AUSTRALIAN FINCH SOCIETY ALL FINCH OPEN SHOW 2009
The Australian Finch
Society Open Show was held in conjunction with the Budgerigar Society Club Show, and was
heralded as a magnificent exhibition of Foreign Birds. Exhibitors came from all corners of
The Best Australian Finch and Best Adult Australian Finch was deemed to be a super fit Star Finch from the stud of Mr & Mrs Baldry , which had fought off strong competition from the many varieties that were on display. The same Exhibitors took the award for Third Best Adult Australian Finch with a beautiful Red Headed Gouldian Cock, and also came out in front of a class of 6 Bicheno Finches.
Mr & Mrs Baldry with their Star
Finches
Norman Chapman took the
Award for Second Best Adult Australian with a well prepared Parson Finch, and Bill Gregory
put out a very strong team which yielded 3 Class Winners. There were 2 Wins for Gary
Wincomb , and further wins for Ian Mercer, George Priestley, G &E Nancarrow, S & J
Fisher, and Lisa Barnsdale.
Lisa Barnsdale with the Best Common
Seedeater
The Current Year Bred
Australian Finch Awards were spread out both in terms of Exhibitors and Variety of Birds.
A Diamond Firetail was selected as the Winner of this section, and it really looked the
part. It was benched by Simon Moore, who also took the Class for Diamond Firetail Colour
Variants. Ian Mercer was Second Best Current Year Bred Australian with a well balanced
Gouldian Cock, as well as winning the White Breasted Gouldian Class. Third Best Current
Year Bred Australian Finch belonged to G & L Lockington, which was a Hecks Grassfinch.
To continue the trend, this Partnership also took the Class for Hecks Colour Variants.
There was good wins for Mr & Mrs Massey, Gary Wincomb , Carson & Walker,
and G & E Nancarrow.
Simon Moore with his Diamond Firetail
winners
The Best Australian Pairs
Specials were both awarded to Gouldian Pairs belonging to Ian Mercer (Adult) and Gary
Wincomb (Current Year Bred )
All in all, the Australian
Section attracted many admirers and the Sales Section could have sold many times more than
the Birds which were available.
The Common Seedeaters were
headed by a Pair of Chocolate Silverbills from the stud of Lisa Barnsdale . They were
Awarded the Best Common Seedeater and Best Current Year Bred Common Seedeater, and Lisa
also took the Colour Variant Class. The Awards in this section were dominated somewhat ,
with Mr & Mrs Massey taking the Second Best Current Year Bred Common Seedeater Award
with a Pair of Bronze Winged Manikins as well as 2 other Classes. Norman Chapman took
Third Best with a fine Pair of Java Sparrows and winning 3 other Classes.
The Adult Common
Seedeaters saw S & J Fisher’s Green Singing Finch come out on top, with further
wins for Mr & Mrs Massey, Lisa Barnsdale, G & L Lockington, Karen Simpson and
Norman Chapman who continued a successful run by heading no fewer the 4 Classes in this
section.
The Rare Seedeaters were a
fascination to the many visitors to the Show, and Simon Moore took major honours in this
Section. His Red Headed Finch was given the Premiere Award of Best Rare Seedeater and Best
Current Year Bred Rare Seedeater, and to confirm his status he took the Award for Third
Best. S & J Fisher took the Second Best with a Pair of Mollucan Manikins.
The Adult Rare Seedeaters
were fronted by Derek Mercer’s Mollucan Manikin , and Carson & Walker took the
Weaver Class.
Zebra Finches and
Bengalese were present at this Show for the first time, and Organizers were pleased with
the first attempt to incorporate them.
The Award for Best Zebra
Finch went to the Novice Section, with Gary Wincomb sweeping all before him. Best Zebra,
Best Novice Adult, & Best Novice Breeder were all annexed by this Stud. The winning
Birds were Normals ( Adult ) and Chestnut Flanked Whites ( Breeder ). Mr &
Mrs Cowling and S & J Fisher were also Class Winners.
Gary Wincomb with his Zebras
The Champion Zebra Section
saw Dave Paine’s Lightbacks take the Breeder Award, and L Short’s Normals take
the Adult Prize.
Paul Cook took the
Top Awards in the Champion Bengalese Section with some quality Birds. He took the Best
Bengalese and Best Champion Adult Bengalese with a Pair of Dilutes, and also the Best
Champion Breeder with a Pair of Fawn and Whites.
Paul Cook with his Best Champion
Bengalese
The Novice Bengalese
Section saw Mr & Mrs Cowling take both Adult & Breeder Awards with Chocolate and
White Birds. They won a total of 3 Classes, with the other Classes going to Ian Mercer
(2), Trevor Woodruff(2), & Karen Simpson.
