1. M McCullough - Black Reds. Very hard feathered, won on reach, male short feathered and good shape, females well matched, reachy and stylish, just a shade dark.
2. P Watkinson - Black Reds. Ran winners very close. Females not as well matched but good birds, male stylish and good colour.
3. G Cannell - Silver Duckwing trio. Quality with reach and fineness. Male good colour, females slightly foxy. Great potential as breeders.
4. H Carson - Again a nice trio, good coloured birds not quite the reach of the previous ones. Male had been fighting and females were not as a good a match.

1. A Daybell - Very stylish and fine, good reach and lovely head. Colour dark enough but ‘sound’. Wins a good class well.
2. P & A Pennington - Stronger type, not the snaky head but very good colour, excelled in bone and leg colour.
3. P & R Gamble & Sons - Good stylish male, damaged toe nail (in pen) slightly round in the back?
4. R Cowan - Another good ‘un, good colour and legs, very hard feathered.

Large Black Red female (10 entries, nine forward)

1. PS & R Gamble & sons. Best for type and colour with good legs. Wing carriage high at times.
2. A Daybell. Good reach, nice type, a little dark in colour for me with a touch of foxing.
3. C R Cowan. Not quite as reachy but decent type and ‘right’ shade of partridge.
4. P & A Pennington. Again typy, but darker colour and leg colour too dark for me.

Bantams
Black Red male (18 entered, 11 forward)
Empty pens were a disappointment, but those present were of highest quality.

1. M McCullough - Stand out bird for me, a true showman and every inch the best Modern on the day. The unanimous choice of the three judges and went best HF bantam in the show. Excellent type and colour, shown to perfection. When judged side by side with the winning birds in the class, it stood out.
2. M McCullough - A different type of bird, great colour and breadth taking shape with ultra hard feather.
3. G Cannell - Another very good bird, nothing to fault just pipped on reach.
4. G Cannell - Very close, another excellent bird.

Also taking the eye was P Watkinson’s entry.
Black Red female (26 entered, 15 forward)

1. M McCullough - Easily the best style and reach in the class and lovely shape in the hand. Not the best in colour. Shoulders were set perfectly for me and also very fit.
2. M McCullough - Very good type, perfect colour, ran winner close, not as stylish.
3. G Cannell - Great type and colour, very close to second. Not keen on head.
4. G Cannell - Another very good bird, excelled in shape, colour a bit darker, but that’s possibly hypercritical!

Others that were close - G Cannell three entries, P Watkinson, H Carson and M McCullough
On another day, placings may have changed, the fitness of Marc McCullough’s birds probably reflected the advantage he has of the better weather that his sea level location offers, whilst the rest of us had been battling Arctic weather, I guess Marc’s Ulster climate was almost tropical!
Wheaten male (6 entered, four present).

1. P Watkinson - Best for type if a trifle dark in colour.
2. H Carson - Good colour and reach, but not as short.
3. G Cannell - Similar bird to second, not as short backed.
4. H Carson - Too long.

1. Wheaten female (11 entered 8 shown)

   1. M McCullough - Best Wheaten. Won comfortably, best for colour, type and feather.
   2. M McCullough - Another good one, not as soft in colour.
   3. G Cannell - Stylish, good colour, again little to chose.
   4. P Watkinson - Good reach, but just long enough.

   It was disappointing to have so many empty pens but the show was hit with some of the worst winter weather experienced for many years and for some travel was just not possible. Putting the situation into perspective I suppose we have never faced that extreme weather prior to the show before and only twice has the event been curtailed by bad weather on the Sunday.  Andrew Wetters

