Area Championship Show - Saturday 5th September 2009
Venue – Tomlinson’s Exhibition Centre, Upper Grange Farm, Ratby Lane, Markfield, Leicestershire

The entry for this year’s event was extremely disappointing with a total of 586 birds being entered out of which only 461 were benched.  The Committee of the MBA realise that there are problems with the venue and are actively seeking a new Show Hall but had little alternative this year when Woodway Park School became unavailable after the 2008 show.  One or two venues have already been looked at but have had to be ruled out due to size and the facilities available.  Everyone is asked to put their thinking caps on and try and suggest venues which might prove suitable, obviously we all know our own areas pretty well, so if you know of a potential Show Hall please contact Secretary Bruce Greenway or a member of our Committee.

Best in Show & Best Any Age in Show - A & D.Woan

Best Opposite Sex Any Age in Show  - J.Thompson

Dominant Pied Grey Hen

Jim Thompson

Best Young Bird in Show & Best Opposite Sex Young Bird in Show - Norwood Stud

Light Green Cock

Tony & Sandra Haywood

Dark Green Hen

Best Junior Any Age & Best Junior Young Bird - D.Norman

Daniel Norman pictured with his Skyblue  cock Best Junior Any Age

Skyblue Cock

Martin Bagnall, John Grubb, Geoff Tuplin, Wayne Bloxham,
Roy Townsend (Subsidiary Judge), Ron Mears

Area Championship Show – Award Winners

 Section Award Winners

YOUNG STOCK & NEST FEATHER SHOW 2009

A total of 20 exhibitors benched 150 birds on the day for Judges Alan Adams and Pete Hutchinson to run the rule over at our second show of the year.  This figure was down on last year’s entry of 180 and is also the second year running that we have received no Junior entries.   

Despite a reduction in numbers there were still some quality birds on view and Alan and Pete seemed suitably impressed by what they saw.  Apart from the bacon butties that is.  They did however comment about the number of wrong classed birds which had to be re-classified during the morning.  Apparently, it would appear that members are getting confused and not reading the schedule properly.   The Nest Feather classes are for cocks and hens together, whereas the Young Stock classes keep the sexes separately.  Next year we will endeavour to make life easier for everyone by combining both the Nest Feather and the Young Stock into the Nest Feather classification format.

The award for Best Nest Feather and Best Champion Nest Feather in Show went to David Roberts with an impressive Cinnamon Grey Green Cock.  This youngster seemed completely unperturbed by everything that was going on around him and remained sitting steadfastly on the perch long after judging had been completed.

Congratulations however must surely go to Novice exhibitor John Archer who staged an excellent Grey Green Cock to take the award for Best Young Stock in Show.  I believe I am correct in saying that this is the same bird which I was admiring at the first Nest Feather but at that time it was breaking and wasn’t really a true Nest Feather bird.  Should this bird reach its full potential it will certainly be one to watch for later in the year.  Having collected his birds and headed for the door, John was off to do his milking.  Now there goes a true livestock man.

Our thanks once again must go to the members of Trent Valley BS who assisted with the staging of the show and provided the catering.  Having had a “small” piece of chocolate cake, I would hate to see a “large” one.

Prizes were presented to all the award winners by MBA President Colin Lamb. 

Dave Roberts - Best Nest Feather

NEST FEATHER SHOW 2009 

75th Anniversary Area Society Championship Show - in memory of Mrs Betty D.Gell
Saturday 6th September 2008, Woodway Park School & Community College, Wigston Road, Coventry
ENTERED 731                                                                                          BENCHED 610

Judges:  Ian Ainley, Les Cutler, Ken Fagan (Trainee), Mick Freakley, Bill Hough, Malcolm Hough, Gren Norris, Pat Norris, Gary Sutton (Trainee)

Our last show at the old venue which was dedicated to Bet Gell’s memory, rather disappointingly failed to produce an improved entry.  This despite increased prize money in the Novice & Beginner sections, a £50.00 prize for the Society benching the most birds and specially designed clocks donated by Changing Times (thank you Dudley) for the Best Young Bird in each section.   It would appear that exhibitors failed to grasp the concept of the £50.00 prize, as when the points were all totalled up the winner was the MBA!  Oh well, back to the drawing board. Winner of Best in Show for the second year running was A & B Whattam with their  well presented Skyblue Cock.  This was also a repeat performance for the Skyblue Cock too, having won the premier award last year as a breeder.  Congratulations Bob, on a remarkable achievement.

Bob Whattam with BIS

Skyblue Cock BIS

Bob Whattam receives BIS Trophy from President Phil Proctor

The award for Best Opposite Sex Young Bird went to the Intermediate section with Brian Wilson from Fakenham in Norfolk benching an excellent Spangle Skyblue Cock.  Best Opposite Sex Any Age was a stylish Grey Hen belonging to J.Archer.

