South Western Zebra Finch Club

South Western Zebra Finch Club: 2023 Summer Show Report

With 102 entries to be judged by two judges, the South Western Zebra Finch Club’s Open Summer Show held at the Kenn Centre Kennford near Exeter, has gone from strength to strength despite Covid and Bird Flu prevailing over the last few years with some exhibitors traveling from Wales, Bristol and Cornwall.

There were: 27 Champion Adults, 4 Champion Breeders, 23 Novice Adults, 12 Novice Breeders, 2 Junior Adults and 3 Junior Breeders which were ably judged by Adrian Wills (Cornwall) with 16 Bengalese Finches shown in two classes ‘Self’ and ‘Dilute’ and 11 Foreign Bird entries which were judged by Derrick Bates (also from Cornwall)

In the Zebra Finch section, the ‘Best In Show’ went to Huw Davies for the 3^rd year (of shows) in succession. With this year’s pair of Normals which also took the Best of Colour Award He was also awarded ‘Best Champion’ in Show and took the award for ‘Best Any Other Standard Variety’ with a pair of Black Breasted.

2^nd Best In Show and Best of Colour went to Alex Norris with his beautiful Pied pair and also Best of Colour for his Fawns. And was proclaimed Best Novice.

In 3^rd place of the run down and again winner of Best Colour was Mark England’s sparkling Whites. (This was Mark’s first show since his return to the hobby. Congratulations Mark)

4^th place was awarded to P & J Paintain which was also Best of Colour for Dilutes. (Silvers)

5^th Best in Show and Best of Colour for Chestnut Flanked White (CFW) was Gareth Hollings who added this win to his recent wins at Camborne. (Well done Gareth)

6^th was Huw Davies with his Black Breasted pair which were also Best of Colour.

7^th position went to Mason Rigden with his Penguin pair and also awarded Best New Colour for his Orange Breasted/Black Breasted, Black Faced Normal.

Also well worth a mention, although not in the Best In Show rundown was Cairo Murdoch who achieved the ‘Best Junior’ award for his CFW entry and also one of the winners of the Haith’s bird seed vouchers.

Meanwhile in other sections of the show: Of the two classes for Bengalese (Self and Dilute) the winner of both classes was Adrian Wills, who was also awarded a Haith’s voucher. In the Foreign Section the winner was Alex Norris with a superb ‘Spice Bird’ (judge’s comments)

In his closing speech, Chairman Paul Paintain congratulated all the winners, and thanked all who entered birds and also those who turned up to help which had led to a fantastic show overall. He said that the club greatly appreciated the Rosette sponsorship from Hugh Davies and from Haith’s seed for their Rosettes and voucher sponsorship. Looking at the income generated, it was thought that the show hadn’t lost which could only be a good thing and able to be used as part of the 60^th Anniversary show in September costs.

Andy Nethercott

Publicity and Website.

SWZFC