THE CANADIAN NATIONAL JACOBIN SHOW. JANUARY 2004.

JUDGES REPORT

by Dennis Soares, California

    I would like to thank the Central Canadian Jacobin Club for selecting me to judge their annual National show January 9th & 10th 2004.  I thoroughly enjoyed their presentation of 300 Jacobins before me for my evaluation.  The cameraderie that I observed was gratifying as was their attentiveness and eagerness to the detail of my evaluation.  The array of awards  was perhaps the best and most complete I have ever seen for Jacobins worldwide, with best and reserve of each color receiving a trophy and plaque.  Special service awards were presented to Gord Edwards and for the ever hard working Clint Robertson.  Clint is a great breeder but even more so the spark and backbone of this fine association.  I commend him highly in his total completion of detail to everything from awards to making my trip comfortable as I was totally taken care of.

    With that said, we will discuss some of the Jacobin placings of this momentous show.  The first class was the blue & silvers.   Best going to a blue OH #113 by Bill Sacher, she shows good soft colour and is a free shower with good top feather.  Reserve was a silver by Sacher that was more compact and also had good colour.   The second class was the reds.  As most shows around today, by far the largest and deep in quality.  The best of color was an OC by Clint Robertson #640.  It had good feather fit, medium size bird with top feather, chain and good mane.  There were 23 Old cocks in this class, 50 overall reds.  I believe reserve red was OH 696 by Guy Perrault and young to YC by Robertson.

    The blacks were an outstanding class of beauty.   I believe the best black class I have seen in 30 years.  Best went to a YC by Robertson. Smooth excellent finish, free shower.  Reserve to OH by Robertson that was a glossy outstanding specimen.    There was a nice class of whites.  Best again going to a young bird, #408YC by Robertson.  He was a very balanced smooth bird with no breaks in his feather formation whatsoever.  Reserve to an OC by Guy Perrault, great top feather and a balanced larger bird.    The Mealy class was small but possessed the best Jacobin in this colour in a young cock by Perrault that I have ever seen.  He was a lighter frosty variety but the outstanding bird of show.  Reserve to Sacher with another YC.

    The yellows brought out a very balanced smooth specimen that was a free shower and easy winner in a young hen #435 by Clint Robertson.  Beside having great carriage, she had great colour, top feather, eye line, chain and never quit showing.  Reserve of colour was a OC by Robertson, shingled a little but good colour and condition.

    Indigo/Andalusian went to a YH by Robertson, very free shower and again perfectly finished.  Reserve of color to the YC, not as good carriage but had a great chain.

    Splash went to and OC #830 by Harry Top.   A well balanced, very well marked red splash showing good top, chain and mane.  ROC went to a black and white splash YH by Perrault.

    Cream went to an OH by Bill Sacher, tall well balanced ever free shower. ROC to the Sacher OC with good balance, top feather and a free shower.

    Best in Kite/Dun class again went to a young bird, YC #437 by Clint Robertson.  It had massive top feather but was a little lazy on carriage. ROC went to an elegant OH#510 by Todd Toews with good chain, top and mane.   Almond went to an Old Cock #81 by Todd Toews.  It was by far best almond, Reserve to the OH by Robertson.

    Brown/Khaki was an interesting class with some tall showy brown hens, most all not in feather that most of the show was.  Best went to a beauty with all the makings to a YH by Robertson.  ROC to a Khaki bar OH by Gord Edwards.

    The real excitement of the show came with the picking of grand champion.

I saw the mealy early  and had to ask myself  "could it be, this is a great pigeon in perfect shape".   After studying the best of colours thouroughly and applying my best analysis of the standard of  perfection, the mealy was the overwhelming choice.  As a point of interest, I wrote my champion on a sheet of paper and  asked the large group who thought it would be the red, black,white, yellow then mealy.  The membership of this club, astute in their understanding of the standard, overwhelmingly  also chose my champion, the mealy young cock bred by Guy Perrault.  The reserve champion was the beautiful black YC by Clint Robertson.  An erect carriage bird, well balanced with a great smooth finish. These were really fine Jacobins, shown with pride and represent a true quality that the whole club can be proud of as well as were the classes of Jacobins that they displayed in quality and quantity.  One of the promising points of interest is that many young birds dominated the classes.  This is a definite sign of progress and the fruits of good breeding.

    The show was followed by a great club meeting, auction, and awards presentation.  That evening was an arousing banquet, great food, fun and fellowship and a particular huge show of appreciation to Bob Pilchar who sponsored and worked tirelessly to put this whole all-breed show together. This was an overwhelming display of dedication and self sacrifice.  With the help and participation of a outstanding raffle,  great attitudes and team work this show came off as a first class production.  I  salute you Bob.

    Again, I want to thank the Central Canadian Jacobin Club for showing me a hospitable and wonderful show.  Thank you all.  Best wishes to all the membership involved. 

Sincerely,

Dennis Soares.