2010 Nationals

[Matt Welchman 0]

RIP,

 

Regarding the benching of 3 birds, it was THE hot topic of discussion at this years Nationals amongst the people I spoke to. All were for it, as am I, except one. To clarify a point you made, the intention is not to have 3 birds benched AND scoring points with a 4th reserve. The method as I understand it is this:

 

Each state would select 3 birds to travel to the Nats (as they do now) with all 3 being benched. The benching of all 3 birds removes any inference, implied or otherwise, that the team carers are biased in their selection of which two birds are to be benched. Then, instead of 14 birds being judged in each class, the judges are now tasked with sorting through 21 birds. However the awarding of points is EXACTLY the same as it is now. Say for example the WA birds were placed 1st, 2nd and 6th in the class of 21 birds. Then WA would gain 14 pts for 1st, 13 pts for 2nd but NO pts for 6th. In all cases the lowest placing bird from each state does not gain pts. This points system is exactly how the Vics have scored the Young Bird challenge (Frank Gardner Shield where their Nat team is selected) for years and it seems to work okay.

 

So why would we bother with benching this 3rd bird. I look at it like this.

 

1. The first reason is as stated above, there is no bias in selection of which birds to bench. The birds which were selected at State level to attend the Nats will all have a chance of gaining points. And who's to say that the team carers will get it right anyway? The judges on the day may see the birds differently on the bench to how the carers see them before the judging.

 

2. There are 22 variety classes. This means at each Nats there are 22 X 7 = 154 birds which go through the entire Nats process of selection, transport, housing and associated stress only to return home for pretty much nothing.

 

3. The owners of the unbenched 3rd bird have no way of knowing how their bird stacks up against the National competition. You could well have the 3rd best bird in the country for a given variety in that year but you'd never know if your bird remained in the back room, unbenched.

 

4. To me it seems grossly unfair to the owners of the birds that they have to undergo the disappointment of missing seeing their bird judged at Nats level even though it is in the next room primed to go. We have an exhibitor in SQ who has had at least 6 birds go to the Nats but has never had one benched. Imagine how disheartened this person must be.

 

The main negative I can see with benching 3 birds is the initial cost to have the staging modified to accommodate 21 birds. Housing and transportation costs would remain the same as the total birds attending remains the same.

 

Thoughts? I'm sure there are plenty of others with opinions on this and I can't believe it has taken this long to become an issue.

 

okay I have teased you a little bit......

 

I could be totally wrong on this but from what I understand is 2 years of 3 birds being benched. Followed by a further trial of only two birds going for the ride. There is a possibilty that only one will score points. This is to be worked out. Further, and this could be a good thing the powers that be have set up a sub committtee to explore whether we should add further classes when only two birds are sent. My thoughts would be Violets, Dilutes, Olive/Dark Greens and Cobalts/Mauves. That will shake you all up

 

 

LOL , Jeff , I reckon you would be a good fisherman, always giving a little bit of line before you strike!!

[JeffL 0]

My two bobs worth:

 

1. We have moved the ring issue date, from Jan to Sept - Historically we have seen birds benched at Nationals hatched in November/December (6 - 7 months old) or Jan/Feb (15/16 months old). Guess which ones win? With the new ring issue date the birds are in the older age bracket and there is a more level playing field as they are all fully mature. However, I thought this would expose the birds that have flights and tails that wont regrow. My thoughts are we should penalise missing flights more heavily (and for that matter flecking)

 

2. Changed the perch sizes to 16mm - The size of the bird according to the Standard has increased from 225mm to 240mm. National winners are normally bigger than this. I know I know they dont have to be big to win and some people like the little ones. Just that everything else being equal the bigger bird will win. National winners are monsters and stand out in peoples aviary. Even the best of breeders. We had big budgies or perches meant for finches. The old perch size was alright for most people except some of those people arent breeding birds big enough to win.

