2007, Morphettville Racecourse, South Australia

The Championships, this year were hosted by the South Australian Budgerigar Council at their very reliable Venue in 2007. Allan Scott Park, more commonly known as the Morphettville Racecourse. A very easy find ample parking most accommodating auditorium. Plenty of space to view the birds with the added advantage of their in-house television network, enabling people to view the judging from any area. The Sunday night presentation dinner with an excellent menu, at the same venue shows the true worth of working with well-organized professional entities.

It was unfortunate that some of the other social arrangements did not meet peoples desired expectations and cast a minor cloud over the whole proceedings. However, we are all there for the Birds, the Competition, the Friendships, with all likeminded people and the chance to view the best of the best the Budgerigar fraternity has to offer Nationally. The Championships were strongly supported from all zones of Australia, as we go from strength to strength.

The A.N.B.C. Elections were held at the Delegates meeting on the Monday with the following results:

• PRESIDENT. Gina House. W.A.
• SECRETARY. Bob Bourke. N.S.W.
• PUBLIC OFFICIER David Butters. A.C.T.
• HISTORIAN. Leigh Downey. Vic.

Appointments

• Nigel Tonkin (S.A.) is the third person on the Executive for the ensuing year.
• Gina House is our first ever Lady President, congratulations Gina.
• Bruce Bradford (N.S.W.) remains as the A.B.A. Delegate.
• Rob Hugo (W.A.) remains also as the Colour & Standards Co-Ordinator.
• Peter Glassenbury (S.A.) is the new National Judges Co-Ordinator taking over from Russell Keane (N.S.W.) We thank Russell for his time and commitment to this important position.

The main issue at the Delegates meeting was the Affiliation of the Budgerigar Society of New Zealand to the A.N.B.C. Finally sanity prevailed and they were accepted. The affiliation annual fee set, and the way was paved for New Zealand to adopt our Written Standard of the Budgerigar and allow two candidates to sit the National Judges Exam on 2008. Welcome New Zealand.

Secondly the ring issue date is to remain at January the 1st. We are moving more to the era of Electronics as has been seen by the excess of emails the Secretary has had to endure. One wonders the relevance of that quantity of correspondence required in our hobby.

The weekend of Birds, Lectures, and Forums, was well defined and well-spaced with ease of viewing of the Judging, the Judged Classes, and the Lectures. The show was well supported by the trade stands with something for everyone. The new concept continued with a second International Judge Officiating as one of the panel. Marcel Buhler from Switzerland stepped into judge at obviously a very different format to his usual. He also provided two power point lectures, which were well received.

The teams of Officiating Judges were:

• Mark Bridgeman (Vic) with
• Marcel Buhler (Swd)
• Nigel Tonkin (S.A) with
• Kevin O’Callaghan (Nth.&Ctl.Qld)

The show will be remembered more for the unfortunates, than the successes as it had the highest disqualifications in any National Show. Very technical Judgements adhering to the relevant clauses in The Standard. Not totally accepted by some exhibitors present. Of the twenty-two classes, and the exhibition class (non-point scoring) all were won by different exhibitors representing their respective zones. A great result congratulations all.

We were also entertained as part of the weekend program by a Panel night which included Marcel Buhler, his bird partner Ron Pierce (UK), Rick Watts (UK) , Alan Gamble (NZ) and Warren Wilson (N.S.W), M.C. Nigel Tonkin (S.A)

The format was well received and the knowledge imparted by all especially the Northern Hemisphere contingent made for a very informative enjoyable evening of entertainment.

Victoria was judged the winners coming out on top ending a winning streak of three years by N.S.W. It was a very close result.
Congratulations Victoria.

Final Results:

1. Victoria. 433.
2. New South Wales. 428.
3. South Queensland. 381.
4. Western Australia. 304.
5. South Australia. 302.
6. Tasmania. 265.
7. North & Central Queensland. 185.

The controversial judging will be remembered for quite a while, but one hope is that this does not affect the continuing harmonious growth of this wonderful annual event, and the National now international friendships that are forged from it and the wonderful little bird that makes it all happen.

 

Link to Results Booklet

 

Leigh A Downey, 2007
Historian A.N.B.C.

 

Judges 2007 A.N.B.C. Inc. National Competition – South Australia