2016 Hobart, Tasmania

The Grand Chancellor Hotel Hobart was the venue for the 42nd Annual ANBC Show in 2016. This year, the National Championship Show was held on the second last weekend in June. The expanded twenty-seven classes again including a demonstration class of the dark-eyed clears with no points included way on display for all to see. 567 Birds if all classes filled. We were a couple short, but a great result anyway was achieved, making it an outstanding weekend of exhibition budgerigars put together by a very small team of dedicated workers. Congratulations to all. Having everything in the one Venue made for a very nice friendly weekend cosily tucked away from the cold. The large area in the Ballroom and the hotel’s ability to accommodate all the functions was a special result, with plenty of room to move around while watching the Judging or viewing the Judged classes, or just enjoying a coffee was great.

2016 Judging Format Changes

The changing to the Judging format as per previously trialed last year in W.A. was continued with what only can be commented on as positive and accepted by all. Saturday morning, we had nine classes including the demonstration class of the Dark eyed Clears that have been included for three years now and show no sign of improvement or has it increased quantity of birds around Australia of that variety.

After a two-hour break for lunch the remainder of the odd numbered classes plus three of the even numbered classes were judged. This allowed time for the Colours & Standards meeting if required, which it wasn’t. Electronic media replacing a talk fest and achieving a positive result in a shorter length of time and saving on hiring a room. There is a little more work for the team carers between changeover, but they are coping. Afternoon Judging session was completed a little late but acceptable.

Sunday morning Judging off to a flyer and completed in good time. This change to the format again was warmly accepted and worked quite well. Congratulations to all the team carers who accepted the changes and worked extremely hard to make the Show the success it was. Two stages of 21 birds each a great looking Show.

Team Arrival

All teams chose to arrive on Thursday, again without any major hick ups. Some things like airline timetables cannot be controlled. The birds do well with a full day of recovery after their long haul. The wildlife permits were all good.

Friday night Official opening, meet and mingle, was opened by the Mayor of Hobart a very nice lady and very happy and positive to have a large group of people visit her lovely city and State. There was a great number of people supporting this event and everyone had a good time. As is now the custom the Officiating Judges were presented to the Exhibitors and guests. The Judges were introduced by Jim Fletcher their current President, and the M.C. for the weekend Dave Ganzer from Sth.Qld. Everyone either offered or just pitched in which is a great budgie family attitude. Backing up again were Maureen & Andrew Bourne (ACT) on the computers with Rod Turnbull & James Bader (VIC) photographers, Carol & Keith Gough (STH. QLD) collating and transferring the Judge’s comments along with the photo’s to Luke Fletcher (TAS) for his improved live streaming to the world. Also, all the Tassie members, as Show manager and stewards moving the birds.

2016 Judging Teams

The Judging teams for the morning were introduced being Scott Eriksen (QN & CZ) with Alistair Home (TAS) while Peter Thurn (VIC) partnered Malcolm Taylor from South Africa on his first Judging appointment in Australia. Odd numbered classes by eight and exhibition class. About a two hour break for lunch then the final six uneven classes and three even numbered classes rounding out the day. The judges changed around, with Scott Erikson & Malcolm Taylor, and Alistair Home & Peter Thurn pairing.

After 17 classes Victoria held a slender lead. Viewing and bird change overs from morning to afternoon went smoothly. The in house video and scoring put up quickly worked beautifully. The 18th class does not score. Saturday evening out into the cold for the Hobart , Dark Mofo festival was at every-ones leisure as poor responses to the organised dinners led to a non-event, so we hope everyone enjoyed the festival there. Sunday morning and away we go again with Victoria holding onto a good lead.

With nine classes to go judging pairs were Scott Eriksen & Peter Thurn, and Alistair Home & Malcolm Taylor. Victoria moved away on the morning and eventually ran out convincing winners by 46 points followed by New South Wales reversing the second place from last year by edging out South Queensland. Henry George managed three wins again with two other partnerships Kakoschke & Rice (S.A) and Sheppard & Flanagan (Vic) already in the hall of fame, and T & S Appleton (Vic) J. Leong (Vic) also taking out two sections. Congratulations to all the winners.

