South Hampshire December 2014

Well it’s that time of the year again and, if you can remember back to this time last year, the Social and Xmas raffle at Wellow was a great success and this year it has excelled again with a turnout of 37 members / guests! (6 Apologies).

With everyone there with a drink in hand we started with the first round of skittles before the meal, which was being served at 8pm, with Barbara Davis & Andrew McKendrick as joint leaders on 13 at the half way stage.

After the meal we had part one of the Christmas draw followed by the second round of skittles. This was played with some hilarious moments to say the least, with Andrew McKendrick winning on 27 points and his good lady Chris coming second with 24 points to win a bottle each!  Congratulations to the McKendrick household!

We then had part 2 of the draw until the conclusion of the evening, when Bill Farr, our Chairman, thanked Peter Merritt and his family for all the hard work they had put in to make the evening a success and thanked his grandson for picking up and replacing the skittles etc.

After Bill Farr our Chairman had finished our President, Mick Freeborn, thanked everyone for coming and the staff for the quality food and service they provided. He said what a good atmosphere there was in our club these days, which would stand us in good stead for the future.

He also mentioned about the superb program for next year and that we need to support the club when we have top speakers, as the club is slowly but surely growing in support.  With that said he wished everyone a good breeding season and a merry Christmas and on that note we finished the evening and wished everyone a safe journey home.

South Hampshire November 2014

Bill Farr welcomed all there (29) for our fun judging / keeping competition which started at 7.50pm.

Apologies were received from Neil Cawley, Mark Edwards and John Burton (3).

With all the birds benched and ready, Bill mentioned about the London & Southern Counties BS Inter Club competition held last Sunday afternoon and read out the results in which our club came 2nd with 31 points, only beaten by Hastings BS on 36 points. Bill thanked all the members that supported it by entering their birds as part of the team of 12 classes!

He then handed over to me to say a few words about our last meeting, which was the Members Show with our judge, Colin Callaway, who did a grand job.

With that Tony Cash explained the format for the evening, with the paperwork I had printed off to be filled in by the members; they had to assume it was their stud of birds and select 3 birds they would keep and 1 that would be sold.  They were asked to keep the paper work on them until part 2 of the evening!

After lots of lively discussion and sharing ideas it was time for a tea break. Once the break was over I asked Mick Freeborn to take part 2, in which he asked various members to come up with their selection and give their reasons for keeping / selling one bird, which was very entertaining.

As the evening was drawing to a close it was evident that 100% of the members chose the same bird to sell.  (That bird was sold at the meeting).

Mick then went on to say which birds he would pair together and the reasons why, which was very interesting, especially with a few comments from the floor as well! It was an enjoyable evening with most members participating, which is what club meetings are all about.

After that we had the raffle and then Bill, our Chairman, thanked all the members for bringing their birds.

He then closed the meeting and wished everyone a safe journey home.

South Hampshire October 2014 - Members Show

Bill Farr welcomed all there (29) for our Members Show, which started at 7.55pm. Apologies were received from Dereck Ham, Steve Cox and John Burton (3).

With all the birds benched and ready he then handed over to our judge for the evening, Colin Callaway.

Whilst the main judging was being carried out we dealt with club business and general matters regarding the Open show in 2015 and the details / decisions / recommendations made at the committee meeting held on the 10th September 2014.

After lots of lively discussion it was time for a tea break.

Part two was a general open discussion about our birds, with the problems we face every day!

As the main award judging went on Colin had members in the background watching the best in show being selected. He asked for questions and comments regarding his judging.

Our congratulations to the main winners of the evening:

• Best in Show: Jim Lawrie Cin Grey Green cock 9-1

• Best Young Bird in Show: Jim Lawrie Cobalt cock 103-2

• Best Opp Sex in Show: Martin Terry Grey Green Hen 6-2 

• Best Opp Sex YB in Show: Martin Terry Opl Cobalt Hen 108-1

• Best Champion: Jim Lawrie Cin Grey Green cock 9-1

• Best Champion YB: Jim Lawrie Cobalt cock 103-2

• Best Intermediate N/A

• Best Novice AA: Peter Merritt Grey cock 205-2  

• Best Novice YB: Peter Merritt Dom Pied cock 317-1

• Best Beginner AA: Shaun / Dee Boscoe Cobalt Spangle Hen 216-1

• Best Beginner Young Bird:  Grey cock 305-2 Mick Small

AWARD SHEET

Our thanks also to Neil Cawley, who helped our Judge and who did a great job working along side Colin!

After announcing the winners we held the raffle and then Bill, our Chairman thanked Colin for adjudicating and not accepting any ‘expenses’ and all of the members for bringing their birds.

He then closed the meeting and wished everyone a safe journey home.

