2023, Ballarat, Victoria

The Mecure Hotel in the middle of Ballarat was the venue for the 47th. National Championship Show on the first weekend of June 2023. The event was one week late owing to a miscalculation of confirmation booking requirements. All Zones agreed, so another very successful weekend of Exhibition Budgerigars with the seven Zones from around Australia competing. Organized and managed by the B.C.V.’s. Ray and Jane Slade, efficiently and helped with a minimum of fuss by a few hard working enthusiastic members. Congratulations to them for effort.

The twenty-eight classes with the inclusion of the Australian White Caps as a point scoring class resulted in a great two-day show, again featuring some very powerful Budgerigars. Live streaming was again used as a media to allow all who could not attend to view and be involved. Over 3,000 log on were recorded. Commentary was included by Stephen Mow and Troy Holmes which went over very well even though we had them locked in a cloakroom. Couldn’t risk their comments being overheard in the main auditorium.

The B.C.V. recorded an amazing result winning eighteen classes with four multiple winners. I believe at the time of writing, this is a record. It was achieved with a couple of regular Hall of Famers featuring in the placings, including J. Leong three classes, Sheppard & Flanagan partnership winning two, as well as H. Kamel with his first two wins, P. Thurn one, and finally Ian Hunter with three wins elevates him into the Hall of Fame, with a total of nine wins. There were another eight B.C.V. individual winners, along with four each from N.S.W. and S.A. with S.Q. two wins rounding out the major awards. Congratulations to B.C.V. and all the exhibitors and especially their zones team carers for the dedicated work with their team of Budgerigars.

I am advised that registrations were only down eighteen on the last allowable national attendance in Brisbane 2019. A very positive return after pandemic restrictions. Importantly, when you consider numbers watching from home and Club get togethers via the Live Stream, a huge crowd. Friday and Sunday night functions very well supported.

Friday Function

Friday night Official Opening meet and greet was well supported, with the officiating Judges presented to the exhibitors and guests. Mr Maarten Heylen Belgium. Mr. Kevin O’Callaghan Nth. Qld. Mr. Gary Gazzard. N.S.W. Mr Derek Poole Tasmania. A very pleasant evening.

Also with a not to be missed lecture on Saturday evening after Judging was concluded by Maarten Heylen. A great informative hour as to the hobby in general in Europe.

All functions were in the Hotel. The accommodation in the Mercure was very strong and the staff exemplary. Saturday night was at every-one’s own devices. Sunday presentation dinner was very well supported with 180 plus in attendance and was enjoyed by all who attended.

The presentations went mostly very smoothly. The A.N.B.C. secretary had one known Hall of Fame Inductee, for service to the A.N.B.C. Mr Alan Rowe (BCV) and one Breeder Excellence achievement Inductee, Mr Ian Hunter, achieving the required number of first places. The third Inductee into the Hall of Fame for Service to the A.N.B.C. was myself, Mr Leigh Downey a great honour totally unexpected, bringing a very emotional audience to tears, including myself.

Judging in 2023

Judging on Saturday and Sunday was a very jovial affair both with returning and new members plus a spattering of interested walk up public spectators. The viewing of the judged exhibits was slightly restrictive, in saying that everyone had ample time to view each class.

The Judging starts at 9.00am sharp as there is a lot to get through. Classes one to ten then a break for lunch then classes eleven to eighteen in the afternoon. There were easy to understand commentary, as to bird placings which in the main was very well received. Saturday morning and afternoon keep the carers on their toes, especially with only a short hour or so break in between but it is unavoidable with 28 classes. We allow the fourth carer in to assist which helps. Thank you to all the team carers who accepted the changes again and worked extremely hard to make the Show the success it was.

The container compliments of a hard working Dave Ganzer and Simon Meagher Ballarat based who housed the container for twelve months had it arrive on time enabling it to be unloaded on time as required successfully. Thank you gentlemen. Also a huge reach out to Dave for his health recovery. A big thank you again to Simon from Golden Cob for his ongoing support of both the A.N.B.C. and myself over the last eight plus years, and being so easy to deal with and accommodating in all aspects of negotiations. Supplying the 16 bags of seed for the team’s usage as with 588 birds in attendance to be fed and the show cages changed three times we do use a lot, plus the Auction birds. All teams chose to arrive early on Thursday, again. A bit of travel but all zones managed it.

