Australian Finch Society Members Show 2024

The AFS Members Show was held on Sunday 11^th August at Cheswick Green, Birmingham with a high standard of birds benched for Nick Elliston to judge.

It was a very good day for Gary Wincomb who won Best in Show for the second year in a row.  This time it was a Current Year Bred cock Painted Finch taking the honour.  The same bird also winning Best Australian and Best CYOB Australian.  Two other cock Painted Finches from the Wincomb Stud were awarded 2^nd Best CYOB Australian and 3^rd Best Adult Australian.

The remaining CYOB Australian award, that of 3^rd Best CYOB Australian, was awarded to a Silver Diamond Sparrow exhibited by Don & Carol Payne.

Best Adult Australian was won by a Black Headed Gouldian Finch cock staged by Lisa Barnsdale and 2^nd Best Adult Australian was a Dilute Gouldian Finch owned by Andrew Hopton.

The Seedeater Section was led by a Red winged Pytilia exhibited by Colin & Val Rowe, which also won Best Adult Seedeater.  Best CYOB Seedeater went to Robbie Young’s Opal Cutthroat.

Best Zebra Finches and Best Bengalese were awarded to Colin & Val Rowe with their pair of Chestnut Flanked White Zebras and pair of Grey & White Bengalese respectively.

Australian Finch Society Members Show 2023

The AFS Members Show was held on Sunday 13^th August at Cheswick Green, Birmingham.  The entry of 106 was significantly higher than the previous year, with a very high standard of birds benched for judge Steven Fisher to examine.

It was a very good day for Gary Wincomb and his Painted Finches who won Best in Show, Best Australian and Best Adult Australian with a cock Painted Finch.  One of his young Painted Finch cock birds also won the Best CYOB Australian award and he completed his victories with Best Zebra Finches with a pair of Chestnut Flanked Whites.

A Hecks Grassfinch owned by Lisa Barnsdale took 2^nd Best Adult Australian and a Black Headed Gouldian staged by Colin & Val Rowe took 3^rd Best Adult Australian.

2^nd Best CYOB Australian was a Silver Diamond Firetail belonging to Don & Carol Payne and John Richards exhibited a Blue Gouldian to take 3^rd Best CYOB Australian.

In the Seedeater Section Colin & Val Rowe won Best Seedeater and Best Adult Seedeater with a New Britain Mannikin.  Best CYOB Seedeater won awarded to Lisa Barnsdale who exhibited a Chocolate African Silverbill.

Best Bengalese was a pair of Selfs staged by Don & Carol Payne.

AFS Members Show 2022

The annual Members Show and Sales Day was held on Sunday 14^th August 2022 after an absence of two years.  In order to mark the passing of two long serving members and officers of the club, Ethel Nancarrow and Margo Baldry, and all others lost in the past two years the event was a Memorial Show.  Special rosettes were awarded to commemorate the occasion.

The entry of 51 was down on previous events but unfortunately it was an extremely hot day which prevented some of our regular exhibitors from entering their birds.  Many thanks to Peter Gallimore for judging and to everyone who helped on the day.

Main special winners were :

Best in Show, Best Waxbill and Best Adult Waxbill was a Normal African Silverbill shown by Lisa Barnsdale who also took the award for Second Best Adult Australian with a Cherry Finch Cock.

Best Australian and  Best Current Year Owner Bred Australian awards went to Gary Wincomb with a young Painted Finch Cock.  Gary also took the awards for Third Best Adult Australian with a Pied Star Finch and Best Zebra Finches with a pair of Chestnut flanked Whites.

Best Adult Australian was a Bicheno exhibited by Mike Banks.

A pair of Cut-throats took Best CYOB Waxbill for Don and Carol Payne, who also won Best Bengalese.

Other winners were: Second Best CYOB Australian Gerald Nancarrow and Third Best John Richards.

Given the extreme conditions on the day a good selection of birds were benched.

Carol & Don Payne

AFS Open Show - 6^th October 2019

The National show took place on Sunday, 6^th October 2019. The AFS had 85 entries with 79 benched birds from 9 exhibitors. Although the numbers were low the quality of the birds was very high. The show was expertly judged by Jamie Beresford stewarded by Gerald Nancarrow and Mike Banks.

