SPECIALIST & RARE VARIETY OPEN SHOW - 2007

reported by Janice Al-Nasser, Publicity Officer

This year's show, the 19th Show of the Specialist & Rare Variety Open Show , was certainly not a wash out, although many surrounding areas were flooded. As always, this show had a terrific atmosphere and there was a real buzz to the weekend from comments received by exhibitors and visitors. The show received a drop in total entry to 896 of which a total of 664 birds were benched from 75 exhibitors.

Mick Widdowson with his Best Crest at the 2007 SRVOS

There is a lot to say for the old two-day shows (this show is classified as a day & half show) as the atmosphere on the Sunday was vibrant with plenty of time for all fanciers, exhibitors and visitors to socialise and view the quality exhibits in comfort.

 

Once again the show received great sponsorship which is an important part of the survival of this national event and our sincere thanks and gratitude are extended to Brown & Hutt for sponsoring 50% cost of all the open rosettes for the show; also to Les & Pat Martin who sponsored the cost of all the ceramic awards to the judges and Best of Colours, which are much appreciated and sought after by exhibitors. The B.S. President Janice Al-Nasser donated a quality bird for the most benched birds in the beginner section, which once again was won by M.J. Peel. Ghalib & Janice Al-Nasser sponsored the show with the cost of printing the coloured covers for the schedules and catalogues. B.S. chairman Grant Findlay & B.S. secretary Dave Whittaker sponsored the cost of printing the schedules. Financial sponsorship came from Mick Anzara who donated £50 towards the raffle prizes, with further financial sponsorship received from Geoff Capes and Jan Hill. Warren Wilson, CEO of the Budgerigar Rare & Specialist Exhibitors of Australasia (BRASEA), sent a wonderful package awarding the top BRASEA patronage to the show with 4 coloured paintings, 24 major rosettes for the BOC winners and many other rosettes for variety winners, with all the judges receiving a lovely pen. Other sponsorship came from Norman & June Cox, Sue & Rod Clarke, Dave Moss and Gren & Pat Norris. The following fanciers were generous with their donation of birds for the raffle; Cheatley & Alcorn, Jerry Donovan, Malcolm & Pam Freemantle, Guppy & Barnes, Pete Holiday, C & D Jones, Gren & Pat Norris, Cy Thorne, Thorpe & Stanley and Rick Watts.

The Show Committee extends its sincere gratitude and appreciation to all the above sponsors as well as the Budgerigar Society, the six specialist societies with their patronage, those who donated prizes to the raffles, the ten area societies and Budgerigar World who all gave splendid support in granting their highest patronage to the show. Gratitude is also extended to all the workers, exhibitors and donors for making this year's show another great success.

 

Apart from our regular fanciers from Scotland and Wales, who travel long distances to be with us, we also had the pleasure of our regular overseas visitors from Holland & Germany and on this occasion from Belgium as well.

 

Sunday afternoon was the time for trophy presentation and on this occasion the Guest of Honour was Janice Al-Nasser, B.S. President, who presented the 44 trophies together with the paintings donated by BRASEA to the winning exhibitors.

 

As in previous years at this show, partnerships did well in gaining 13 of the 24 CC's on offer and 22 of the CC's were awarded to the champion section.

 

Next year's show will be staged on 28 th & 29 th June (week 26) .

 

CRESTS OF QUALITY

 

Grant Findlay judged the 61 Crests (a large drop from last year's entry of 96) and awarded the adult C.C. and Best Crest in Show to the Crested BC President Mick Widdowson's circular dark green cock (pictured below).

A bird with an impressive crest on a very well balanced bird, shown in excellent condition.

 

The novice partnership of Cheatley & Alcorn benched a circular dominant pied grey cock in second place, which was as large a bird, well spotted and pushed the winner all the way through. Ghalib & Janice Al-Nasser, show officials, benched a tufted skyblue cock in third place, a bird with good tuft and large spots but needs more width. Cy Thorne staged the best opposite sex award with a circular dominant pied opaline cinnamon light green hen.

 

Cliff & Darren Jones won the young bird award for the second consecutive year with a striking circular skyblue cock (pictured below)with an impressive crest that will do well when fully developed.

The Cheatley & Alcorn partnership occupied the next two places with a circular skyblue cock possessing a good neat crest and a half circular dominant pied skyblue hen with good width of shoulders but slightly smaller spots.

Best junior any age award went to Gary Cameron.

