Bulletin 1998 - 1999
T - NOTES
There is big news in our little Norwich club. Francis Martin has decided to step down after running the club for 29 years. So that means we will have an election for President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary. At the end of this Bulletin is a ballot that you can send in with your vote.
Brian Allen was nominated to be President and Francis Martin was nominated for Vice President at
the meeting in Chicago. I know that Lee Burdett will run for Secretary and Will Burdett will run for
Treasurer. So please vote, there will be a place for a write in candidate, ballots must be postmarked
by June 1, 1999. We are always trying to involve as many people as we can. The more people who
volunteer to help ANS the better we will become. The main areas that ANS needs help with are
bands, the newsletter, stewarding at the national, keeping the finances in order, upkeep of the web
site, promoting ANS in your local area, mailing out the Norwich Certificates, and holding office. If
you would like to help in any way or if you would like to run for office please feel free to contact one
of the officers of the American Norwich Society.
I would like to congratulate Brian Allen. Not only did he win best Norwich and the Kellogg for best
Type bird at the National but he also was the winner of the ANS Best Exhibitor award. I would also
like to congratulate all of the winners of the Best Norwich Certificate, they are listed below.
Brian Allen American Canary Fanciers Los Angles, CA Nov. 7, 1998
Will & Lee Burdett Florida Canary Fanciers Orlando, FL Nov. 14, 1998
Rose Evans Cascade Canary Club Bothell, WA Nov. 28, 1998
Richard Hanson Columbia Canary Club Woodland, WA Oct. 31, 1998
I have not heard from the other clubs so I can not report on the results of those shows, ANS generally
sends out 20 certificates a year.
Francis Martin had mentioned at the meeting at Nationals that it might be nice to give out three
medals for first, second, and third best Norwich. Francis said he would look into the cost of having
those medals made.
Brian Allen became the first breeder to have one of his birds achieve champion status. The same bird
that won the ACF show also won at Nationals.
Steve Hailey will also be our Judge at the next Nationals in Buffalo. The last time Steve judged the
National was in New Hampshire. ANS is trying to get Keith Ferry to judge the Nationals in the year
2000 in Puerto Rico.
Superior is looking into painting the inside of the Norwich show cage with the American color. Tony
Ellerby said that if I sent him a color sample he would look into seeing if he could get the same color
and type of paint in England.
Remember that Bands are $3 for a lot of 10. Many of you are still paying $2.50 for a lot of ten bands.
This past year it cost ANS 25.5 cents per band and that doesn't include the postage it takes to mail
bands out.
If you have an article you would like to submit for our newsletter please send it to
Will & Lee Burdett
440 Meander Dr. S.
Altamonte Springs, FL 32714
Yes, we have moved again so note the new address. Lee and I also had our first child last September.
His name is William Leonardo Alexander Burdett. We are hoping he can raise better Norwich than
we can.
Don't forget to visit our website. It has some of our old newsletters and we are adding to it every
few months. You can reach us at
norwich@mindspring.com
or
http://www.angelfire.com/fl/norwichcanary
-Will Burdett, Treasurer ANS
AMERICAN NORWICH SOCIETY
1998 Annual Show Results
Held in conjunction with the National Cage Bird Show
November, 1998
St. Charles, Illinois
10 exhibitors from 7 states & Canada
Judge: Ralph Tepidino
Total entries: 69
Best: Brian Allen (yg. cock, buff c/t)
2nd: Will & Lee Burdett (yg. hen, buff, c/t)
3rd: Francis Martin (old cock, buff, c/t)
4th: Will & Lee Burdett (yg. cock, buff, lt. var.)
