October 29th 2013
Hi,
This is my blog regarding the first edition of the endler championship 2013 at the Velodrom Berlin in Berlin, Germany.
Besides participating the contest with two strains of endlers, I'm also one of the jury members during this event.
I'll be off to bed shortly for I do have an early rise tomorrow. The intention is to take the train at 11 am from Hengelo (Ov, the Netherlands) to Berlin (Germany).
October 30th 2013
Well, I've arrived in Berlin today at 16.15 pm. Udo Lehmann picked me up at central station Berlin. We went to the Velodrom Berlin to meet up with the crew. All were still busy to prep the tank set ups for the show.
All entries of endlers which were already present today were put in the showtanks. But before that was possible the water temp of each tank had to be increased by adding hot water from the kitchen nearby.
It turned out a bit late this evening before we headed to the hotel. We used the subway to move from place to place.
Further on I got acquainted with Peter Raschke. Had the chance to engage in conversations regarding endlers. Also one of the collegues is working at the Berlin University. And he brought along certain endlers which are also bred in captivity at the Berlin University.
I got some paperwork of the french standard of judging endlers during contests.
And I was so glad that Knut Bieler brought a group of El Tigre endlers along for me.
Tomorrow we'll judge each endler entry. And now off to bed... Had an exhausting day...
Still busy prepping the tank set ups.
October 31st 2013
It's been an educational day today. The main focus was judging all entries of endlers and we've finished at 16.45 pm. Afterwards all the results of the jury members were registered by Jörn Strahl.
Because it was my first time as being a jury member in this field, Tobias Berensee was helping me out a bit to get me into the motion of contest judging. Which I appreciate very much by the way... I got the option to judge according to the french standard (AFV) or the german standard according to the IGPD and DGLZ. I chose to judge according to the french standard. Ronan Boutot (from France) introduced us to this standard.
I even had to judge my own fish which I brought in as an entry. But I have to be honest and judged it according to the rules with no benefits at all.
I was the last one who entered the last judging results.
It's been a day where I've gained more knowledge about show / contest regulations regarding endlers. Quite different from keeping and breeding endlers.
Spend some time at the booth across ours. They exhibit several tanks with freshwater shrimps and aquascaping.
Met up again with Manfred Böttcher (Manne) from Guppytreff-Berlin. Afterwards we've ate at the Velodrom Berlin. Claus Osche und Katja Tyka brought along some currywurst and some spicy sauce (which I could stand perfectly...). All of us helped out to get things ready for tomorrow's show which will last for three days.
Peter Raschke and I went with the subway to the hotel again and arrived at 8.45 pm. Later on I went for a walk in the neighbourhood and ended up at Edeka where I did some groceries. It was still open till 10 pm.
Tomorrow I'll be going with Knut Bieler, Ronan Boutot and his wife to Tobias Berendsee's place to take a look at his fishtanks. Afterwards we'll go to the Velodrom Berlin again.
Have a good sleep you all...
Judging all entries of endlers
November 1st 2013
The day started with a visit to Tobias (Tobi) Berendsee. I, Ronan & Severine Boutot went together to him to watch his collection of fish. Tobi awaited us at the Adlerhof Bahnhof.
We all had a lot of chit chat about the hobby. During the visit I could arrange with Tobi to become the new owner of his group of poecilia gracilis and some lutino endlers.
Later on all four of us went to Marcel Helm to take a look at his collection of livebearers.
We agreed after Tobi left us for work to go to the Zoo-Aquarium Berlin. All kinds of freshwater and marine water tanks were to be watched. When we were done at the Aquarium, we decided to take the bus to the Velodrom Berlin. This to have the opportunity to have some sightseeing of Berlin before heading to the show.
After the show we all went to the Lindengarten to have a meal together. We've stayed there till after 10 pm.
When heading for my hotelroom, Ronan handed me two bags of fish to take home. A group of fancy guppies galaxy roundtail and fancy guppies half black magenta roundtail.
It was a wellspend day in Berlin again...
