2008 Premier Show

2nd Premier Bengalese Show

was held on 16 August 2008 in

Locharbriggs Community Centre, Dumfries

This was the Tom Lockhart Memorial Show

with £450 Prize Money this event was judges by Rick Crook

Main Prize Winners were:

Best Bengalese, Best Champion Adult & Best Champion Breeder: P Cook

Best Novice, Best Novice Adult: J D Lynn

Best Novice Breeder: Mr & Mrs Eldridge

Best Junior & Best Junior Adult, Best Junior Breeder: C McKillop

Thanks go out to everyone who helped on the day of the show and all members who exhibited at the event, and a big thanks to Mr Jim Saunders for the use of his staging for the show.

Anne & Maggie Lockhart with all the prize winners

Paul Cook

J D Lynn

Mr & Mrs Eldridge

Unfortunately Connor McKillop was not at the show this year therefore could not get his picture for winning Best Junior

W & L Cowan with the Trophies which were up for competition

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Liz Murray's Article

Tom’s show

The Tom Lockhart Memorial Show was hosted by the Scottish Bengalese Fanciers Association on Saturday 16 August 2008 in Locharbriggs Community Centre, Dumfries. The show was held in memory of Tom Lockhart who died last year. Tom loved coming to Scotland where he was very well thought of. His great grandfather had in fact come from the Lanarkshire village of Cleghorn. The show went well with its customary friendly atmosphere and warm welcome for everyone.

Tom’s wife Anne and his daughter Maggie arrived for lunch and spent the afternoon with us. It was a very fitting tribute that they presented the trophies and the prizes at the end of a memorable show. There were special rosettes, plaques and framed certificates all commemorating the show. Ann, Jim and Chris Saunders were the main organisers with Rab Dempster as show manager supported by a team of SBFA members and friends. The weather was kind too as it had been one of the wettest Augusts on record. A DVD was made to commemorate the day showing all the birds and Anne and Maggie presenting the awards. Rick Crook from Scunthorpe judged the 256 birds benched with exhibitors coming from a wide radius.

The standard of birds was outstanding with Paul Cook’s dilutes winning Best Bengalese and Best Champion Adult. Another pair of Paul’s dilutes were awarded Best Breeder. Johnny Lynn won Best Novice and Best Novice Adult with his self chocolates and Mr and Mrs Eldridge won Best Novice Breeder also with self chocolates. Best Junior Adult and Best Junior Breeder was Connor McKillop with dilutes. The single bird classes also proved to be popular with entries in all sections.

It was good to welcome some new faces taking an interest in Bengalese from people who came to the show with an interest in finding out more about the hobby which is something Tom would have been encouraging and pleased about. Anne Lockhart was presented with a bouquet of flowers and a box of chocolates by Ann Saunders. Anne and Maggie were also presented with special rosettes printed to commemorate the Tom Lockhart Memorial Show.

I spoke to Anne who told me that Tom was a Bengalese fancier for most of his life, starting to keep Bengalese in the 1960’s. Anne said that Tom liked the kind of person who bred Bengalese, people who bred the best birds they could and had a good time. Anne and Maggie thanked the Scottish Bengalese Fanciers Association for an amazing show and for having such a heart warming time with us. She said that her camera had let her down on the day and thanked Jimmy Burns our photographer for saving the day and sending down photos of the show. Anne has a collection of things to do with Tom’s birds for his grandchildren as a family heirloom and was thrilled to add the special items which were made to commemorate his show.

Liz Murray