About 1700 pigeons, poultry and ducks were put all in a row over the weekend at the first national showdown for the breeds to be held in Masterton.
Wairarapa Poultry and Pigeon Club secretary Yvonne Harvey said the show had attracted breeders and exhibitors from throughout New Zealand. It also featureda panel of Kiwi judges alongside an Australian expert in the field, Damon Pownell.
Exhibitors registered their birds on Thursday and judges spent six hours on Friday deciding winners and placegetters and those with birds good enough for New Zealand certificates, Ms Harvey said.
Exhibitors filled the long rooms of the Solway Showground's grandstand with more than 1000 caged ducks, poultry and game birds. About 600 pigeons were housed in close quarters in another building at the site.
Ms Harvey said the inaugural Masterton national was more than double the usual size of similar events in the region and took the Wairarapa club _ which boasts about 24 members _ two years to organise.
There were more than 100 exhibitors vying for New Zealand honours, with Auckland competitor G. Fletcher taking the top cash prize of $200 that accompanied the Wairarapa Classic trophy and rosette.
The Queen's Birthday weekend event featured guest speakers and a dinner on Saturday night at the Masterton Cosmopolitan Club.
Ms Harvey said that besides the need for a two-day clean-up after the last of the birds departed today, there were challenges in keeping some male birds from each other's throats and the odd fowl that broke free from its cage.
''There's been a really strong stream of spectators viewing the birds and it's no wonder, there have never been so many breeds and so many varieties on show here ever before.''
She said the national show had also attracted some breeders ''who chase eggs and particular birds for their genetics''. Eight years was the longest lifespan of any one of the breeds, she said.
The national shows are annual and alternate in the North and South Islands. The 2011 event is to be held in Invercargill.
