Interview with Clay Beegle
Judge - Sacramento Show #2
by Gary Tom
First published in the Pacific American Singer newsletter, volume 7, number 2, April 2000.
First off, Clay was way impressed with the welcome basket and theThank You gift from CCBS. The expansiveness of the show venue wassomething he referred to as "only in California". Good or bad? He wasvery happy to be treated so well by both CCBS and PAS. We, in turn,were equally impressed by his very fine ears and willingness to shareall he knew about American Singer song. Sitting with him in thejudging room was a valuable lesson in song, breeding and regionalsounds and color, body, type preferences. As with any judge, stay andlisten as long as you can. Words of wisdom always spew forth sooneror later and if lucky, they'll even answer questions.
Clay got started in American Singers in 1992. His birds descendfrom Chester stock. He has since added rollers to his collection andconsiders them to be the most complex in song and listeningappreciation. Incidentally, his third best in show, A-276-98, at the98 National was produced from one of his homeline hens crossed to avery fine roller cock he bought off of someone else's show team. Thisbird had very remarkable tone that was rich and resonant. Claycautions against purchasing any old roller as an outcross and saysthere are lots of rollers but very few great rollers. And you wantgreat or don't bother outcrossing.
What he looks for in a song, number one, is tone, clear andringing, not nasal. Secondly, freedom, without which he feels thebird's song is not worth the wait. Thirdly, he considers variety tobe very important.
On regionality, here on the West Coast, we have a wealth of stockfrom all over and are lucky enough to have a variety of judges. Wehaven't a regional sound or look as yet and Clay feels this is good,diversity. As far as color, some regions are heavy into green,whereas in Jersey, you're more likely to find more white ground birdsthan anywhere else. Confirmation he feels is the same all over. Hefeels Maryland and Jersey favor a softer type song, Pittsburgh andthe old Chicago song being louder and more vigorous. The Kemererbirds distinguish themselves with a lower tone and a more deliberatedelivery.
On the future of American Singers, he feels the breed is wellestablished in Canada, Detroit, and California. He feels that therest of the country is tenuous at best. He'd like to see ASC Inc.initiate a program to provide funding for the sole purpose ofoffsetting show costs on the local chapter levels.
A testament to his very acute, astute listening capabilities,every one of his top ten were descended from Kemerer or Chesterbloodlines or a combination of the two. Among the ten were a sire andtwo sons, a sire and one son, and two half brothers. The number twobird in particular sang a flawless song and he felt would onlyimprove and be a real threat at future shows. The best in show wentto G-808-98, who at the last show of 98 was second best under JudySnider. Though the bird sang water, Clay admitted it was clear andthe bird had great variety and was just singing his heart out forhim, asking for it (the day before this bird had a no-song fromDoria, go figure!). This bird also had the distinction of being theonly blue and white to be put up best in show by him ever.
Clay admonished us for long nails and emphasized how important itwas to breed for a clean song. One that is without rips, niets, andzips between musical phrases. Several birds he said had so much goingfor them, freedom tone and variety, but unfortunately were flawed bythese sounds. It was our second show of the season and although moreyoung birds sang for him on Sunday than on the previous day, herecommended utilizing an artificial lighting system such as BillSummers light schedule in order to have the birds ready for show.
On breeding, he usually begins at the end of December andestablishes his stud force, which is determined by the top tenwinning birds of the season.
Thanks Clay for being our judge and providing us with such greatinsights.