Have a real good sleep, folks...
The day started with a visit to Tobias (Tobi) Berendsee. I, Ronan & Severine Boutot went together to him to watch his collection of fish. Tobi awaited us at the Adlerhof Bahnhof.
We all had a lot of chit chat about the hobby. During the visit I could arrange with Tobi to become the new owner of his group of poecilia gracilis and some lutino endlers.
Later on all four of us went to Marcel Helm to take a look at his collection of livebearers.
We agreed after Tobi left us for work to go to the Zoo-Aquarium Berlin. All kinds of freshwater and marine water tanks were to be watched. When we were done at the Aquarium, we decided to take the bus to the Velodrom Berlin. This to have the opportunity to have some sightseeing of Berlin before heading to the show.
After the show we all went to the Lindengarten to have a meal together. We've stayed there till after 10 pm.
When heading for my hotelroom, Ronan handed me two bags of fish to take home. A group of fancy guppies galaxy roundtail and fancy guppies half black magenta roundtail.
It was a wellspend day in Berlin again...
Have a real good sleep, folks...
At the Berliner Zoo Aquarium. In this tank also a colony of wildguppies were present.
November 2nd 2013
This morning I went to buy another suitcase for I have to bring along home more fish than expected. And the styrofoam box which I brought along turned out to be too small. After that I went to the show again.
All endler entries which were judged will be sold on the auction on this coming sunday. With the exception of the retained ones. I myself made reservations on a group of tuxedo endlers of Jörn Strahl and a group of blond blue star endlers of Peter Raschke.
A majority of my team (including myself) went for a lecture of half an hour about freshwater shrimps. Also a very interesting item.
By the way, my entry of flare red scarlet endlers were sold today by Sebastian from Germany.
Later on I got acquainted with Robert Gall who new some of the crew for years. He asked me to come along when the show was almost done for the day to a vietnamese big market. And so we went together. Great place to be! At one of the foodmarkets I even saw how those vietnamese catched a carp and how it got killed with a hammer. Bizarre!
At 8 pm we all gathered at "Der dicker Engel", a restaurant with typical berliner cuisine. We had a marvelous evening together. The trophees of the championship were handed to the rightfull winners.
I myself didn't win but considering the amount of entries and knowing that also very good other breeders have been ranked less than me, I can be very proud of my ranking at this competition.
Robert offered me this evening at the restaurant to donate a dwarf gecko for my paludarium.
Now, the last day of the show is coming by tomorrow. Let's give our best to this event...
Again, sleep well...
This morning I went to buy another suitcase for I have to bring along home more fish than expected. And the styrofoam box which I brought along turned out to be too small. After that I went to the show again.
All endler entries which were judged will be sold on the auction on this coming sunday. With the exception of the retained ones. I myself made reservations on a group of tuxedo endlers of Jörn Strahl and a group of blond blue star endlers of Peter Raschke.
A majority of my team (including myself) went for a lecture of half an hour about freshwater shrimps. Also a very interesting item.
By the way, my entry of flare red scarlet endlers were sold today by Sebastian from Germany.
Later on I got acquainted with Robert Gall who new some of the crew for years. He asked me to come along when the show was almost done for the day to a vietnamese big market. And so we went together. Great place to be! At one of the foodmarkets I even saw how those vietnamese catched a carp and how it got killed with a hammer. Bizarre!
At 8 pm we all gathered at "Der dicker Engel", a restaurant with typical berliner cuisine. We had a marvelous evening together. The trophees of the championship were handed to the rightfull winners.
I myself didn't win but considering the amount of entries and knowing that also very good other breeders have been ranked less than me, I can be very proud of my ranking at this competition.
Robert offered me this evening at the restaurant to donate a dwarf gecko for my paludarium.
Now, the last day of the show is coming by tomorrow. Let's give our best to this event...
Again, sleep well...
Claus Osche and Katja Tyka with all the trophees at the restaurant "Der dicker Engel". We also had a nice gathering and meal with the team at this restaurant.
