Purebred Pigeon Sept/October 2025

8 – Purebred PIGEON CENTRAL FANTAIL CLUB 99 th Annual Meeting And Show By Tom Pritchet t The Central Fantail Club held its ninety-ninth annual meet in conjunction with the NPA Grand National in Oklaho- ma City this past January. The NPA really knows how to put on a pigeon show: the venue was well-lit with ample room in the show hall and wide aisles that made it extremely convenient for fanciers and visitors alike. More than 5,000 entries were cooped in the spacious hall with the NPA booth and a number of vendors and concessions – just about anything you needed to re- ally enjoy a major pigeon show. I was the proud recipient of the NPAMaster Judge of Fan- tails award. I was very apprecia- tive of this award, and I want to thank Ray and Angie Dees for nominating me. The judge for this meet was Jeff Clark of Plattsmouth, Nebraska. Jeff is a masterful judge that always does a good job and finds competitive Fantails that are at the top of the competition spectrum. This show was no exception. Thanks, Jeff, for a job well done. This show was dedicated to some of the finest people I know: Ray and Angie Dees, and Tom and Cindy Schreiber – dedicated fanciers always willing to help and lend a hand whether it be sweeping floors or judging Fantails. Thank you for all you do to make the hobby better for everyone. We appreciate you. There were some wonderful Fantails at this show from across the country, many of them had been winners at other Fantail club meets, which makes for great competition. When the smoke cleared, the winners were: Grand Champion - Earl Helmer, blue young cock, excellent Fantail that went on be the Reserve Champion of the entire show. Congratu- lations Earl. Reserve Champion - Larry Berndt, yellow old hen. Congratulations Larry, well deserved. Second Reserve Champion - Earl Helmer, white old cock. Again Congratulations Earl. What a great pigeon show, well attended by Fantail fanciers from across the United States. The highlight of the entire show is our banquet, an annual tradi- tion with an awards ceremony and fun and fellowship for all attendees. Our President, Steve Wallace did an excellent job as MC and kept the night moving with satire and brevity. Thanks, Steve, great job. The Central Fantail Club is known for its quality awards that have been a much desired reward for the winners of this major Fantail show. For a decade or more the Color Class winners each received a one ounce silver coin and the Reserve of color class winners each receive a half ounce silver coin. A pretty valuable reward at the price of silver today. The three Champions of show each receive, in addition, a very valuable silver engraved clock. Champion Fantail Cemtral Famtail Club 2025 Annual Meet Earl Helmer blue YC Best Almond - Larry Berndt Best Andalusian - Bob Vincent Best AOC. - Bonnie Heppner Best Ash Red - Richard Hulmberg Best Black - Ray Zamora Best Blue - Earl Helmer Best Checker - Cosby/Pritchett Best Cream - Angie Dees Best Dun - Richard Holmberg Best Grizzle - Bonnie Hepner Best Indigo - Julio Ovando Best Pied - Cosby/Pritchett Best Powdered Blue - Mike McAtee Best Powdered Silver - Greg Pola Best Qualmond - Ray Dees Best Red - Mark Summers Best Saddle - Mark Kahle Best Silver - Bob Vincent Best Tailmark - Earl Biedermann Best White - Earl Helmer Best Yellow - Larry Berndt Reserve Almond - Ray Oep Reserve Andalusian - Julio Ovando Reserve A.O.C. - Mark Summers Reserve Ash Red - Cosby/Pritchett Reserve Black - Ray Zamora Reserve Blue - Cosby/ Pritchett Reserve Checker - Greg Pola Reserve Cream - Angie Dees Reserve Dun - Bob Vincent Reserve Grizzle - Tom Schreiber Reserve Indigo - Greg Pola Reserve Pied - Cosby/Pritchett Reserve Powdered Blue - Mike McAtee Reserve Powdered Silver - Cosby/Pritchett Reserve Qualmond - Mark Summers Reserve Red - Mark Summers Reserve Saddle - Mark Kahle Reserve Silver - Ray Zamora Reserve Tailmark - Earl Biedermann Reserve White - Cosby/Pritchett Reserve Yellow - Larry Berndt 2025 Central Fantail Club Annual Meet - Color Class Winners