SPECIALIST & RARE VARIETY OPEN SHOW - 2014 The Specialist & Rare Variety Open Show had an increase in entry for its 26th show by avoiding the Silverstone Formula One Racing weekend nearby. This will not be a problem in future for the show as from 2015 onwards the show will always be held during June. This increase in entry was 23% up from last year with a total entry of 592 of which 413 birds were benched from 41 exhibitors. As always, the show committee extends its sincere thanks and gratitude to the following sponsors; Brown & Hutt (50% cost of all the open rosettes for the show); Geoff Capes (cost of all the ceramic awards to the judges and Best of Colours); Mick Anzara, Ian Brickwood, Jan Hill, Grant Findlay & Nick Flavell and Dave & Linda Rafis for their financial sponsorship. Warren Wilson & BRASEA donated major rosettes for all the BOC winners and other colour awards. Frank & Vanessa Barnes & Swindon BS donated a Team show cage and Jim Mitchell a single show cage for the raffle. The show also received sponsorship in the form of bags of seed & products from Rod & Sue Clarke, Norman & June Cox, Johnson & Jeff Ltd, Country Wide Seed and Malcolm & Pam Freemantle. Donated birds for the raffle came from Alan & Gina Adams, Ghalib & Janice Al-Nasser, Grant Findlay & Nick Flavell, Gren & Pat Norris and Terry Sadler. Our Guest of Honour this year to present the 45 trophies was Carlos Ramôa from Portugal who was one of the judges and a friend of the show. Next year's show will be staged on 27th & 28th June 2015 (week 26) at the same venue in Bugbrooke, Northamptonshire. MORE RARES There was a small increase in entry to 33 for Geoff Tuplin to judge and he awarded the adult certificate and Best Rare Variety in Show to the well known good sized Anthracite cock of Gren & Pat Norris which also won last year. A Slate hen from Mick Anzara of good size was second followed by another Slate hen from Sue & Rod Clarke in third place.
The Widdowson & Wilson partnership headed the young bird section with a good sized Slate hen of good colour. Mick Anzara was second with an Opaline Slate hen followed by a good coloured Rainbow from Grant Findlay & Nick Flavell. Best Anthracite, G & P Norris; Best English Fallow, M. Anzara; Best German Fallow, B. Allen; Best Rainbow, M. Anzara; Best Slate, M. Anzara; Best Saddleback, G & J Al-Nasser. NEW CLEARBODY C. C. Carlos Ramôa judged this new group with an entry of 21 and awarded the Best Clearbody in Show to a nice big Texas Clearbody Grey Green cock of good width of shoulder & head from the Chapman stud. Gren & Pat were second with an Easley cock (Best Easley in Show) followed by a Texas hen from the Findlay & Flavell partnership.
Michael & Margaret again came out on top in the young bird section with a Texas Yellowface Cinnamon Cobalt hen of deep mask. Sue & Rod were second with an Easley hen followed by a Texas cock benched by Shaun Smith. DROP IN A.O.C. By moving the Clearbody out of this group there was a further drop in entry to 49 for Chris Snell to judge. He awarded the adult certificate to a Grey Yellow cock of good deportment from Tim Foddy. Colin Brickell was second with a Mauve cock of good size with Terry Sadler filling third spot with a Lacewing cock of good size and spot. A stylish Yellow hen from Bob McCabe was the any age opposite sex winner.
Terry Sadler headed the young bird CC with a stylish big Lacewing hen which made her the overall Best AOC in Show. Margaret & Bill Walker were second with a typey wide faced Yellow hen. Colin Potter was third with a stylish Violet cock. Best Mauve, C. Brickell; Best Violet, C. Potter; Best Lacewing, T. Sadler; Best Greywing, G & J Al-Nasser; Best Yellow, T. Foddy; Best White, M & P Freemantle; Best AOV Clearwing etc, M & B Walker. WINNERS TABLE 2014
* indicates Best of each variety overall |
