INSIDE THIS EDITION 2016 ANPA NATIONAL SHOW SCHEDULE INCLUDING CLASSES, ENTRY FORM AND DECLARATION BY EXHIBITORS NSW all-breed clubs celebrate historical milestones. NEWSLETTER MAY 2016 visit: www.anpa.com.au Find us on SUPPORT OUR SPONSOR ANPA members have been breeding top quality birds in good numbers if the many posts featuring youngsters on the association s successful Facebook page is any indication and it seems that the award for Best Young Bird is going to be hotly contested at the 2016 National at Melbourne in July. This Andalusian Saddle Indian Fantail bred by Queenslander David Sandhoff is a real eye-catcher and will be even better when through the moult.
OFFICE BEARERS President Frank Hayes, P.O Box 8147, Wodonga, Vic 3690. 0418 371 933 mach@netspace.net.au Secretary John Hickman, 55 Hilltop Rd, Wamberal, NSW 2260. (02) 4384 3460. john.hickman@y7mail.com Treasurer David Lewis, 21 Young St, Blackwood. S.A. 5051 (08) 8178 0947. dlewis@peopleschoice.com.au Membership Coordinator Alan Strachan, P.O Box 330, Goulburn, NSW 2580 (02) 4822 0329. astrachan@aapt.net.au Acting Editor and Webmaster Brad Turner, 23 Alton Tce, The Gap Queensland 4061 (07) 3300 3467; 0400767489. turnerbrad27@gmail.com Ring Coordinator Phil Cleghorn, P.O. Box 864, Park Ridge Queensland 4125 0400 833 417 philcleghorn-ringsecretary@outlook.com Election Supervisor Eddie Kloprogge, 0408 375 441 eddie.kloprogge@bigpond.com Victoria/Tasmania Vice President Michael Spadoni, 0402 078 695, spud373@yahoo.com Committee Ian Austin, 0422 469 161 runner.duck@hotmail.com Matthew Hay, 0427 509 943, matthay26@bigpond.com Geoff Nelson, 0412 315 695. geoffnelson@netspace.net.au Mark Tung, 0407 990 101 kybrookepetresort@bigpond.com New South Wales/A.C.T Vice President Bill Vost, 0417 990 010. homerbuild@bigpond.com Committee John Hanson, (02) 4353 1961. blenhaven@m2data.com.au Allan Makin (02) 9871 4093. allanmakin@iprimus.com.au Dave Willans, 0409 070 255 dave.willans@sfnsw.org.au Queensland Vice President Graeme Jubb, 0455 044 226 graemejubb@gmail.com Committee Ian Walsh, (07) 5534 7997; 0404 011 300 walshy327@bigpond.com Bob Kennedy (07) 5496 4094; 0428 282 901. bobkennedy42@gmail.com Western Australia Vice President Dick Milner, 0439 831 760 mrpigeon@bigpond.net.au Committee Clint DeBoni, (08) 9524 1362; 0423 521 896. clint.deboni@yahoo.com South Australia/ Northern Territory Vice President Chris Schutz, (08) 8382 5898. schutzfamily@bigpond.com Committee Jeff Daniel, jeffreydaniel@y7mail.com Life Members Keith Fitzgerald (2003) Frank Hayes (2007) Colin Seymour (2007) Bob Grant (2013) Chris Schutz (2014)
ALL S WELL THAT ENDS WELL FOR MELBOURNE AND VSPF It s not too often when an event organising committee within a few months of hosting an event has the rug pulled out from underneath them. But that s exactly the position the Victorian Show Pigeon Federation organising committee found itself in after booking halls at LaTrobe University for the 33rd ANPA National in July. Our president Frank Hayes explains what happened in his column below, but not only was the show venue lost, but also the presentation dinner venue. Michael Spadoni and the VSPF went into scramble mode and burnt out the batteries on their mobile phones looking for alternatives and after getting several quotes settled on the centrally-located Melbourne Showgrounds. Other venues under consideration were in Geelong and even two hours away in Shepparton, but some Melbournians felt that a show in a country town so far away from the capital deprived them of having their turn in not having to pay for accommodation, one benefit of a hometown National. Given that the showgrounds in Melbourne (and elsewhere) were originally partly established to host events featuring farm animals domestic animals and birds for exhibition, it would be reasonable to think that they would welcome a pigeon show for a reasonable cost. However these days with liability insurance, rules about security, hygiene and cleaning and a myriad of other requirements, even holding the show at the Melbourne Showgrounds will cost north of $17,000 for the venue alone. Nevertheless, the show will go on and promises to be first class. The pavilion (pictured at the top of the page, and with a pigeon show inside at top right) is a beautifully restored heritage building. The presentation dinner will be held at the nearby Flemington Bowls Club, across the road from the host accommodation venue, Quest Apartments. See the Show Schedule in this magazine for full details. From the PRESIDENT with FRANK HAYES Firstly, I want to say how disappointed I was to learn that the 2016 National Show Host, the Victorian Show Pigeon Federation, had to suddenly look for another venue. New management at Latrobe University since the booking was made in 2014 and deposit paid straight after the Penrith National has resulted in unrealistic requirements and costs being put up beyond expectations. This was faced when Michael Spadoni sought to define show details with them in the New Year. Part of their new conditions required the birds to be removed from the venue each night and in addition required a four-day steam clean of the show hall when we moved out. This was quoted at $10,000 on top of the increased venue cost of approx SYDNEY NATIONAL PAYS OFF ANPA Treasurer David Lewis has presented the accounts from the 2015 National in Penrith which indicate the show was a great financial success. A group of NSW members ran the event at the Penrith Panthers complex on behalf of ANPA, the first time a National had not been run by a host club or association of host clubs. ANPA made a contribution of $5000 towards the show, $3000 more than the usual figure, taking into account the high costs of finding a venue in the Sydney Metropolitan area. Taking that into account, the show ran at a profit of $3348.96, with income of $41,006 and expenses of $37,657.04. The major expenditure items were for the hall hire ($18,300), the presentation dinner ($7735) and the venue hire and setup of the pens beforehand ($4940). Entries brought in $12,398, the well-supported raffle $4450, sponsorship $3300 and publication advertising $2345. $16,000. This put the Host clearly on the back foot to quickly locate another venue. So, while not the ideal outcome, the Show must go on. The event will now be held at the Melbourne Showground over the same planned dates. Our Newsletter Editor Frank Povah has decided to call it quits after a number of issues and lack of support. I wish him well for the future and want to thank him for his efforts. Under difficult circumstances at times I believe Frank served us well. Thank you Frank. In the interim Brad Turner will carry that role, thank you Brad. The welfare of your pigeons has been encapsulated in a proposed Code of Practice being developed with Animal Health Australia. As I reported earlier, the outcome will have two parts Standards which will be law and Guidelines which will be recommendations. Our representative at the meetings is confident that requirements will not be onerous but reflect sensible and responsible pigeon management. The process is expected to be completed next year.
