Thrush Saved From Cat Wins Six Awards

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30793, 3 July 1965, Page 17

Thrush Saved From Cat Wins Six Awards

A song thrush rescued when young from & cat won the first award in the British bird section at the annual show of the Christchurch Society of Cage Birds, which opened in the Riccarton Town Hall on Thursday evening.

Its owner, Mrs D. Hill, of North Beach, said the thrush then had no feathers, and had apparently fallen from a nest. She reared it for 18 months, feeding it on fruit, bread, cake, raisins and sliced ox-heart. The judge of the British bird section, Mr N. Lee, said it was an outstanding specimen, and unusually tame. Most of the time it lives in a large aviary, in the company of finches and canaries. Mrs Hill joined the club only a fortnight ago, and has never entered birds in shows before. Her song thrush won six prizes in all, including three cups and a blue ribbon. Features of the foreign bird section are an Indian, ring neck—a bright green parakeet with a rainbow collar—and a brilliantly-coloured golden pheasant, the best bird in the section.

A kea, the only native bird in the show, is also included

in the section. Entered by Mr T. Tomlinson, the show manager, its cage has a double layer of extra-strength netting to prevent it from escaping by ripping through the wire with its powerful beak. Recent cold weather had improved the tightness of feather among the champion budgerigars, said the judge, Mr A. P. Priest. They were quite up to the standard at other shows. The roller canaries judge, Mr A. Matthews, said the standard, except for the top six birds, was very poor. Even in some of the champion classes entries were not sufficiently good to warrant a first place award. He had never seen such a collection of good birds on the one stand, said Mr D. Miller, judge of the new colour canaries. There are 545 birds in the show, compared with about 800 last year. Competition from the Ashburton Cage Bird Club’s show, being held at the same time, had seriously affected entries, the secretary (Mr R. W. Salisbury) said. Officially opened by the club’s patron, the Mayor of Riccarton (Mr E. J. Bradshaw), the show will close tonight. Results were:— CANARIES Yorkshire (Judge: Mr H. Biker) Champion Flighted.—J. Ramsay, 2 firsts, 1 second; L. B. Readman, 1 first. Champion Unflighted.—L. B. Readman. 3 firsts. Flighted Novice.—W. G. Kingston, 2 firsts; J. Tomlinson, 1 first: Mrs P. J. Robinson, 3 firsts, 1 second. Unflighted Novice.—W. G. Kingston, 2 firsts, 1 second; Mrs P. J. Robinson, 1 first. New Colour (Judge: Mr D. Miller) Flighted.—L. H. Freeman, 1 first; S. Syme, 4 firsts; E. J. O’Connor, 1 second; A. L. Priest, 1 first; R. F. Turton, 1 second; H. C. Irving, 1 first; R. J. Tomes. 1 second, J third. Unflighted.—H. C. Irving, 3 firsts, 1 second: L. H. Freeman, 1 first, 1 second; A. L. Priest, 2 firsts, 1 second; It. F. Turton, 2 firsts, 1 second; M. D. Moran, 1 second, 1 third. Rollers (Judge: Mr J. Hay) Champion.—A. W. Gee, 3 firsts, 1 second. Novice.—D. S. Rid. 1 first; J. Tomlinson, 1 second. Any Other Variety R. W. Busch, I first, 2 seconds; A. and J. Van der Volden, 1 first, 1 third. Norwich (Judge: Mr A. Craig) Champion Flighted.—L. H Freeman, 2 firsts. Champion Unflighted.—L. H. Freeman, 2 firsts. Novice Flighted.—M. E. J. O’Connor, 1 first. 1 second; W. G. Kingston, 3 firsts; Mrs P. J. Robinson, 2 firsts, 3 seconds; D. Blackwell, 1 first. Novice Unflighted.—W. G Kingston, 3 firsts; D. Blackwell, 1 second; E J. O’Connor, 1 first, 1 second. Borders (Judge: Mr A. Matthews) Champion Flighted.—R. w Busch, 3 seconds; A. S. Roberts, 2 firsts, 3 seconds. Champion Unflighted.—A. S. Roberts, 5 firsts, 4 seconds, 2 thirds; R. W. Busch, 5 firsts, 2 seconds, 2 thirds; L. H. Freeman, 3 firsts, 1 second. Novice Flighted.—R. J. Tomes,

