Phil Tisdell will be back at the Royal Easter Show this year to continue last year's success.
PHILLIP Tisdell of Wherrol Flat will find himself in the spotlight at this year’s Sydney Royal Easter Show after being invited to take part in the prestigious Parade of Champions by the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW (RAS).
After great success in 2012, the parade of champions will be held on Excellence in Agriculture Day to celebrate NSW and Australia’s agricultural past, present and future.
Phillip has been travelling to Sydney with his prized flock of poultry birds for almost 20 years. From small bantam chickens to English Game, Phillip will be bringing almost 80 birds to the show this year.
Last year Phillip won seven top poultry awards, in an amazing feat taking out the Grand Champion Bird of Show and Reserve Champion Bird of Show titles.
“It’s never been done and probably won’t be again for a long time,” Phillip said.
Phillip believes the show is the biggest stage for poultry competitions in Australia and he is honoured to have been so successful among other top exhibitors from across the country.
The parade of champions will be made up of 30 members of the show family who have made an outstanding contribution to the show over the years and have a swag of blue ribbons to their name.
The last 12 months have seen huge success for Phil. He won top three birds at Canberra Poultry Show which attracted more than 5000 entries. At last year’s Wingham Show he took out best bird and reserve bird ribbons.
Phil considers the poultry game a good hobby and loves the fact it has taken him all over Australia. Not only does he show his birds, but is a sought after judge all over the country.
Phil said the process of getting ready for Sydney Royal starts about a month out when he picks what birds he will take to competition and what ones he’ll sell.
He says the key to producing champion fowls is a combination of genetics and what they are fed.
“They go without nothing when it comes to feed,” he said.
“I probably put it down to the huge amount of time I put into them. I understand them and know when something is wrong with them.”
Three to four days out from show, Phillip starts to do the chickens up ready for the big day, and says he doesn’t like to wash them as it takes the sheen off their feathers.
While he thinks weather conditions have affected this year’s candidates and standards aren’t as high as last year, other breeders have been in the same boat.
This year he has his hopes pinned on his Australorp females.
“They’re possibly the best I’ve ever had,” he said.
Despite the massive success and highly regarded place as a breeder, Phil is humble and isn’t counting his chickens before they’ve hatched.
“You’re only as good as your last show,” he said.