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Breed of the Issue - Helmet
Helmet- Page 52 - Purebred PIGEON
Helmet Figurines
By Jan Lombard, South Africa
Lombard figurines – Crested Helmets
Lombard figurines Plainhead Helmets
A
ndy Hansen asked me to write an article on my Helmet
figurines but my interest in this breed goes much
further than the figurines. I have bred Medium Face
Crested Helmets for a number of years. My original birds came
from the late Chis van den Berg. In South Africa we have top-7
awards at all regional shows as well as the National. This is for
Champion on show (all breed winners competing) as well as for
the first to sixth reserve champions. SAFPA awards National
Colors to breeders, administrators, and judges, based on merit.
To be awarded National Colors in Breeding one must exhibit
top-7 self-bred birds on a certain number of shows. As this is an
all-breed competition, with various senior judges (with different
tastes) doing the selection, this is not an easy feat
for breeders specializing in one or two breeds.
2005 was a particularly good show season
for me. A young red MF crested Helmet cock
was placed in the top-7 four times, of which
fourth reserve champion at the National show in
Pretoria was the cherry on the cake! This bird’s
performance helped a lot to accumulate the
required points to be awarded this honor. When-
ever I attend banquets at international shows, I
always wear my “green & gold” with pride, with
fond memories of this little bird.
I have completed judge’s exams for all the
breeds I kept. As a result, I have judged Helmets
on many shows, some of which ended up in the
champion’s row. Helmets were also one of the
first breeds that I have judged Internationally - during 2004 in
Doncaster in the Uinted Kingdome where John Graves won
with a yellow cock.
As a sculptor and painter this breed has ended up in my
offering of hand painted figurines of over 200 different breeds;
not just because of my love for this specific breed, but also
based on its popularity in the USA, UK and Australia. It is also
gaining popularity on the German shows, where it is known as
American Helmets (“Amerikanische Kalotten”). I have recently
added the plainhead variety to my list.
Helmets will always hold a dear place in my heart.•