Thriving club has rich history The Pigeon Fanciers Society of NSW started life in the office of a tie company and later shared digs with Alcoholics Anonymous. Walter Hitchell OAM joined the club in 1958 and has mined his memories and the pages of the Australasian Pigeon Keeper to reflect on its first 100 years. There is very little written evidence of the early years of the PFS of NSW but we do know that in 1917 a meeting was held at the Sydney Tie Company s office in Sydney to form a Fancy Pigeon Club and Dave O Keefe was present and remained a member all his life and is still fondly remembered by our senior members. Prior to this time the The New South Wales Fancy Pigeon Club was formed in 1887 for both Fancy Pigeons and Utility Breeds as they were popular and not covered by racing clubs. Unfortunately there are no known records of Shows held or when this club ceased operations. Breeds shown at the end of the 19 th century included Hungarians, Damascenes, Owls, (English and African), Beards (Short and Long Face), Fantails, Magpies, Satinettes, Turbits, Nuns, Pouters, English Show Homers, Ice (Barred and Spangled), Tumblers (Parlour, Muffed, Short and Long Faced), Barbs, Antwerps, Bald Heads, Carriers, Marthams, Dragoons, Birmingham Rollers, Norich Croppers, and Helmets. Walter Hitchell OAM Given the smaller population back then the Fancy was very strong due to a large percentage of the population having kept pigeons at some time. I have many issues of the Australasian Pigeon Keeper devoted to Racing, Fancy and Utility breeds dating from volume 6 No.14 July 4 th 1926 (price 3d published weekly) up to the last issue Volume 8 No.32 August 11 th 1928. It would be fair to say it commenced in 1920. My earlier issues have a colour front page and many photos inside printed on good paper while the later issues are much plainer and a slightly smaller page size using poorer quality paper still priced at 3d. A section entitled John Hanson and John Reid on judging duties at the PFS of NSW Eastern Classic held at the club s Fairfield Showground s home base in 2010. The Aviculturist highlighted Canaries and Cage Birds was introduced in 1928 but failed to make it viable. There are mentions of the Utility Pigeon Breeders Association of NSW and talk of combining with the PFS of NSW but very little else as to what happened. They did not report on shows in the APK but the Utility Club was listed in the clubs register in the APK up to November 12 1927 and this listing was not in the December 31 edition. The PFS and members featured in articles but is very thin on actual figures and is frustrating for research. A Young Bird Show was held, as well as an Annual Show which was first held in 1917, the year of the birth of the PFS. In 1926 a report in the APK dated 24 July said their recent Show was a spectacular success but ran at a loss. The following details were given. Income: Donations 7/18/06, club donation 2/12/06, entry fees 27/08/00, sundries 19/00, Total 38/18/00 Expenditure: Special prize money 9/18/00, ordinary prize money 25/12/06, refund cancelled classes 4/16/00, labour, rent & sundries 4/08/06, schedules 1/15/00, postage 19/07, cartage 1/05/00, adverts 10/00, total 49/04 07. W. H. Walker Hon Secretary. In the same issue of the APK is a show report on Manilla show by the judge A. E. Powell. The Champion Pigeon was a Blue Chequered Flying Homer who has flown 420 miles - a very nice headed bird, alert eye and splendidly chequered. Awards also went to Homer classes, Fantails, Magpies, London Dragoons, Carneaux, Mondaines and to encourage young fanciers there were awards to pupils of Manilla school with 14 entries. 1 st place to to K Liddy, 2 nd place Jack Grant, 3 rd place H Lane also VHC awards. Also in the for sale section in the APK are adverts for racing homers from imported bloodlines, Hansenne, Vandevelde, Soffle and crosses by W Foy- Rockdale. Jacobins and Pigmy Pouters all colours by Frank Crotty (Victoria). Jacobins in black, red and white by H.R. Welham (Burnie, Tasmania). Jacobins in all colours priced from 20 shillings and worth from 40 shillings by F Flew (Chatswood ph J2149).. Young Bird Shows were held in the early years and one was held in 1927 but details are limited to the comment that it was successful. Sometime after this (unknown) the YBS ceased to be held until it was revived in 1973 at Castle Hill Showgrounds as a Lawn Show with Vaughan Kelly, Walter Hitchell, John Hanson, Bob Montgomery and others with their children in attendance. It was a success and has been held each year since and is a major event on our calendar.
