Internal Monthly Egg Show
An Egg Show is held at most of our meetings. The exceptions, due to time and focus restraints, are the AGM and summer and winter social events. The Egg Show competition is just for fun – it’s all about achieving a near perfect shape, good colour and size to suit each class. There is no obligation to enter all the classes or indeed enter at all, but the more you enter the more potential points you achieve. Each competitors points are accumulated and at the AGM the Annual Cup is awarded to the member with the highest. The cup is inscribed with the winners name and is retained until the next seasons winner is announced a year later.
The eggs are laid out in each category before the start of each meeting and are judged after the main speaker of the evening has concluded his demonstration, or lecture. The points award system is: 1st place – 3 points; 2nd place – 2 points; 3rd place 1 point; Best in show on the day – 4 points.
Entry limit – One plate per class per member. The classes are:
1). Bantam – individual egg; plate of three eggs
2). Large – individual egg; plate of three eggs
3). Any other individual egg (Waterfowl, Quail, Pheasant etc.)
4). Misfits/Odd egg – individual egg
Internal Monthly Egg Contents Show
The contents of competitors eggs are judged for appearance and colour. The points award system is: 1st place – 3 points; 2nd place – 2 points; 3rd place 1 point. A cup is awarded at the end of the season, inscribed and retained for a year by the member with the highest accumulated points.
Entry limit – One plate per class per member. The classes are:
5). Single Bantam contents
6). Single Large contents
Additional Internal Periodic Egg Competitions
These are held at the discretion of the organiser and advised in advance. Entry limit – One plate per class per member.
7). Best decorated/painted egg
8). Best display of eggs on an Easter or Christmas theme.
Wessex Egg Show
This is an annual external competition held in Sutton Scotney, Hampshire, involving a number of poultry clubs including our own. The competition is run on similar lines to our own internal egg shows, but with more classes and a vastly greater number of eggs in competition for both personal and club glory.
Members Box Shows
There are two opportunities for members to show off the birds during the year. The main event is the annual box show judged by a well known bird world personality. Members birds are brought along to the meeting and pitted against each other until there is one left – the best in show. The accolade of being “Best in Show” is all you need to put a smile on your face.
In 2022, under restrictions from DEFRA/APHA banning all poultry gatherings, the box show entries were by photograph, and the judging by the members present. The poultry gathering ban was lifted on 23 Aug 2023 replaced by a “General licence” for gatherings. The ban on gatherings of ducks, geese and swans has been lifted. The Oct 2023 Box Show was again a photographic competition, judged by members. The possibility of bringing along poultry, ducks or geese for the 2024 Box Show (Sept meeting) remains under consideration, although a photographic box show is the more likely outcome due to the deadline for compulsory registration falling two weeks afterwards.
The second opportunity is at the annual BBQ meeting. Each member may bring along one bird and during the evening members vote for their favourite. Unfortunately, due to the DEFRA gatherings ban, this did not happen in 2023. This was considered again, but rejected for the 2024 BBQ. Whilst it is now legally possible to hold gatherings the readiness of our members with the requirements of the General Licence and the need for a CPH number led us to delay holding a gathering until later on. We decided instead to focus on assisting our members to become registered and gain CPH numbers as required.
External Bird Shows and Exhibitions
The club does not involve itself in the competitive showing of birds externally to our own club activities, but members are encouraged to take their competitive spirit into the outside poultry world. Advice and help will be freely given to those wishing to take part and win personal distinction. Despite not taking part in external poultry show competitions we do exhibit birds at selected local country shows to promote our club.