Cinnamon Clearwings
There is No Compromise
Members of the CBBA will be aware of the changes in show classification that took place prior to the commencement of the 1994 Show Season, namely the removal of Cinnamon Clearwings as bona fide entries in the Clearwing Classes, now to be shown in the Any Other Colour classes. A straight forward decision one might think but one that has clearly caused problems for judges and exhibitors alike. Having exhibited, judged and visited a number of Championship and Area Shows in the past five seasons it is apparent that Cinnamon Clearwings are being exhibited incorrectly and that not all of the judges are spotting them, (or perhaps even care!)
As the rules concerning the Clearwing are quite precise it is up to the exhibitors to ensure that the judge is not compromised and conversely, judges must ensure that they "know one when they see one". To identify a Cinnamon Clearwing is reasonably straight forward in most cases, as they conform to the coloration of Normal Cinnamons but because of the addition of the variety Clearwing, it is perhaps not quite so obvious. Also, the addition of Cinnamon does produce a bird that looks like it has good clear wings. This may encourage the exhibitor to plead ignorance and take a chance, but not at substantial risk of being correctly wrong classed or considered a "blaggard and a bounder" by his fellow fanciers, should perchance he pick up an award.
Identification
Whether or not the correct decision was made when the Cinnamon
Clearwing was relegated to the AOC Classes is open to personal opinion but so long as the
current rule exists it is up to members of the CBBA to ensure that it is complied with, to
the best of their ability. My personal view is that while the Opaline Clearwing is a
considerable deviant from the Normal Clearwing and should be an AOC exhibit, the Cinnamon
variant caused less problems when shown in Clearwing classes, as was the case up until
1994. In those days, from a judges view point there was no compromise because the Cinnamon
was penalised for its weak body colour. However, from a purist point of view, there
is only one Clearwing and that is the Normal.