It was held on the last Sunday in May and developed into a two-day show on the last weekend in May. When I joined the PFS in 1958 the President was Keith Langford-Smith from the Marella Mission Farm at Kellyville who had taken over from George Ardill from Concord who ran an Orphanage called Our Childrens Home 1918 to 1982 with the main building named Ardill House and showed Turbits as well as other breeds. Langford -Smith was also known as the Sky Pilot and for many years he conducted a radio session on 2CH known as the Sky Pilots Log. In 1931 he purchased a Gypsy Moth and flew out of the Roper River Mission. He also wrote articles in the late 1920 s for APK under the name of the Sky Pilot. These were generally on Racing Pigeons although when I knew him he showed Saxon Spots. His wife was Gwen and his Secretary at the mission farm was Norma Warwick, who was also the Secretary of the PFS. The PFS in 1958 met at the old Trades Hall in Haymarket and for a teenager these could be very noisy if there was a Trade Union meeting on with chairs being thrown across the room - on a different floor I might add. The Minutes Secretary was George Hanson and he was accompanied by his son John. We used the meeting room that Alcoholics Anonymous used and their banner was displayed at the front of the room. Australasian Pigeon Keeper snippets December 18 1926. A profile on G. C. Cronin states that it is an eye opener to visit his lofts as he has 20 different varieties most of rare quality. His winnings have been very extensive and he is never shy in buying a good bird. He was a vice-president of the PFS. He went on to become a Vice President of the RAS of NSW in the 50 s and 60 s. April 9, 1927. Royal Show entries were 1220 which was an increase of 247 on the previous Royal in 1926. This was the largest entry for some years. There were some very large individual entries which greatly helped the total entries. The Royal Agricultural Society of NSW (RAS) in March presented PFS Treasurer Jim Mackay a Certificate of Appreciation for services toward to RAS, an amazing 51 years service at the Sydney Show. Congratulations to Jim for his continued hard work with the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW in promoting the Fancy Pigeon. September 10, 1927. Reported that Bobby Morrison of Brisbane sings Harry Lauders songs to his Pouters and this may explain why they perform so well on the show bench. I remember Bob as a renowned Fantail judge and in fact he arranged for the Brisbane Royal to invite me to judge Fancy Pigeons. A long time ago. Also reported that Jack and Will Bentley joined the PFS at their last meeting. They brought out their stud of White Long Faced Tumblers (five from Tom Watts loft in Scotland and five of their own breeding) which Jack showed all his life, eventually settling in Bega. Jack was a very well-known Long Faced Tumbler expert and there are many quotes of his in Dr G L Clarks book The Long Faced Tumbler. 50 years later Jack exported some back to England. Feb 25, 1928. The 10 th Annual meeting of the PFS was held at the APK offices with the following elected :- President Mr W. N. Wilkinson, Vice Presidents Messrs J Christey & Mr W. H. Smith, Secretary Mr W. H. Walker, Treasurer Mr D.H. Porter and 7 Committee F Ellis, R. Goddard, D. Porter, D. O Keefe, F. Flew, H. Douglass and J.H. Shaw. This is the second mention of our old mate Dave O Keefe who was also elected as a committee member in 1927 and a mainstay at our meetings all of his life. From the SECRETARY with JOHN HICKMAN Hello everyone, I hope you all had a peaceful and enjoyable Easter. Some of course have their Easter coming up in April. We have had a decision on our 2016 ANPA National. Congratulations to Michael Spadoni and the VSPF for settling on a venue in central Melbourne at the Royal Showgrounds. Now we need many hands to help the committee to proceed with and conduct a successful show. Members in Tasmania and in NSW should be receiving their elections forms to select their State Committees for the 2016 to 2018 period. Please return your signed voting slips to Eddie Kloprogge, our Election Supervisor, by 31 May. Congratulations to Frank Hayes for being elected President for another two year term, unopposed. Victoria will not require elections as Michael Spadoni was the only nominated and seconded candidate. Victoria really does require another three representatives on their State Committee. There are some very important decisions coming up at our National AGM in Melbourne about National Venues and subsidies for National Shows.Your full number of delegates may be of advantage to your State. Thankyou to Brad Turner for stepping into the interim Newsletter Editor at this time due to Frank Povah s resignation. Thankyou Frank for a job well done. All of you know how important communication is in our world. Our Newsletter is very important especially with the Nationals coming up. If there are any budding writers, publishers or editors out there, please nominate to Frank Hayes or myself. I am sure there are many talented people in our organisation capable of taking on this task.
Road trip a Fantail flood rescue bid The Hunter Valley All Variety Pigeon Society is celebrating its 50 th anniversary at the club s annual show at the Les Greedy Pavilion at Maitland Showground on June 18-19. Here Brad Turner recalls an event from the club s early days when he was nine years old. My father Bill and brother Bill jnr had only just started getting serious about their Fantails in the mid-1960s and at the time they only had 20-30 birds, mostly from J.J (Jack) Bailey, Herb Jacobsen, Herb Hillier and Jack Bennetts. They had started to travel widely to shows from our Sydney home, sometimes together and sometimes Dad and Mum would make a day of it when Bill jnr was away, which was quite often as he was a Qantas steward (these days they call them members of the cabin crew). Either way, these travels had taken them to Maitland in the Hunter Valley, then about four hours north-west of Sydney by road, but close to Newcastle where my father grew up and from where he went to war, and also where my brother was born. While there they caught up with Herb Greedy, who had sold my father Saddle-Marked Fantails in the 1940s. Brad with his Best Turbit ribbon from the HVPS 1968 show. As it turned out, by the 1960s Herb wasn t too well, but they did become good friends with brother Les, also a pigeon fancier, and started a close association with the Hunter Valley club founded by the Greedys and other keen fanciers the previous year. In fact, I am almost certain that the Hunter Valley club was the first in Australia to issue anodised rings which my brother ordered and collected on one of his trips to the USA. All the other rings I can remember seeing before that were plain silver, but I stand to be corrected by other fanciers around at the time. I am going to go out on a limb and rely on my memory and say that the rings obtained by Bill jnr were purple and were issued with the Hunter Valley initials in 1968. I can t remember if there were other colours in the following two years as Dad and Bill sold all their birds in 1970. But it was the 1966 Maitland floods, a tragedy for so many, which proved a significant boost to their Fantail numbers, and left me with a memory which remains with me 50 years later. One wet and rainy day in a wet and rainy month in 1966 the home phone rang. It was Les Greedy calling from Maitland and what he had to say led to both a day to remember for a nine-year-old and an overnight doubling of the Fantail population at the newly-named Yarrawonga Fantail Lofts. Like Sydney, the Hunter Valley had been getting a drenching for weeks. Unlike the northern beaches where we lived, it was prone to major flooding from the Hunter River, with its hub city of Maitland regularly inundated, sometimes with fatal consequences. Les called to say that Herb s lofts were within hours of being flooded, and that Herb (who I think had cancer) was in no fit condition to undertake a rescue mission on a large flock of Fantails, and that he had agreed that if someone was able to come and rescue the birds before the lofts went underwater they could have the pigeons and anything else they wanted. I remember that Bill jnr was soon at our house and the plan was for an immediate departure. I also remember desperately wanting to go along and that this was strongly opposed by my mother on the grounds of potential safety issues, and by Bill jnr on the grounds I would take up even more space in the car. Somehow I managed to get myself in the car for the trip north along the winding old two lane Pacific Highway, before we turned west towards the Hunter Valley on a very rudimentary and rough road through an area called Central Mangrove.
