On 10 November 2019, the North of England Gloster Club and Old Variety Canary Association northern show was held at Bomersund in Northumberland. This OVCA section has been running since 2014 and I have attended each of those events.

This year saw the highest ever Scots Fancy entry - 61 birds from 7 champion exhibitors, 2 novices and 1 junior. It's a great achievement for the breed to see this increase.

Similarly in the Old Variety and Rare Section, the numbers have increased dramatically.

There were six classes for champion Scots Fancies and I won two of them and took three second places, three third places, two fourths and two fifths and one seventh. Canaries in the UK are judged from first to seventh places. Best Scots in Show and Third Best Old Variety was taken by Allan Rundell.

In the Rare Section, my Gibosos espanol took First, Second and Fourth places (against competition) and won Best Rare in Show.

In the Belgian section, I had my greatest success, taking first and Best Belgian which was also Second Best Old Variety in Show and Second Best Belgian - all against competition.

To win Second Best Old Variety was a delight as was being awarded by the OVCA with one of the Brian Hogg Memorial Rosettes. Brian was a giant of the fancy and instrumental in the recreation of the Lancashire canary which had become extinct. It was an honour to be awarded a rosette in his memory.