2024 SHOW REPORT NORTH OF SCOTLAND GLOSTER CLUB

After our 2023 show a keen eye was being kept on the weather forecasts in the weeks leading up to this year show after last years debacle with storm Babet.

The debacle this year was coming in the form of our dear elected members of the Scottish Government with their rules and regulations and a burning desire to cause havoc amongst our mainly senior citizens.

Register or not to register, are your birds outside or inside whatever we decide to do they will say something different. All we can do now is follow the guidelines and carry on until some overpaid busybody with too much time on their hands finds something else to fill their days.

More regulations for overworked club secretaries already drowning in paperwork, more forms to be filled out not just for the shows but the club sale days as well. Thank goodness we had a guardian angel on the back burner in the form of Donald Skinner Reid, who, in no short manner of time guided me through the filling out of forms and all the rest of the Faff that Holyrood had to throw at us. Thank you, Donald.

At the time of writing our show (27th October) is over and our devoted MPs still have their heads in the sand. Thankfully the other spanner in the works hasn’t reared its ugly head yet, whisper it, (Bird Flu). Every morning the geese fly overhead from their roosts at Findhorn Bay on the Moray Firth heading for the feeding grounds further along the coast and as dusk approaches they are all heading back to roost at Findhorn.

Uncountable numbers of birds and they have all to take a dump somewhere. This is just in my wee corner of the country and I am sure it is happening all over the UK, if we could only train the aforementioned geese to fly over Holyrood and take their aforementioned dump there.

A week before our show we had our monthly sale in the McBoyle Hall in Portknockie which gave us time to plan our strategy for the North of Scotland Gloster Club show. Checking all equipment was working with Lewis making sure everything was up to speed in the kitchen, especially that we had hot water and the ovens and stoves were all in working order. All the lights were in working order in the hall Bit of a perfectionist is Lewis. We also had a look at the garage where the staging is stored and all was well there. Our transport manager George Dawson was primed and ready for a Saturday morning start to take the staging the 200 yards to the show hall. George had also repaired the garage doors after Babet took them off their hinges last year.

On arriving at the garage at 0830 on Saturday we were met by George on his way out with all the staging loaded in the van, so I went and got the hall key from the caretaker and made my way to the hall. George had made an early start this year as he was minus his colleague Joao Autlines who has been ill for a while so we were well ahead of schedule and as in previous years the staging was up in record time.

We wish Joao a speedy recovery and look forward to seeing him at the sale days soon. It took longer to get the class numbers on. As we were well ahead of schedule, we decided to raid Lewis’s fridge and got some Bacon butties on the go, well it would have been rude not to seeing that Lewis had brought the bacon down, what happened to the brown sauce Lewis???

After snacks a quick tidy up in the kitchen and hopefully Lewis wouldn’t notice he was down on buns and bacon. With McBoyle Hall locked up for a few hours it was time to go home and get our birds sorted and be back in time for the first of the exhibitors to arrive.

Brian Shepherd our show secretary was first back just before our judge Dave Hobart and Paul Reay arrived from Carlisle having left home at 1130 after having an expensive coffee and cake at The House of Bruar on the A9 in Perthshire.. This year we would not be using the Cullen Bay Hotel after a 50% increase in room prices so we used the Premier Inn in Elgin. After Paul got his birds benched, they departed for Elgin at 1645 for a well earned rest.

Fanciers started drifting in over the next few hours and missing this year was Donnie Bain from Wick Caithness who sadly had been ill and was not up to doing the 320 mile round trip. Get well soon Donnie. Andrew Armitage arrived from Earlston in the Scottish Borders having a less eventful journey this year, definitely no big puddles on approach to Portknockie this year. Our first time showing novice Donnie Bailiey arrived from King Edward near Banff so we all showed him the ropes of the process of checking in his birds. George Dunne arrived, after dropping his wife off at the Victoria Hotel in Portknockie, apparently it has had a major revamp since last year.  Lewis had arrived with his birds so we put out the lights in the kitchen and closed the door. As 1930 approached only one exhibitor had still to arrive, Colin Stewart and Elaine Martin were travelling up the A9 from Larkhall in the central belt. After being on the A9 myself a few days earlier that week I knew there was road works on the bridge over the River Spey at Kingussie so we expected a later arrival. Colin and Elaine duly arrived on the stroke of 1930 and weren’t long in getting their birds checked in and left for their hotel. To let the birds settle we turned the dimmer down for 5 minutes before putting the lights out and closing and locking the doors. We agreed to rendezvous at the hall at 0600 knowing full well Lewis would be first down to get the kitchen up to speed.

Saturday turned out to be a beautiful mild evening so much different than last year’s rain and wind so it would be a nice 40 minute drive home. On approach to Elgin I was greeted by the Golden Arches so a slight diversion to get a Sweet Chilli Chicken Wrap which would sustain me until breakfast.

