National Exhibition 2012

This year the Society took part in the National exhibition of cage birds held at Stafford show ground hosted by the parrot society.

This proved to be a very popular event with all major society’s participating; the A.F.S. would like to thank the two sponsors for their participation and in making it an enjoyable day, Jonson and Jeff seeds, and The Bird Care Company.

The judge Mr E Davison had quite a task on his hands with some classes notably the Gouldians and Grassfinches attracting very good entries.  It was nice to see a newcomer to showing   Mel Randle who travelled all the way up from Torquay taking the top award. This he did with a very nice C.Y.O.B.  Hecks Grassfinch that was a proper showman coming to the front of the perch as if inspecting the Judge, Its feather quality was superb and shape and posture very good.

I & T Mercer had the disappointment of their top Hecks dropping its tail a few days before the show but still managed to put up several class winners also winning in the Novice Bengalese classes and Tilly again won with her Timor Zebra finches.

G & E Nancarrow as always were in the running with their Diamond Firetails taking class wins and awards in both Adult and C.Y.O.B. classes.  D & H Harris to their surprise took the top adult bird with a cock Cherry finch that again was a bird that strutted his stuff for the judge.

The Turnout of 60 birds was a good start for us at this event but hopefully next year we will be able to better this. It was good to participate in a very vibrant show and to show case our birds to to a wider audience.

The main winners are as follows.

Best In Show - M Randle - Hecks Grassfinch -  £10-00 - AFS Rosette                                       

Best Adult Australian - D & H Harris - Cherry Finch - £10-00 - AFS Rosette - Ce-De Rosette - Bird Care Supplement - Johnson & Jeff Seed

2nd Best Adult Australian - G & E Nancarrow -  Diamond Firetail - £5-00 - AFS Rosette - Bird Care Supplement - Johnson & Jeff Seed

3rd Best Adult Australian - I &T Mercer - Hecks Grassfinch - AFS Rosette - Bird Care Supplement

Best C.Y.O.B. - M Randle - Hecks Grassfinch - £10-00 - AFS Rosette - Ce-De Rosette - Bird Care Supplement - Johnson & Jeff Seed

2nd Best C.Y.O.B. - I & T Mercer - Gouldian finch - £5-00 - AFS Rosette - Bird Care Supplement - Johnson & Jeff Seed

3rd Best C.Y.O.B. - G & E Nancarrow - Diamond Firetail - AFS Rosette - Johnson & Jeff Seed

UK Classic Foreign Bird Show.
Sunday 18^th September.

This year the Australian Finch Society supported the Foreign Bird League in the running of the UK Classic show, the AFS took over the responsibility of running the Australian section of the show supplying the judge and prizes for this section and sharing the cost of running the show.

The day was a success for both societies and thanks must go to Phyllis Coe for all her efforts in arranging the venue and organising the proceedings.

The Australian section was just up on last year and this provided the newly appointed AFS panel judge Mr David Lugo with a stiff challenge. With just over 90 birds benched. 

The winners were:- 

Best Australian and best Adult Gouldian, a Black headed Blue Gouldian benched by Mrs J Mitchell,

2^nd Best Adult Australian, Blue faced parrot finches, of Mr M Plose,

3^rd Best Adult Australian, Black headed Normal Gouldian, Mr & Mrs I Mercer.

Best C.Y.O.B. Australian, Black headed Blue Gouldian, Mr & Mrs I Mercer,

2^nd Best C.Y.O.B. Australian, Black headed Normal Gouldian, Mr & Mrs I Mercer.

3^rd Best C.Y.O.B. Australian, Isabel Cherry Finch, Mr D Brown.

Best Junior, Alex Lee. Red Headed Gouldian.

As can be seen from the above the Mercer stud had a very successful day Mrs Mercer (Tilly) also won the Timor Zebra class

Mr I Mercer	Mrs J Mitchell
The Australian sections Judge, David Lugo discussing the merits of Mr D Brown’s Cherry Finch.

September 2012

The AFS is pleased to announce the appointment of:-

Mr D Lugo,

Mr G Lee,

Mr I Mercer,

To the judges panel.

The AFS is sorry to announce that due to circumstances beyond our control the joint show with the Waxbill society that was to be held on September 30th has been cancelled for this year.

 AFS Club Show 2012

The second AFS club show held at Cheswick green community centre on the 22nd of July 2012 saw a slight reduction in entries on 2011 this was due mostly to the weather and most of the current year birds still in the moult.  The numbers in adult classes were up on last year’s event, and with several new faces showing so this is promising for the future. Bird sales were down on last year but that could be down to the economic climate. Having said that the when adding all income in from catering, sales items, bird sales and new members joining on the day, the day showed a small profit.

And most important an enjoyable day was had by all. Thanks must be given to all who helped on the day especially Mick & Margo Baldry who did a sterling job with the catering keeping us all topped up with refreshments and John Boulton  the show secretary.

The Winning Hecks

The Judge on the day Mr Phil Smith had his work cut out with over 10 birds entered in some of the Grassfinch classes. The main winner of the day was, Mr & Mrs Ian Mercer with a stunning Normal Hecks Grassfinch that he had held back from his breeding program just for this event, (I dare say it will be seeing other outings now).

Mr & Mrs Ian Mercer

Gerald & Ethel Nancarrow won the top C.Y.O.B. award with an excellent Diamond fire tail.

Gerald Nancarrow

It was nice to see a junior entering as this has been missing from the society for some time  we are fortunate to have a few joining the society at the moment.

The rest of the main winners are as below.

Best in show,                                  Normal Hecks Grassfinch.              Mr & Mrs I Mercer.

Best Adult in show,                         Normal Hecks Grassfinch.            Mr & Mrs I Mercer.    And Best Adult Rad’s.

2nd Best Adult in show,                 Black head Gouldian.                      D & H Harris.

3rd Best Adult in show,                  Blue faced Parrot finch.                  Mr N J Luxon.

Best C.Y.O.B. in show,                   Diamond Firetail,                            Mr & Mrs Nancarrow.

2nd Best C.Y.O.B. in show,           Hecks Grassfinch                            Mr Mel Randall.

3rd Best C.Y.O.B. in show,            Diamond Firetail,                            Mr J Richards.

Best C.Y.O.B.  RADs                     Timor Zebra Finch.                          Mrs I Mercer.

Best Junior                                       Red head Gouldian.                        Alex Lee.

Alex Lee - Best Junior