Judge Jamie Beresford in action

Exhibitors R Young M Fenwick D & H Harris M Heard P Heard D McDivitt Clarke & Jackson P & J McGough J Richards

Best Adult Australian was R Young with a Hecks Grassfinch, 2^nd best Adult was P Heard with a Bicheno, 3^rd best Adult was D & H Harris with a Cherry Finch.

Best CYOB Australian was P & J McGough with a nice hen Gouldian, 2^nd best CYOB again P & J McGough with a Parsons, 3^rd best CYOB was D & H Harris with a Star Finch.

Overall best Australian was the hen Gouldian by P & J McGough.

Best Adult Waxbill was P & J McGough with a Firefinch, 2^nd best was P & J McGough with a Pytillia, Best CYOB Waxbill was again P & J McGough with a Pytillia, 2^nd best CYOB Waxbill was R Young with a Silverbill. Overall best waxbill was the Firefinch by P & J McGough.

The best in show came from the Waxbill section with P & J McGough’s Firefinch. This bird went through to win the overall best in show. Congratulations to Peter and his Daughter Julia, great results. Julia joined AFS in 1980 as a junior in 2001 she joined in partnership with her father.

AFS Members Show      11th August 2019

The Australian Finch Society held its Members Show on 11th August 2019. Many thanks to all members who helped to stage this event and to all exhibitors.

Special thanks to our Judge Gary Wincomb, a well-known and knowledgeable bird breeder and also to our Show Secretary Mel Randall

Best in Show - Blue Gouldian by Mr J. Richards Best Australian, Blue Gouldian by Mr J.Richards	Best Waxbill: Violet Eared Waxbill by Mr & Mrs Harris
Best Zebra & C.Y.O.B. Grey Indian Silver Bills by Clarke & Jackson	Best Bengalese by Paul & Michael
Best Junior Zebra Finch by Alexandra Williams

Australian Finch Society ( Northern Ireland Branch) Show Report 2018

Members of the Northern Ireland Branch of the Australian Finch Society enjoyed the opportunity of being able to exhibit their bird at three AFS patronage shows during 2018, one of which was Gold Patronage and the remaining two were Local Patronage.

Australian Finch Society (Northern Ireland Branch) Invitation Show 2018

The first patronage show was on 22nd September with the branch holding its inagural invitation show in conjunction with the North Down Invitation Budgerigar Club, with classes put on for Bengalese, Zebra Finches and other Foreign Birds as well as Australian Finches . The show was open to all members of the Australian Finch Society and received AFS Local Patronage. The event attracted 42 entries, which is an encouraging start for its first time.

Judge: Peter Crothers.

The results were as follows:

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Comber & District Cage Bird Society Open Show 2018

Comber CBS Open Show 2018 received AFS Local Patronage for its annual show, held on 3rd November 2018. There were 53 entries in the Foreign Bird Classes.

Comer Entries

Judge: Adrian Sheils

The results were as follows:

The Best Australian Finch was also the Best Foreign in Show and Best Small Foreign in Show.

The Best Adult Australian Finch was also the Best Any Age Foreign in Show.

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Australian Finch Society (Northern Ireland Branch) Club Show 2018

The Northern Ireland Branch held its annual club show in conjunction with Ballymoney Ornithological Association Open Show on 10th November. The show, which was judged by David Lugo and Dave Brown, attracted 158 entries in the foreign classes and received AFS Gold Patronage.

Ballymoney Entries

Judges: D Lugo and D Brown

The Results were as follows:

AFS Open Show      7^th  October 2018

The Australian Finch Society held its open show at the National Exhibition hosted by the Parrot Society on 7^th October 2018. A total of 46 birds were benched although the entries were down on the previous year the quality of the birds entered were of a very high standard.

After a very cold start to the day the birds had perked up by the time judging started at 10am. The show was judged by Gerald Nancarrow ably assisted by stewards Lionel Turner, Mike Banks and Peter Hindle,

Best Australian was a superb grey Hecks grass finch exhibited by John Harris, Best waxbill were a pair of red eared waxbills exhibited by Andrew Chaney, For the first time in a long time we had a junior exhibitor Alexandra Williams who exhibited a pair of Timor Zebras.

The best in show was the Hecks by John Harris.

Well done to all who exhibited.