China Guppy Club Show,
March 18-20, 2016, Guangzhou China;
1st China
– America Global Contest
© Alan S. Bias (4.4.2016)
Permission
granted for nonprofit reproduction or duplication of photos and text with
proper credit for learning purposes only.
All photos courtesy of China Guppy Club, unless otherwise credited.
Remember you can click on any photos to enlarge.
Remember you can click on any photos to enlarge.
JUDGING
TEAM
Pictured
from right to left: Alan S. Bias (USA), Wang
Zuo wei “Wind” (China), Frank Chang (USA), Eddie Lee (Taiwan), Hwang zong
(China), Tsen hwang-jei (Taiwan), Anshin Liu (Taiwan).
After what seemed like
months of preparation fellow IFGA member Carl Groenewegen and myself set off on
our two week tour of China and Taiwan.
The trip to Guangzhou, China itself comprised over 40 hours of driving,
flights and layovers. The return trip
would be nearly 50 hours from Taipei, Taiwan.
Upon arrival in Guangzhou, China, we were greeted at the airport by my
friend and president of the China Guppy Club Wang Zuo wei. Better known to most Guppy breeders around the
world as “Wind Wang”.
The next two days were
comprised of a world-wind of tours to include YiDing Aquarium Factory and the
world’s largest Aquarium Fish Wholesale and Retail Market. YiDing produces over 100,000 handmade tanks
in a multitude of configurations each year.
Many of which are seamless glass fronts, utilizing a heated process to
bend the glass. The live fish market
covered many blocks and housed literally hundreds of vendors and shops. The sheer volume of fish numbers and species
in itself was staggering. The overall
state of health of the fish and reptiles leaves much to be desired when
compared to what the average American is used to seeing in retail outlets.
At the conclusion of
each visit owners would treat us to a sit-down with their favorite varieties of
hot tea. At midday a large meal and at
the end of each day a dinner consisting of 10-15 dishes of local cuisine. Over the course of a week we rarely had the
same dish twice.
Fellow IFGA breeder and
judge Frank Chang, who had left the States a week earlier to visit family in
Beijing, China, joined us in Guangzhou the day before start of the show. Thus, comprising International Fancy Guppy
Association (IFGA) members in attendance as Carl Groenewegen (OH), Frank Chang
(CA) and Alan S. Bias (WV). The show
itself being supported by entries from IFGA members: Simeon Bonev (MI), Dr. John Flack (IL), Joe
Mason (FL), Gary & Tim Mousseau (MI), Carl Groenewegen (OH), Frank Chang
(CA) and Alan S. Bias (WV).
IFGA
member contingency. Pictured from right
to left:
Alan S. Bias (USA), Frank Chang (USA), Carl
Groenewegen USA). Photo courtesy Alan S. Bias.
The China Guppy Club show (an IFGA member club) was held in conjunction with the GIAS Aquatic Expo. The size of the facilities were immense to
say the least. During the course of
events I was informed that this event is actually the smaller of two held
yearly. With the larger being housed
next door in a much large venue utilizing 4-5 five stories. Show tanks were both individually lit and
additionally from building overhead lighting.
Along with the Guppy Show, a Betta
and Skate / Ray shows were also held.
Additional to this were large events for turtles, snake, reptiles and
spiders. Numerous displays of Asian
Arowana and Koi were also present.
One of the more frequent comments from attendees of the 17th World Guppy Contest held 2014 in Tianjin, China was the age of those attending the show. I found little different at this event with the vast majority being in their 20's and 30's. Interest in breeding guppies has never been greater.
Photos Alan S. Bias.
The show itself was to
be judged under World Guppy Association Standards (WGA). Any issues arising before, during and after
judging deferred to WGA standards when
possible, and when not were addressed by local rules or Judging Team discretion. For those with further interest in WGA
standards here is a link to them: http://www.world-guppy.org/wgc-category.html (last checked 4.4.2016).
Prior to the start of
the show all entries were sorted, logged and entered on show forms the night
before. The total number of entries for
the show would slightly exceed 350 pairs, or 700+ fish. At this time by consensus of the Judging Team
it was decided to prejudge all entries before actual benching of entries the
next day. This occurred on the morning
of Friday 3.18.16, and would reduce the average number of entries in each class
from 20 to 10 or more. Later in the day
each judge would individually prejudge remaining fish in each class, selecting
their preferred top three fish. From the
total votes for each class a total of four fish would be selected for final
judging.
Final judging occurred
during the afternoon, with each judge pointing in full, according to WGA
standards, the top 4 fish in each of the 18 classes. Each judge individually scored a total of 72
fish. Only a couple of minor issues arose
during judging and each was in the end resolved by consensus of the Judging
Team. Awards were given for 1st,
2nd, 3rd place in each class.
