NORFOLK FOREIGN BIRD ASSOCIATION - 2016 OPEN SHOW REPORT

2016 was another successful open show for Norfolk FBA with an entry of 225, maintaining its position as one of the largest all Foreign shows in the UK. Several usual exhibitors could not make it this year otherwise the entry may have approached 300. This years show was tinged with much sadness as Show Secretary, intended judge, previous club chairman and all round good guy Chris Allaway died one week before the show. Future Norfolk FBA open shows will not be the same without Chris.

There are a number of people whose efforts are essential in ensuring the show runs smoothly, in fact without some of them shows would not survive. So first of all thanks to some of them. Many thanks to Kim and Emma who kindly stepped in late to produce cooked lunches for about 20 people after Dale Barber broke his leg, and to Jean Rudling and Mrs Smith for refreshments throughout the afternoon - you are all stars. Also kitchen thanks to Brian and Jean Rudling who provided bacon rolls plus tea and coffee in the morning to helpers and exhibitors! All the Lambert family helped as usual in selling tombola tickets and catalogues, and printing the results sheets. Thanks also to club members who helped throughout the day to ensure that the show ran smoothly. The jobs are numerous and there are too many people to name. Special thanks to Steve Downes for taking on the role of Show Secretary at short notice and ensuring it ran smoothly, and to Steve Fisher for taking on the role of replacement judge following the death of Chris.

Thanks also need to go to Morley Aviaries (known as Junglegold to many) for their cash sponsorship. And of course the judges for their hard work during the morning, David Lugo and Steven Fisher on the foreign and Keith Sims on Zebras and Bengalese. Finally but not least, thanks to all the exhibitors, many of whom return each year. Ther would not be a show without your continuing support. New exhibitors this year were Maurice Cosbey, John Harris, Brian Johnstone, Mr & Mrs Colin Rowe and Cath Warren. We hope you all enjoyed the experience and will return next year.

As for the birds themselves, the warm autumn seemed to have left several a bit short of condition although were a good number of top birds. After the foreign section had been judged, David Lugo and Steven Fisher were left with 7 exhibits to consider for best in show. They were Cath Warren's Amazon Parrot and Spreo Starling, Graham Lee's White Java, Andy Morton's Lutino Peachfaced Lovebird, the Hecks Grassfinch of John Harris and two exhibits from Mr & Mrs Colin Rowe - a Great Billed Mannikin and a pair of African Silverbills. After some deliberation the final placings were between the African Silverbills, Spreo Starling and Hecks Grasssfinch, and this was the final order that was agreed. As well as best in show, the Silverbills were also best current year owner bred.

The Lovebird section was missing one usual exhibitor but there were several good exhibits in the entry of 18. All the awards went to Andy Morton. Best was the earlier mentioned Lutino Peachfaced which also won the award for best adult owner bred exhibit in show. In second place was an Opaline Orangefaced with a normal Peach Faced third. The three best CYOB Lovebirds were in order a Pied Fischers (also best eyering), a Turquoise Peachfaced and an Opaline Peachfaced. It was disappointing that the only entry in the Parrotlike section was the Amazon Parrot.

Entries in the Australian section increased to 70 with 46 adults and 24 CYOB. John Harris had outstanding success winning most of the awards. His Hecks Grassfinch was best Australian and best adult, his Grey Hecks was second best Australian and best CYOB, whilst another of his CYOB exhibits, a Blue Faced Parrotfinch was third best Australian. He also won the specials for second best Adult with a Grey Hecks and third best CYOB with a normal Hecks. A clean sweep of all the awards for him was prevented by Graham Lee whose Diamond Firetail was third best adult.

This year the other seedeaters were split into three sections. There were 41 Java Sparrows, and best in section went to Graham Lee with a White, which was also best CYOB. Best adult and second best Java went to an Agate owned by Steve Downes who also took third best with a Normal. Best Silver went to B & J Rudling whilst David Brown benched the best Fawn.

The Silverbill section contained 13 entries with the pair of normal African owned by Mr & Mrs Colin Rowe being awarded best before going on to be best CYOB in show and best exhibit.

The other seedeaters numbered 26 with the section being won by Mr & Mrs Colin Rowe's Great Billed Mannikin. Following this as second and third best were Graham Lee's Yellow Winged Pytilla and a hen Blue Capped Waxbill owned by Nick Elliston. Mr & Mrs Rowe also benched the best CYOB, a Black Headed Mannikin whilst second and third both went to Nick Elliston with a cock Cutthroat and Black Cheeked Waxbill respectively.

The leading Softbill and second best in show went to Cath Warren with a Spreo Starling.

The Zebra Finch section numbered 42. Best Zebra and best champion adult was won by Dennis Webster with Dilutes. Second best champion adult went to the Fawns of B & J Rudling whilst third went to Dennis Webster with Penguins. Best and third best champion breeder awards were won by B & J Rudling with Fawns and Chestnut Flanked Whites respectively whilst Dennis Webster was second with Penguins. Best novice adult went to Mr & Mrs P D Smith with Dilutes whilst Maurice Cosbey won second and third with Fawns. It was the same order with the novice breeder awards with Mr & Mrs P D Smith leading with Normals and Maurice Cosbey second and third with Dilutes and Chestnut Flanked Whites. Best single champion went to B & J Rudling and best single novice to Mr & Mrs Smith.

Best Bengalese and best champion went to David Brown whilst best novice went to David and Hazel Harris.