Only recently have I received full details of the 15th European Show for Modenas held some 12 months ago in Switzerland. It was supported by the host country, France, Belgium, Italy, Holland and Germany. The Gazzi provided an entry of 299, Schietti 751 and Magnani 128 birds. I believe some of our breeders did visit this exhibition of nearly 1200 birds, as you know they will be able to give better details than I am able but it did appear the French breeders made their presence felt. It is understood the next show will be in Strasbourg, but no date is available at present.
The German Dragoon Show held last year in Kleinostheim produced an entry of 190, 37 blue, 4 red, 10 yellow, 20 black, 45 white, 6 blue ch, 6 red ch, 7 mealy etc. In the German Journal coloured photographs of five top grades were shown, red ch hen, yellow grizzle hen, mealy cock, white cock and light blue ch hen. The two birds to take my eye were the two chequers, though in fairness the white cock's head was not shown to advantage.
Phillip Fritz has produced a very detailed article on our Show Antwerp with some impressive colour photographs of both blue ch and red ch. During the brief period I had this breed many years ago, I flew them out. They appeared keen to fly, but only in short sharp spells.
In the most recent issue of Geflugel there was a four-page article by Peter and Michael Gebert on red and yellow Thuringer Wingpigeons. The coloured photographs show both colours in barred and chequer patterns. One of the photographs shows a yellow chequer of ten years ago, now the colours are much deeper. I don't remember ever seeing these colours in this country, we appear to have just solid red, yellow and black, with blue in black barred, white chequered and barless. Where birds can be flown out this is an ideal breed. Some years back I saw them in free flight during January in the Eastern part of Germany.
Alfons Eltengruber provides a short article on the Hungarian, a breed very seldom seen here over the past 40 years. The late Harry Wheeler had a few, as did Dr Jones from the Isle of Wight and I bred them for a few years. To me they were very difficult to trim for the show pen, makes the Lahore look very easy. If I remember correctly, getting an even white marking over the top of the head from the beak was not easy. Also some of the older black cocks did not stand correctly
