Rushden and District Poultry and Rabbit Club

Fur and Feather - Successful Venture by Rushden Club

Organised by the Rushden and District Poultry and Rabbit Club, very a successful open pen show was held in the Scout Room, Rushden, on Saturday last, when approximately 120 rabbits in great variety were on show. The 154 entries were ably judged by Mr. W. Gayton (fancy) and Mr. B. Cadd (fur). Mr. A. Bigley was most successful in the fancy classes, his fine Belgian hare taking five firsts (including Grand Challenge), and has Dutch three firsts and two seconds. In the fur classes, Major J. Nimmo (Corby) with a fine Chinchilla was awarded three firsts and one third.

Other awards: English, 1 M. F. Wheeler (Bedford), 2 and 3 F. Panter (Northampton); Dutch, 1 A. Bigley, 2 and 3 C. J. Payne (Irchester); Silvers, 1 W. L. Miller (Kettering), 2 F. Chappell, 3 A. V. Childs;  A.O.V. Fancy, 1 A. Bigley, 2 B. Wells, 3 T. Blackwell; A.O.V. Fancy under 4 months, 1 A. Bigley, 2 T. H. Flavell (Northampton), 3 F. Panter; Fancy pairs, 1 A. Bigley, 2 Mrs Dunn (Burton Latimer), 3 F. Panter; Fanciers’ fancy, 1 and 2 A. Bigley, 3 C. J. Payne; Fancy challenge, 1 A. Bigley, 2 M. F. Wheeler, 3 W. L. Miller; Beverans, 1 A. Robinson (Wellingborough), 2 A. Bailey, 3 H. Penness; Havana, 1 and 3 C. W. Brawn (Wollaston), 2 Miss Brookins (Grendon); Rex, 3 Mrs Cockerill (only award); A.O.V. fur, 1 Major Nimmo, 2 T. R. Bowers (Grendon), 3 W. Robinson; A.O.V. Fur under 4 months, 1 B. Green (Bozeat), 2 F. B. Hayward (Irchester), 3 T. R. Bowers; fur pairs, 1 C. W. Brawn, 2 A. V. Childs, 3 B. Green; Breeders’ fur, 1 Major Nimmo, 2 C. W. Brawn, 3 T. R. Bowers; Fur challenge, 1 Major Nimmo, 2 T. R. Bowers, 3 W. Robinson; members’ fancy, 1 and 2 A. Bigley, 3 F. Chappell; members’ fur, 1 A. Bailey, 2 W. Robinson, 3 H. Penness; meat class, 1 A. V. Childs, 2 A. Bailey, 3 W. Robinson; grand challenge, 1 A. Bigley, 2 W. L. Miller, 3 Major Nimmo.

Mr H. Penness was hon. secretary for the show.    

Bert Wells: His hobby was rabbits; Dutch, lop ears & English, which he kept in a shed in the back yard, and he would handle them all to get them used to it so that they would keep still for the judges at the shows he went to, and he would slip a silk stocking over his hand and stroke their fur until it shone. He showed them at Northampton and Leicester many times and was very successful winning over 1000 prizes and he became a well-respected judge as his obituary in the Fur & Feather magazine proved.

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