I know it poured rain the entire way, and I know that even my father and Bill jnr were concerned about the road conditions through Central Mangrove, where the water was already starting to rise to the road level. I can remember finally getting to Herb Greedy s house, and Les turning up. I was keen to go in and look at the birds and help load them up, but after a talk between the men I was sent back into the car and told to stay there. It was probably because of the need for speed to get back out of Maitland before being flooded in; whatever the case it wasn t very long before boxes of birds started being loaded into the boot, inside the car, on my lap, anywhere. I don t believe we were there any more than an hour, but when we left the car smelt of wet dirty pigeon. I also remember that the showers eased a bit for the most potentially dangerous part of the trip home through Central Mangrove. I was allowed to help out when we needed to get what turned out to be a pretty wet, miserable and not particularly healthy looking load of about 30 birds into our lofts before dark. Many of the birds were unrung, so their age was unknown, many were in quite poor health and had lice infestations, and some were a few years behind in the quality of Fantail then being shown. They were mostly Red, Yellow and Black. From memory, and again people like Graeme Jubb and John Hanson can correct me, Blue and White Fans were dominant in the 60s, and even pieds (two coloured) pigeons were frowned on and put in the AOC (Any Other Colour) classes. The Greedy stock also included some lace Fantails and, as there were not that many around and these quickly became a project, as did the Reds and Yellows, all three were firm favourites with Dad and Bill. I remember going back and forth to Maitland several times and how much Dad and Bill enjoyed the club and its members. I was also happy to win a few times with my Turbits (later all sold to Darcy Cook). Half a century later the faces might have changed, but it seems the friendly atmosphere of the Hunter Valley club remains the same. The two bottles of HVPS Commemorative Port pictured here will be among some rare club memorabilia raffled and auctioned at the show and presentation dinner. For more information please contact Ron Wilton on ron_wilton@hotmail.com or Gwen Wilton on (02) 4934 2329.
AROUND AND ABOUT Plenty of Wow factor in these 2015 youngsters. Top left a reduced Kite Shortie and above an Almond bred by Rob Grogan, below Red Beard CLLFT s from David Cotsios and some Blondinettes, Satinettes and APT Whitesides of Ian Austin s.
Pigeon foot feather genes identified University of Utah scientists have identified two genes that make some pigeon breeds develop feathered feet known as muffs, while others have scaled feet. The same or similar genes might explain scaled feet in chickens and other birds, and provide insight into how some dinosaurs got feathers before they evolved into birds. The study found that in pigeons with feathers on their hindlimbs or feet, a hindlimb-development gene named Pitx1 is less active than normal, while a forelimb-development gene named Tbx5 is active in the feet, where it normally is not. In other words, pigeons fancy feathered feet are partially wings, says biologist Mike Shapiro, senior author of the study published by the journal elife. In mutant pigeons with foot feathers, the hindlimb is clearly recognizable as a leg, but it has taken on more forelimb characteristics, he says. It s not a complete transformation of a leg into a wing. Rather, components of the leg are more winglike, including feathers and a larger leg bone. Shapiro and colleagues found that the Pitx1 and Tbx5 genes themselves are no different in breeds with and without foot muffs. Instead, they learned that nongene regulatory sequences of DNA near the genes act like switches to turn down the activity of hindlimb gene Pitx1 and turn up activity of forelimb gene Tbx5 in the embryos of pigeons with foot feathers. Our experiments show that these switches work differently in birds with feathered feet relative to the ones with normal, scaled feet, Shapiro says. The two genes were previously known in all vertebrate animals, and they are linked to limb and other defects in people. The new study showed how they provide a mechanism by which scaled and feathered skin regions can be controlled, Shapiro says. Of pigeons, dinosaurs and early birds Most birds have scales on the feet and toes and feathers elsewhere. Some like snowy owls, golden eagles and ptarmigans have foot feathers. Only chickens and domestic pigeons with 146 and over 350 breeds, respectively have breeds with and without foot feathers in a single species. A major change that occurred in the evolution of birds from dinosaurs was the replacement of scales by feathers throughout the body, Shapiro says. Pigeons give us an unusual chance to understand the genetic and developmental mechanisms that might control this change The Pomeranian Pouter (this example bred by Bob Grant) was one of the breeds used in the study. because there are pigeon breeds with and without foot feathers. Some dinosaurs had foot feathers, which may have been common in meat-eating theropods, including raptors and Tyrannosaurus rex. We don t know if Pitx1 and Tbx5 were specifically involved in feather-footed dinosaurs, but this gives us a genetic and developmental mechanism that could have done it, he adds. We have no direct way of knowing how that change occurred in dinosaurs. However, we see a lot of striking anatomical similarities between dinosaurs feathered legs and feet and pigeons with feathered legs and feet. So pigeons might give us some insights into how the skin knows to develop scales or feathers. Based on what we found in pigeons, the change from scales to feathers can be genetically very simple, he says. This can give us some clues about not only how pigeons get feathered feet, but perhaps about how ancient birds lost foot feathers. The genes we found that control feathered feet determine forelimb versus hindlimb identity, Shapiro says, and were already known for other functions besides their newfound role in foot feather development: Shapiro and colleagues showed that to get feathers on pigeons hindlimbs or legs, the normal hindlimb signal from Pitx1 goes down, making the leg less like a hindlimb, and the forelimb signal from Tbx5 goes up, making the leg more like a wing. In pigeons when Tbx5 is expressed in the leg, the leg takes on some forelimb or wingike characteristics, including feathers, he says. In some breeds with feathered feet, the fibula or outer shin bone becomes much bigger and more like a bone in the wing. Finding foot-feathering genes Shapiro did breeding experiments in which they crossed muffed pigeons named Pomeranian Pouters with scale-footed pigeons known as Scandaroons. Then they crossed the offspring. In the grandkids, some birds had scaled feet, others had big muffs and others were in between, with a range of scales and feathers, he says. They usually had both. This told us very few genes were involved in this trait, as we expected. Then we looked for associations between DNA sequences and the amount of feathering on the feet in the grandkids, Shapiro says. We found that only two regions in the genome had significant associations with foot feathering. When the grandkids inherited versions of those stretches of DNA that came from the feathered grandparent, then they had more and bigger feathers, he adds. When they inherited the stretches of DNA from the scaled grandparent, then they had fewer and smaller feathers. That told us these two places in the genome had a huge effect on feather versus scale development in the feet. Next, we compared the entire genome sequences of 15 feather-footed breeds with the genomes of 28 scale-footed breeds, Shapiro says. We found the same two places in the genome differed between the scale-footed and feather-footed breeds. This also identified smaller regions of the genome as being the locations of the genes. They then tested how genes in those regions were expressed or activated in pigeon embryos, allowing them to identify Pitx1 and Tbx5 as the genes switching foot feather development on or off. They confirmed that with other experiments looking at how each gene was activated in pigeon embryos from crosses between scale-footed Old Dutch Capuchins and Fairy Swallows with heavy foot feathers. The study showed that the transformation of scales into feathers in pigeons does not involve local changes to scales to make them become feathers, but rather a wholesale change in limb identity, Shapiro says. These genes are master regulators that control development of forelimbs versus hindlimbs.
