Farmlife

THIRTEEN-YEAR-OLD Guy Marriott has enjoyed big wins at the Northamptonshire and District Poultry Show.

Guy, a pupil at Abbotsholme School, won two firsts, a second and a third prize with his four entries in the junior competition, and was also voted the Best Junior. “I thought I had a chance with this bird,” says Guy, the proud owner of 28 bantams (pictured here with his prize winner, a Rhode Island Red).

“She”s quite a stunner with her brightly coloured feathers. The day before the show I spent about four hours preparing all four birds, soaping, rinsing and blow-drying their feathers.

“They don”t like the blow-dryer much but they get used to it if you can handle them calmly and gently enough. I put them in clean straw overnight and then it was show time. I was really pleased with how well they did, and it was great to win the Best Junior medal as well.”