Sharpe (54T-2-98) retires after a double victory. He took Best Intermediate at Blue Chip and Great Lakes. At Great Lakes he also won 9^th Best in Show under ABS judge Bob Hammett, thus earning my first leg towards Champion. Having won my last leg towards Intermediate last year at Great Lakes under Don Langell, he has done his job and is now out to stud!

Johnny Reb (54T-51-98) took a respectable 5^th Best Intermediate under ABS Judge Don Langell at Blue Chip 2000, and 3^rd Best Intermediate under ABS Judge Bob Hammett and BAA Judge Joe Lastella at Great Lakes. He became ill during the Motor City Bird Breeders (MCBB) show. We're hoping for a speedy recovery.

54T-98-99 took 4^th Best Intermediate at Blue Chip and 5^th Best Intermediate at Indiana under ABS judge Bill Porter. Hatched mid-October 1999, this young bird is showing real promise. Also captured 3^rd Best Intermediate at MCBB.

Wade (54T-7-00) has run off with Best Intermediate Young and 8^th Best Intermediate at Blue Chip and Indiana. He also won the Great Lakes Budgie Society Futurity for 2000. At the MCBB in October, Wade edged out his brother to capture the 2^nd Best Intermediate slot and went on to take 7^th Best in Show.

Howie (54T-4-00) hatched in early February. That didn't deter him from capturing Best Violet at Indiana under Bill Porter when he was six months old. I added him to the team at the last minute, as you can see from the terrible spotting job, and was glad I did! Howie took a pass at MCBB, which proves his intelligence, by dropping his tail feathers the week of the show.

Hagman (54T-5-00) hatched three days after brother Howie. He captured Best Dark Green at Indiana against some stiff competition. At MCBB, Hagman trounced his half brothers by winning Best Intermediate, Best Dark Green, and 6^th Best in Show, earning me my second leg to Champion! Hagman will be retired until that third leg is won.

All four of the Cinnamon birds share the same mother--a big spotted Cinnamon Opaline Green hen (1L-47-98). The Grey Greens are out of 1L-56-98 (also a Cinnamon Grey Green); Howie and Hagman are out of Harper (54T-16-98), the huge Cinnamon Dark Green on the Champions page.

Although my focus is to breed birds that can compete with Champions and earn Champion breeder status, I can not resist dabbling in my favorite variety. This early April hatchling (54T-23-00), Bro, captured Best Clearwing before he was five months old at Indiana. Of course, he was only competing against his sisters, as I had all three Clearwings in the show. He comes from a Sherrill Capi cock (14C-96-96) and a Gordon Davis hen (30D-312-98). This Davis hen is something of a super bird. She raised 13 of her own chicks last season and also fostered Wade and Howie.

At Motor City Bro took best Clearwing as well as Best Rare in Show. He was in great condition and really seems to enjoy being shown.