AROUND AND ABOUT Gordon Jones s Jacobin flock obviously doesn t keep him busy enough, so he has also found time for the young Carneau, Norwich and Helmets at the left of the page. Above is a nice Red APT of Jared Steenson s and below is a promising Black Saddleback bred by Michael Spadoni.
AROUND AND ABOUT Felice Esposito isn t that ancient, but not exactly looking better every year. Fortunately his Ancients are doing exactly that as the Black above and Yellow below show. Felice has always produced some class longies, as the Black Muffed Baldhead above and the Opal Muffed Baldhead at right show. At bottom left is an Andalusian Nun bred by Brad Turner, down from birds from Canadian Guido Madrusan and featuring the unique knucklehead frontal. It is the first bird anywhere in the world with this trait that is not a Black or Brown.
33RD ANPA NAtional JULY 22-24, 2016 MELBOURNE SHOWGROUNDS HOST: VICTORIAN SHOW PIGEON FEDERATION 2015 CHAMPION FANTAIL: MAL DAVIS PHOTO: :LISA AND CATHY WEEKES SHOW SCHEDULE
Thursday, July 21 2pm-8pm: Penning of birds. 8pm: Pavilion closes. Friday, July 22 8am-11am: Penning continues 11am: Official opening and judge s briefing. 11.15am: Judging begins. 5.30pm: Pavilion closes. 5.45pm ANPA committee meeting at Quest Apartments. Saturday, July 23 8am-1pm: Judging to be completed. 1pm: Show catalogues available and for sale. 1.30pm: Ring auction. 2pm: ANPA AGM at Melbourne Showgrounds. 5pm: Pavilion closes. 6.30pm: Presentation Dinner at Flemington Bowls Club. SHOW PROGRAM Sunday, July 24 8am: Pavilion opens. 10am: Bird auction 11am: Show closes. Doors closed, no departures until exhibitors have retrieved or accounted for all their birds. The Show Committee will appreciate your patience. Melbourne Pigeon Society Inc. Proud supporter & Affiliate of ANPA President Michael Spadoni Mob 0402 078 695, spud373au@yahoo.com Secretary: Mark Tung 835 Kangaroo Ground St Andrews Rd, Panton Hill, Vic. 3759. Mob: 0407 829 901 kybrookepetresort@bigpond.com Treasurer: Bill Vost Albury, N.S.W. 2640. Mob 0417 990 010 homerbuild@bigpond.com Ring Secretary Dr Tim Owen Whmc2001@hotmail.com Merchandise Bruce Swire. 9352 5507 100 years Strong Host of the inaugural ANPA national meeting in 1981. Involved in Hosting every Vic National since 1983 1987 1991 1995 2003 2007 2010 2016 A friendly All-breeds Club catering for Melbourne, Victorian & Australia wide fanciers. Member of VSPF, host of 33 rd ANPA National, 2016. Established in 1913 the MPS has a large & diverse membership aiming to promote all forms of show pigeons with the understanding of breeding & working towards the written breed standards. The MPS holds Breed, Genetics talks, Sale days & Shows throughout the year. The MPS is also on the front foot is innovative & willing to try new ideas to move the fancy forward. Club meetings with Monthly Shows are held on the first Sunday of every month at 10 am, Carrington Drive, Albion. Everyone is welcome & encouraged to attend. Membership $25 p.a, or $60 for 3 years. Affiliates of ANPA & the VSPF.
Entries close June 10. No late entry will be accepted Enquiries: Joe Peto Ph: (03) 9728 6430 (h) 0421 304 661 (mobile) Email: sofia.peto@optusnet.com.au Please forward entries, entry fee, dinner payments and any other payments to: The National Show Secretary, Joe Peto, 16 Ravenswood Crt, Montrose, Victoria 3765. Information for Exhibitors ENTRY FEES All Seniors: $20 First Entry* $4 second and subsequent entries Juniors: (must be aged at least 5 years and not more than 15 on the day of the show) $15 First Entry* $2 for second and subsequent entries *Please Note: First entry fee includes Catalogue of entries and a 2016 coat patch. 2016 SHOW CONDITIONS All pigeons at property of entrant MUST COMPLY with the declarations on the Entry Form. This requires that all pigeons at your property have been fully vaccinated by injection against Avian Paramyxovirus within the last 12 months and not less than four weeks before this show. Entries without this declaration signed and completed will not be processed. Payment of entry fees and Presentation Dinner tickets must accompany the signed entry form and all cheques/money orders must be payable to the Victorian Show Pigeon Federation. Post with the entries to the Show Secretary Joe Peto. Include a stamped, self-addressed envelope for acknowledgement and receipt of your entries. Juniors: Please note that Juniors are not permitted to exhibit the same breed as a senior living at the same address, regardless of whether that senior is exhibiting at this show. To compete in junior classes, junior members must attend the show and pen their own exhibits. This will be supervised by the Show Committee. All exhibits must be the bonafide property of the exhibitor from the time of entry through exhibition. Entries will be accepted only from financial individual members of ANPA and the Victorian Show Pigeon Federation s Affiliated Clubs Melbourne Pigeon Society, Geelong and Districts All Breeds Pigeon Club, Dandenong Fancy Pigeon Society and Twin Cities Fancy Pigeon Club. This will be checked and any entries from non-members or unfinancial members will be returned. Entries will not be accepted from any person who has been refused membership of ANPA regardless of that person s status in any other club. The Show Committee reserves the right to refuse to accept any entry/entries deemed to be a risk to the smooth running of the show. Pen numbers: Will be released to exhibitors on their arrival at the show. It is therefore suggested that you retain a record of your entries. Please refrain from making additions and alterations to your initial entry. Security is paramount and your patience is requested for any inconvenience. No bird, other than for exhibition or entered for sale, is to be taken into the show area. All boxes and crates must be placed in the storage areas provided. Stewards will be on duty and will check all boxes and bags leaving the venue. No exhibits will be allowed to leave the pavilion until all exhibitors have retrieved or accounted for all their birds following the close of the show. Sale Birds: Sale pens will be available but must be pre-booked with your entries. Refer to the special section in this schedule. Developmental/Genetics Class: Show classes will be provided for breeds in development or new colours being developed in existing breeds. Please note that this is not a class for funny colours produced by crossing existing colours within a breed, but for specific projects to introduce a genotype not present in a breed or to create a new breed in this country. The Committee may award a special trophy for the best in the developmental class. Catering: A mobile food van will be parked near the show pavilion for the duration of the show. Judges: Judges are subject to change without notice. ANPA and the Show Committee thank all the Judges for accepting the invitation to officiate at this 33rd Australian National Pigeon Show. Our gratitude is expressed to those fanciers and judges who have made it possible for us to have this fine panel of Judges. The list of judges, together with the breeds they will be judging, is included in this schedule. Rings: All old birds must wear a ring of the correct size issued by ANPA only. All young birds must be rung with a 2015 ring of the correct size issued by ANPA and must be entered in the young bird classes provided. The only exception will be for birds entered in the Homer Group- Racing Pigeon Show Type Classes 2285-2312 and Flown Racers Classes 2801-2836.
