SPECIALIST & RARE VARIETY OPEN SHOW - 2014
reported by Ghalib Al-Nasser, Show Organiser

The Specialist & Rare Variety Open Show had an increase in entry for its 26^th show by avoiding the Silverstone Formula One Racing weekend nearby. This will not be a problem in future for the show as from 2015 onwards the show will always be held during June. This increase in entry was 23% up from last year with a total entry of 592 of which 413 birds were benched from 41 exhibitors.

As always, the show committee extends its sincere thanks and gratitude to the following sponsors; Brown & Hutt (50% cost of all the open rosettes for the show); Geoff Capes (cost of all the ceramic awards to the judges and Best of Colours); Mick Anzara, Ian Brickwood, Jan Hill, Grant Findlay & Nick Flavell and Dave & Linda Rafis for their financial sponsorship. Warren Wilson & BRASEA donated major rosettes for all the BOC winners and other colour awards. Frank & Vanessa Barnes & Swindon BS donated a Team show cage and Jim Mitchell a single show cage for the raffle. The show also received sponsorship in the form of bags of seed & products from Rod & Sue Clarke, Norman & June Cox, Johnson & Jeff Ltd, Country Wide Seed and Malcolm & Pam Freemantle. Donated birds for the raffle came from Alan & Gina Adams, Ghalib & Janice Al-Nasser, Grant Findlay & Nick Flavell, Gren & Pat Norris and Terry Sadler.

Our Guest of Honour this year to present the 45 trophies was Carlos Ramôa from Portugal who was one of the judges and a friend of the show. Next year's show will be staged on 27^th & 28^th June 2015 (week 26) at the same venue in Bugbrooke, Northamptonshire.