SOMERSET
BUDGERIGAR SOCIETY GOLD PATRONAGE OPEN SHOW
Bridgwater Sports and Social Club 30th August 2009
Our
show this year proved to be one of the most enjoyable ever. Exhibitors from far and wide have commented
on the friendly atmosphere, good organisation and wonderful catering. Also on offer was a generous prize fund made
possible by fund-raising by our President, Tim Potter and at the annual Barbeque
at Brian Sweeting’s house. There were generous cash prizes for all
section winners as well the major award winners together with additional cash specials
and show cages for Somerset members only. The club is indebted to the following
sponsors: Bill Major (Cage manufacturer);
Alan & Gina Adams (Just Supplements); Simon Carr (Carr’s Natural Products);
Mel John (Vydex) and finally, Mike Gore, a member
from the early days of Somerset BS in the 1970s who donated members’ cash
special prizes for all section winners. Mike
has re-joined the hobby after 25 years of keeping pigeons. Sheila Chubb excelled once again in the
kitchen, providing superb breakfasts and lunches for just about every exhibitor. Nearly all the exhibitors stayed and helped
run the show during the morning. In the
afternoon the delicious cakes, which had been all been donated, were just as well
received. Val Griffin and her sister almost
sold out to our hungry exhibitors and visitors.
As has become normal at Somerset shows, there was a wealth of visitors
to the show in the afternoon who had not actually exhibited themselves. It has become an event where you are able to
meet old friends, make new ones, and enjoy the ‘budgie talk’.
The
Best in Show bird was a super normal olive green cock exhibited by Arthur Piper.
Arthur’s albino hen won Best Opposite Sex Any Age in
Show, completing the Any Age double for him. Similarly, Brian Sweeting won both
Best Young Bird awards – Best Young Bird in Show was an opaline grey green hen
and Best Opposite Sex Young Bird was a light green cock being exhibited for the
first time.
Following
Arthur’s olive cock in the Champion line up was Brian’s grey green cock, and Arthur’s
Albino hen was third. In the Young Bird section, Brian’s opaline
grey green hen took best followed by Arthur again
with a dark green hen. Brian was third
with a light green cock. Both these
exhibitors had a very good day and Arthur’s 280 mile round trip to Somerset
proved worthwhile.
In
the Intermediate Section, Steve Bailey’s long journey from Hampshire to pay his
first visit to the Somerset Show also paid dividends. He won both the Intermediate major
awards. His young sky blue cock also won
the Young Bird Challenge Certificate, beating many top quality exhibits in the
process. The intermediate section line up was well contested and, apart from
the two birds benched by Steve, the prizes were well shared out. In the Any Age section, Brian Harvell’s
cinnamon blue cock was second and Adrian Duck’s spangle grey was third. As well as winning the Young Bird section, Steve
Bailey also won second with an opaline grey green hen that earlier in the day
pushed hard for the Young Bird Challenge Certificate, eventually losing out to
the hen that went on to become Best Young Bird in Show. Colin Williams was in third place with a
cinnamon green hen.
Both
Novice section major awards were won by Swindon’s Mick Deller. Mick is quickly rebuilding his stud following
a short absence from the hobby. His grey
green hen took the top Any Age award followed by his cinnamon blue hen. Stuart McMullen took 3rd place
with a cinnamon cock (brother to the bird that has been taking Best in Show
around our region). Mick’s baby cinnamon
grey green cock did the job for him in the Young Bird section followed by Stuart’s
cobalt cock. Stuart also took third with
a smart opaline green hen. In fact he
won all 6 places behind Mick’s winner in the Novice Young Bird section.
In
the Beginner Section, Steve Bennett’s trip from Cornwall was rewarded by top
place in both sections. His spangle grey cock won best Any Age, a bird
that was also a worthy winner of the Challenge Certificate. Somerset’s own Paul Chubb had a good day
taking second place and Dave Whitehead, also from Cornwall, was third with yet
another good cinnamon. Steve Bennett won
the Young Bird section with a cinnamon green cock. Chris Atkinson, from Swansea took second with
yet another cinnamon, this time a blue hen.
As you can see from the results, the cinnamons did very well at this
show. Third spot was taken by Steve West
from Plymouth with a lutino cock. Overall, the Beginners had a very good day at
Somerset. The section was strongly contested and they took three Challenge Certificates
on a day when the Champions dominated.
In
the Junior Section, Tom Salem from Torbay had a very successful day. His spangle hen took
top spot in the Any Age section followed by his cobalt in second and spangle
cock in third. His yellow face cinnamon grey cock was awarded the Young Bird Challenge
Certificate and went on to become the Best Junior Young Bird winner which is a
super young bird that is a credit to him, a budgie many champions would be
pleased to have bred themselves. Tom
took the first three places in both adult and young bird line-ups. However, it was very pleasing to see one of
Somerset newest and youngest members, Sean Hedaux, take fourth and fifth Young Bird
places. Well done Tom and Sean! It’s very pleasing to see two juniors so enthusiastic
and doing so well in this very challenging hobby.
Many
thanks to our judges: Marcel Buhler, Ron Pearce, Les Cutler, Mick Freeborn,
Andy Thorpe and Martin Bagnell they all did a great job and reported that they
had a super day. Birds entered 884,
birds benched were well down due to many breeders experiencing an early moult, however, the magic figure of 650 was easily exceeded
benching 679
PHOTO GALLERY