 

Pos. Any Age Young Bird

 

1. M Widdowson C & D Jones

2. Cheatley & Alcorn Cheatley & Alcorn

3. G & J Al-Nasser Cheatley & Alcorn

4. C Thorne C Thorne

5. Cheatley & Alcorn M & H Richard

6. D & L Rafis C Thorne

7. C & S Meachin

8. G Cameron

 

SPECIALIST & RARE VARIETY OPEN SHOW - 2006

reported by Janice Al-Nasser, Publicity Officer

Once again a phenomenal success for the 18th Show of the Specialist & Rare Variety Open Show with a terrific atmosphere and a real buzz to the weekend. The show received an increase in total entry to 1099, which was slightly up from last year's entry (1000) of which a total of 839 birds were benched from 83 exhibitors.

The atmosphere was vibrant on the Sunday, with plenty of time for everyone to socialise as well as appreciate the quality of the exhibits staged at this national event. The sponsorship list once again was great with the usual sponsorship received from Rosettes R Russ, for all the open rosettes for the show; also from Les & Pat Martin who sponsored the cost of all the ceramic awards to the judges and Best of Colours, which are much appreciated and sought after by exhibitors. The B.S. President Dave Cottrell donated a quality bird for the most benched birds in the beginner section, which was won by M.J. Peel. Norman & June Cox sponsored the show with the cost of printing the coloured covers for the schedules and catalogues. Financial sponsorship came from Mick Anzara who donated £50 towards the raffle prices, Neil & Keith Johnson who also donated £50 and Jan Hill who donated £25. Other sponsorship came from Ghalib & Janice Al-Nasser, Sue & Rod Clarke and Gren & Pat Norris. The following fanciers were generous with their donation of birds for the raffle; Amos & Thumwood, G. Capes, M & M Chapman, L. Cutler, F, S & K Eatwell, I & P Fielding, W. Gibson, J. Grubb, C & D Jones and C. Thorne.

Best Crested Young Bird C & D Jones

Once again the overseas awards were much in evidence and most sought after, with the Australian judge Warren Wilson, CEO of the Budgerigar Rare & Specialist Exhibitors of Australasia (BRASEA) and Feathered Friends Radio, awarding the top BRASEA patronage to the show with 8 coloured paintings, 50 rosettes and 36 medals together with 3 new trophies from Australia. All the judges and committee members received wooden handled pens and special Australian cuddly toys.

The Show Committee extends its sincere gratitude and appreciation to all the above sponsors as well as the Budgerigar Society, the six specialist societies, the ten area societies and Budgerigar World who all gave splendid support in granting their highest patronage to the show. Gratitude is also extended to all the workers, exhibitors and donors for making this year’s show another great success.

Apart from our regular fanciers from Scotland, Wales and Jersey, who travelled long distances to be with us, we also had the pleasure of our regular overseas visitors from Holland & Germany.

Sunday afternoon was the time for trophy presentation and on this occasion the Guest of Honour was Warren Wilson, President of the B.S. of New South Wales, who presented the 43 trophies together with the paintings donated by BRASEA to the show.

As in previous years at this show, partnerships did well in gaining 15 of the 24 CCs on offer and 21 of the CCs were awarded to the champion section.

Next year's show will be staged on 30th June & 1st July (week 26).

CRESTS OF QUALITY

Our Chairman, Ghalib Al-Nasser, judged the 96 Crests (an increase in entry making it 4th highest entered variety) and awarded the adult C.C. and Best Crest in Show to the Jersey partnership of Mark & Hazel Richard’s circular opaline light green cock. The bird was staged in immaculate condition sporting a neat crest on a big bird of quality with good mask and spots. A circular cinnamon light green cock from Cliff & Darren Jones was second, which was as a good bird as the winner but not having that edge in size. Another full circular dominant pied opaline skyblue cock from the new beginner partnership of Cheatley & Alcorn was third. The Cheatley & Alcorn partnership also staged the opposite sex award with a circular dominant pied oplaine cinnamon skyblue hen. The Eatwell partnership won the best tuft any age award.

Cliff & Darren Jones won the young bird section with a circular opaline white blue hen of good substance and size with deep mask and good spots. The Richard’s partnership was second with a stylish grey green cock sporting a strong tuft. Mick Widdowson, president of the CBC, staged a tufted light green cock of quality in third place. Best junior any age & young bird awards went to E. J. Hooper.

Pos.     Any Age                      Young Bird

1.         M & H Richard            C & D Jones
2.         C & D Jones                M & H Richard
3.         Cheatley & Alcorn        M Widdowson
4.         Cheatley & Alcorn        Cheatley & Alcorn
5.         C & D Jones                M & H Richard
6.         F, S & K Eatwell          Cheatley & Alcorn
7.         C & S Meachin            S & R Clarke
8.         M Anzara                     F, S & K Eatwell
9.         E J Hooper                   M Anzara
10.       M & H Richard            M & H Richard