I received the recent copy of the American Pigeon Journal the other day, (July 1983). The cover page showed two pictures of Giant Runts; twenty-five years ago and today. If every Rollerman saw this cover page, the realization may sink in that progress and change is an evolution in all breeds, including the Roller. In a recent telephone conversation with Bill Koenig, of Waskesha, Wisconsin, our discussion dealt with the fact that the Roller fancier is unique in this resistance to a change in the Roller.

The Roller fancier has been stubborn in his resistance to the fact that, no longer can the so-called "Dual Purpose" Roller win in the air, as well as in the showroom. During the early years of Bill Pensom, LeRoy Smith, Bob Evans and so many others whom we have enshrined today in our mythical Roller Hall of Fame, Rollers first proved themselves in the air, and then were brought into the showroom for the purpose of examination by other fanciers.

As the showroom more and more developed into great meeting places for fanciers to show and discuss the hobby, standards were developed to physically describe the proper Roller. Those standards were based upon the physical qualifications for a proper Roller in the air, a "true" spinner. - In addition, Rollermen began to identify good spinners by eye sign, body, feather, etc.

During the past thirteen to fifteen years the image of the Roller has changed. But only the image of the Roller for the showroom. The bird has become much heavier, heavily feathered, and his head, neck and body structure has greatly changed. This change came about because so many Rollermen accepted the new Roller for the showroom. No one has suggested or attempted to change the original "Spinner" in size, weight or physical shape. The "Spinner" has been totally accepted by the entire h6bby, both fly and showmen. But many fanciers refuse to realize that the "dual purpose" Roller no longer exists. Today there are two distinct Rollers. While Roller of the air or "spinner" as we call it and the "show" Roller are totally the same, they are bred and conditioned for two different purposes. As a result, their physical appearance is quite different.

Unlike the comparison between the "Domestic" flight and the "Show" flights, and so many other breeds that have been crossed with other breeds to develop a distinct type of bird, this has not been done with our Roller. Crossing birds within the breed for different objectives; size, head, neck, body, feather has brought about this change in the style of Rollers. If I might use the above example of the Flight, I am sure that the "domestic" flight fancier, who desires to fly his pigeons, has not crossed his pigeons. The "show" flight fancier has gone to the crossed breed route. There has been general acceptance of this change in the fancy. Yet the Roller-men continue to argue over the two distinct styles of our Roller, even though the breed has not been diluted by cross breeding.

Now the new Roller fancier has appeared with the "show" Roller. Yet this enlightened show fancier is having his own difficult time totally accepting the bulleye and recessive colors into the showroom.

An area that must be corrected, once and for all is acceptance by a show fancier of the Bulleyed entry! The rules state that the bulleye is an accepted eye, yet judges will claim that it's hard to read expression or that the bird gives a different appearance. These prejudices must stop. Once and for all the judges have to accept the bulleye, or let's change the standard. I don't feel we're being fair to a bird that is approved by our standards and yet discriminated at the shows. Once we accept the equality of the bulleye, we will find outstanding bulleyed Rollers entered in our shows. We don't see many of the best, because most fanciers know that they will not get a fair chance at the showroom. Yet so many of our outstanding champions are being bred from bulleyed parents, who are hidden from view because of this refusal to accept the bulleyed Roller in the showroom.

If the leaders in the show fancy displayed an acceptance to recessive colors, the blacks - whites - dilutes, then these particular birds would improve in their appearance also. But most important, more exhibitors will be showing with a new interest. There are a great many fanciers who would like to breed and display these colors. Yet the incentive to breed more and better birds die, because

they feel that there will be no acceptance of these colors at the showroom. Quite often there are no trophies for these individual colors. The color patterns must be accepted for the good of the hobby. It would greatly stimulate our shows. But encouragement must come by demonstration. Silent acceptance will not do it. Let's see more of these colors at the shows and let's see our show chairmen encourage the showing of these colors, in words and deeds. The acceptance of new colors has greatly popularized other breeds. Why not the "show" Roller?