As dual purpose birds, entries will be accepted for birds rung with ANPA rings or bonafide Australian Racing Rings only. Only correctly rung birds accepted for exhibition and eligible for awards. Exhibitors and spectators must keep well clear while judging is in progress. All will be allowed reasonable access to observe judging. The ANPA code of conduct will be strictly adhered to and enforced. Conduct violations include but are not limited to: Anyone engaged in chastising or rude questioning directed at the judge or making ownership of birds known. Persons offending in such a manner will be warned and then further infringement, depending on severity, will result in the person being asked to leave the judging area/pavilion or a disqualification of that person s exhibits. With severe infringements both will be applied. The entry form must have your signature to confirm your acceptance. At no time after birds are penned can they be handled, or their pen accessed, by anyone other than their owners, or a show committee approved breed steward. Owners are permitted to prepare their birds during judging, and they can be carried to and from the judging by their owner, or stewards under the control of the nominated breed steward. The committee will not be held responsible for any loss or injury sustained to any exhibit though every care will be taken. In all circumstances the judge s decision will be final, with no provisions for appeal or disputes. Judges may withhold placings, awards, trophies or certificates at their discretion. The owner of any exhibit deemed sick or carrying excess vermin of any description will be instructed to remove the bird from the pavilion. If any exhibit is disqualified from competition, all fees will be forfeited. Exhibitors are responsible for all freight arrangements. See further information in this schedule about the ANPA arrangement with QANTAS Freight. Celebrating 10 successful years in 2016
SHOW AWARDS NATIONAL CHAMPION AWARDS All breeds listed (printed in bold) in the schedule will be considered for the award of National Champion and will receive the ANPA National Champion card provided the judge considers the birds to be of sufficient standard to hold the title of National Champion. Likewise ANPA national trophies will be available for all breeds subject to there being ten (10) exhibits entered. In the case of only one exhibitor in the breed, the National Show Coordinator will source a second opinion. NATIONAL YOUNG BIRD AWARDS ANPA may award a National Young Bird Card to the best young bird of every breed (printed in bold) provided the judge considers the bird to be of sufficient standard to hold the title of National YB Champion. Likewise ANPA national trophies will be available subject to there being eight (8) or more exhibits. In the case of only one exhibitor in the breed, the National Show Coordinator will source a second opinion BEST OPPOSITE SEX (BOS) AWARD ANPA will award a trophy to the best opposite sex of each breed where there are 30 exhibits or more. Best Opposite Sex awards may be donated to other breeds, but are subject to Judge s discretion. These will be available if donated and provided there are 30 exhibits or more in a breed. BEST JUNIOR EXHIBIT ANPA may award a trophy to the best junior exhibit in each breed subject to there being eight (8) or more junior exhibits in that breed. All juniors participating in the National show will receive a memento. ANPA will also award a trophy for the best overall junior exhibit. There will be a trophy for the runner-up best junior. Note: The best junior exhibit in each breed will be considered for the respective best of breed awards and will be judged by the breed judge. Entries in the junior classes should include a J alongside the respective class number and indicate the junior exhibitor s age. SPECIAL AWARDS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ANPA is grateful for the very generous support given by various individuals, clubs and sponsors. Further sponsorship and donated awards are welcome and would be appreciated but should be received by the National Show Secretary, Joe Peto, by June 3, (phone (03) 9728 6430, email sofia.peto@optusnet.com.au) Specialist clubs and individuals are welcome to provide additional awards for group or colour classes or any other approved category that is not provided for by ANPA but may not provide awards for exhibits which have been ruled ineligible under the ANPA Show Conditions. The following donations have already been confirmed. Further donors are invited to sponsor awards or make other donations which will also be acknowledged in the Show Catalogue following the close of entries. Thank you to the following donors. Modena Gazzi: Barry Shepherd Memorial Trophy donated by Keith and Joan Fitzgerald. Modena Schietti: Don Selth Memorial Trophy donated by Keith and Joan Fitzgerald. Best Pigmy Pouter Southern Pouter and Cropper Club. Best Young Australian Performing Tumbler - Paul and Jared Steenson Best Australian Saddleback Melbourne Pigeon Society. Best Shaksharli, Best Young and BOS John Chehade Best Egyptian Swift, Best Young and BOS John Chehade The United Nun Club (Australia) is sponsoring the Breed Awards for Best, Reserve and Best Young Nun. BIRD AUCTION The VSPF will be conducting the only bird auction for donated birds. This will be conducted on Sunday. Half the proceeds of each winning bid may be retained by the donor with the remaining 50 per cent to be donated towards the running of the Show. Dennis Murphy and Mark Tung have sourced the birds to be auctioned and we thank those generous donors for their support. At the time of printing Stephen Walsh had donated his three National Young Bird Champion Showpen Homers from the past three National Shows to the auction. Dick Milner had donated six pairs of Stargard Shakers. Any further donation of quality birds will be appreciated. Contact Dennis on 0409 669 796 or Mark Tung on 0407 829 901 to register your donation. All birds will be identified with breeder and ring number listed. SHOW PHOTOGRAPHY We thank Mario Fenech who will be taking photographs of the Champions and major winners in every breed once that breed judging is complete. Ensure that all details of the exhibit, award and the owner s name are recorded with Mario when the photos are taken. RING AUCTION For numbers 1-50 in all sizes will be held at 1.30pm on Saturday. Rings will be offered in parcels of 10 (1-10) (11-20) (21-30) (31-40) (41-50). The highest bidder has the option how many parcels of 10 they purchase. The remaining rings will be auctioned until all are sold. Tendered offers will be also be accepted. ANPA ring sales for the numbers 51-100 will follow in similar parcels.