Congratulations to all the Victorian exhibitors, with thirteen Logie winners. Their team carers Bruce Wilson, Phil Hoadley, and James Bader. In fact all the team carers from every zone. They all managed to handle the different show structure well and in a positive manner making the show a great spectacle for all to enjoy. The now firmly entrenched Auction was held on the Sunday afternoon and the quality of birds were good but it did not relate to the punters who in the main kept their hands firmly in their pockets making the auctioneer work extremely hard.

2016 Final Results

Victoria. 544.
N.S.W. 498.
STH.QLD. 486.
NZ Qld. 288.
Tassie. 315.
W.A. 277.
Tassie. 261.

Again 27 Classes. Point scoring for 26 classes and the Demo class (Not eligible for hall of fame scoring.) ( Dark eyed clears.)

Multiple winners were again present but the show was dominated by Victoria with 13 first places.5 dual first places each. Leaving 13 Individual winners giving exhibitors still a wide spread of Logie distribution.

Congratulations to the Judges Scott Erikson (NZ.QLD), Alistair Home (Tassie), Peter Thurn (Vic), and Malcolm Taylor from South Africa.
The live streaming of results, photo’s, and comments was greatly received as far away as the U.K. and thousands of hits on the sight were recorded again.

Sunday night’s Presentation Dinner in the same Ballroom was impressively set up for a great evening. A very nice buffet and the Official program, sponsors acknowledged Logies presented all in a timely manner. The A.N.B.C. Secretary Leigh Downey had the pleasure of awarding the presiding judges on the weekend with their commemorative plaques for their work in Judging the weekends competition. Also awarding the Judges badges to last year’s successful judges who passed the National Judges requirements. Mr Peter Thurn and Mr Rod Turnbull, both Victorians. Unfortunately the two gentlemen who sat the National test were unsuccessful this year.

Also present to be inducted into the Hall of Fame for services to the A.N.B.C were the five inductees who had no prior knowledge. Congratulations to Mr Peter Glassenbury (S.A.), Mr Alistair Home (Tassie), Mr Ian Hanington (NSW), Mr Luke Fletcher (Tassie), and Jim & Judy Fletcher partnership (Tassie) – all very worthwhile recipients of the award. Everything went exceptionally well for the Budgerigar Council of Tasmania. The Colours & Standards business was decided by electronic media prior to the weekend and approved by the Delegates on Monday. A positive result.

I did not stay in the Judges meeting as I was not feeling well but I believe it was convoluted and a bit long winded again. Hopefully positives are taken from the meeting.

The A.N.B.C. Delegates met on the Monday as is the requirement and quite a few notices of business were dealt with. New President as is the norm, same Secretary so he must have adapted OK. The ring registrar is no longer required as the process seems to be bedded down and only the zones ring registrars need to direct from a very efficient supplier and the secretary does the rest . Collect / pay.

The Australian Capital Territory Budgerigar Association again put up a discussion point for consideration but it lapsed for want of a motion mover. There is to be an electronic move into the management of the A.N.B.C. in the ensuing year so positives can be achieved quicker and more efficiently. All business was handled in a very satisfactory time frame and everyone left happy.

There were plenty of tours on offer around Hobart along with plenty of attractions relating to the MONA festival so nobody who didn’t attend the birds should have been disappointed over the weekend or on the days following as Tasmania is an exciting beautiful State. I know one was cancelled on the Monday because of bad weather but the one my wife did was thoroughly enjoyed.

A very well planned, great weekend in Hobart. Again congratulations to the Budgerigar Council of Tasmania Mackay in North Queensland is the venue for 2017 in the Mackay Entertainment and Convention Centre. Accommodation well within walking distance. A show to look forward to as we resort back to the fourth weekend of May.

Results Booklet
2016 Website & Photos

Leigh A. Downey, 2016
ANBC Historian