The Judges at the Event were Phil Smith (Australian), Geoff Gradwell ( Rare & Common Seedeaters ) Dennis Webster ( Zebras ) and Rick Crook ( Bengalese ).
The aim of the Breeders Award Scheme is to encourage members of the
Australian Finch Society to breed their finches, a simple enough ethos (this will also
encompass all Foreign Finches kept by members) it will also help promote greater
participation by members in the activities of the society.
We are not trying to encourage a ‘factory farming’ mentality or
the mass production of foster reared finches, we should however recognise that with
increased knowledge available about breeding techniques and more awareness of the birds
requirements we are able to produce more finches. Anyone who can consistently breed
quality finches, especially if they are parent reared should be recognised for their
contribution.
Even if you don’t care to be recognised for your efforts, the society cares about what you are doing to advance the hobby and wants to recognise you for it. The effort to participate is minimal all you have to do is report your breeding successes. So join in and make a positive contribution to the future of our hobby and the Australian Finch Society. Be proud of your achievements.
January 2009
The
Australian Finch Society All Finch Open Show was
held in conjunction with the Budgerigar Society World Championship Show at The Dome in
Even though the show was organised at short notice it was well supported by exhibitors of Australian Finches, Common & Rare Seedeaters and looks set to establish itself as an event that is not to be missed.
The quality of the exhibits was outstanding, with every bird benched a serious contender for specials.
The Australian Finch Section was led by Gary Wincomb’s pair of Bicheno Finches, which were well matched, steady and of good colour. These birds also took the award for Best Current Year Owner Bred Australian and Best Current Year Owner Bred Australian Pair. 2nd Best Current Year Owner Bred Australian was awarded to a Hen Cherry Finch exhibited by Lisa Barnsdale which was well marked and steady. 3rd Best Current Year Owner Bred Australian went to Gerald & Ethel Nancarrow with a pair of Diamond Firetails which were of good colour and well matched.
|
|
Pictures of the Finch Section |
|
|
|
Section Winners |
|
The Adult Australian Section was led by another Bicheno from the Wincomb Stud followed by a Chestnut Breasted Mannikin benched by Steven Fisher. 3rd Best Adult Australian was awarded to a Cherry Finch Cock staged by Gary Wincomb. The final award in this section for Best Adult Australian Pair was won by Lisa Barnsdale with a pair of Hecks Grassfinches.
Class winners in the Australian Finch Section included Mick & Margo Baldry, George Priestley, Lisa Barnsdale, Gary Wincomb, Mr & Mrs R Crook, P & N Setterington, Gerald & Ethel Nancarrow and Steven Fisher.
Competition was strong in this section with many birds that would have won specials elsewhere just missing out. Particularly pleasing were the large classes of Gouldian Finches that attracted a lot of attention from visitors to the show.
The Common Seedeater Section was dominated by Silverbills with a pair of Chocolate African Silverbills leading the way for Lisa Barnsdale. These birds, which were well matched and extremely well coloured, also gained the award for Best Current Year Owner Bred Common Seedeater. 2nd Best and 3rd Best Current Year Owner Bred Common Seedeater were also awarded to Lisa Barnsdale with a pair of Chocolate African Silverbills and a Normal African Silverbill respectively.
Best Adult Common Seedeater was won by Steven Fisher with a well marked Normal African Silverbill.
Class winners in the Common Seedeater Section included Steven Fisher, Lisa Barnsdale and P & N Setterington.
To the fore in the Rare Seedeater Section was an immaculate Red Headed Finch staged by Gerald & Ethel Nancarrow. This bird was also awarded Best Current Year Owner Bred Rare Seedeater. 2nd Best Current Year Owner Bred Rare Seedeater was another Red Headed Finch, this time staged by Steven Fisher. A Pearl Dusky Mannikin won the award for 3rd Best Current Year Owner Bred Rare Seedeater for Mr & Mrs R Crook.
Best Adult Rare Seedeater was awarded to a delighted Richard Carson with his Taha Weaver.
Class winners in the Rare Seedeater Section included Richard Carson, Steven Fisher, P & N Setterington, Mr & Mrs R Crook and Gerald & Ethel Nancarrow.
 Best CYOB Common Seedeater – Lisa Barnsdale |
 Best Adult Common Seedeater – Steven Fisher |
|
|
Judges : Graham Lockington & Phil Smith
Thanks to all of the exhibitors for their support and especially the hard working stewards.
 Lisa Barnsdale – Best Common Seedeater |
 Gary Wincomb – Best Australian |
 Gerald Nancarrow – Best Rare Seedeater |
 One of the trophies that could be won at the show |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
