Lizarddag 2017

2017 was a year of innovation for the Lizarddag.  The classification was enlarged and saw the introduction of classes for gold and silver cock Lizards, a class for the Vectis and perhaps most importantly of all, a class for London Fancies.  The organisers Hans Hermans, Hans Reijers and Marko Dielen were rewarded with a big rise in the number of birds on show, with a total entry of 227 Lizards including 19 gold cocks and 18 silver cocks, plus 9 London Fancies, but no Vectis.  The 23 exhibitors (another increase) came from Holland, Belgium, Germany and Great Britain.

The judging also used a different format.  The best birds in each class were placed in order from 1 to 7, British style. Points were still awarded, but rather than compiling the usual detailed list, the judges simply noted the strengths and weaknesses of each bird on the score sheet.   I thought this format was more informative, the comments were more relevant, and it saved the judges time.  Another success.

2017 was also the year when Bart Deckers swept all before him, winning four classes, and the awards for Best Silver, Best Blue, and Best Lizard in Show.  Fernand Moes was not far behind, winning three classes.  Jules Etienne’s team was packed with quality, but while they were consistently in the top seven, they didn’t win a class.  For me that was the biggest surprise of the show because his birds consistently caught my eye, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they come out on top next time.  Kees Everaers was the best of the home team, with several impressive birds.

 

There is no doubt that Dutch judges have a distinct view of what a good Lizard should look like.  The Belgian and British breeders were sometimes puzzled by their decisions; one shaking his head in disagreement even though his bird had won its class. In situations like this, it takes more than a good bird to win; the exhibitor also needs to be smart.  Bart sent a strong team, but I didn’t think that the winner was his best bird and I told him so.  He agreed, and then told me that his show team was a mixture of birds that he liked, and birds he thought the judges would like.  Sure enough, it was a bird from the second group, a broken cap silver hen, that won Best in Show.  What a showman.

The overall quality was high, and I thought the gold hens were particularly strong, yet the bird that lingers longest in my memory is Fernand’s clear cap silver hen that won her class.   Fernand consistently produces excellent clear caps, especially silvers, and this bird was immaculate; the photos don’t do her justice.

Speaking of photos, the weather was overcast and the light in the hall was not good.  My camera struggled at times, and I’ve had to discard photos of some very good birds.  My apologies to their owners.  Nevertheless, I hope you enjoy the gallery; just double click on any picture to enlarge it, and then click on the ‘View full size’ button to see an even larger image.

Footnote:

  1. I will discuss the London Fancies in a separate post.
  2. Click on the link to see a PDF of the  Lizarddag 2017 prize winners

9 thoughts on “Lizarddag 2017

  1. Clearly a success and impressive that all lizards, non fed, colour fed, blue and also London fancy were on show

  2. Lovely pics Huw, interesting to note that a country/s that predominantly dont colour feed their Lizards are shrewd enough to put on colour fed classes, why wouldn’t we put on non colour fed classes in U.K.

    Makes sense as it would encourage international fanciers to show their birds over here

    Now wouldn’t that be the way forward

    Alex

    1. Quite agree Alex………iv been banging my head against a wall for 3 years now uniting the classes to accommodate all………..one day maybe .

      1. Although I’m not involved currently I feel non colour fed classes in the UK also encourage novices that may struggle with colour feeding as I did in my early days on where I had no local fanciers to support me

        1. Isn’t it amazing how “history” get’s re-written ? Up until the word “MUST” (be colour-fed) was adopted by the LCA to “eradicate” ‘natural/non-colour fed’ birds from the Benches in the Uk, just a few seasons ago, natural birds COULD be shown here, alongside colour-fed birds and merited as appropriate. There is / was no mention in the “Standard” or colour-feeding.

          The ‘majority’ ( 18 – 2 ?) LCA members were responsible for their barring, there was a vocal campaign on-line to ensure the vote was ‘won’ in accordance with the proposal. Those who spoke in support of naturals being decried for their views.

          Having said that, they legitimately carried the day, following a democratic process with only ‘two’ fanciers voting to allow Naturals to be benched. One of those two has since left the Fancy. The other is not allowed to compete with their ‘natural’ birds in the Uk.

          The week after the ‘vote’ one of the fanciers who voted to ban ‘naturals’ exhibited non-colour fed birds IN the Uk!! and another who had voted to ban them judged said birds and awarded them accordingly!!

          ‘Others’ who actively promoted the bar are now staunch promoters of ‘natural’s and suffer the consequences of their OWN decision, here in Britain to see them marked as DQ if benched.

          But……history has been and is being “re-written”, principally by those who ‘created’ it in the first place……

          1. Nigel

            The only loser therefore is not only the fanciers who can’t show their non colour fed birds but the little Lizard canary itself

            Wether others like it or not, this hobby of ours cannot afford to turn away people who want to be involved in the breed as sooner or later it will catch up with the fancy, aviculture has been on a downward spiral since the 80,s
            And so called democratic decisions will destroy the breed, how many young people are taking up the canary hobby, not many I would bet so a little more leeway should be considered when these matters come up, if not for the fanciers then certainly for our little Lizard canary

            One thing must agreeon, he’s a stunner when and when not colour fed

            Personally I would say it’s time to come together guys as very soon it shall be too late

  3. It was a nice exhibition with lots of great birds. I’m looking forward to the next year. Thanks to all involved for the beautiful show.
    Mfg. Jürgen Kamp

  4. The overall quality was high, specialy in the gold and silver classes.

    Don’t be modest about your own results Huw. Just publish the full result under footnotes. I liked the steadiness and calm of your birds. Properties hard to catch on a photo but always rewarded by any judge.

    Seems Bart Deckers not only knowns what dutch judges like, but he surely can select the right birds for his breeding room.

    Ps
    I predict in spring 2018 some eggs in the cock classes. Is their a reason why you only published pictures of hens?

    mvg Gust

    1. The reason you see no photos of the cock birds is that their cages were not facing the light. I tried using flash, but the results were not good.

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