   Other Colours. Judge – Stuart Lowe
   Large AOC female
   1	A Demaine	Pile - Very nice type pullet
   2	A Daybell	Duckwing - Nice colour lacks reach
   3	A Daybell	White - Average Bird
   4	A Daybell	Pile – Average, not fit, broken feathers
   Bantams
   Pile male
   1	M McCullough	Bloody gorgeous
   2	G Cannell	Another very good cockerel unlucky to meet winner
   3	G Cannell	Similar to second, slightly longer
   4	M Eade	Not in same league
   Duckwing female
   1	M McCullough	Very nice all round pullet
   2	G Cannell	Another very nice female, bit high in tail
   3	G Cannell	Very nice female, bit high in tail
   4	M Eade	Average, round on back
   Birchen male
   1	M McCullough	Best for type very short back
   2	M McCullough	More reach, longer in back
   3	M McCullough	Very nice but damaged wing flights
   4	P Watkinson	Decent but bit feathery
   Brown Red female
   1	M McCullough	Good colour, well shown, bit small for me
   2	R Cowen	My type of pullet, damaged feathers on wings
   3	G Cannell	Decent pullet lacking bit of reach
   4	G Cannell	Decent pullet lacking bit of reach
   AOC Standard male
   1	G Cannell	Silver Blue - Fine stylish cockerel
   2	T & M Dunn	Lemon Blue - Good colour, touch strong
   3	P Watkinson	Crele - Lovely colour, slightly round on back
   4	T & M Dunn	Lemon Blue - Good type, but too wide a stance

   Novice female
   1	G Brearley	Easy winner, nice bird
   2	E Tinson	Average, short of reach
   3	G Brearley	Poor
   AC Hen
   1	M Eade	Black Red - Good type hen
   2	D & H Carson	Black Red - Longer in back
   3	S Wood	Splash - Not good enough for me
   4	G Cannell	Splash - Not good enough for me
   Other Colours. Judge – Wilfried Detering
   Large AOC male - 7
   1	A Demaine	Best Large - Nice bird with good reach and colour
   2	P & S Gamble	Very good colour and shape
   3	A Daybell	Good bird but tail a touch high
   4	A Daybell	Good colour but needed more lift
   Bantams
   Pile female - 14
   1	G Cannell	Good style, salmon breast and shoulders
   2	S Coia	Good style, could be better in feather?
   3	G Cannell	Very good front and colour
   4	M McCullough	Good in style & colour. Good legs. Tail too high
   Gold Duckwing male - 8
   1	M McCullough	Lovely type, good lift, long legs. My best bird
   2	P Watkinson	Good type & legs. Wings needed more colour
   3	G Cannell	Good style & tail sickles. Thighs could be longer
   4
   Silver Duckwing male - 14
   1	G Cannell	Super style, shoulder and tail
   2	T Alty	Good type & colour. Shoulders not as good as 1st
   3	G Cannell	Decent bird but neck could be longer
   4	M Eade	Nice type and silver colour. Tail too high
   Birchen female - 21
   1	G Cannell	Excellent style & colour. Very long legs
   2	P Watkinson	Good bird, colour and lacing
   3	A Kerr	Good shape but high tail
   4	M McCullough	Good type, shoulders and face colour. Needed longer shanks
   Brown Red male - 8
   1	P Watkinson	Lovely type. Good lacing
   2	S Coia	Good colour and lift but longer in back
   3	A Kerr	Good style & lift. Good black face
   4	G Cannell	Nice style. Fine tail. Needed darker face
   AOC Standard female - 8
   1	T & M Dunn	Good type, shoulders and back
   2	P Watkinson	Nice style but longer in back

   3	T Thompson	Good style and colour. Shoulders not good
   4	B Banister	Nice bird but soft in feather
   AC Novice - 3
   1	G Brearley	Good bird, type & colour but back too long
   2	R Tinson	Good bird, style and lift
   Comments
   I would like to thank Club members for inviting me from Germany to judge the Club show again. It was a great pleasure to judge with Andrew Wetters and Stuart Lowe and my steward Helmut Vorderbrugge from Germany. Many thanks to Andrew Wetters and his wife Sue for the warm integration into their family and for driving us to the show and to Manchester Airport. The best Modern was a Black Red Male from Marc McCullough Best Wishes - Wilfried

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