Sunday morning would arrive too soon, and I was on my way back east, this time not being tempted by McDonalds. Roads in the Scottish Rivera at this time on a Sunday morning are bereft of traffic so I was startled when my mobile phone rang, apparently, we had forgotten to get napkins for the bacon butties, could I get some on the way back. This is when I realised Asda and Tesco are not 24 hours. I went into the service station and they only had wet wipes, so we would have to make do with paper towels. That phone call also told me Lewis was already at the hall. Arriving at the hall sure enough all the lights were on and Lewis’s van was at the door, on entering a bacon buttie was thrust into my hand with a cup of tea and told to go and check on the birds.

All was well on the staging and with it still pitch black outside the hope of a decent sunrise was still some time away. The two Brians would be arriving shortly Brian Shepherd would start getting the paperwork going and Brian (sweeper keeper) would be in the kitchen with Lewis getting the bacon butties on the go. Sandy would be on the trophies and rosettes and getting the backdrop for the photos set up. A quick look outside told us it was still too early for the sunrise, all quiet at the moment just the bleating of the sheep at the farm up the road. The hall was set up to meet the requirements of the Scottish Government, birds unpacked and checked in a separate hall, before going into the show hall. Disinfectant was provided outside for fanciers to dip their shoes in and hand sanitiser at the door.

This year all birds were benched on the Saturday night so a relaxed atmosphere prevailed with no rushing about at the last minute. By this time sunrise wasn’t far off so with camera at the ready we had plenty of time to wait for that special moment. I think everything has been said that can be said about this special moment, daybreak + silence. AAAHHH.

The unhindered views over the Moray Firth to the Caithness hills some 30 miles away with not a ripple on the water,  with the only blemish on the sea was a ship sailing eastward to the North Sea and beyond.

With a change of date this year how many fanciers would forget to set their clocks back. None apparently, as fanciers started to filter in. First in was Donnie Bailey from King Edward just along the coast, with the rest of our friends all arriving much about the same time. There was no shortage of volunteers to do the stewarding, so it was awarded to our two novices Andrew Armitage and Donnie Bailey to have the privilege of stewarding for our judge Dave Hobart. This would be Donnies first time stewarding and he reported later he learned a lot from listening to the great man. Right on time the great man arrived along with Paul Reay and both reported a hearty breakfast at the Premier Inn in Elgin.

With plenty of natural light in the show hall and windows all along the east and west sides Dave chose the east side as the sun was well up in the sky now and with not a breath of wind outside it really was a beautiful Sunday morning in late October.

The entry this year was slightly down on last year with just under 200 birds benched. The three novice exhibitors benched just under 50 birds between them, a good effort from them as one novice was in his first year and only his second show. Dave with his two apprentices in tow set about the novice section first.

As judging was in progress there was a lot of healthy debate among the various groups and not all about Glosters, I think that all the countries problems were sorted out. There were a few budding politicians in the McBoyle Hall that Sunday morning. Conversation drifted to the show we were at 2 weeks previously, The Northern Gloster Club show in Carlisle.

A club much like ourselves run very efficiently with a few good people all pulling in the same direction doing all the work.

i have to mention the Cottage Pie that Mrs Burton made, best Cottage pie I have ever tasted. The portions weren’t skimped on either, with Paul Reay’s daughter putting a fair lump of Cottage Pie on a fairly big plate, so much so we didn’t have to stop for snacks on the 300 mile journey home. While all this debate was going on Lewis and Brian (sweeper keeper) kept the teas and coffees coming. There was a lot of interest in a nice pair of Glosters that was donated by Burton and Reay which would be auctioned later in the day for club funds. That would be another job that Lewis would volunteer for, when will he slow down. As break time approached Dave was in full flow with his two stewards so they decided to eat on the hoof and carry on. Square sausage, black pudding rolls and bacon butties.

All seemed to enjoy the snacks and with Dave and the stewards tucked away in the corner doing their thing it was all quiet in the dining area. This quiet time gave us time to plan our next trip to the North of England Gloster Club Show in Bedlington Northumberland on the 10th November.

This show along with the Northern Gloster Club Show in Carlisle are our two local shows albeit it is a 600 mile round trip but we thoroughly enjoy going to these two shows. I have the honour of judging the Glosters along with Kevin Stoakes at the show this year, something I am really looking forward to.

Again, Lewis is the main man here doing all the driving, Sandy looks after booking the Premier Inns along with being sat nav coordinator and responsible of unwrapping Lewis’s chocolate caramels. Brian Shepherd, George Dunne and Donnie Bailey are asleep in the back. At the time of writing there are massive roadworks between Dundee and Perth which will be ongoing until Christmas.

The RAC route planner was consulted for an alternative route with a diversion from Forfar via Glamis and Couper Angus and coming out south side of Perth cutting out the roadworks. Total extra 6 miles. With this diversion in place the first pit stop will have to be Kinross Services in Perthshire and second stop will be the usual McDonalds in Berwick upon Tweed.

