POULTRY and bird fanciers flocked to the Stanthorpe Agricultural Society Poultry Club show last month for some serious competition.
A steady stream of public visitors admired a poultry shed brimming with a wide variety of poultry and waterfowl as well as 80 cage birds.
This was the first time in many years that the Stanthorpe club included caged birds and there was a splendid display of finches, budgies, quail and parrots.
Judge Graeme Hopf, of Murwillumbah in NSW, described the quality of birds benched before him on par with those shown at the royals, such as Brisbane’s EKKA.
As with the Tenterfield poultry club show in June, the cross-boarder rivalry was hot.
This time, the major awards headed south with Sam Pillar of Tenterfield taking home the champion bird of show award for his pit game cockerel.
Allora residents Alan and Jane Galloway took out reserve bird of show for their Malay hen, and their daughter Rebecca scooped the pool winning champion and reserve champion waterfowl. Rebecca also won champion breeding pair of show, again with waterfowl.
A strong section of juniors displayed a variety of poultry and waterfowl that would rival any seasoned exhibitor.
Brothers, Jimmy and Thomas Hancock of Glen Aplin won champion and reserve champion junior exhibitor. Jimmy’s champion junior was for a large muscovy drake, while Thomas’s reserve champion was for a beautiful little birchen pekin hen.
The ladies from the Ringmasters cafe did a wonderful job of keeping everyone fed and watered throughout the day.
Next on the agenda for the Stanthorpe Agricultural Society Poultry Club will be their annual purebred poultry auction to be held on Sunday 31 August.