QANTAS AIR FREIGHT TO AND FROM MELBOURNE All freight arrangements must be managed by the entrant. ANPA has confirmed that the 2015 arrangements with QANTAS are in place for 2016. Exhibitors wanting to take advantage of the QANTAS passenger rate for their birds should note the detail in the attached QANTAS arrangement letter. ANPA members on production of the QANTAS arrangement letter, an ANPA Membership card and a valid QANTAS domestic airline ticket are able to receive two standard pigeon crates containing not more than 12 birds each at the QANTAS passenger rates - from $60 from mainline ports and from $70 for regional ports for crates up to 10kg. Crates 11-20kg are from $80 from mainline ports. All livestock must be lodged at the QANTAS Freight terminal 90 minutes before the flight. Fanciers must book crates of pigeons both ways otherwise they won t be accepted. If you send more than two crates then current QANTAS Freight rates apply this will vary depending on the origin/destination and weight. For quotes contact QANTAS Freight Customer Service on 12 12 13. The QANTAS arrangement letter is towards the back of this schedule. Ensure you book your crates both ways well before the minimum 7 day period referred to in the letter to avoid missing out, as this has happened. Exhibitors are advised to try to book as soon as their flight booking is confirmed. A 12 bird crate can be two six bird boxes strapped one on top of the other provided the rate dimensions do not exceed the maximums which are 70cm x 32cm x 52 cm. Note weight limit of 20 kg. In previous years some exhibitors have been able to book their crates in as baggage in some terminals. PLEASE NOTE that Qantas no longer accepts livestock at check in counters. Visit qantas.com.au and the Travelling with Pets information. SALE BIRDS Your sale pens must be prebooked with your entries. Pens will be available only for pre-booked sale birds in the assigned area of the pavilion. The cost for a four bird pen will be $10 and for an eight bird pen the cost is $18. Any pens found to be not complying with these number restrictions will be cleared out by the show committee. This will be strictly enforced due to animal welfare regulations and the sales area will be supervised. Please also note that all birds in the sales section must be fully vaccinated by injection for Paramyxovirus, the same as for birds entered in the show section. RAFFLES Two raffles will be held. The first raffle will be for two import Spots scheduled for early 2017, kindly donated by Chris Schutz. Tickets will be $10 each. The second will be a general raffle with tickets costing $1 each. IPSWICH PIGEON SPECIALIST CLUB INC. Founded 1940 Proudly supporting the 2016 ANPA National Show Membership fees: $15 senior or family, $10 juniors. Pigeon rings available, newsletter quarterly. President: Phil Cleghorn, ph: 0400 833417. Secretary/ Treasurer John Wiseman, 1138 Pine Mountain Rd, Pine Mountain, Queensland, 4306. Ph: (07) 5464 3784. Email: john224@bigpond.com
JUDGING PANEL We are very fortunate to have five international judges from four different countries. We thank them and their sponsors for arranging for these experienced fanciers and welcome each of them from the Bahrain, New Zealand, The Philippines, the USA and Canada. They will be supported by 31 Australian fanciers. Please note that this list may be subject to change without notice Adam Sulja (Vic) Barbarisi Allister Bull (NZ) Australian Showpen Homers Allan Makin (NSW) Australian Dragoon, English Carriers Allan Watts (Tas) Chinese Owl, Helmets, Domestic Show Flights Allan Hill (Vic) Gimpels Barry Ross (Qld) Vienna Long Face Tumbler Bill Vost (Vic) Lebanon, Syrian Dewlap, Syrian Fantail, Syrian Tarbesh Bob Grant (NSW) AOV Colour Pigeon, Aachen Lacquer Shield Owl, Development/Genetics, Dutch Pouter, Frillback, Ghent Pouter, Hanna Pouter, Norwich Cropper, Old Dutch Tumbler, Polish Lynx, Reversewing Pouter, Schmakaldener Mohrenkopf, Voorburg Shield Cropper. Brian Lockyer (Vic) Australian Saddleback Tumbler, English Short Face Tumbler Roller, Bryan Frost (Vic) Damascene Chris Schutz (SA) King, Carneau Colin Seymour (NSW) Berlin Long Face Tumbler, Berlin Short Face Tumbler, Indian Fantail, Konigsberg Tumbler, Royal Show Tumbler, Russian Gruwunni, Stargard Shaker, Szegediner Tumbler, Takla Turkish Tumbler, Dan Cayer (Canada) English Clean Legged Long Face Tumbler, English Muff Long Face Tumblers Dave Willans (NSW) Saxon Breast, Saxon Field Pigeons, Saxon Monks, Saxon Priest, Saxon Shield, Saxon Spot, Saxon Whitetail, Show Tippler, All Swallows Dave Spencley (NZ) Bokhara Trumpeter, English Trumpeter, Nuremburg Lark Dennis Murphy (NSW) English Show Homer, Exhibition Homer, Genuine Homer Dick Lipski (USA) British Show Racers Doug McClary (Vic) English Dragoons Dwight Wyatt (NSW) Fantails, Mindian Fantails Ebrahim Yaqoob Yousef (Bahrain) Jacobin Eddie Kloprogge (Vic) Czech Ice Pouter, English Pourer, Pomeranian Pouter Edward DeLa Cruz (Philippines) Budapest Short face Tumbler, German