Lewis and Brian (sweeper keeper) were now turning their attentions to preparing lunch which this year would be Steak Pie, Potatoes and Mixed Vegetables followed by Chocolate Gateau and Double Cream.

We had to stagger lunch times to make it more manageable. Dave and his stewards weren’t ready for lunch so we got everyone else in and fed before Dave was ready. Clearing up of the first lunch sitting was just finished when Dave, Donnie and Andrew had finished their duties, so as Lewis and Brian (sweeper keeper) made sure they were taken care of Brian Shepherd got the last of the paperwork finished.

Sandy Hay got the trophies organised and everything was ready for the presentations and auction of the pair of Glosters donated by Burton and Reay as soon as Dave had finished his lunch.

Once Dave was ready the presentations took place

Best Gloster was Burton and Reay,

Best Novice Gloster was Colin Stewart.

Lewis took charge of the auction for the pair of Glosters, bidding was brisk and quickly reached a maximum of £95.00. The winning bidder was Brian Williamson (sweeper keeper) who had just bought his first pair of Glosters. Welcome aboard the Gloster bandwagon Brian.

As time was wearing on, 1400, and always mindful of where we are and the clocks going back the day before we let our guests pick up their birds and get well down the road before darkness set in. It is at least an hour’s drive before you come to a dual carriageway around here. Soon the hall was bereft of birds and fanciers and all that was left to do was to take the staging down and get the hall cleaned. George Dawson was again on hand and took the staging back to the garage single handed which left us with just the hall to sweep and mop.

There were two Gateaus left in the freezer so they got a good home back in my freezer at home. Perks of being last man standing.  With everything finished I took the keys back to the caretaker and booked the hall for 2025.

Results:-
Best Gloster.  Burton and Reay                         Buff Corona Hen Fltd
Best Champion Gloster Burton and Reay       Buff Corona Hen Fltd
Best Champion Opp Head Burton and Reay  Buff Consort Ck Fltd
Best Champion Var Buff Burton and Reay     Buff Corona Hen Fltd
Best Champion TPD Burton and Reay            TPD Corona Ck Unfltd
Best Champion Yellow Burton and Reay       Yellow Corona Hen Fltd
Best Champion Cinnamon Sandy Hay            Cinnamon Consort Hen Fltd
Best Champion White Lewis Shepherd          White Corona Ck Fltd
Best Champion Grizzle, AOC or Light Buff  Burton and Reay

Best Novice   Colin Stewart                            Buff Corona Ck Flt
Best Novice Opp Head Donnie Bailey          Buff Consort Ck Fltd
Best Novice Var Buff Colin Stewart              Buff Corona Ck Fltd
Best Novice TPD Donnie Bailey                    TPD Corona Ck Unfltd
Best Novice Cinnamon Andrew Armitage  Cinnamon Consort Hen Unfltd
Best Novice White Andrew Armitage  White Consort Unfltd
Best Novice Grizzle, AOC or Light Buff Andrew Armitage

Thank You To
George Dawson for the transportation of our staging to and from the show hall and the dismantling of the staging and all the other bits and bobs. To Elaine Martin for the help in the kitchen getting all the dishes done, and tidying everything afterwards. To Dave Hobart for doing the 600 mile round trip to judge our show and very generously waiving his expenses.

To Neil Burton and Paul Reay for the generous donation of a nice pair of Glosters which raised £95.00 for club funds. Thank you to Jason Millar for donating the cage labels for the show cages. To John E Haith for the seed vouchers. To Portknockie Amenities for the discount on the show hall again, thank you. To the exhibitors who gave donations via their entry form and return of prize money, all very generous which all helps us to put on a show next year.

I say this every year, a special thanks to Lewis Shepherd for the Steak Pies, Potatoes and Vegetables and Brian (sweeper keeper) Williamson for the work they put in not just on the show weekend but throughout the year, without these two fanciers myself and Brian Shepherd would be fighting a losing battle. Thank you to Donald Skinner Reid for helping with the navigation through the paperwork that had to be produced to keep us on the right side of the new legislation required by the Scottish Government.

Thank you to all the exhibitors who made the effort to travel up to the North East of Scotland to support our show. The committee of the North of Scotland Gloster Club hope you enjoyed your weekend in the Scottish Riviera and we look forward to putting on a show for you next year. We hope you all have a good productive breeding season and plenty of young stock to show. The show date for 2025 is Sunday 26th October at the same venue the McBoyle Hall Portknockie.  The judge for the show is Mike Palmer from Holbeach Lincolnshire. Mike is well known in the NE of Scotland having lived up here for many years before having a rush of blood and moving down south. It will be good to see Mike back in his natural habitat.

Best wishes
Sandy Hay.