TAMWORTH poultry breeder Peter Smith has ticked off an unusual achievement, after winning a trophy named in his honour at this year’s Sydney Royal Easter Show.
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The Peter Smith Perpetual trophy for Best Bird in Show was donated to the show by Mr Smith’s family over a decade ago.
In an unusual scenario, Mr Smith took out his namesake trophy as his prized black pekin bantam chook was awarded Grand Champion Bird of the Show, along with a swag of other ribbons.
Mr Smith has been showing birds at the Sydney Show since 1952 and in another coincidental moment,
Mr Smith also took out the Light Sussex Cockerel class, which he also won at his first show 64 years ago.
“I have presented the Grand Champion award a number of times and I have told the previous winners, I’m out to win it if I can,” Mr Smith said.
“My hobby is showing and breeding chooks, not presenting awards.”
With over 60 shows under his belt, Mr Smith says his competitive spirit keeps him going back year after year, and at 80 years old he says he is keen to keep competing for as long as he can.
Mr Smith said it was about always trying to breed something better than before.
While it’s fair to say Mr Smith has dedicated much of his life to his prized birds, it can ruffle his feathers if you call his champion chooks “chickens”.
Mr Smith says the term “chicken” is an Americanism and refers to the baby birds and the correct language used should be poultry birds.
The champion breeder said the 2016 National Poultry Show in Sydney this June was next on his agenda, where he will judge for the major awards.
Judging the event excludes Mr Smith from entering his birds the in competition, which he said was disappointing in one way, but said it would be the culmination of his judging career which was a great honour.