South Hampshire Meeting September 2014 - Barbeque

Bill Farr welcomed all there (21) for the ‘unshowable bird’ evening, which started at 7.55pm.

Apologies were received from John Mullen, Mark Edwards, Martin Terry, Peter Church, Brian Bailey, Wally Sheppard, Ray Nichols and John Burton (8).

Before we got into the birdie bit we talked about the success of the Open Show and the work that was put in by many members! We made a profit of over £200 pounds on the event, after giving free entry and rewards to exhibitors for benching their birds.

The bird auction raised £640, which, along with a good profit on the food sales (we had a sponsor for the bacon), helped to balance the books. It was hard work on the day, but with 763 benched it proved to be worth it. (Next year who knows?)

We then started the evening’s events, with me asking for a volunteer to give an appraisal of the birds benched.  Needless to say there was a rush to do this (!) and after a while Steve Cox was pushed / talked into it by Mick Freeborn. Rather then talk only on the faults of the birds he started by picking some of the birds he would use in the breeding pen, giving his reasons why.  This was very entertaining and useful and Steve said it was paramount to keep good records to keep track of the faults in your stud.

In part two he continued along the same lines, with various comments on the different faults on the birds if they were shown at an Open show. I had a bird covered up for most of the evening, which was attracting some attention from some of the members.   I gave it to Steve to put up on the staging (it was an old model of the ideal budgie) so that members could see the deportment / style compared to the real birds there! Steve carried on describing the faults against the model, with many comments from the floor, so we had a very interesting evening. Thanks to those that brought birds along and to Steve Cox for his observations! The raffle raised £28.00 and the Christmas draw takings were £60.00, ready for the December Christmas Draw! The meeting finished at approx 9.58pm with the raffle and all were wished a safe journey home.

South Hampshire Meeting August 2014 - Barbeque

Bill Farr welcomed all there (32) at the BBQ at Peter Merritts house, which started from 7pm.  Apologies were received from Neil Cawley and John Burton.

Tables, chairs and gazeboes were set up outside in the garden as Peter cooked mouth watering sausages and burgers (the chicken had already been cooked).  Peter and Chris provided various dishes to go with the meals, including coleslaw, rice, potato salad and a mixed salad of tomatoes, lettuce, etc. The desert was equally mouth watering!  Everyone sat down together for a lovely social evening (including the free drinks) all out of club funds, as we are trying to give back something to the members!

The raffle raised £48.00 and the Christmas draw takings were £76.00, ready for the December Christmas Draw.

Mick Freeborn, our President, said thanks to Chris & Peter for all their work in cooking / preparing the food and well done to all members that attended the evening - it was great!

Once again, we all showed our appreciation to Chris & Peter!

The BBQ finished at approx 9.50pm with the raffle and all were wished all a safe journey home.

South Hampshire Meeting July 2014

Steve Bailey, our Vice Chairman, opened the meeting and welcomed all there (23).  Apologies were read out from Bill Farr, Neil Cawley, Chris & Kerrie Bellows and John Burton.

I must say that most had the top 4 birds in some order or other, which goes to prove that you are all getting an eye for a good bird.

Tony also mentioned that our web site was up to date!

The winning birds on the evening were:

·         Best Bird: Martin Terry with a Cobalt Cock

·         Best Opp. Sex :  Martin Terry with a Grey Hen

Well done and thank you to all who brought birds on the evening!

The meeting finished at 9.55pm with the raffle. Steve thanked all members and closed the meeting, wishing all a safe journey home.

South Hampshire Meeting June 2014

The winners on the evening were:

Best in Show: Jim Lawrie with a Cin Green Cock

Best Opp. Sex : Dee Boscoe with an Opal Cin Green Hen

Best Young Bird: Jim Lawrie with a Grey Green Cock

Well done to all who brought birds on the evening!

The meeting finished at 10pm with the raffle. Bill thanked all members and closed the meeting, wishing all a safe journey home.

South Hampshire Meeting May 2014

Bill Farr, our Chairman, opened the meeting and welcomed all there (24), including Malcolm Parsons our Judge for the evening (who had travelled down with Roy Powell for company).  Apologies were read out from Ray Nichols, Steve Bailey and John Burton.

With the birds benched, Malcolm started judging (with Steve Cox acting as chief steward), whilst we dealt with club business.

Bill then handed over to Tony Cash to give a brief of the format for the evening, which was asking Malcolm to choose Best Young Bird overall and Best Opposite Sex, as well as section winners and Specials.

I also mentioned that our web site still had a member’s profile section and if members sent me their pictures and a brief of themselves I would add them in along with the first profile, which was Neil Cawleys!

