British Pigeon Show Society/NPA National Show

Firstly I’d like to thank all the fanciers who commented on how much they enjoyed the show in December. Those comments are much appreciated by myself as secretary and all the BPSS and NPA committee members who organised the National Show. I guess we all don’t like change that much, but the show is now settled at Pickering, increasing in entries and exhibitors each year, has a sound platform to build on, and no amount of misguided rumours are going to alter that. During the show I actually didn’t hear much mention of Doncaster, except for the amount of comments that the old Doncaster “ buzz” was back. This was no doubt due to the show being spread out to virtually fill the hall, plus the extra fanciers at the show. The separate judging areas for the Fantails and the Long Faced Clean Legged and Muffed Tumblers worked very well and there is plenty of space for other breeds or breed groups to have a similar layout. Myself and David Knaggs who is in charge of the penning arrangements have already been asked if a separate section can be laid out for the blower breeds. I see no problem with this, also why not one for the Jacobins and other breeds that use walking pens, as they lend themselves to it ideally. Where else do we have the space to have this type of arrangement in the UK. Let’s use it to the full.

In total at the show there were 2135 entries from 154 exhibitors, both up again on the 2008 show, and I’m sure we can get to the figure of around 2500 at the 2010 show. Taking into account the average of birds entered by exhibitors is just under 14, it would only take another 26 exhibitors to reach that total, or if I’m not dreaming too much another 62 exhibitors to pass 3000 entries. Once again there were several overseas visitors with 6 exhibitors from the Netherlands and one from Ireland. Most intend on exhibiting again at the next show with hopefully several more if the exchange rate with the Euro is more favourable.

A full list of the major prize winners at the show is published elsewhere, but special mention and congratulations must go to Alvin Moreton for taking the top prize of Best in Show with a superb Archangel, which was also Best Young Bird. Reserve Best in Show and also a young bird was an excellent barred Voorburg Cropper owned by Billy Telford. Well done both of you. Best in Show judges were BPSS Presidents Mary and Alan Roscoe, Dennis Van Doorn from the Netherlands and Robin Pratt who picked the leading two birds from the Best in Show line up of the seven major section winners, the other contenders being a Frillback, Muffed Tumbler, African Owl, Dragoon and Show Racer. A new perpetual award presented for the first time at the show by BPSS chairman Mike Knaggs for the Best BPSS Members Exhibit, was won by John and Beverley Elsdon with a blue chequer Dragoon.

Another first for the show was the NPA ring nomination scheme that got off to a good start and paid out £320 in cash prizes. There was good competition in some of the award sections and I’m sure that the ring nomination scheme will continue to grow this year and be popular with serious breeders, and become a permanent fixture at the National Show. The more fanciers enter the scheme, the more the prize fund will be. Graham bates the NPA publicity officer will be publishing the full results elsewhere in the website.

I’m very pleased to say that through the new charity auction the BPSS were able to give an extra £87 to our nominated charity the NSPCC. The ladies on the door who take the admission charges and issue pass out tickets are all NSPCC volunteers, and I’m sure all fanciers will agree the donations the show gives them is a worthy cause. I would like to thank all those breeders who put birds into the auction, especially those who expressed a wish to donate their share of the sale price to charity.

As secretary it made my work load much easier in the show office with the help I received, so I would like to thank Beverley Elsdon, Gill Robson, Richard Gray, Colin Jeckell, Paul Littlewood and Graham Giddings, if he didn’t already have enough to do, for their help. Also Barbara Young and Gerald Herdsman for doing such a good job selling raffle tickets, Sheila Wilkinson for helping out when I was at the NPA AGM and the rest of the BPSS committee who fed and watered all the show birds, and everyone else who helped make the show run so smoothly. Every little helps. I’d also like to thank Evan Murray for all his help, especially for supplying the micro-phone and speaker system.

Finally I would like of offer special appreciation and thanks to BPSS chairman and Show Manager Mike Knaggs for all his support and behind the scenes help throughout the year. Not just me, but all supporters of the show owe this man a huge debt of gratitude.

The date for the 2010 show held at the Pickering venue is 4th & 5th December. I look forward to seeing you there.

Richard Henderson, BPSS secretary.