2009 Burnie, Tasmania

This year we travelled to Burnie on the north coast of Tasmania to enjoy the 2009 National Competition hosted by a small but very enthusiastic team, the Budgerigar Council of Tasmania. A lovely small city with everything very central, and a very impressive Civic Centre that was totally capable of accommodating all the major social events as well as a very spacious comfortable auditorium for the judging of the bird classes in the National Competition.

Tasmania also came up with a first by having the class results immediately available on the World wide web. For a very small State with obvious limited numbers of workers, they did a great job organizing and running the very successful week of competition social events and sightseeing tours associated with the National Competition. Congratulations Tasmania.

With great registration numbers and fanciers from all over Australia converging on Burnie to participate and enjoy the social scene as much as the Brilliant Budgerigars in competition, it was a very satisfying result for a lot of hard work.

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

ANBC Elections

• PRESIDENT.                 Brian Lewandowski.   Nth.& C. Qld.
• SECRETARY.               Bob Bourke.               N.S.W.
• PUBLIC OFFICIER.     Dave Butters.              Sth. Qld.
• HISTORIAN.                 Leigh Downey.           Vic.
• WEB MASTER.            Steve Campbell.          Vic.

The standing executive for 2009 / 2010. Is the President, Secretary, and immediate past President, Jim Fletcher B.C.T.

• Colour and Standards Coordinator  Rob Hugo.             W.A.
• A.B.A. Delegate.                                     Bruce Bradford.     N.S.W.
• National Judges Coordinator.           Peter Glassenbury. S.A.

There were a few important items of Business that were discussed at the delegates meeting. One of the most significant was that at future Zone hosting of the National competition serious consideration be given to airport time friendly venues when their turn comes around. Also, a time frame on the frequency of using International Judges. All other items on the agenda were relevant managerial business and dealt with accordingly, nice change.

Tim Tassi has resigned from the National Judges Panel. This is also the first year of the early issue of rings. 2010 Rings being available September 2009. Rockhampton will not have to many late bred birds in the teams, I’m sure.

Weekend

The weekend kicked off with the Friday night meet and greet which was very popular although twenty including myself nearly missed it courtesy of Qantas, nine hours in the airport and that was just waiting to get on the plane, for a one-hour flight. Lucky there were no teams of birds booked on that flight.

Saturday starts early as we have come to expect. It all worked smoothly and efficiently with the odd numbered classes, in the auditorium of terraced seating and easy viewing for all. An expansive array of trade stands in the foyer, leading to a large refreshment area very well catered for. To one side was a second hall with staging laid out for viewing of the birds in classes after judging. Plenty of room for everyone to admire each bird and take photo’s if inclined.

The now, it seems, Institutional Auction of class birds by consistent top breeders rounded out the day, and it shows that if good stock is available there is no holding back on the dollars. A short relaxing time before the Saturday night dinner the next official function, which was well patronised, providing an evening to catch up and swap stories.

Sunday starts with the same air of anticipation of keen competition as the even numbered classes are judged. A reasonably close competition.  There were 18 individual different Logie winners, a very good spread of successful exhibitors. Victoria managed 10 individual class winners with 2 exhibitors studs, partnership of  Sheppard & Flanagan, and P. Thurn winning 3 classes each and while only having a 9 point lead after the first day managed to finish a very impressive 25 point winners.

All Judging, colour & standards, and Brasea, meetings went off as per their schedules.

2009 Judges

The Judges officiating over the 2 days were;

• Neale Love (Sth.Qld.) teamed with;
• John Scoric (Vic.)
• Matt Campbell (N.S.W.) teamed with;
• Ian Schnieder (Qld. Nth & Ctl.)

Narrative

A big improvement on Sunday when the Judges were reminded that the exhibitors were entitled to a more credible run down of the class judged and reasons that birds finished in their respective positions of the class. This should be part of the pre-show directive to Judges as per the Judging format top bench, bottom bench movement of show cages.

 

Final Results for 2009

1. Victoria. 467.
2. N.S.W. 442.
3. South Queensland. 387.
4. South Australia. 299.
5. Western Australia. 254.
6. Nth. & Central Queensland. 233.
7. Tasmania. 226.

 

The Judging was outstanding and from all reports everyone agreed with the judges as to their assessment of the birds and their placement 1 to 14 in all classes. Sunday night presentation dinner was an outstanding success and very well patronised.  Tasmania managed 6 tours that were wilderness Tasmanian orientated, these were very well received and enjoyed by all, offering good value for money. Again, I am happy to report very strong support and continuing growth in attendances at these shows.

Roll on Rockhampton.

Results Booklet

Website Including Photos of Winners

 

Leigh A Downey, 2009
Historian A.N.B.C.