Dolores Noonan
I think most of us going to the All-American this year were wondering just what was going to happen. This was our first visit to the USA and I was very much looking forward to seeing the American birds and judging procedures. The show was held in the Royal Sheraton Hotel in Orlando, Florida, which was very convenient and we did not have to travel to get to the show hall.
Impressions of the 1999 All-American Budgerigar Show.
There are 5 categories:
First of all I was highly delighted to be able to sit and watch the judging and to socialize with ABS members whilst doing so. This could well be an idea to be adopted in the UK, instead of anyone who is unable to steward having to waste 5-6 hours wandering around a strange town whilst the judging process takes place, and the show opens some time in the afternoon.
I was quite confused to see all the colours e.g., greens, both light greens and greygreens, judged together, the dark greens being shown along with other dark factors, olive, cobalt, mauve and violet. Lutinos and Albinos were also shown in the same class. Cocks and hens, both any age and young birds, were judged together.
In the final line up, the top 10 Champion birds were set up - Best In Show being a lovely Skyblue bred by the Blanchards, then the best 3 hens and a young bird. Our emphasis on the importance of young birds does not exist, mainly because only owner-bred birds are allowed to be shown, and in results sheets every ring number has to be shown.
The best 10 Champion birds are then set up and the best of the other sections (including the Rares) are compared with the line of Champion birds. Best Novice was a Double Factor Spangle bred by Chris and Anne-Marie of Cams Birds; Best Intermediate was Greg Ruth from California. I can't see this method going down very well in this country, although I know some judges would like the opportunity to have some of the second- in -class in the final line-up!
The Rares section was very well supported, Best Rare being a Texas Clearbody bred by Dr Cave, and I was very pleased to get my first sight of two Easley Clearbodies belonging to Chris Amarel, with whom I have corresponded by e-mail for over a year.
In the junior section Brandon Amarel took Best Junior with the Grey Spangle cock shown here, whilst his sister, Mindy, took Best Hen with a Sky Violet. Brandon is only 8 years old and it was from the very first clutch of birds that he ever bred Mindy, took Junior Best Hen with a Sky Violet. Brandon is only 8 years old and it was from the very first clutch of birds that he ever bred.
I was very impressed by the encouragement given to Juniors. Two Juniors took an examination whilst at the show and were set to judge the raffle birds (of which there were over 20 good-quality birds donated by members) using the ABS scale of points. They then sat a written examination, which was really quite difficult. I don't think I would have done very well. When the results were announced, Mindy Amarel and Dave Radall were awarded scholarships of $250 and $225 respectively which were to be forwarded to their schools.
The number and quality of the raffle prizes was quite amazing and very well-supported. It was very difficult to decide into which cup (in front of each prize) to put the tickets.
Overall, I enjoyed the friendliness, dedication and hospitality of the ABS membership and found the whole experience enjoyable, meeting up for the first time with friends with whom I had been corresponding on the Internet. We are now the proud possessors of 'Food for Thought' A Cookbook of Recipes and 2 mugs provided by District # 5 1999 All-American of Florida. We hope to be able to make another visit sometime in the future.
I will be putting another article on our visit to the USA, our American friends and their birds in the /general index when I have finished writing it. Cheers!
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Copyright © 2000, Dolores Noonan. All rights reserved.