Year’s of experience in breeding and showing poultry Dale has been a regular judge at Sydney’s Royal Agricultural Show but this year was given one of the biggest and most honoured jobs on the poultry calendar.

Dale was asked by RAS to be a specialist judge at the 2010 RAS and judge the Champion of Champions Best Bird in Show.

“It was such a big honour to be asked,” Dale said.

“Probably the biggest honour I’ve had in all my years of showing and breeding (chooks).”

Dale and his wife Eleanor headed to Sydney last Wednesday with official judging of various breeds taking place from Thursday till Sunday.

Dale has been a regular judge at Sydney Royal dating back to when it was staged at the old Showground and says he looks forward to the Sydney Show every year.

“I’ve probably judged more than a dozen times at Sydney Royal,” he said.

“I do usually judge a selected breed but this year I was asked to be a specialist judge and judge the top prize.

“The Champion of Champions, which is the award for Best Bird in Show, can be any breed and be either poultry or fowl.

“Those who win their categories come together for the final judging where I look at the quality of the bird, it’s feathers, head, tail, temperament and how it is presented.”

Dale said the quality of this year’s entrants was very high.

“The Champion of Champions prize went to a Black Australian Langshan pullet bred by Dennis Dowdle.

“Entries for this year’s show were the second biggest they’ve had since the move from the old showground 13 years ago.

“It was a wonderful honour and I look forward to next year’s event.”

Not only was being top judge a highlight for Dale but on Monday he was invited to have lunch with RAS President Glenn Dudley, which he said was another great honour.

Poultry Competitions have been part of the RAS since its inception in 1823.

Since 1869 cage birds combined with poultry and ducks, geese and chickens were consistently shown in the poultry sections.

Turkeys were also a regular feature in most years up until 1895 when they became a consistent part of the show the following year.