PRESIDENTS TRIP TO THE STATES

In early 2024 I was asked by Niall Hyde and Brian Byrne of the Irish Fancy Canary Club of America if I would be interested in judging at the American 76th National Show as the Irish Fancy Canary was due to be granted its own division (section). It was to be the first new division to be added in twenty years! I of course was honoured to do so, especially as I had judged the inaugural show for the Irish Fancy at the English National in the NEC thirty years previous. In the middle of November 2024 myself and my wife Vera headed off to Knoxville, Tennessee. 

We arrived a few days early which helped us to settle in. Unlike shows at this side of the world, judging was on the Friday and open on Saturday. On the Thursday we bumped into Border Judge John Furley and his wife Marie in our Hotel and the amazing thing was that even though John and myself had been showing and judging around Ireland for over 40 years we had never met. That night there was a reception for the judges and officials and it was a chance to meet fellow judges from far and wide. I met Jim Heffernan (Parrots) who I hadn’t seen since he left Ireland 30 years previously and another man I hadn’t seen for a few years since he lived in Cork was Darren Gill ( Glosters). I also had the pleasure of meeting Adam Raine ( Fifes)and a man I have admired from afar for many years Kieth Ferry ( Type Canaries). I also enjoyed a pleasant conversation with Linda Hogan (Stafford).We met the hardworking and friendly board members of the American National Committee headed up by President Frank Horan.    

We were up early the next morning and all the judges met up for a breakfast meeting in our hotel, where we were given our instructions and momento’s and then headed off to the hall in the World Exhibition Centre nearby. After a short opening ceremony and a fine rendition of the American National Anthem by a gentleman with a powerful voice, the Judges were introduced to their stewards who accompanied them to their judging benches.At this stage I was wondering had they forgotten me as I was the only one left. But I shouldn’t have worried (or maybe I should!). As I already mentioned it was the first time for the Irish Fancy Division so they wanted to make it a bit special and they did. A lone Piper swung into action and I soon found myself marching behind her accompanied by Brain Byrne and Frank Horan ,down through the hall, to the strains of “Irish Eyes are Smiling”, to the decorated judging staging where I cut a big green ribbon to get things started. After all that excitement I had to settle down and judge the 100 plus birds on the benches with the help of my chief steward Niall Hyde. The standard of birds was better then I had expected and I enjoyed going through the classes and picking out my final top ten birds. I gave my Best Bird to a very smart flighted Clear Buff Hen owned by Brain Byrne.

It was the first time that I judged birds under the bench lights system and while it is not perfect it was consistent ,the type was easy to get right but sometimes it was  hard to get the colour right (yellow or buff ). But having said that it is a lot better than some of the conditions I have judged in the past. Another small thing was they had rubber mats under the judging bench, it may have been for health and safety reasons ( ie. Electricity on a metal bench) but it made the hours of standing a lot easier. One of main things I noticed was that birds were on tables rather than the traditional three row staging that we are used to, which makes it more difficult to check out one’s bird after the judging. Only the winners were displayed on the judges benches but I guess for an organisation that is spread out over so many States and a show not necessarily been on at the same venue every year it would be difficult to have that much staging hanging around.

That evening back at our hotel there was a banquet for all involved in the show along with family and friends that resulted in a very pleasant evening. Next day it was back to the show hall and the Judges gathered again to pick the Best in Show, we all had to give a small talk on our bird and then we voted. The Gloster was deemed to be the winner much to the delight Darren Gill. There was an area for bird sales that sold members birds for a small fee and there was a great variety of birds available. In another area there was something I hadn’t seen before, a silent auction, where birds are placed on a stage alongside a sheet of paper. You place your name and your bid on the page and the highest bid at 12 pm got the bird, I’d say a few bargains where had! There was also a lot of bird products available to buy but everything was more or less the same as we have over here. The Show came to an end with a public AGM of the American National Show which was interesting and a short closing ceremony. 

That night we had a get together of old and new friends we made and said our goodbyes as we were leaving early the next morning. On Sunday morning as our plane left the airport and flew back over Knoxville I was able to look down on the Exhibition Centre and I couldn’t help thinking how did that fourteen year old boy who 56 years ago walked into his first show, end up here.

Yours Truly

IFCS President Mr. John Dowling.