The Sixth annual exhibition of the West Midland Gloster Association incorporated the 60^th (YES you read it right the 60^th) Midland Gloster Fancy Canary Club show.

The event was marred by the recent death of its president George Nicol. It is fitting that the Seventh Show to be held on the 1^st November 2026 will be the George Nicol Memorial Show. It is to be hoped that exhibitor numbers will swell to honour a man who though never having won the most prestigious award on the show circuit – IGBA Best Gloster – was quite probably the exhibitor with the most “Best Awards” of his generation.  It was fitting that Adrian Short, who was due to team up with Geoge this year honoured that decision by exhibiting under Nicol and Short.

Judging engagements and other personal prewarned reasons for non-attendance gave weight to entry expectations being significantly down on prior years with 473 exhibits.

Final numbers held up with a handful of absentees to go before judges Paul Burnett (Portsmouth) George Thompson (Southsea) and Brian Skeffington (Swindon) deputising for Darren Gill.

We all like to have an incident free exhibition but if we are truly honest that rarely happens. Well right up until the production of the award sheet things were going in the right direction then surprise just after printing, Ooops the award sheet showed Burton and Reay winning a novice award !!!!. How many noticed the error ??

Once again WMGA25 excelled providing a high-quality event in modern premises in Drakes Broughton Pershore Worcester, engaging 3 top UK judges. For the second time WMGA were able to announce a show sponsor in the form of new member Steve Moss’s company

This sponsorship has enabled WMGA to retain entry fees at a realistic level to cover the ever-increasing cost of holding an exhibition. The key to relative success seems to be:- provide a quality event with 1) Sponsorship support 2) Quality Judges, 3) in a Quality Venue 3) with Quality Awards 4) setting realistic expectations and of course having a group of dedicated people ensuring that the event delivers the best that it can to all UK attendees.

Yet again the Burton & Reay partnership will remember 2025 as a continuation of their prior year stellar show seasons; another 500-mile round trip Carlisle -Worcester-Carlisle proved another positive move. Awards for Best Gloster, Champion, Variegated Buff, TPD, White, AOC went their way amassing more points to strengthen their hold on the British Championship Table for a Third year. The question now is will they return to WMGA266 to try to make it 4 in a row? We certainly hope they will …return that is !!!!!.

The B & R partnership ’25 fight for Best Gloster and Opposite Head was broken by Bob Mortimer with his Flighted TPB Consort Hen taking Best Opp Head.

Other overall awards for Best Yellow, went to Nicol & Short): Best Light Alan (Harri) Harrison Pete Bull Best Cinnamon and Best Grizzle going to the Novice partnership of Butler & Hook.

Previous novice exhibitors, S McMullan, A Hutton and M Fitter moved up to Champion status, A Hutton carding 9 times, S McMullan 7 and M Fitter 2 which

In the Novice section the absence of prior year Novice exhibitors reduced the field with newcomers Aiden Keay, his daughters Gracie & Willow entering the junior section, C Wilkes and Sue Hardy challenging old hands Butler & Hook.

Butler & Hook cleaned up the Novice awards with the exception of Best Yellow and Best Variegated Buff going to Aiden Keay.  Willow Keay edged sister Gracie out of the Junior Champion slot.

West Midland and Midland Gloster Trophy Cabinet

It would be remiss in finishing the report to not mention Jo, Annie and Petra providing refreshments throughout the day, Roger for manning the broom, Harri on the door, all stewards and helpers and you the exhibitor, without whom the show would not go ahead.

Finally, it was a pleasure to welcome the return of a stalwart member of WMGA – Shaun Gardiner – sadly missing from the 23 & 24 line up due to major surgery. Shaun returned in pretty good health all things considered and took his place alongside George Thompson as a potential trainee judge ..

Judges for 2026 will be announced shortly ….

WMGA Committee – 22^nd November 25

M Fitter General Secretary contact to join us email wmga2017@gmail.com