l second: Mr and Mrs J. Needham, 2 firsts; Mrs J. G. Caldwell, 2 firsts, 1. third: R, A. Schulz, 1 second; C. S. P. Nicholl, 4 firsts; T, and J, Van der Velden, 1 first. Novice Unflighted.—A. and J. Van der Velden, 3 firsts, 2 thirds; R. A. Campbell, 2 seconds, 1 third; Mr and Mrs J. Needham, 3 firsts, 1 third; Mrs J. G. Caidwell, 1 first, 2 seconds. BRITISH BIRDS (Judge: Mr M. Lee) J. Alderson, 2 firsts, 1 second: N Wingham, 3 firsts, 5 seconds, 1 third; A S. Robert, 1 third; Mr and Mrs M. M. Doherty, 1 first, 1 second J. A. Hancock, 2 firsts, 2 seconds, 1 third; L. Steene, 2 firsts, 1 third; S. R. Seiwood, 2 firsts; J. Hill, 2 firsts. Mules and Hybrid A. S. Roberts, 3 firsts, 2 seconds; J. A. Hancock, 1 first, 1 third; T. Alderson, 1 first. FOREIGN BIRDS (Judge: Mr R. McClennan) G. R. williams, 1 first, 2 seconds, 2 thirds: T. and J. Bailey, 2 firsts, 1 second, 1 third; R. J. Tomes, 3 firsts, 1 second, 1 third; H. D. Moran, 1 second; W. J. Lee, 2 firsts: P. A. T. Small, 7 firsts, 2 seconds; R. A. Kenflal, 4 firsts, 1 second, 1 third; A. N. Gee, 2 firsts, 1 second; A. L. Priest, 3 firsts. 3 seconds; M. M.. Doherty and Mrs Doherty, 7 firsts, 4 seconds, 2 thirds; R. F. Turton, I second; J. Steene, 1 third; L. B. Readman, 1 first; T. Tomlinson, 1 first, 1 third; R. E. McFadden and W. E. Alexander, 2 firsts, 2 seconds, 1 third. BUDGERIGARS (Judge: Mr C. A. Breach) iovice Adult A. A. Bailley and Mrs Bailey, 5 firsts, 1 second: R. and J. Salisbury. 4 firsts, 1 second, 1 third; B. F. Finnerty, 1 second. 3 thirds; R. 0. Bain, 5 firsts, 4 sdeondS; J. Kiesonowski, 2 firsts, 1 second, I third; G. D Dench, 1 first; W. R. Standring, 1 first, 3 seconds; D. S. Ridd, 3 thirds; R. H. and D. M. Bowley, 2 firsts, 1 second, 1 third; T. M. McNabb, 2 firsts, 2 seconds, 3 thirds; G. S. and M. P. McLeod, 4 firsts, 1 third; E. Laurent, 1 first; Mrs M. Looker, 2 firsts, 1 second. 1 third; G. S. de Wagt and Mrs de Wagt, 1 second; T. C. and J. Baoiley, 1 second, 1 third; M. T. D. Robinson, 1 second, 1 third; A. N. Erdman, 1 first. NOVICE C.Y.C.R. R. H. and D. M. Bowley, 6 firsits, 3 seconds, 1 third; A. A. Bowley and Mrs Bowley, 5 firsts, 2 seconds, 1 third: A. W. Erdman, 1 first, 1 second, 2 thirds; R. O. Bain, 1 first, 3 seconds: E Laurent. 2 firsts: J. S. and M P. McLeod. 2 firsts, 1 second: J. S. de Wagt and Mrs de Wagt, 2 firsts, 1 second: J. J. Marshall, 1 first; J. Dench, 1 second; Mrs G. M. Piper, 2 firsts: J. M. McNab. I second. CHAMPION ADULT (Judge: Mr F. Priest) C. A. Breach, 12 firsts, 8 seconds, 4 thirds; M. J. Lee, ■ 3 firsts, 3 seconds; D. Gough, 1 first, 2 seconds, 1 third; M, D Neale and Mrs Neale, 4 firsts, I second; R. W. Busch, 1 first, 1 second; B. P. Flnerty, 1 first; T. D. Robinson, 1 first, 1 third CHAMPION C.Y.C.R. C. A. Breach, 8 firsts, fl seconds, 1 third; M. D. Neale and Mrs Neale, 3 firsts, 1 second, 1 third; N. G. Lee, 1 first, 2 seconds; R w. Busch, 1 first, 1 third. SPECIAL PRIZES Best champion and also best budgerigar in show, C. A. Breach; best novice budgerigar, A. H. Bowley and Mrs Bowley; champion Border canary, also best in show, A. S. Roberts; best novice canary, Mrs J. C. Caldwell; best Norwich novice, also best bird, W. G. Langston; best new colour canarv, H, C. Irving; best British bird, D. Hill; best foreign bird, M. M. Doherty and Mrs Doherty; best foreign finch, P. H. Small; best champion Yorkshire canary, and best In show, T. Ramsay; best novice, W. G. Klingston; best Roller canary, A. N. Gee.