At the last meeting we had held a Pairs competition with Steve Bailey judging, so I read out the minutes of the meeting.   There were no comments and the minutes were taken as a true account of the meeting. We went on to discuss all the new ‘maybe’ proposals from the BS meetings held over last weekend, which made for a very lively debate.

Malcolm had finished his judging by the break, so after refreshments he gave a detailed assessment of the birds he had chosen, with a Grey Cock up as Best Bird, saying it had some growing to do to become a super budgie!

Malcolm then started to give comments regarding the quality of the birds benched and the faults and good features that were in front of him.  He also gave the reason why he had chosen the Opal Grey Green hen as Best Opposite Sex. (Ticked)

With each bird commented on, along with comments from various members, he then took questions from the floor.  There were lots of positive and interesting comments, so ‘well done’ to all the winners. 

The winners on the evening were:

·        Best Young Bird: Jim Lawrie with a Grey Cock (Best Champion)

·        Best Opp. Sex Young Bird: Peter Merritt with an Opal Grey Green Hen (Best Novice)

·        Best Intermediate Bird: N/A

·        Best Novice Young Bird: Peter Merritt with an Opal Grey Green Hen

·        Best Beginner Bird: Mick Small with a Sky Cock

·        Best Barhead: Malcolm & Pam Freemantle (Grey Clearflight)

·        Best Clearwing:  Malcolm & Pam Freemantle

·        Best Spangle : Bill Farr

·        Best Pied: Tony Cash

·        Best Blue & Green series: Jim Lawrie

·        Best AOC: Neil Cawley

Best Barhead

Best Young Bird

Best Opposite Sex

Well done to Malcolm for his Judging and to all who brought birds on the evening!

The meeting finished at 9.50 with the raffle. Bill thanked all members and closed the meeting, wishing all a safe journey home.

South Hampshire Meeting April 2014

Tony also showed / passed around a copy of our latest open show schedule on 10th August 2014, which will be F.O.C. on all entries, with monetary rewards for benching 12 Cages and also for 20 Cages (as last year). He then gave a brief of the format for the evening, which was asking everyone to pair up the birds as if they were the only birds in their stud and then keep their judging slips on them until asked in part 2 to bring them up to compare with Steve’s pairings. After 30 minutes Steve had finished judging the pairings, so all started to judge and we also had the tea break and general chat at same time.

We then asked Steve to position his best 4 pairs and give us his comments regarding the quality of the birds benched and the faults and good features that were in front of him.  He also said why he had chosen his pairings.  In trying to balance the good features and faults out, he gave his ideas for improving the birds, bearing in mind that he didn’t know the background / pedigree of them.

We had breeders there from top champions like Steve Cox to beginners like Mark Edwards, who is still building his birdroom (no birds yet but he did alright!), so it was nice to see the interaction between them all.  The winners on the evening were the 26 members who attended the meeting (one new member in Matt Casson, so welcome Matt).

Well done to all of the above on having a good eye for pairing up and thanks for bringing your birds.

We then had a raffle and Bill thanked all members and closed the meeting, wishing all a safe journey home.

South Hampshire Meeting March 2014

Bill Farr, our Chairman, opened the meeting and welcomed all there. Apologies were read out from John Burton - 27 Members Attended.

South Hampshire Minutes of AGM 2013

These were read out as above to all members by John Mullen and there were no comments.

Minutes taken as true account of AGM 2013: (Proposed by Neil Cawley – Seconded by Paul Gover)

The President’s Report: The President, Pam Freemantle, started by saying a thank you to everyone connected to the club for the work they did and apologised if she had forgotten anyone.  She said that both Mick Freeborn and Peter Merritt had put in a tremendous amount of work over the year to ensure that South Hampshire BS remained one of the best clubs in the south and that there had been some great meetings with entertaining speakers.

Chairpersons Report: Bill Farr said he had enjoyed the year very much and that having good speakers made it even better. He went on to thank his committee for all of their hard work during the year. He said he was a little disappointed that we didn’t gain Gold Status for our open show with 623 entered and hoped that we would do better this year.

General Secretary’s report: Tony Cash started by thanking the committee for all their work during the year, which had contributed to the success of the club. He said the club had picked up 4 new members during the year and now had 39 members. All of the meetings had been reasonably well attended during the year because of the quality of the program / speakers and he hoped this would continue during 2014 and beyond.

Treasurer’s report and Membership: Peter Merritt went through the profit and loss/balance sheet reports that had been given out to members. Peter said that, compared to 2012, there were not a lot of differences and he gave a full detailed explanation of the accounts that showed an overall profit of £360.03. (Accounts Proposed by John Mullen– Seconded by Mick Small)

South Hampshire Meeting February 2014

Bill Farr, our Chairman, opened the meeting and welcomed all there. Apologies were read out from John Burton.