Beauty Homer, Old German Owl Geoff Nelson (Vic) Australian Performing Tumbler Ian Austin (Vic) Barb, English Owl, Scanderoon Jamie Ramsey (NSW) Modena, Schiette and Gazzi Joe Puglia (Vic) Altenburg Trumpeter, Arabian Trumpeter, Arad Highflier, Coburg Lark, Cumulet, Danzig Highflier, Felegyhauser Tumbler, Kormorner Tumbler, Mookee, Old Dutch Capuchine, Stettiner Tumbler, Stralsunder Highflier, Taganroger Tumbler, Timisoara Tumbler, Vienna Whiteside Tumbler, West of England Tumbler, John Hickman (NSW) All Utility except King and Carneau John Snelders (Vic) Brunner Pouter, Holle Cropper, Pigmy Pouter Mario Fenech (Tas) Gaditano Cropper, Marchenero Cropper, Valenciano Cropper Mick Dunn (Vic) Australian Flying Tippler, Budapest Highflier, Donek, Egyptian Swift, Kaluga Turmani, Limerick Tumbler, Oriental Roller, Rzhev Startail Tumbler, Serbian Highflier, Syrian Swift Paul Bondini (NSW) Show Birmingham Roller Peter Harvey (SA) African Owl, Blondinette, Satinette, Turbit, Berlin SF & LF Tumblers, Phillip Cleghorn (Qld) Antwerps, Any other Frill Richie Darling (SA)) Australian Suabian, Danish Suabian, German LF (Brunswick), Hanover Beard, Hyacinth, Ice Pigeon, Ice Pigeon, Lahore, Starling, The Crescent, Thuringen Field Pigeon Stephen Pearson (Vic) Magpies Stevan Gazzola (Vic) Flown Racers, Racing Pigeon Show Type. Werner Zimmer (Qld) Nun Steve Hrup (Vic) Shaksharli Tumbler
Paul Sulja AUSTRALIAS PREMIER BARBARISI BREEDER. MELBOURNE PIGEON SOCIETY AND VICTORIAN PIGEON SOCIETY MASTER BREEDER MULTIPLE NATIONAL WINNERS BREEDING BARBABISI IN BLACK, DUN, BLUE, SILVER, RED, YELLOW, MEALY, CREAM BAR, INDIGO, ANDALUSION, ALMOND, KITE AND VARIOUS CHECKERS BREEDING QUALITY SHAKSHARLI IN BLACK, DUN, BLUE, SILVER, RED, YELLOW, BRONZE, SULFA, INDIGO AND ANDALUSION. BIRDS AVAILABLE AT VARIOUS TIMES PAUL 0411 707 887
BOSTON BAY LOFTS Peter Harvey Master Breeder of African Owls and Turbits Breeding Blondinettes, Satinettes, Turbits and African Owls in most colours from imported bloodlines Birds for sale from March Contact Peter on 0488 573 511 or peterharvey58@hotmail.com PROMOTING EXCELLENCE IN FRILLS, TURBITS AND OWLS Congratulations to the Victorian Show Pigeon Federation On hosting the 33rd National Pigeon Show in Melbourne from Allan Makin Admirer of All Pigeon Breeds Breeder, Exhibitor and Judge at International and Australian level Phone 02 9871 4093 Email: allanmakin@iinet.net.au
Ian Austin Proud Sponsor of the 2016 Melbourne National Breeder of Quality Frills Blondinettes, Satinettes and African Owls Pigmy Pouters and Hollie Croppers from imported Bloodlines Birds for Sale March Onwards 0422 469 161 runner.duck@hotmail.com Australian Long Faced Tumbler Club President: Felice Esposito furgus@ bigpond.net.au. 0418380469 Secretary: Dave Cotsios dcotsios@ bigpond.com.au. 0427922233 Congratulates VSPF for hosting the 2016 Melbourne National Q U E E N S L A N D PIGEON FANCIERS SOCIETY INC. Congratulates THE VSPF FOR HOSTING THE 2016 NATIONAL IN MELBOURNE. Q.P.F.S IS AN ALL BREEDS PIGEON CLUB. FOUR NEWSLETTERS ANNUALLY. TWO SHOWS PER YEAR NEW MEMBERS ALWAYS WELCOME. MEMBERSHIP: ADULTS & FAMILY $15, PENSIONERS $10, SOCIAL MEMBERSHIP $5, JUNIORS $7.50 JUNIORS FIRST YEAR MEMBERSHIP IS FREE FOR FURTHER DETAILS CONTACT: PRESIDENT: BOB KENNEDY: 07 5496 4094; 0428 282 901 SECRETARY: BARRY ROSS: 07 33583677 EMAIL : barrypigeons@bigpond.com ANPA affiliated
SOUTH AUSTRALIAN CANARY AND PIGEON SOCIETY Promoting Show Pigeons in South Australia PRESIDENT: Peter Harvey (0488573511) VICE PRESIDENT: David Lewis (0417810514) TREASURER: Chris Schutz (041719012) SECRETARY: Nadine Zadow (0407303177) SHOW SECRETARY: Ray Gutsche (0418828582) RING SECRETARY: Luke Hinchey (0439508070) Congratulations VSPF on hosting the 2016 ANPA National MURRAY MOWAT Proud sponsor of the 2016 Melbourne ANPA National Show Breeder of Past National Winners in the following breeds: Pigmy Pouter Holle Cropper Norwich Cropper Phone 0409720186 Email: mandlmowat@bigpond.com
King Club of Australia The KCA is having a home grown judge this year for the ANPA National show. Chris Schutz, ANPA Master Breeder and long-time King breeder has been selected to judge the Kings at the 2016 ANPA National Show in Melbourne. Chris is a previous National winner having bred numerous National winners as well as having judging experience across Australia and internationally in the USA, the UK and Europe. Chris is pictured below at last year s National show with USA judge Larry Foos. We wish the club and members a very successful National show in 2016. President Victoria/Tasmania Trevor Bone Haddon Vic. 3351 Ph: 0408 519 518 Email: tbone.1961@icloud.com Queensland Bob Kennedy Delaneys Creek Qld. 4514 Ph: 0428 282 901 Email: bobkennedy42@gmail.com Secretary South Australia Chris Schutz Happy Valley SA. 5159 Ph: 0401 719 012 Email: schutzfamily@bigpond.com Western Australia Dick Milner Maida Vale WA. 6057 Email: mrpigeon@bigpond.net.au New South Wales Anthony Duncan Bidwell NSW. 2770 Ph: 0422 175 284 Email: duncanelec@optusnet.com