Entries:
BUFF, CLEAR/TICKED
(2) old cock 1. F. Martin 2. B. Jackson
(9) yg. cock 1. B. Allen 2. Keegan/Varian 3. B. Allen
(4) old hen 1. J. Kostoros 2. B&V King 3. F. Martin
(8) yg. hen 1. W. Burdett 2. B. Milkowski 3. L. Clack
YELLOW, CLEAR/TICKED
(3) old cock 1. W. Burdett 2. J. Kostoros 3. B&V King
(5) yg. cock 1. B&V King 2. L. Sheldon 3. Keegan/Varian
(1) old hen 1. B Jackson
(2) yg. hen 1. Keegan/Varian 2. L. Sheldon
CINNAMON/FAWN
(1) old cock 1. B. Lee
(1) yg. cock 1. L. Clack
(1) old hen 1. J. Kostoros
(1) yg. hen 1. L. Clack
BUFF, LT. VARIEGATED
(1) old cock 1. V&B King
(8) yg. cock 1. W. Burdett 2. B. Allen 3. B. Allen
(4) old hen 1. F. Martin 2. F. Martin 3. B&V King
(3) yg. hen 1. W. Burdett 2.B. Allen 3. B. Allen
YELLOW, LT. VARIEGATED
(2) yg. cock 1. L. Sheldon 2. L. Sheldon
(1) old hen 1. L. Sheldon
BUFF VARIEGATED
(1) yg. cock 1. B&V King
(1) yg. hen 1. B&V King
YELLOW VARIEGATED
(1) yg. cock 1. J. Kostoros
(1) old hen 1. L. Clack
(2) yg. hen 1. L. Sheldon 2. L. Sheldon
BUFF, HEAVY VARIEGATED
(2) old cock 1. B&V King 2. B&V King
(2) yg. cock 1. L. Sheldon 2. J. Kostoros
(2) old hen 1. B. Jackson 2. B&V King
WHITE, HEAVY VARIEGATED
(1) yg. hen 1. L. Clack
BUFF GREEN, SELF/FOUL
(1) old cock 1. L. Clack
(1) yg. cock 1. R. Wild
(1) yg. hen 1. L. Clack
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
With one year remaining before the old millennium drains away, with stunning optimism and
realization of a fresh direction, the Norwich fancy enters a new era. Let me explain
In 1998, after eight years of discussion and various proposals, the British Norwich Confederation
(a body representing all Norwich Specialist societies in Britain) accepted Roy Aplin's rendering of
the modern-day Norwich as its official model for the fancy. This is the first change since R.
Vowel's model was accepted in 1949. In addition, the most confusing phrase of the 1949 written
standard is eliminated. It read: "...eye to be unobscured...," and was often interpreted in this
country to mean that the entire eye should be visible. The new phrasing reads: "...eye to be
discernible...," which means that some degree of eye be visible. What a remarkable confirmation
of our ability to grow, and what an excellent direction this gives the fancy for the new millennium.
(Now if I can just complete my long-awaited Norwich book before, as Lindsay Clack puts it, "the
author is deceased.")
There is also an opportunity for change available to us here in the United States. Our current
show cage color is not the official Brutish color. This is the only difference between our show
cage and the official one used in Britain (and elsewhere).
To make a long story short, prior to the formation of ANS in 1970, Norwich were shown here in a variety of show cages painted in an assortment of colors. After returning from England with a set of standard Norwich show cages, I promoted the use of this cage. The rest is, as they say, history. However, I had no luck in matching the British color (this was before computers), so I took it upon myself to select another color--the one we use today. I feel this was a mistake for the following reasons:
--we are in violation of the official show cage standard;
--being a lighter hue, the British color lightens the inside of the cage and show the bird more clearly;
--show cages imported from England must be repainted;
--I had no authority to make this selection.
To begin with, at this year's National let's discuss my proposal (which I now make) that both
colors be accepted for a period of three to five years, after which we embrace the official British
color. Of course, everyone should consider the pros and cons of this idea, but do we really want
to be in violation of the only standard we have for the Norwich show cage? Think about it.
Francis Martin, Jr.
JUDGING CANARY SHOWS
So, you want to be a judge of canaries. To be a competent judge one must be familiar with and
be able to execute the three ingredients of judging.
1. KNOW WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR. Have a vision of what that particular
breed should look like. A person can memorize the standard of each breed, know all the points
for each category, but if they do not have a good mental vision of what the breed should look like,
than it is just like fishing without bait. It takes a while to formulate that vision. It is important to
go to as many shows as possible and study the various breeds. Read everything possible about
each breed. Right or wrong the vision will come.
2. BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR WHEN YOU SEE
IT. Once that vision has been formed it is necessary to be able to recognize it. If the top three or
four birds of each breed are of different sizes and shape, it is the result of one or two things. First
the judge does not have a vision or there is a shortage of good birds entered. If the winners are
all uniform in size and shape, good or bad, then the judge is consistent with the picture in his/her
mind.
