NORFOLK FOREIGN BIRD ASSOCIATION - 2002 OPEN SHOW

The entry for this year’s show was the lowest for several years, but at 386 was still good. Whilst overall quality was not as good as in some recent years, the leading exhibits were of a high standard.

The Lovebird section contained 24 entries with good overall quality. Once again D Watlow staged an outstanding team. His Orangefaced Peachfaced was the leading entry and went on to win the award for third best foreign exhibit. His Lutino Peachfaced was second best Lovebird whilst the leading current year bred Lovebird, a Pied Orangefaced owned by S Marriott, was third best in section and second best current year bred in show. D Watlow’s Normal Peachfaced was fourth best Lovebird. The other winners in the current year bred section were D Watlow’s Lutino Peachfaced and Cinnamon Peachfaced, and S Marriott’s Yellow Fischers.

At 24, the number of entries in the Parrotlike section for many years but S&P Fisher’s Ringneck was a worthy winner and also fourth best foreign exhibit. This bird has been the leading Parrotlike exhibit on many previous occasions. In second place was a very smart Pennants owned by C Metcalfe. A neat Cockatiel was third for A Lambert with C & A Allaway’s Red Flanked Lorikeet fourth. S & J Fisher staged the leading current year bred exhibit, a Bourke’s.

A total of 63 common seedeaters were entered and there were a number of very good exhibits. Best in section was an excellent cock Green Singing Finch owned by N Prentice. In second place was the leading current year bred exhibit, S & P Fisher’s very good pair of Cinnamon Silverbills. A clean well marked Java Sparrow was third for C & S Allaway whilst fourth place went to a nice pair of African Silverbills owned by L Barnsdale. There were a number of other very good exhibits which won classes but could not reach the specials list.

The other awards in the current year bred section were won by N Prentice’s Green Singing Finch, S & P Fisher’s Chocolate Silverbills and D Brown’s Fawn Java Sparrow.

A good Pearl Headed Silverbill owned by S & P Fisher won a very competitive section of 45 entries to be selected best rare seedeater and second best seedeater. Second best in section was S & P Fisher’s Timor Java Sparrow whilst fourth best was a Mountain Bunting for D Lugo. The highlight of this section was the class for rare waxbills where 22 entries were benched. This class was won by a Red Winged Pytilla owned by D Brown and went on to become third best in section.

Only two current year bred entries were benched with S & P Fisher’s Yellow Winged Pytilla the leading entry.

The Australian section contained 82 entries, the best for several years. The current year bred classes contained the leading exhibit, G Wincomb’s excellent Bicheno Finch. This bird was bold and very cleanly marked and went on to become best seedeater, best current year bred exhibit in show and second best foreign. In second place, and leading adult entry, was a pair of Hecks Grassfinches owned by L Barnsdale who also took the award for third best, again with a pair of Hecks. Fourth best, and second best current year bred was a pair of Chestnut Breasted Munias belonging to D Brown. The other current year bred exhibits to win awards were both Hecks Grassfinches owned by G Wincomb and L Barnsdale.

The overall quality of nectarfeeder exhibits was not as good as in recent years with many not quite yet in condition, although the number of entries was good. The leading exhibit was MR & Mrs Tugman’s Streaky Spiderhunter, and they also won the award for third best in section with a Gold Wing Sunbird. Second and fourth place went to C & S Allaway with a Red Chested Sunbird and a Splendid Sunbird respectively.

The same comments on quality could be made about the softbill section although the two leading entries were very good. Best in section and best in show went to Mr & Mrs Tugman’s Rufous Tailed Robin whilst second place went to a Royal Starling benched by C & S Allaway. The latter exhibitors won all the other softbill specials with a Kikuyu Zosterop, an Orange Headed Ground Thrush and a Spreo Starling, the last named being the only current year bred exhibit benched.

The junior section was poorly supported and won by Colby School.

There were 73 Zebra Finches entered. In the champion adult section the leading specials were won by P Ankin with Normals, Chestnut Flanked Whites and another pair of normal. The final special went to B & J Rudling’s Fawns. The three leading champion breeder exhibits were all Chestnut Flanked Whites and were led by J Moss who also took the award for third best. P Ankin took both second and fourth place with Normals.

The novice adult section was led by Summerscales & Morris with Normals. Second and third place both went to Mr & Mrs Shortland with Normals and Chestnut Flanked Whites whilst K Ream was fourth with Silvers. The two leading novice breeder specials both went to Mr & Mrs Shortland with Normals. The same exhibitors were also fourth with Chestnut Flanked Whites. Third was K Ream with Creams.

The number of Bengalese entries was poor at 13. P & E Prosser took the award for best in section and best novice with Self Chocolate, whilst the same colour won best champion for D Brown.

The judges were Brian Gibbs, Derek Hamps, Graham Lockington and Dennis Webster.