Shows and Show Season

The Classes

There are currently up to 80 number of classes, 40 for Champions and 40 for Novices and of course Junior classes

Getting to grips with the classifications is one of the early challenges to the would be Fife exhibitor, most of the specialist Fife clubs have the same classification list as set out by the federation. However even at these shows there can be subtle differences which you need to watch out for to avoid your entry being wrong classed (these are mainly in the ticked and foul classes).

The classes start with the clears, Clear yellow cock, Clear Yellow Hen, Clear Buff Cock, Clear Buff Hen. Through to the variegated (again 4 classes for, yellow and Buffs, cocks and hens) the Heavily variegated, the selfs, the cinnamon selfs, cinnamon variegated (in some shows cinnamon variegated and heavily variegated are shown in the same classes). The white ground (whites, blues, fawns) birds are slightly different - whilst yellow and buff feathered birds exist within white ground - there are only classes for cocks and hens.

Awards

Specials will differ from show to show as a rule the following are consistent in the specialist shows I attend.

• Best In Show The Best Bird In Show (The best Novice and Best Champion will go head to head for this award)
• Best Champion / Novice: The Best Champion / Novice Exhibit in Show
• 2nd, 3rd at some shows down to 7th Best Champion / Novice
• Best Of Colours Champion / Novice: Best Clear, Best Variegated, Best Heavily Variegated, Best Self, Best Cinnamon, Best Allied to White - some shows have now introduced a reserve best of colour (so the second best clear etc)
• Class Winner: Winner of the individual class.

I like to think of the specials as a pyramid - for example in the 4 clear classes the winning clear yellow cock goes up against the winning clear yellow hen, the winning clear buff cock and the winning clear buff hen - from these 4 birds the best of colours is then chosen (in this case Best Clear).

As a general rule the best of colours then go to compete for Best, Second Best and Third best Champion / Novice (although I have known of one instance where an exceptional class winning bird that may have been beaten for best of colour came forward to take 4th best award).

Ultimately the best champion and Novice exhibits go head to head for best in Show.

Prior to the 2004 North of England show (which was won by a true gentleman of the Fancy R. Stringman) the top award had gone to the novice exhibitor on the previous 3 occasions, indeed at the last national (2003) the top Fife award went to a Novice - so when looking to acquire your own stock remember it's the quality of the birds not the status of the exhibitor that counts.

Different types of shows

There are two main types of shows Local CBS (Cage Bird Societies) Shows (publicised in Cage & Aviary Birds) and Specialist Club shows (in either case the show can be "Open" i.e open to members and non-members of the society or "Club" only open to members of club).

The main difference between the two types of show is that a local CBS show will have all varieties of birds on display, whereas the specialist shows will only have Fifes.

Local cage bird societies are the lifeblood of the fancy - I always try to support two local club shows, Old Swan CBS (where I held the position of general secretary) and Runcorn CBS both of which run well organised and well-attended shows.

I am fortunate that the competition in the area I live in is fierce (both the 2003 and 2004 North Of England and 2007 and 2008 North West show winners live and exhibit in the area) so an entry in excess of 150 Fifes is not uncommon at the CBS's I exhibit at.

The nature of specialist Fife shows is that they attract entries from all over the country and therefore the competition is arguably even greater than local CBS's - therefore success at these shows even sweeter!. The North West and North Wales specialist shows regularly attract 600-800 entries, the biggest Fife show in the UK - The North of England where in excess of 1,450 entries are benched.