Earlier this year, a decision was made to eliminate the poultry show at the Royal. Through the determined efforts of a number of people, the decision was overturned and there was once again the chorus of crowing roosters and honking geese in the buildings of Exhibition Place when the Royal Winter Fair opened its doors on November 8.
Prince Edward Island poultry breeders have long supported the Royal show and this year was no exception. A total of nine exhibitors from across the province competed in many classes and came away with top results. The big Island winner was Doug King of Lower Montague who won the Champion Bantam Duck, Champion Duck Overall, and Grand Champion Waterfowl with his White Call old female. This marks the third year in a row that an Island entry has taken the top prize in the highly competitive waterfowl show at the Royal.
The other big win for the Island came from Trevor MacDonald of Murray River, who was marking his twentieth consecutive year of showing at the Royal, whose Black Tailed White Japanese pullet was selected Reserve Champion Single Comb Clean Leg Bantam. His results were: Black Hamburg – first hen and first pullet; A.O.V. Hamburg – first and second cocks (reserve breed champion), first and second hens, first and second cockerels, and first and second pullets; A.O.V. Leghorn – second cock, third hen, first cockerel, and first pullet; Black Tailed Japanese Bantam – second cock, second hen, first cockerel, and first pullet (breed champion); A.O.V. Japanese Bantam – first cock and fourth hen; White Plymouth Rock Bantam – third pullet; Black Rosecomb Bantam – second pullet; Hamburg Bantam – second cock and second hen; Light Brahma Bantam – second cock; Runt Pigeon – first hen (breed champion); Helmet Pigeon – first cock (reserve breed champion); and A.O.C. Modena Pigeon – third cock and third hen.
Clarence Moore of Murray River had the breed champion Jersey Giant with his first prize hen. He also had the third cock, second cockerel, and first pullet.
In addition to his big win, Doug King also had a number of placings in the regular classes. They included: Single Comb Light Brown Leghorn – second cock and second hen; Rose Comb Rhode Island Red Bantam – first cock and first hen; Lakenvelder Bantam – first hen and first pullet; Bearded Mille Fleur Booted Bantam – second hen; Pekin Duck – second and third old female, third young male, and first and third young females; Buff Ducks – second old male; White Call Duck – second old male and first old female (breed champion); Grey Call Duck – second and third old males and third old female; A.O.V. Call Duck – first old male and first old female; Runt Pigeon – first cock (reserve breed champion) and second hen.
Martin Poirier of St. Timothy was awarded second old male, first old female (breed champion), first young male, and first young female (reserve breed champion) in the Aylesbury Duck class. In the class for Rouen Ducks, he picked up the second old male and third old female.
Stephen Webster from Tarantum had the following wins: A.O.V. Cochin – first hen; A.O.V. Polish – second hen; Black Wyandotte Bantam – first cock and third hen; Salmon Faverolle Bantam – first and second cocks (reserve breed champion), first and second hens (breed champion), and first cockerel.
Earl Gay, Newtown Cross, had the third old male and second old female in the Aylesbury Duck class. He also had the second old male and second old female in the Khaki Campbell Duck class.
Hilton Bryanton of Margate exhibited the third young male and second young female in the class for White Call Ducks.
Freetown poultry breeder Colbourne Clow had the first cockerel and first pullet (breed champion) in New Hampshires.
Rounding out the impressive list of winners from the Island this year was Winston Yeo of Belmont. This was his first Royal, and his entries took home the first cock (breed champion) and first hen in the A.O.V. Wyandotte class.