 

3. 3 birds benched????????? The major thing for me with this is NSW may get 1st, 2nd and 3rd. I might get 4th. But I am not 4th am I. Maybe I never was as there might be 20 birds in NSW better than the 3rd bird now. I have seen the time and effort the Carers have put into benching birds. Its a great skill and a thankless task. Me, I just try and breed a bird that cant be ignored. (Just I keep getting the 1st Loser Trophy)

 

4. Changed the National show date by a month - This has been talked about for a very long time. The birds are just not natually in the peak of feather condition at the end of May. Its a struggle when birds are left home due to flights and tails missing. I dont see them ending up taking 4 birds. I think if that occurred wse may as well open the door for everyone to show. Well, that just isnt the unique Australian National Show.

 

RIP,Regarding the benching of 3 birds, it was THE hot topic of discussion at this years Nationals amongst the people I spoke to. All were for it, as am I, except one. To clarify a point you made, the intention is not to have 3 birds benched AND scoring points with a 4th reserve. The method as I understand it is this:Each state would select 3 birds to travel to the Nats (as they do now) with all 3 being benched. The benching of all 3 birds removes any inference, implied or otherwise, that the team carers are biased in their selection of which two birds are to be benched. Then, instead of 14 birds being judged in each class, the judges are now tasked with sorting through 21 birds. However the awarding of points is EXACTLY the same as it is now. Say for example the WA birds were placed 1st, 2nd and 6th in the class of 21 birds. Then WA would gain 14 pts for 1st, 13 pts for 2nd but NO pts for 6th. In all cases the lowest placing bird from each state does not gain pts. This points system is exactly how the Vics have scored the Young Bird challenge (Frank Gardner Shield where their Nat team is selected) for years and it seems to work okay.So why would we bother with benching this 3rd bird. I look at it like this. 1. The first reason is as stated above, there is no bias in selection of which birds to bench. The birds which were selected at State level to attend the Nats will all have a chance of gaining points. And who's to say that the team carers will get it right anyway? The judges on the day may see the birds differently on the bench to how the carers see them before the judging.2. There are 22 variety classes. This means at each Nats there are 22 X 7 = 154 birds which go through the entire Nats process of selection, transport, housing and associated stress only to return home for pretty much nothing. 3. The owners of the unbenched 3rd bird have no way of knowing how their bird stacks up against the National competition. You could well have the 3rd best bird in the country for a given variety in that year but you'd never know if your bird remained in the back room, unbenched.4. To me it seems grossly unfair to the owners of the birds that they have to undergo the disappointment of missing seeing their bird judged at Nats level even though it is in the next room primed to go. We have an exhibitor in SQ who has had at least 6 birds go to the Nats but has never had one benched. Imagine how disheartened this person must be.The main negative I can see with benching 3 birds is the initial cost to have the staging modified to accommodate 21 birds. Housing and transportation costs would remain the same as the total birds attending remains the same.Thoughts? I'm sure there are plenty of others with opinions on this and I can't believe it has taken this long to become an issue.

okay I have teased you a little bit......I could be totally wrong on this but from what I understand is 2 years of 3 birds being benched. Followed by a further trial of only two birds going for the ride. There is a possibilty that only one will score points. This is to be worked out. Further, and this could be a good thing the powers that be have set up a sub committtee to explore whether we should add further classes when only two birds are sent. My thoughts would be Violets, Dilutes, Olive/Dark Greens and Cobalts/Mauves. That will shake you all up

LOL , Jeff , I reckon you would be a good fisherman, always giving a little bit of line before you strike!!

Budgies used to be my peace on Earth. Now its fishing. Trully. Budgies are too hard. Edited June 2, 2010 by JeffL

[**KAZ** 0]

I just want to say, thankyou to those explaining more fully the thoughts behind the decision making processes

[renee 0]

I just want to say, thankyou to those explaining more fully the thoughts behind the decision making processes

Hear, Hear!