Birds were benched and ready:  (Colour competition: Any Cinnamon!)

We then introduced our guest speakers for the night, Malcolm Parsons from Worthing & Tony Jeffrey from Newhaven.   Malcolm was doing part one of the evening with a power point presentation on, “I did it my way” and after the break Tony was going to do a profile on himself regarding how he came in to Budgies !

Malcolm Parsons

Malcolm brought along the 2007 Sky cock of the late Allen Wyness, which had won several BIS’s, for comparison to the competition birds of the evening so that members could see the changes /advancement the birds had made today.

While Malcolm started his presentation Tony judged the birds ready for comments later! There were many interesting products as part of Malcolm’s way of looking after his stock to the best he could, sparing no expense.  His various medications covered all aspects of the diseases we encounter with our hobby and he had managed to obtain most from this country with the odd few from Australia (Waga Waga).  He went on to explain where & why he had brought in various stock to improve his stud - his recent trip up to the Midlands & North of the country was to bring in a new line to work with. (SLIDES)

We then had a break for refreshments and general chat amongst ourselves, catching up with the latest gossip / news.

As stated, during the second part of the evening we asked several members to express their views on the birds and all agreed with the positions that Tony had placed them in, with the 2007 Sky cock of the late Allen Wyness BIS bird still in first position and David Rice’s Cin Grey Green Hen coming 2nd (Tony said if it was fit it he would have placed it in 1st position). The Sky’s tail was just touching the floor of the cage, would some Judges now deem this to be a long flighted bird?

BIS Sky-blue

Tony Jeffrey then carried on about how he came into the hobby after seeing a page full of Spangles in the December 2000 Issue 220 of Budgie World and an article on Tony Cash (embarrassed), which he passed around to the members to view. His said his other love was show / fancy pigeons, which take up a lot of his time, as well as Janet, his partner, having birds of prey which she fly’s in Horsham at a garden centre. After lots of interesting comments & questions we had run out of time again!

We all (25) had a lovely evening listening to our speakers and talking about this great hobby of ours and many thanks to all that brought birds for the meeting.

Bill Farr then thanked our speakers, as we all did.  He then closed the meeting and wished everyone a safe journey home.

South Hampshire Meeting January 2014

Steve Bailey, the Vice Chairman, opened the meeting and welcomed all there. Apologies were read out from John Burton, John Mullen, Nigel Darley, Kevin Burnett, Pam Freemantle, Dee Boscoe, and Bill Farr.

With 14 birds benched and ready Steve mentioned about a box of birdie things he had brought along to auction, which were from a friend of his who had closed down his shop.

Steve then handed over to Tony Cash to explain the format for the evening, which was talking about our breeding problems and medications in the first session, then looking and talking about the birds that Paul Gover was going to judge during the first part of the evening.

With lots of discussion on day old chicks dying and various ways to eradicate this we went on to talk about all sorts of problems, as well as feeding methods etc.  Jim Lawrie said he had a few birds in the flight going light, which brought up all types of diseases and medicines to treat them.  Below are some of the medicines mentioned:

Treatments/ Medicines:

·        Terramycin - As directed

·        Doxybiotic-s - As directed

·        Ronivet-s - 2Grams to 2 Litres

·        Triple C - As directed

·        Orego-Stim -100% Natural Supplement

·        Amoxicllin - As directed

·        Baytril Oral - As directed

·        Ornicure Sachets - As directed

·        Harkers 3 in 1 (Trichomoniasis /Canker /Coccidiosis)

·        Mega –S  (Waga Waga in Australia)

·        Dac – Combi Powder    (Trichomoniasis /Canker /Coccidiosis)

I had printed off various sheets of information I had collated on birds’ illness & stress / feeding, which were placed on the table for members to read and for me to email to them if requested.

We held the auction, which raised £24, with the remaining bits being taken by a member to the Totton CBS meeting, as mainly canary pans etc.

Neil Cawley took to the floor to explain about the Dorset BS Spring Convention and Show to be held on the 16th March to celebrate Roy Aplin having been BS President in 2013 (I will send this info out on a separate sheet).  He also mentioned that Dorset is having an inter-club quiz on the 24th July and that we are invited to enter a team of 6. This is to be confirmed.

After this we asked several members to express their views on the birds and all agreed with the positions that Paul had placed them in.

Peter Merritt then gave a demonstration on the new alarm he had purchased for £50, complete with remote control, after which he took orders for 10 more from members! (Thanks Peter).

We all (19) had a lovely evening talking about this great hobby of ours and many thanks to all that brought birds for the meeting!

After the raffle Steve Bailey thanked every body.  He then closed the meeting and wished everyone a safe journey home.