The recent National Championship Show was an outstanding success with a record number of entries due in no small measure to the hard work of the organisers and the efforts of the exhibitors from all quarters of the British Isles. Should the exhibitor who has travelled the furthest distance to compete be given a small momento in recognition?

There were 6,557 entries, 540 exhibitors, with an average just above 12 entries per exhibitor, 1,168 classes with just over an average of 5 entries per class. As there could only be one winner in each class, 5,389 entries did not win a first prize.

So why do we losers keep on showing? Partly, I think because judging is a subjective process, most judges do so by comparison, so a bird that wins at one show in similar competition under a different judge can be put down the list. If the time ever came that birds were judged by computer the fun would quickly go out of showing. It is the uncertainty of results that gives showing its interest and piquancy.

As I walked around the show, I saw a number of birds, all losers, which I would have been happy to take home to run about on my lawn.

So let all us losers unite and remember if it were not for us - the winners only on show - the exhibition would not be so interesting nor should we meet up with so many friendly fanciers. While it is understandable to put our birds down in the best possible way - and hope - I believe there are a few 'pot hunters' among us who feel they just must win or are disgruntled and carping.

So here's to all us losers: we are the ones who make the show so full of interest and so successful. Perhaps we should remember Baron de Coubertin's dictum at the start of the first Olympic Games - 'Taking part is as important as winning'.

Adapted from 'In Praise of Losers', by Alan Dawson, in the Poultry Club Yearbook.