circular Dark Green hen of good shape and condition. The Eatwell family of Fred, Sheila & Kevin staged a Full Circular Spangle Grey Green hen in third place of good shape but lacking in spots. Daniel Norman won both best junior any age and young bird in this section.

Mick Widdowson who won Best Crest Any Age & Young Bird

QUALITY  SPANGLES

The 61 Spangle Greens were judged by Ian Ainley and he awarded the adult CC and Best Spangle in Show to Jerry Donovan who won this award for the second year with an excellent Light Green cock of good style and deportment. Mick Widdowson’s powerful Dark Green hen of good spots and contrast markings was in second place followed by Rick Watts Double Factor Yellow cock of good feather quality.

Jerry Donovan benched a quality Double Factor Yellow cock to win the young bird award and also Best Double Factor in Show. Adrian Terheege benched a nice capping Light Green cock in second place followed by Michael & Margaret Chapman’s Double Factor Yellow hen of good length in third place.

Mick Freakley judged the 45 Spangle Blues and awarded the Best Spangle Blue to the beginner Andy Benton who benched a good quality Double Factor White hen with good capping to win the adult CC. Grant Findlay & Nick Flavell were second with a Skyblue cock of good spots and marking. Sue & Rod Clarke benched a long and stylish Double Factor White cock in third place.

Joe Prothero came to the fore to win the young bird CC with a well marked Skyblue cock. Findlay & Flavell occupied the next two places with a good capped Double Factor White hen and a well marked Cobalt hen.

Joe Prothero who won Best Spangle Blue Young Bird	Andy Benton who won Best Spangle Blue Any Age
Jerry Donovan who won Best Spangle

QUALITY IN DOMINANT PIEDS

Jac Cuyten judged the 56 Dominant Pieds and awarded the adult CC to Ghalib & Janice Al-Nasser’s Cobalt cock of good spots and width of shoulders. John & Jamie Naylor were second with a Cinnamon Grey Green hen of good swank and directional feathering. This was followed by Daniel Norman’s Yellowface Cinnamon Skyblue hen of good feather quality. Best Clearflight or Dutch Pied in Show went to Ian & Pat Fielding with a Grey Green cock.

Rick Watts came to the fore to win the young bird award and Best Dominant Pied in Show with a well balanced Cinnamon Grey Green hen with a lovely tucked in beak. Joe Prothero was second with a Skyblue cock of good length and spots. Phil Jeremiah from the beginner section was third with a Grey cock of nice soft feather. Best Clearflight young bird went to the Fielding’s with a Cinnamon Light Green hen.

Rick Watts who won Best Dominant Pied

RECESSIVE PIED TOPPS THE AWARD

Alan Adams judged the 81 Recessive Pieds and gave the top award of Best Recessive Pied and Best Pied overall to Gren & Pat Norris’s well known Dark Green cock which excelled in size and substance. Geoff Capes was second with a very good Cobalt cock of good size. This was followed by Cliff & Darren Jones’ Violet hen of good substance but heavy wing marking. Best Dark-Eyed Clear in Show went to Ian & Pat Fielding’s White cock.

The Norris partnership headed the young bird section as well with another Dark Green cock of good style and substance. Findlay & Flavell’s Grey Green hen of good style was second followed by a good marked Grey cock from Michael & Margaret Chapman stud. Derek Stiling had the Best DEC young bird award with a Yellow cock.

Gren & Pat Norris who won Best Recessive Pied