NSW State Team Interclub Challenge Competition

NSW State Team Selection – 16th May 2026

NSW had 13 affiliated clubs take part in the State Team Interclub Challenge Competition and NSW State Team Selection to find the best three birds of each variety to represent NSW at the ANBC’s 50th Trill National Championships the following weekend.

Each club pre-selected their members’ best three birds of each variety in the lead up to the selections, which meant the judges had their work cut out, judging up to 39 birds in each class from 1st to 20th place. Points were awarded from 20 points for 1st place down to 1 point for 20th place, without marking the cages.

Selecting the NSW Team

Six senior judges, working in groups of two, then selected the very best three birds they believed would be looking at their best in a week’s time.

In most cases, the initial selection had the birds in the right order, but occasionally the Team Selector judges made a few changes before marking the cages.

Thank You to the Helpers

Members put in a herculean effort to ensure the day ran smoothly.

Special thanks must go to Cliff Spare and Shanthi Jones for the STCC pre-work paperwork and for enduring the pressure they must have felt under on the day.

Thanks also to Jennifer Bell for putting her hand up when the call went out for computer helpers.

To Tony Butt, Steve Wilson and Rex Jones, a big thank you for towing the three sets of staging to and from the venue. So many members were there to help erect and put down the staging, so a big thank you to everyone who helped.

Team Carers and Photography

Our two Team Carers, Rob Peffer and Dave Dunn, were stuck out in the room carrying out ring checks and inspecting every bird, ensuring each bird was complete and fit to travel.

Thank you also to Eric Whitton, who photographed the team.

Jeff Mansfield was tasked with a whole bunch of cages to take home for Team birds upon their return home, as well as many other tasks on the day. Thank you to Jeff also.

2026 STCC Interclub Point Score

Newcastle finished in 1st place with 1041 points.

Hunter finished 2nd with 824 points, South West finished 3rd with 756 points, and Mid State finished 4th with 729 points.