Points were tabulated
that night for both class placement and Best of Show (BOS). High and low scores for each fish were
excluded, and remaining scores were added together and divided by the number of
remaining judges for an average score. Best
of Show was determined by the highest scoring pair from each of the class
winners. The point totals indicating a
Crowntail male bred by 罗永雄 Luo
Yongxiong (China) as winner of BOS.
Discussions were held by the Judging Team after concerns were expressed
about a Crowntail being named BOS over delta entries. According to best information this had not
occurred in any prior shows. A final
decision was withheld until the next morning.
The next morning the Judging Team
held further discussion the the matter of BOS placement. Consideration was given toward further
judging all Class Champions against each other, along IFGA judging style. In the end, by consensus, it was agreed to
allow BOS standings to remain as indicated.
It being felt that each class winner had been judged to its own
standard. That to judge each class
winner against another would only allow for individual breeder preferences to
potentially bias the end result. A sound
decision on the part of all Judging Team members.
FIRST
PLACE BEST OF SHOW (BOS)
Best
of Show Crowntail male bred by 罗永雄 Luo
Yongxiong (China)
I’d like to point out
that this pair is now swimming in the tanks of Carl Groenewegen (USA). Along with several other pairs gifted to him
by breeder Luo Yongxiong after the show.
INITIAL MORNING PRE-JUDGING
AFTERNOON
JUDGING
In
final, I will take the liberty on behalf of IFGA members Frank Chang, Carl Groenewegen and myself, I
would like to express my sincere thanks to our GIAS sponsors and host members
of the China Guppy Club. It was a genuine
pleasure to represent not only the IFGA, but American breeders in general at
this event. Finally, to my friend Wind
Wang, who approached me at the WGC in Tampa, Florida last year with an
invitation to both attend and judge at this international event.
What
follows are the final formal Show Results, and photos of each of the 18 class
winners; 1st, 2nd, 3rd places. It should be noted that many photos were
taken after judging and do not give due justice to the males, as many delta’s
were suffering from caudal breakdown resulting from un-aged water.
CLASS WINNERS - 1ST, 2ND & 3RD PLACES
Class 1 – Blue Solid Delta 1st Place
Class 1 – Blue Solid Delta 2nd and 3rd
Place
Class 2 – Red Solid Delta 1st Place
Class 2 – Red Solid Delta 2nd and 3rd
Place
Class 3 – Half Black (Tuxedo) Delta 1st
Place
Class 3 – Half Black (Tuxedo) Delta 2nd
and 3rd Place
Class 4 – Grass Delta 1st Place
Class 4 – Grass Delta 2nd and 3rd
Place
Class 5 – Mosaic Delta 1st Place
Class 5 – Mosaic Delta 2nd and 3rd
Place
Class 6 – Snakeskin Delta 1st Place
Class 6 – Snakeskin Delta 2nd and 3rd
Place
Class 7 – Albino Solid Delta 1st Place
Class 7 – Albino Solid Delta 2nd and 3rd
Place
Class 8 – Variegated Delta 1st Place
Class 8 – Variegated Delta 2nd and 3rd
Place
Class 9 – Others Delta 1st Place
Class 9 – Others Delta 2nd and 3rd
Place
Class 10 – Swordtail Combined 1st Place
Class 10 – Swordtail Combined 2nd and 3rd
Place
Class 11 – Roundtail 1st Place
Class 11 – Roundtail 2nd and 3rd
Place
Class 12 – Special Tail (Largetail) 1st
Place. Photo by Alan S. Bias.
Class 12 – Special Tail (Largetail) 2nd
and 3rd Place
Class 13 – Longfin Ribbon 1st Place
Class 13 – Longfin Ribbon 2nd and 3rd
Place
Class 14 – Longfin Swallow 1st Place
Class 14 – Longfin Swallow 2nd and 3rd
Place
Class 15 – Young Pair Solid Delta 1st
Place
Class 15 – Young Pair Solid Delta 2nd and
3rd Place
Class 16 – Young Pair Solid Albino 1st
Place
Class 16 – Young Pair Solid Albino 2nd
and 3rd Place
Class 17 – Young Pair Variegated 1st
Place
Class 17 – Young Pair Variegated 2nd and
3rd Place
Class 18 – Young Pair Variegated Albino 1st
Place
Class 18 – Young Pair Variegated Albino 2nd
and 3rd Place
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The hospitality and sincere nature of the Chinese people during our travels were in themselves well worthy of a trip to the other side of the world…
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