This show report has been prepared by my guest contributor and Lizard canary judge, Andy Williamson:

Friday, October 31st 2025, saw me re-living a dream I thought 4/5 years ago I’d never do again.  As many know I had a serious health issue and had to give up my birds.  Friends both in the UK and Europe kept in contact and I was still invited to judge at shows, which I enjoy very much.  Last year I was asked by my friend Ronald Wauters if I would return to keeping Lizards again and then be put forward to judge at the Liege Posture Canary Club show again. Since my health had picked up, and knowing how sad I was without birds, I again decided to get some and with the aid of my friend Joe Coakely purchased a pair from the Belgian great Jules Étienne, Ronald gave me two lovely blue hens (we both love these), and a few from Bob Sneddon and the Higgins Stud. Seven pairs in total. I was back.

Geert Roeland formally invited me to judge, but it was at the Antwerp Posture Canary Club, as there had been a change during meetings, so off to Antwerp I went via ferry (far cheaper than the tunnel). After arriving I was then met by my good friend and fellow LCA panel judge Tomas Hernandez COM/OMJ E1&E2.  We went to a local Italian restaurant for a lovely meal and conversation and, as normal if I’m not driving, a nice bottle of red wine!

Next morning, a 5 minute drive to the show venue and I was met by Geert, then on to the Lizard people.  Some I knew, some were new to me, but as always when we go over to judge or show I was treated very well.  Nothing was too much trouble and I never ran out of a coffee/drink all day, and I also enjoyed a lovely cooked lunch.

I was asked if I minded two stewards new to Lizards interacting with me during judging and of course I was delighted to agree as I have no issue judging before a public audience, and we are ALL learning. I was introduced to Filip Lauwers and Michele D’Angelo. The birds were delivered to the judging stand by Geert, Ronald, Bart and others for speed as the hall was huge, holding 1500+ posture canaries, and we were judging at the end of each row . . . it kept the boys fit!

The first class was the clear cap gold hens and, after judging in Liege some years ago (Jules had the 1st 6 places of 17 with many world show gold medal winners individual and stam among them that year), I could already see the Belgians had the same issues as ourselves as the birds were not looking their best, and in discussion with the fanciers later that day all agreed the standard had dropped. First and second was Bart Deckers with Jules third. 

This theme continued through the classes with Bart or Jules winning most. When it came to the clear cap gold cock class I had two lovely birds: one from Bart and one from Jules. I actually thought they were bred by the same breeder as they looked like twins.  Both were stunning, but the second placed bird caused discussion as I had to sit in a chair and look upwards under the feathers of the cap that actually flopped over the eye.  I had never seen this before, and again can only put it down to birds needing some cold weather to tighten feathers up.  That said, I could, when looking underneath, see a clear distinct eyelash and such was their quality BOTH ended up in my top 7 birds.  Many of the silver classes had some great birds with profuse rowings, cocks included.  In fact Ronald had a non cap silver cock so profuse that, at first glance, I thought it might be a very well coloured hen, but it was a cock and won its class.

So to the top seven birds in show.  It was difficult, I assure you, as so many were really close but Best Lizard was Bart Decker’s broken cap gold hen, a lovely bird that showed well all day.  Second, a clear cap silver hen; third, a clear cap gold cock; fourth, a non cap gold hen, all cracking birds from Jules Etienne.  Fifth was the clear cap gold cock that had come second in its class; sixth, a non cap gold cock by Bart Deckers, and seventh was Filip Lauwers’ lovely non cap blue hen.  

My thanks to all exhibitors for the 150 entries: Jules, Bart, Ronald, Geert, Filip, Michele, also Pedro Leijen, Jerone Stroobants, Mirjam Kuijsters, Koen Van Ouwenhuysen, Geert Verwoerd and of course Tomas, who in the afternoon was amazing as, sitting in a group and chatting, he would talk in French, Italian, and Dutch with exhibitors before translating it into English for me.  Thank you my friend.  A final mention goes to the Antwerp Posture Canary Club President Dirk Pelgrims.  I knew of Dirk as any COM event has his name to it and his success over many years.  He made a point of spending time with me chatting, thanking me, and also inviting me back after his questioning me about my history with birds.  I’ll be back to judge again in the future with another breed which I will look forward to very much.  

Thanks to all of you for a great time,

 Andy.

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My thanks to Andy for his report and the photos.  Alas the lighting in the show hall meant that slow shutter speeds were necessary, which is not ideal for active birds like Lizard canaries.