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Les's bird is 'simply the best'

The leading budgerigar fancier Les Martin took home the best-in-show award for the second year running at the recent Budgerigar Society (BS) Club show, which officials described as an unmissable weekend.

Mr Martin, who won last year with a grey-green cock, beat hundreds of exhibits at Doncaster on October 1-2, with a four-year-old skyblue cock that had been entered at the Club Show for the past three years. Many fanciers agreed it was time the bird was rewarded.

BS assistant show manager Richard Miller was thrilled that the show ran smoother than ever, and praised Les Martin for his win. He said: "Les's show teams have been admired for many years now, and when the skyblue was placed on the staging on Friday night it was an easy winner for me."

He continued: "Despite the freak heat wave, the numbers and quality of birds were a credit to the exhibitors who put so much time and effort into exhibiting their birds."

Mr Miller praised the Exhibition Budgerigar Forum (EBF) who made sure all eyes were on Doncaster by uploading results and images of the show as it happened on to the forum. He added: "On behalf of the show committee, I would like to thank everyone who played their part in a weekend that showcased our hobby to the world and proved that the revival of our much loved fancy starts here!"

Mick Freakley of the EBF was presented with a certificate for best trade stand in show by BS president Dave Hislop. Mr Freakley said: "The BS Club show is always the place to be if you are serious about budgerigars. It was a really good atmosphere and lots of smiley faces. The EBF is so proud to have won. What a fantastic result for all associated with the forum."

Mr Miller added that anyone who did not attend missed out on something special. He said: "The highlight for me was the trophy presentation on Sunday to Geoff Bowley for his fabulous best breeder in show, and to Les Martin for his superb best-in-show to the tunes of Simply the Best by Tina Turner, and We Are the Champions by Queen."