3. BE ABLE TO MAKE A DECISION. Some judges appear to have difficulty making a
decision. They poke and prod, they study the birds, they shift them around on the bench. Other
judges have the ability to make decisions firmly, professionally and correctly in a reasonable
amount of time.
In addition to the above there are other important aspects of judging.
ETHICS
1. When contacted by a club, respond as soon as possible. Do not leave the host club waiting for
an answer.
2. Advise the club, yes I am available, no I am not available.
3. If requested, submit your bid promptly, stating fee, travel expense, room expense and any
items applicable.
4. The host club should inform you of all details to help you determine a reasonable bid.
5. Once a commitment is made, honor it. Do not back out because you have a chance to judge
another show that you wold prefer.
6. Prepare a statement of your expenses and present it as soon as possible after arrival to the person responsible for paying. This statement should include fee, air fare or mileage, meals, room and any other items that are applicable.
There are times when everyone is so busy they forget to pay. It is always embarrassing to both
parties for the judge to have to request payment at the last moment. Or worse yet, the judge
arrives home without pay and then must contact someone.
7. Maintain communication between yourself and the host club. They will need to know in
advance your travel arrangements and any special needs that you may have.
8. Being invited back to judge a second time is generally regarded as a stamp of approval by that
club.
9. Soliciting judging assignments is not generally recommended.
MECHANICS
It is important to have a system. I have seen judges who had no system. Everything they did
appeared disorganized. When they finally finished a class, they would have the winners scattered
all over the bench.
I call a system "Mechanics". One can work from left to right or right to left. Lets assume we are
working from left to right-
Once the birds are brought to the bench by the stewards and checked off with the secretary as
being properly entered, do the following:
1. Step back and view the birds from a distance. Place the first bird that catches your eye as a
good bird is the upper left hand spot on the bench. Then the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and so on. These are all
preliminary placings. Then you can judge each bird more closely and work up or down in the
placements until you have them placed where you want them. In this way you have compared
each bird to each other and placed them accordingly. It is quite possible all the birds have
changed positions from where they started. Nothing wrong with that, it is just thorough judging.
Remember, you will need to look at the birds from a distance. This will let you see the birds
outline to tell whether they are shaped like the breed you are judging.
2. Once you have them placed where you want them, then call out the place and winning
numbers. Don't dilly dally around. Appear ceratin and confident, even though you may not be.
3. Decide before hand whether you are going to keep back the first and second place birds for the
finals or just the first. There is pro and con thinking on each method. It is my personal opinion if
you keep back the top two or three birds of each class, then there is no reason to have classes.
Just bring them all up and sort out the best. Remember, you can always change you mind. You
are the JUDGE.
4. Prior to beginning contact the secretary and stewards and discuss how you want things done.
Many times they are beginners and look to you for guidance. Appear confident--say, we will just
take our time and get everything worked out or something like that. They will appreciate it. On
the other hand, an experienced secretary and stewards can be worth their weight in gold. Remind
them to stop you if they think something is wrong or that you are overlooking something.
5. Many times you will overhear spectators discussing your placements and the merits of the
birds in front of you. Be glad you have their attention. When exhibitors cease to second guess a
judge, the judge is either good enough already (doubtful) or is hopeless.
6. KEEP YOUR COOL. TAKE YOUR TIME. On one of my first judging trips to California,
Margie McGee told me "remember Mark, take your time. They brought you out here to judge
their birds, not to see how quick you can get finished."
7. Develop your own system. One that you are comfortable and confident with. Study other
judges. See how they do things. Incorporate what you think is worthwhile into your system.
This is a true story. When a particular judge got to the point of placing best bird in show, he lined up all the best of breeds and was to place 6 places. He started with 6th, than 5th, then 4th, then 3rd, then 2nd, and explained why he had placed each bird in that spot. He then had two birds left that he was trying to decide which should be best in show. After much agonizing he announced the winner of the two. This left the bird that should have been second with no place at all since he had already awarded 2nd place.
Don't get yourself trapped.
8. Make the judging as interesting as you can for the exhibitors. That is why they show their
birds.
By Mark S. Whiteaker
Current Officers
Francis Martin President
Brian Allen Vice-President
Will Burdett Treasurer
Lee Burdett Secretary
Appointed Offices
Brian Allen California Representative