The 65th World show, held in Almeria, Spain was a huge success for TEAM COM-UK, taking 229 birds from 39 members. There were 36 IOA members, 1 affiliated member and 2 from the NCA. First point needs to be made, with out these breeders help no one would have got to the show or won medals – Perter Sherlock from COM-Eire and Eddie Darcy from COM-Eire a huge thanks from me, as we shared their transport to and from the show. Without their help COM-UK would have struggled, a round trip of 6000 kilo meters. Please also remeber the work Gary Mann put in to taking birds in, getting box’s ready and taking time off work. Winners please note, some seem to forget and only praise winners. At the show, we had help stewarding the birds for the first time from Gibraltar, John Canpea, Manolo Suetto and Alan Robinson my heart felt thanks for all your work in helping COM-UK. Congratulations go to IOA member, gloster breeder Ian Wright (from Middlesbrough) who passed his OMJ judging test for section E with flying colours after a lot of hard work.
The London Fancy canary was presented for the COM/OMJ to accept it as a new race, 12 birds in total were put before a panel of 5 judges, 8 single birds and 1 stamm. Com-UK’s OMJ person Simon Tammam gave a first class presentation on the bird, but unfortunately he was fighting a losing battle. The birds were just not good enough, only 2 out of the 12 looked like the standard which was given to the judges. 8 birds in total were not even judged and got 0 marks, the 8 which failed were not clear bodied as the standard says, in fact it was not good for the UK or the bird. The 2 top birds came from a breeder in Holland and I was told by the OMJ person to come back in 10 years time with 20 birds like the 2 who scored points, so I think this may be the end of the line, we were a laughing stock.
The show had a total entry of 26,000, but once again birds from Turkey were not allowed into Spain by their health people because the paper work was not correct. So, the show got off to a bad start. For me, the 39 exhibitors from the UK are all winners because at least they par took and only the lucky few can win a medal. For me, one of the stars has to be Border breeder Mick King, he sent 4 birds and won 2 gold medals no mean feat, also IOA member and first time exhibitor Chris Driver won 1 Gold and 1 Silver with his new colours again no mean feat. This is the first time for over 20 years we have won a COM world show medal. In the Irish section, Geoff White won medals along with Maurice O’Conner but they are now not having it all their own way as other breeders are now overtaking them. Norwich breeder Saiour Camilleri won Gold and Silver in the same class, Graham Bradbrook won a gold in the Fife section and Les Evans won 1 bronze also in the Fife section. Simon Tammam won 1 silver and 1 bronze with his canary’s and Bernard Howlett won 3 medals with his Song Thrush and Blackbirds. Overall, a very good show and what people forget in the section E there were some massive classes, over 100 birds in some so to win out of that takes some doing.
This world show report was approved by the full IOA committee after a comment from the present COM-UK president that the IOA site is alway reporting negativity towards COM-UK. Look at the facts for your self.
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