At the end of the afternoon President Phil Proctor presented all the award winners with their Trophies.  We were also pleased to welcome to the Show Rene Horton, Bet Gell’s sister together with one of Bet’s friends Carol Burbage.  Carol in years gone by had often helped Bet when she used to assist in the show office at the B.S. Club Show.   Rene very kindly agreed to present the Clocks donated by Changing times to the winners which had been suitably inscribed to mark the occasion.  In thanking the organising Committee for inviting her to the show and congratulating everyone on all their hard work Rene asked whether it would be possible to order her a clock as a reminder of the day.  Well I expect you’ve heard the expression the impossible we do at once, miracles take a little longer,  Phil our President was only too pleased to step forward and present Rene with her very own clock to remember us all by.  I understand it’s destined to be hung on the kitchen wall!

Open Show Award Winners

Young Stock & Nest Feather Show
Sunday 15th June 2008
The Miners Welfare Centre, Gresley Old Hall, Church Gresley

Major winners on the day were Geoff Bowley who staged a superb Light Green Cock in excellent condition to take the award for Best Young Stock in Show and Adrian Harris (Beginner) whose Grey Cock was awarded Best Nest Feather in Show.  Special mention should also be made of Ted Lees’ success in this his first ever show with his Opaline Grey Green Cock winning Best Beginner Young Stock for him.

CHA Nest Feather A.R.& T.R.Terheege	INT Nest Feather B.Greenway	NOV Nest Feather S.Wildes
BEG Nest Feather A Harris	INT Young Stock B.Greenway	BEG Young Stock E.J.R.Lee

NEST FEATHER SHOW

Sunday 9th March 2008 ~ Woodway Park School & Community College

Although the entry was down on last years figure and sadly there were no Junior entries, I was pleasantly surprised with the overall quality of the 95 birds I had to place.  In my experience Nest Feather shows are notoriously difficult to adjudicate at.  Quite often birds are unsteady, some are feather damaged, some have short tails and others are even starting to break.  However, I must say that only a small percentage of the birds benched fell into those categories and were a credit to all the members who took the time and trouble to attend and exhibit their birds.  It goes without saying that without your continued support we would not be able to continue putting on these events.

I selected as Best in Show and Best Champion a Lutino exhibited by Colin Lamb.  Colin benched this bird in excellent condition and for a nest feather bird it had superb colour, in addition it also possessed good facial features and style.  A worthy winner I thought.

I also liked the Normal Skyblue bred by Bruce Greenway which I gave Best Intermediate.   Unfortunately it was spoilt by having a short tail, but it was a good all round exhibit with a powerful face and mask and was thick through the neck.

The partnership of Swain & Ford took the award for Best Novice with a Normal Light Green.   This was a very nice Light Green, again with pleasing facial features, however in my view not powerful enough to seriously challenge either the Lutino or the Skyblue on the day.

Best Beginner was a Dark Green belonging to Anthony Corns.  I was very impressed with this bird, like the other section winners it also had nice head qualities coupled with size and condition.

Once again I would like to congratulate all the winners on their success.  I am sure we have not seen the last of them, as there are plenty of shows coming up within our area in the weeks and months ahead for all to compete at.

Phil Proctor : Judge

Area Society Championship Show
Saturday 8th September 2007
Woodway Park School & Community College, Wigston Road, Coventry

ENTERED 841                              BENCHED 684

Judges: George Booth, Michael Chapman, Eddie Geary, Dave Guppy, Colin Lamb, Harry Hockaday, Phil Reaney and Garry Warren. John Cosby (Trainee).

Sadly our Show did not improve on the excellent entry figures received during the past two years, with this year’s entry falling some 120 birds short of the 2006 total.   It would be easy to use the new BS Club Show date as an excuse, if it were not for the fact that Swindon BS on the following day again received an entry in excess of 1000 birds! Once more we are indebted to the very small but dedicated team of helpers who ensured that the day progressed to a satisfactory conclusion, despite mega problems with refreshments and the new computer programme. Bruce (Gordon Ramsay eat your heart out) Greenway prepares to do battle in Hell’s Kitchen

Champion was by far the highest populated section although interestingly enough two of the 5 major awards went to exhibitors from the Beginner section, and deservedly so. Best in Show and Best Young Bird in Show went to a superbly turned out Skyblue Cock bred by the A & B Whattam partnership.   With width above the cere, a lazy sweep over the head meeting the backline and a beautifully clean cap he obviously impressed the judges.  Well done Bob.

A journey from Kings Lynn proved most beneficial for the Beginner partnership of Ted & Ann Wilson whose bold Light Green Hen annexed the award for Best Opposite Sex Young Bird.

The Special for Best Any Age in Show went to David Brick (Beginner) from Newcastle-under-Lyme with a substantial Grey Cock.  Perhaps a little loose around the mask, this bird certainly possessed head quality and almost frowned at you.

Trophies were presented to the winners by President Les Cutler at the end of the show.