The S.A. Botternek:
The Original article was written by Chris de Bruin in recognition of Willie van Zyl's perseverance in improving the S.A. Botternek (Edited by Johan van Hengel)
The SA Botternek Tumbler was finally accepted as a recognised breed at the 1992 South African Championship Show in Johannesburg. During the 1993 South African Championship Show, a speciality club for the SA Botternek Tumbler was established, with Willie van Zyl as President, Louis van der Walt as Vice-President and Benard van Zyl as Secretary.
The main characteristic of this breed is it’s old gold to brown colour in the neck, speckled with white blue and black spots. Taking this main characteristic into consideration, white and blue barred birds, which are also produced in the breeding of Botterneks, may be shown under the any other colour category, but cannot be considered as best in breed. A few years ago, Willie van Zyl showed a white male on the Northern-Transvaal Regional Show, and in my judgement, was the best SA Botternek Tumbler on show, but because of the restriction in the standard, it could not be made "best in breed".
Other breed characteristics are: at least 14 tail feathers, instead of the normal 12 and muffs, which can reach up to 10 cm. The tail feathers are carried loosely, producing a flat appearance, with the wings carried under the tail. During the South African Championship Show of 2006 at Stella, Willie van Zyl exhibited the 4th Reserve Bird on show with a SA Botternek Tumbler, ring number 1728/05. This was the first time that a South African developed breed received a Top Seven award on a Championship Show.
This particular bird had 18 tails feathers instead of the normal 14. I think that Willie is the most deserved person to have received this award, considering that at times he was the only person keeping and breeding this breed. He has been taking the lead in ensuring that more breeders obtain these wonderful birds to breed and they are now distributed all over South Africa. From the time that he has been showing these birds, he has taken the Best SA Botternek Tumbler on all the South African Championships Shows, definitely something to be proud of.
The SA Botternek Tumbler was finally accepted as a recognised breed at the 1992 South African Championship Show in Johannesburg. During the 1993 South African Championship Show, a speciality club for the SA Botternek Tumbler was established, with Willie van Zyl as President, Louis van der Walt as Vice-President and Benard van Zyl as Secretary.
The main characteristic of this breed is it’s old gold to brown colour in the neck, speckled with white blue and black spots. Taking this main characteristic into consideration, white and blue barred birds, which are also produced in the breeding of Botterneks, may be shown under the any other colour category, but cannot be considered as best in breed. A few years ago, Willie van Zyl showed a white male on the Northern-Transvaal Regional Show, and in my judgement, was the best SA Botternek Tumbler on show, but because of the restriction in the standard, it could not be made "best in breed".
Other breed characteristics are: at least 14 tail feathers, instead of the normal 12 and muffs, which can reach up to 10 cm. The tail feathers are carried loosely, producing a flat appearance, with the wings carried under the tail. During the South African Championship Show of 2006 at Stella, Willie van Zyl exhibited the 4th Reserve Bird on show with a SA Botternek Tumbler, ring number 1728/05. This was the first time that a South African developed breed received a Top Seven award on a Championship Show.
This particular bird had 18 tails feathers instead of the normal 14. I think that Willie is the most deserved person to have received this award, considering that at times he was the only person keeping and breeding this breed. He has been taking the lead in ensuring that more breeders obtain these wonderful birds to breed and they are now distributed all over South Africa. From the time that he has been showing these birds, he has taken the Best SA Botternek Tumbler on all the South African Championships Shows, definitely something to be proud of.