OLD ENGLISH GAME BANTAM - The Old English Game bantam is the most popular bantam of all in Great Britain and holds a specialist show in Carlisle which attracts some 1500 exhibits. Available in a host of colours, showing is particularly competitive. Distinct from the large Old English Game, the bantam is required to be bold, sprightly, defiant and proud in type with the shape and firmness of its short body being the most important exhibition point. The breed is particularly hardy, and surprisingly docile in nature. The adult males need to be dubbed for showing but, that aside, it makes an excellent breed for children.

OLD ENGLISH GAME - The Old English Game fowl has its historical origins centuries ago, being kept for pleasure and cockfighting which was made illegal in 1849. Many people began keeping the fowls for exhibition purposes as they are today. In about 1930, the Game fraternity split, with the 'exhibition type' birds being looked after by the 'Carlisle Club', and those of the more original form creating the 'Oxford Club', hence we now have separate varieties - the Oxford and the Carlisle. A host of colours are available in both varieties, and competition in the exhibition world is fierce, particularly with the Carlisle variety, which regularly wins top awards at shows.

MODERN GAME - Modern Game were created by British breeders, and are easily recognised by their tall, reachy appearance. Available in Large fowl and bantam, but far more popular in the latter, Modern Game are fascinating birds and are quite hardy. Easy to handle, the males are dubbed for show purposes. Colour is very important in Modern Game and there are 13 different colour-varieties. Both sexes have firm, wide shoulders and short, flat backs with the standard calling for the body to be shaped like a 'smoothing iron' when viewed from the top. Legs and beaks vary with the colour varieties, from yellow and whites to willow and black. The Modern Game bantam has a particularly strong following, and needs to be highly trained for the show pen.

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