Northdowns BS Photogallery

Just a quick postscript, we wish Gerald's wife Joyce a speedy recovery from eye surgery. Also Tony from his hip replacement on 12 Dec.

I spoke to Defra prior to the meeting, explaining about our club’s pairs judging competition at Northdowns BS and giving them all the details, my contact number, the format in which it would be presented to the members and our Bio Security conforming to BS rulings. Defra said if there were any problems they would contact me direct.

Having received no calls from them by 6pm our evening’s entertainment went ahead, with our President Elect, Gerald Binks, doing the honours of placing the pairings from 1 - 10 in the order in which he thought would produce the best youngsters. He also chose the best cock & hen from any cage as the overall best pair and indicated which bird he would take home if given the choice.

Once decided it was now the members task to try and match Geralds choice, if possible, which turned out a fun time for all because of the pairings in front of them. It was agreed that condition was not to be taken into account, it was the features of the birds themselves that counted.

When all slips had been collected the nearest to Gerald’s selection was Mick Mapston, who was congratulated by everyone.

The seating and bird tables were then rearranged so that Gerald could put the birds in order of merit and explain the reasons for their placing and point out the various good and poor features within each pairing [in his opinion].

All in all it was a very enjoyable social evening, which is what club nights should be. Our thanks again to Gerald for judging and entertaining us and our good wishes for the 2nd edition of his book, The Challenge, which should be with us in the spring of 2006.

Our Chairman introduced our speakers, Pat & Gren Norris, who went on to explain the evening’s format, which was a film show with comments about the birds and the various features they were putting into them.

Gren was the ‘flicker’ as Pat pointed out the back ground and blood lines and where they came from. They spoke about the two very bad breeding seasons they had experienced, having bred only 7 one year and 43 the next. However, they had rung 170 this year, without any Lutinos producing. They said they had brought in new stock, with the cocks having long flight characteristics to enhance the length of the birds & hens that sat very upright without being heavy under neath[as these are the type that do not breed] but both sexes have to have blow on head feathers. Gren said to be very carefull not to double up on long flight birds[not for beginners]

The use of a good cock to several hens is critical to building a good stud. Up to four hens will be used with certain cock birds to produce the desired features in the chicks. We then touched on A.I., which is used abroad in certain countrys which produces very good birds [peas in pods] but may end with a strain that will not breed themselves in the future. TEA TIME

After the break, which had lots of disscussion going on, Gren started talking about their light Green 2001 rung which kept breeding ‘good uns’. When the bird returned to the flight for rest he looked poor and bullied other birds so it was best to carry on using him and get good chicks.

They both talked about the importance of their dark factor birds, also about putting a dark green pied cock into their lutinos for double factor = cobalts. They said that if albinos popped up it wouldn’t be a problem if the quality was good.

We ended with a questions and answers session which was not dull to say the least and very informative.

With the raffle drawn and kindest thanks to our guests the evening closed. There was thanks from the floor to Chris Angus-Smith for entertaining and feeding our guests before the meeting and for donating the funds for their bed & breakfast.

Although in a partnership they kept their birds as two separate studs, which allowed them to have their own outcrosses within the partnership. Phil has not kept birds for the last twelve months, but still keeps involved and up to date with the fancy.

George, on the other hand, has a passion for good Light Greens, which is the toughest class to win. George was also in a partnership for 7 or 8 years, which had the advantage of his partner being able to check and help to show the birds when he was on shift work. He let go all of his blue stock to concentrate on the greens and his fortune changed when he swapped a bird with the late Jim Moffett [Goodun]. George went on to talk about the spangle and how we are spoiling them by using Opalines & Cinnamons, which is diluting markings and colour.

Both speakers said not to leave it to long before getting back to having an open show, as Northdowns was one of the better shows in the country, run very professionally with good entries. There were lots of questions and answers in the final session, including the mention of bringing back prize money to help swell show entries. All enjoyed our guests and the way they came across.

This was well attended by members plus two new members joined, although there were not as many birds as expected for our appointed Judge of the evening, Ron Payne and Show Secretary Nigel Darley.

We asked Ron to explain the judging and comment as he went along, on the style of the American judging system, with members sitting in front of the birds. Everyone enjoyed this.

Winners:
Best Budgerigar: Geoff Dell D/Factor Spangle
Best B/Head:        Jackie Fox Albino
Best Champion:    Geoff Dell
Best Intermiate:    John Harvey

All had a good social evening with plenty of interaction and discussions about shows and breeding problems. Mick Mapston was busy selling his wares, as you can see from the photos.

Next month’s speaker(s) has changed because we have changed our evening to Wednesday and Marcel was travelling over Wednesday evening. Instead we have George Booth & Phil Proctor, so hope to see you all for another good evening.

Our Members show will be on Sunday 2nd October in conjuction with Basingstoke CBS at Tadley. All paid up members will be sent a schedule, which will include Northdowns awards. Our thanks to the committee of Basingstoke CBS for the invitation to join them. This type of event must be the way forward; pehaps 3 or more clubs should come together on members / young stock shows, which would ease the burden on the finances and for the people having to carry out the work?

I have also been asked for your support, so don’t forget, the Western Premier Specialist and Rare Variety Budgerigar Show on Sunday 18th September to be held at Claverton Down Community Hall, Bath.

	Ken talked about his start and how he got to his present status. He said he didn't buy a stud because he didn't have the experience or know how to get the best from a stud. He brought different birds from all over UK and built up friendships with true breeders to which he goes back to get out crosses. He has brick built bird room 20`x20` with uncovered flights, box in box nest boxes with seed hoppers as Jo Mannes. Has visited Jo last year and this year for out crosses [said his stud is superb] pairs birds on visual first then looks at blood lines with the cock put in breeding cage on own while looking for suitable hen to balance pairing, plucks vents and thinks this enhances his results. States that you need to breed numbers to give yourselves a choice at selection time.Tries to remove chicks at 40 days and straight into purpose made flight and keeps close eye on them.Has also repaired pairs used at last years breeding if results are good and will continual to do so. Believes section time to champion at current levels is correct to gain the experience required to stay there, but added fast tracking to being a judge could be a benefit.

On a lovely summer’s evening we were entertained by Gerald & Joyce Binks, who laid on refreshments to suit the weather.

Once in the birdroom Gerald started his talk on his stud to date, commenting on the various blood lines and feather types he had brought in from Europe from three different studs which he has now blended into his own birds. This was evident from the style of birds we were looking at.

We had the pleasure of looking at 14 pairs in show cages put up for us to veiw and comment on/disscuss, including new stock which displayed boxey heads and horizontal feathering, unlike the normal British budgie.

For those who turned up it was a very enjoyable learning curve and an insight into what can be achieved when dedicated to this great hobby.

Roger Carr - March 05	Roy Aplin - April 05	Ken Fagan - May 05	Young Stock Show - June 05
George Booth & Phil Proctor - July 05	Aviary Visit G. Binks - August 05	Pat & Gren Norris September 05	Judging Competition October 05
Bring & Buy Evening - November 05	December Social Evening