November 3rd 2013
It's been a long day this sunday...
I just came back from Zhou's Five and have enjoyed asian food. They had an open buffet overthere for just 15,95 euros. I just had the urge to give me the feeling of having a vacation before heading home tomorrow. So, I gave myself a treat...
The day started off by booking an extra day at the Main Station Hotel. Afterwards I've been saying goodbye to Peter Raschke this morning. For he left for home earlier than us. I went to the Velodrom Berlin after he was picked up by a taxi.
When I got there, I went quickly to the spokesroom because dr. Wolfgang Staeck would speak for an hour. It was a very fascinating journey into the world of freshwater fish. After that I've listened to dr. Hans-Joachim Hermann about defence techniques within the world amphibians. Followed by Ingo Seidel with his knowledge about catfish. In total three hours of interesting and educational matter.
Back to the stand of IGPD and DGLZ regarding endlers, I've helped out with interested visitors as well. Also exchanging thoughts within this field were one of the activities. It keeps the man busy...
I got the chance today to have a serious chat with dr. Wolfgang Staeck. To me a serious name within the international freshwater aquarium scene. And don't forget his contribution to the endler world (despite of the fact that his focus ain't livebearers but cichlids). Also when I returned to our own booth, he came to visit us and continued thoughts about the endler world. And of course, we've discussed the staeck endlers with eachother... Quite an honour to have met him in person...
It was a typical last day of a more day event. Exposants always tend to become more relaxed and do funny things...
At 5.45 pm we all started to build down the booths. Our reservations of endlers were caught and bagged before the whole set up was disassembled. Just past 8 pm we've finished with building down.
We said goodbye to one another. And in some way it was a pity for it was a fun time with the team for the past 5 days...
Rainer and Manne drove me and Knut Bieler back to the hotel.
I've just finished packing all new gained livestock into the new trunk (specifically bought for this purpose).
Tomorrow I'll be checking out before 11 am and I'll be heading for home again...
Take care all,
Stan
It's been a long day this sunday...
I just came back from Zhou's Five and have enjoyed asian food. They had an open buffet overthere for just 15,95 euros. I just had the urge to give me the feeling of having a vacation before heading home tomorrow. So, I gave myself a treat...
The day started off by booking an extra day at the Main Station Hotel. Afterwards I've been saying goodbye to Peter Raschke this morning. For he left for home earlier than us. I went to the Velodrom Berlin after he was picked up by a taxi.
When I got there, I went quickly to the spokesroom because dr. Wolfgang Staeck would speak for an hour. It was a very fascinating journey into the world of freshwater fish. After that I've listened to dr. Hans-Joachim Hermann about defence techniques within the world amphibians. Followed by Ingo Seidel with his knowledge about catfish. In total three hours of interesting and educational matter.
Back to the stand of IGPD and DGLZ regarding endlers, I've helped out with interested visitors as well. Also exchanging thoughts within this field were one of the activities. It keeps the man busy...
I got the chance today to have a serious chat with dr. Wolfgang Staeck. To me a serious name within the international freshwater aquarium scene. And don't forget his contribution to the endler world (despite of the fact that his focus ain't livebearers but cichlids). Also when I returned to our own booth, he came to visit us and continued thoughts about the endler world. And of course, we've discussed the staeck endlers with eachother... Quite an honour to have met him in person...
It was a typical last day of a more day event. Exposants always tend to become more relaxed and do funny things...
At 5.45 pm we all started to build down the booths. Our reservations of endlers were caught and bagged before the whole set up was disassembled. Just past 8 pm we've finished with building down.
We said goodbye to one another. And in some way it was a pity for it was a fun time with the team for the past 5 days...
Rainer and Manne drove me and Knut Bieler back to the hotel.
I've just finished packing all new gained livestock into the new trunk (specifically bought for this purpose).
Tomorrow I'll be checking out before 11 am and I'll be heading for home again...
Take care all,
Stan
On my way back home by train.