CENTRAL CANADIAN JACOBIN CLUB- SEPT. 2005

Well, this newsletter is long overdue. As most of you know the 14th annual Canadian National Jacobin Show is quickly approaching. The dates are Nov. 4th,5th,& 6th in Edmonton. Master Breeder Dennis Soares will be back by popular demand as Judge. This works well for us because Dennis will be showing Fantails at the Fantasia show in Edmonton so this will save us some money. Since there is no organized Jacobin club in the Alberta/B.C. district the Central Canadian Jacobin Club will offer financial support if needed which seems only fair as the members from the Alberta/B.C. district have been great supporters of the CCJC over the years. However it is hoped that members will sponsor the awards to a large degree to help offset costs as has been done in the past. A $20.00 donation will cover the cost of a class award. Unlike other years entries are not to be sent to the Jacobin Club but rather directly to Edmonton Northlands. Entry forms were printed in the "Feather Fancier" as well as mailed out to most of you from Northlands. If you did not get an entry form let me know ASAP. Do not send your trophy donations or membership fees with your entries. Send them directly to me if you are not going to be at the show. Todd Toews will be collecting trophy sponsorships and memberships to the CCJC at the show. Laurel and Larry are taking care of getting the trophies. A show this early is always a challenge for us Jacobin breeders but I know we will have a great show regardless as long as everyone brings what they can. I just love the Edmonton Show. The fellowship is second to none. I know shipping birds in and arriving by air will not be a problem. Just contact Laurel and Larry and they will be able to help you out with that. Their number is 780-963-9941.

The current balance of the CCJC account is around $1100. But I just sent a cheque from the account to the CPFA to pay for the 2006 Jacobin bands for $273.50 so that is to come off of the balance. Those of you who have not yet paid for your 2005 bands know who you are so could you please pay up.

I have been in contact with some of our members and it seems most have had decent breeding seasons.

Bill Sacher had a real good year banding about 50. You can be sure there will be some real nice ones there. Guy was there and said he saw some wonderful Bars. No surprise. Bill will have a nice show team in Edmonton.

Guy Perreault had a slow start but things really picked up later in the season and Guy has lots of nice ones now. Guy plans to show about 25 in Edmonton and said he should have some nice ones to sell there as well. Bob Pilchar raised some nice young ones. A couple of Opals he really likes. Bob will be showing in Edmonton also.

Todd Toews had a great year breeding 53 young Jacobins and all of them are early hatched. Todd told me he has 14 young Almonds some of which are awesome. Also a very nice young Brown. Todd said he had a very good year last year also and he kept lots of his good 2004 youngsters that he didn't even breed from to show - some very good Yellows. Go Todd! Look out Edmonton.

Laurel and Larry really geared up for this early show and banded a slug of babies. They even had to order more bands. I think they banded over 60. Larry said they have made some nice progress with the young birds this year and plans to show a bunch in Edmonton.

Gord Edwards had a very good year. He cut down the number of pairs he was breeding from but still banded more babies. More than 40 I believe. Some promising Reds, Blues and Silvers as well as a nice Brown. Gord will be in Edmonton also with his show team.

Albert Cook had a slow year but still bred some nice ones. A Blue that he really likes. We are hoping Albert will send birds to Edmonton with Gord. Albert had a nice visit with Chris Norquay from Scotland this past August. Chris was in Ontario visiting some relatives when he paid Albert a visit. Albert said Chris is a book of knowledge when it comes to Jacobins. Chris has been breeding Jacobins for 45 years in the Orkneys where he lives and is known as one of the top breeders and Judge in the UK.

As many of you know Harry Top was hit by a weasel after the National in Woodstock last year. It killed more than 20 of Harry's hens and as a result Harry farmed out his Jacobins for the rest of the season to the other Ontario breeders. However Harry just couldn't stay away and he has now gathered up some of his birds and is back in Jacobins once again. This is some of the best news I have heard in a long time. We all know what a great breeder Harry is and we plan to see him back in the winners circle in short order.

Ron Mclean raised some nice young birds in Red, Yellow, Splash and Kite. We know they will be good. Ron is a keen breeder and does a great job with his birds. We are hoping Ron can come to Edmonton or at least send birds.

Skipping over to the west coast Buddy Smart should have some very nice youngsters. Buddy is working with some very nice stock in Red, Yellow, White, Cream and Almond. We are looking forward to seeing Buddy in Edmonton with a show team also.

Barry Sky now has two breeding seasons under his belt since he started back in Jacobins. I have heard that he has bred some very nice birds. I look forward to meeting Barry in November and seeing his birds.

I haven't heard from anyone else in this country. I have been trying to convince John Hundrup to come show with us because this show is fairly close for him however John is still not sure. Drew and his son Evan from Calif. Plan to be at the show also but I do not know if they will be showing Jacs or not. None the less it will be exciting just having them there.

So as you can see this is going to be quite a show. You will not want to miss it.

I have had a good year with over 100 banded. Some nice ones I hope. So hopefully there will be a few ready for Edmonton. I am really looking forward to this show. Just to see everyone again is the best part. My son Justin now really wants to get into Jacobins. However he wants a colour I do not have so he contacted Bill for some Creams and Mealies and Bill said he would get him started in Edmonton so now Justin is so excited he can hardly wait. I can still remember that feeling - in fact I still get that feeling. Isn't it great what these birds can do!

I will put a nice show report together after this show. I plan to take lots of pictures.

Clint Robertson Email: barj@mts.net