Proud owners, top animals and striking breed products

Part 1

THE BELGIAN BANTAM FESTIVITY 2014

By: Hans Heemskerk, chairman HBK and ZOBK. Photos: Hans Puttenstein,

Hans and Annemiek Heemskerk.

The Belgian Bantam Festivity is truly a festive show for participants, judges, visitors and the show organisation. The exhibition board of the ABC and ZOBK look back in great satisfaction on this special event of the hobby. On 25 October 2014, the two Specialty Clubs, together caring for the 10 rare original Belgian Bantam breeds, organised this one-day-show for the fourth time. The ABC is the Specialty Club for the Antwerp Bearded and the ZOBK cares for the other 9 rare original Belgian bantams, being: the Belgian bantam, the Waas bantam, the Tournaisis, the Bassette, and the Bearded’s: the Everberg, the Uccle, the Grubbe, the Bosvoorde and the Watermael Bearded Bantam. All these 10 breeds were present at the Belgian Bantam Festivity and their numbers are a good indication which breeds are the most rare. Antwerp Bearded 243 in 21 colours; Watermael Bearded 282 in 21 colours; Bassette 83 in 10 colours; Grubbe Bearded 57 in 8 colours; Bosvoorde Bearded 32 in 6 colours; Uccle Bearded 30 in 6 colours; Doornikse 12; Everberg Bearded 11 in 7 colours; Waas Bantam 5 en Belgian Bantam 1. On Friday, October 24th the Veenendaal Hall was decorated in the colours of the Belgian flag - for the last time, because the hall is going to be closed. The cages were put up, the sales corner was decorated and the two specialty clubs displayed their information and Club’s merchan-dise. In the evening, the first participants from abroad arrived and penned their birds.

October 25, very early in the morning, the board members were present at the entrance to welcome everyone from the Netherlands and abroad. Judges and their stewards gathered and received the first instructions, but not before all had a warming cup of coffee. In total, 654 Belgian bantams had been entered and more than 150 bantams were available in the sales class.

The Belgian Bantams Festivity can count on international interest and who was outside in the parking lot, soon saw foreign license plates from Belgium, Germany, Italy and Britain. The Belgian Bantams Festivity focuses on the international appeal of this event by contracting an international team of judges; by the prizes of the KLN for breed-specific European Show; by inviting foreign specialty clubs for participation and by personal invitation of Belgian Bantam breeders from abroad. This promotes cooperation in breeding, exchange of animals and knowledge. At 9.00 o’clock, after the opening words by Chairman Hans Heemskerk, the judging started. It was one great sight to see with what devotion the judges, assisted by the stewards, wrote an

appropriate judging report for each bird. When in doubt, they didn’t hesitate to consult one another.

Above, left: Comparing the breast colour. Right: 2 quail colour Bassette hens. Because it was also the 100th anniversary of the Watermael Bearded Bantam, all judges and stewards were presented with real ‘Belgian pralines’ (chocolate) with their coffee. At 12.15 pm the judges had finished their job and it was time to bring out a toast and at 12:30 more than a hundred fans sat down at the long tables to have lunch together. Mathijs Ykema, being the youngest judge, was offered a ‘thank you present’ for his dedication and of course there was the same present for each judge. After lunch it was time to admire the birds and see their reviews, to meet breeders and especially being together and enjoy the many beautiful things at a show.

Championship Judge Wim Voskamp spoke briefly in name of all judges and stated that he had seen great improvements compared to the previous edition and complimented the two specialty clubs with their active policy.

Following Hans Puttenstein awarded the “Sjef Hendriks Prize” to Ineke Rijs. Photos of this special event have already been published in the December issue of Aviculture Europe. Next it was time for the awards being presented to the winners. A whole lot of nice prizes had been set out, thanks to all our sponsors. Best Hen in Show was won by Rinze Elverdink with his white Antwerp Bearded bantam hen.

Above: Chairman ABC, Bertus Lanzing presenting Rinze Elverdink, Best Hen in Show.

Right: Best Cock in Show, a black Bosvoorde Bearded Bantam by Roberto Gatti. Above: Best Hen in Show, a white Antwerp Bearded Bantam by Rinze Elverdink. Photo: Jan Schaareman. All winners of Best of Breed received a beer-glass, engraved with a image of the breed, designed by the known Belgian breeder Jeroen Muys. The quality of the entered birds was very high and a real pleasure to assess for the judges. At 16.00 o‘clock it was time to say goodbye and at 18.30 o’clock the ABC, ZOBK and VKPV members had finished breaking down the show and all could go home tired but satisfied.

The next photos were taken by Jan Schaareman.

Left: Tournaisis cockerel, three-colour-spangled. Owner: H. Meinten. Below: Antwerp Bearded cockerel, quail. Owner: R. Elverdink.

Below: Antwerp Bearded male & female, buff blue columbian. Owner: Uli Freiberger.

Below, left: Antwerp Bearded hen, splash (Not recognised colour) Owner: A. de Graaf. Below, right: Antwerp Bearded hen, cuckoo. Owner: B. Baumeister.

Left: Antwerp Bearded cockerel, black. Owner: Team Hoevelaken. Below: Antwerp Bearded hen, black mottle. Owner: Anton Lutkehellweg.

Below: Antwerp Bearded hen, silver partridge. Owner: B. Baumeister.

Below: Antwerp Bearded cockerel, black mottle. Owner: Anton Lutkehellweg.

Below, left: Grubbe Bearded hen, silver quail. Owner: Team Aad & Ineke. Below, right: Grubbe Bearded hen, Isabel quail. Owner: Team Aad & Ineke.

Left: Grubbe Bearded haan, blue quail. Owner: Team Aad & Ineke. Below: Uccle Bearded hen, black. Owner: Mathijs Ykema.

Below: Uccle Bearded hen, millefleur. Owner: Hans Paulwels.

Below: Watermael Bearded hen, silver porcelain. Owner: P. Knubben.

Below, left: Watermael Bearded cockerel, black. Owner: Volker Meier. Below, right: Watermael Bearded cockerel, cuckoo. Owner: E. Meinema.

Left: Watermael Bearded hen, millefleur. Owner: J. Roosma. Below: Bosvoorde Bearded hen, blue quail. Owner: Volker Meier.

Below: Bassette hen, silver quail. Owner: Egbert Puttenstein.

Below: Bassette cockerel, blue quail. Owner: Jacob Joling.

Below: Head study Antwerp Bearded hen, cuckoo.

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