THE INTERNATIONAL POLAND CLUB
The INPC was the brain child of Mr Luuk Hans the secretary of the Dutch Poland Club, the main idea and intention is to bring firstly clubs from all over the world together with a common aim of the conservation and breeding of the Poland.
There has been a very good response from many countries including Germany, Switzerland, England, Australia and Mexico many other countries are showing an interest but some do not have a club totally dedicated to Polands, the USA seem very slow in response and they have some very good quality birds.
Through email there is constant contact so fanciers, breeders and people who keep these wonderful birds for pleasure have the chance to get advice and help from a wide range of contacts, friendships are developed through mutual interest all this must be the way forward, we have visited Holland and Germany on several occasions and although our standards are different we all seek the same goal.
The article on crests only applies to the Europe at this present time but there is a possibility that pressure to change will be put on all the common market countries, I always think it is easy to breed smaller crests but to breed a large correct crest is an art in itself.
The INPC will hopefully in years to come have a paying membership but until all the spade work is completed it stays self funded by the few.
Photo of INPC members in Rheine Germany in November 2000, an exellent show which included Polands, Silkies and Houdans.
EUROPEAN POLAND SHOWS
In the weekend of the 18 and 19 November 2000 two major events took place for Poland breeders in Western Europe. In the Netherlands a national poultry show took place of Dutch poultry breeds with more than 200 Polands, in large and bantam. In the same weekend the German Poland Club had its clubshow with more than 700 entries. These shows took place fairly close to each other, so that these shows were visited by breeders from Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands and even the UK. Actually Terry and Clare Beebe were the visitors from England who joined my wife and myself during this wonderful weekend. Below I will give an impression on both shows, focussing on Polands in particular.
The Dutch Poultry Club (Nederlandse Hoenderclub) celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2000 with, among others, an excellent show with 2000 entries of breeds of Dutch origin, or putting it differently, breeds which are considered Dutch in the Netherlands. After all we can argue whether, for instance, Polands are of Dutch origin.
Nevertheless, it was a succesful show with 230 Polands in large and bantam. This large number was also a result of the efforts of the Dutch Poland Club, Nederlandse Kuif- en Baardkuifhoenderclub, to get as many as possible Polands at this show, which was also the exhibition were the Dutch Poland Club held its own clubshow.
Polands were present in all recognised colours. In large we saw white crested mottled birds of a superb quality. I had not seen them on a show for many years myself. Also the WC cuckoo were present and the black crested whites. These mentioned colours are rare and only bred by less than a handful of breeders in the Netherlands. Impressive were also the silver laced, gold laced and buff laced bearded ones. In general the large Polands are not bred that many since people prefer the bantams. This is not so strange - but nevertheless a pity - since Dutch breeders mostly do not have that much space around the house. A new colour was also shown for the first time ever in the Netherlands. This was the socalled Tollbunt bearded Polands, which are only recognised in Germany up to now.
The Polish bantams were well represented. Again in all colours, and present in all frizzle varieties. In the bearded varieties the buff laced is by far the most popular colour and also available in the best quality. The silver laced have been rare but are on the way back. Gold laced is rare, which is in a way strange for such a beautiful colour. Self black is the second most popular colour. For the WC bantams the WC black is by far the most popular. Fortunately we also saw some nice mottled birds here as well.
A striking new colours is the WC buff bantam, which was showed for getting recognised in the Dutch Standard. The judging was somewhat disappointing, also for the visiting German breeders who have originally created this colour. Finally some black crested white bantams were exhibited to complete the colours.
Huub Gubbels, Eric Vriezen, Clare and Terry Beebe
After visiting this show Terry & Clare Beebe, Pâquerette, my wife, and myself went for a two hour drive to Germany to visit the club show of the German Poland Club, the Sonderverein der Züchter der Seiden- und Zwerg-Haubenhühner. Let me first explain something on the Dutch and German Club. The Dutch Club has about 115 members, breeders and fanciers of Polands, in large and bantam. The German club (nearly 200 members) represents not only breeders of bantam Polands, but also of Silkies, bantam Houdans and bantam Creve Coeur.
Terry Beebe (left) with the late Arie Boland at the Nord Show
At the German clubshow about 300 silkies were present, nearly 400 Polish bantams, 20 bantam Houdans and 5 bantam Creve Coeur.
Such a show is a mekka for Poland breeders since you will never see that many bantam Polands at one single show. Of course all well known colours were present, including the white crested buff bantams. However, the frizzle Polands are not recognised in Germany.
It goes without saying that Terry and I reallly needed a few beers after all these excitements. Fortunately the German club organised a breeders' party at Saterday night. Language differences faded away when the night got longer.
Sunday we travelled back to the Netherlands and Terry and Clare took the plane home. All of us tired but very satisfied with the wonderful weekend.
Luuk Hans
Clare at the Dutch Poultry Museum (Guess who has his birds on the front cover)