The B.C V. had just enough volunteers along with Dave Ganzer show manager. On the computers, Luke and Glen, plus Darren Macfarlane, and photographer Rod Turnbull with Carol & Keith Gough (STH. QLD) collating and transferring the Judge’s comments along with the photo’s to Luke Fletcher (TAS) for his streaming to the world.

Saturday

The Judging teams were introduced being Maarten Heylen (Belgium) Kevin O’Callaghan (Nth.Qld.) Garry Gazzard (B.S.N.S.W.) and Derek Poole (B.C.T.) Started early. Classes one to ten morning. One and a half hours break for lunch then classes eleven to eighteen round out the day. Leaving classes 19 to 28 for Sunday. After 18 classes B.C.V. held a very good lead. Viewing was reasonably easy. The bird change overs from morning to afternoon went smoothly thanks to the team carers and stewards. The in house video was average and scoring put up quickly needed some work plus the poor cage stickers numbering hampered viewing badly. Sunday morning with an early start again with the B.C.V. holding a large lead which was never challenged allowing the B.C.V. to hold on for a big win. Congratulations to all the class winners.

Congratulations to all the VIC. exhibitors, with eighteen Logies won. To the seven zones, team carers for presenting their teams in their best possible condition. The now firmly entrenched Auction was held on the Sunday afternoon and the quality of birds was good and the prices were huge and in my view over the top..

Final Results 2023

VIC. 666.
N.S.W. 541.
STH.QLD. 481.
S.A. 446.
Nth Qld. 289.
W.A. 274.
TASSIE. 229.

28 Classes. All point scoring. Four multiple winners were again successful leaving 18 Individual winners giving exhibitors a wide spread of Logie distribution across most Zones.
Congratulations to the Judges Maarten Heylen (Belgium.), Kevin O’Callaghan (Nth. Qld.), Derik Poole (B.C.T.), and Gary Gazzard (B.S.N.S.W.)
The live and delayed streaming of results, photos, and comments was greatly received as far away as the U.K.

Sunday night’s Presentation Dinner in the same venue was impressively set up for a great evening completely sold out. A very nice evening. The Official program sponsors acknowledged Logies presented all in a timely manner including an torrent of tears. The B.C.V. President Mr. Peter Thurn did the M.C. work while A.N.B.C. Secretary Leigh Downey along with James Bader had the pleasure of awarding the presiding judges on the weekend with their commemorative plaques for their work in Judging the weekends competition.
Everything finished exceptionally well for the hosts B.C.V.

The Colour & Standards business was decided earlier and approved by the Delegates . The Judges meeting while convoluted again was also finalised just in time for the dinner.
The A.N.B.C. Delegates met on a Monday electronically as is the requirement and a few notices of business were dealt with. Peter Thurn chaired the meeting, and all business was conducted in a timely manner.

The new President for 2023 / 2024 will be Mr. Roy Blair. BCT.
Secretary Mr. Neale Love. S.Q.
Public Officer. Mr. Stuart Foster.
Historian. To be decided.

There is ongoing discussion as to electronic movement into the management of the A.N.B.C. Plus a wider live streaming of the National Competition.
A very successful three days in Ballarat Victoria. Again congratulations to the B.C.V. Peter Thurn, Ray Slade, the B.C.V. Councillors, and all the people from the Zone that committed and produced a great event. Launceston is the city in Tasmania for the 2024 National Competition and everyone is looking forward to challenging the B.C.V. for bragging rights to try to wrest the Shield away.

2023 – Ballarat, Victoria (47th Annual)

Link to: 2023 Results Booklet

Link to Website Including Photographs: ANBC National 2023

Link to YouTube Coverage:
Day 1 – The Budgerigar Council of Victoria – National Budgerigar Show – YouTube
Day 2 – The Budgerigar Council of Victoria – National Budgerigar Show (youtube.com)

Leigh A. Downey, 2023
A.N.B.C. Inc. Historian.

As I have been doing this report since 2006 taking over from Ron Hunt, I feel it is time for a rest, so I urge someone to put their hand up to write these essential reports in the ensuing years. Enjoyment in Budgerigars. Cheers.