2016 NADA Judging

[richy]

https://flic.kr/p/K1t5Gc
https://flic.kr/p/J54TmA

This blue diamond, whose fish is it?

[Ryan]

https://flic.kr/p/K1t5Gc
https://flic.kr/p/J54TmA

This blue diamond, whose fish is it?

That would be an Alpha Blue bred by Ricky Lim. It was entered in the show by me.

[nc0gnet0]

That would be an Alpha Blue bred by Ricky Lim. It was entered in the show by me.

I thought that was your fish Ryan, but without the tank number in the picture didn't want to be wrong :)

[LizStreithorst]

That was my favorite fish in the show. To my eye it was the most nearly perfect, but it lacked size compared to many of the other very competitive fish. I do love a big fish. I guess I prefer perfection to size. It was a young fish, still growing. You can tell by the pelvic fins. It was tank 103.

[rickztahone]

That was my favorite fish in the show. To my eye it was the most nearly perfect, but it lacked size compared to many of the other very competitive fish. I do love a big fish. I guess I prefer perfection to size. It was a young fish, still growing. You can tell by the pelvic fins. It was tank 103.

Very true, just look at the grand champion, it was one of the smaller participants, but made such a big impression due to body shape/pattern...etc

[richy]

I saw that Alpha Blue in person Saturday afternoon and thought it was quite impressive. I wanted to find out whose it was at the time but wasn't able to. Although, admittedly, I did not try hard enough. Was it auctioned off at the Show?

[Wes]

I saw that Alpha Blue in person Saturday afternoon and thought it was quite impressive. I wanted to find out whose it was at the time but wasn't able to. Although, admittedly, I did not try hard enough. Was it auctioned off at the Show?


No, it went back to Ryan/ was sold before I asked on the 1st day. I don't know the new owner. If interested u may want to give him a yell to see is he has more or can get them in. http://forum.simplydiscus.com/forumdisplay.php?366-First-Coast-Discus-(Ryan-Smith)-Central-Florida

[LizStreithorst]

It was larger than the BD, but the shape was not better. It's pattern was great, but the BD's solid body was every bit as great. My fish didn't have an ugly spiked Dorsal. It's finnage was smoothly blended to the body and and the fins did not fold over or stick out in any way. Im Mama bear's opinion it was the most nearly correct fish in the show. It was young and needed to grow more. The pic that was posted doesn't do the fish justice. I know. I was there.

But, the judges must judge the fish as they are that day. They cannot let it slide because they can see a fish is young.

I didn't think that the GCH was the best fish. I think that if push came to shove I could have gone with the Thick Line. It was a killer show to judge. I'm glad that my reputation wasn't on the line.

[LizStreithorst]

Good. That fish needs to go to someone with good taste.

[John_Nicholson]

Everyone needs to remember that when judging it is all about how that fish looks at that moment. Fish do not always show their best while the judges are looking. When you have 3 days to look at a fish or you are lookng at pictures then you have all of the time in the world. Sometimes fish chose to hide behind the filters, they hold their fins in, or they just decide to not look their best. I do not think we picked any bad fish. If you took the 10 best fish from the show and judged them 10 different times the results might very well change because of the behavior of the fish at that moment.

-john

[LizStreithorst]

I know that, John. I told you as much when you were there. I told you would have a hard time after pre-judging. Remember? So many of the fish didn't show themselves to the best advantage. Thank God they were feeling better at final judging. Y'all generally judge in one fell swoop, don't you? This time it took two looks because the fish looked like crap first try. You know that it's the truth. It was a hard show and no fish was outstanding in every way.

Regardless, I say that tank 103 housed the most nearly perfect fish in the show. It might not have been the best fish but it was always looking good when I saw it. I'd have fought for that fish, but I can only do it on the internet. I hate that I can't do with the weight of the world on my shoulders. I wish I could, but I can't. (don't tell, but the Mama Bear is a bit of a sissy girl)

[Larry Bugg]

As John explained in the speaker session on Judging, we narrow each class down to the best 4 or 5 in each class. Then those 4 or 5 are judged more strictly with the judging forms to narrow them down to the winners. We have always done all the judging on Saturday afternoon and it meant the room was closed for several hours while we were judging. In an effort to reduce the time the room would be closed we split the judging into two sessions. The first was at 7:00 in the morning when the room normally is empty. At this time we narrowed the discus down to the top 4 or 5 per class. Then in the afternoon we finished picking the winners from those. It didn't have anything to do with how the discus presented themselves in the morning.

[LizStreithorst]

Mr. Bugg. dear. I am not criticizing the judging. You guys had a hard job on your hands. Do you not agree that their was not was one fish that stood out as an easy pick? Do you not agree that at pre judging many of the fish didn't look their best and needed a second look?

My choice of BIS means nothing. I just liked the BD fish best despite the fact that it was on the smaller side. It's just the opinion of a simple hobbyist.

[Larry Bugg]

Liz, sorry I wasn't accusing you of anything. I was just pointing out that this statement ("This time it took two looks because the fish looked like crap first try.") wasn't correct. We didn't take a second look because they weren't showing well the first try. We intentionally broke up the judging session The decision to do that was made prior to the show before we knew how the fish would look. As you and John both pointed out the fish have to be judged as they are at the time of the judging.

[LizStreithorst]

Ok. In this case I'm happy that you scheduled it so that you could take a second look. In this case is a second look was necessary. Do you not agree? All I want is a yes or no. I was there, dear.

[Larry Bugg]

NO, sorry I don't agree. There was not a second look. That is my point. If we had have judged all at one time the process would not have been different. With judging you always narrow down the class to the best 4 or 5 and then judge those only to get the final winners. The ones that did not show well Saturday morning did NOT get a second look. They were eliminated. It is the only fair way to judge. If I gave tank 1000 a second look later in the day because it didn't show well then the owner of tank 2000 would ask why his fish didn't get a third look because it still didn't show well the second time. They all get one chance to make the top five and then they get one chance to place or win. No second chances. You are implying that the afternoon judging session was a second look but it wasn't.

[nc0gnet0]

Some of (not all) the fish had a hard time acclimating to the Lombard water. This was more apparent Thursday and Friday, depending on when the fish were tanked. I don't think there was a significant difference in how they showed from Saturday at 7-8:30 am and Saturday at 2:00 pm.

-Rick

[LizStreithorst]

That is good enough for me. Them's the rules of judging and you had to go by the rules. Y'all did a good job. It was a hard show to judge. I'm am talking to you, Mr Bugg, not Rick. Any idiot could see that there was a problem with the Lombard water.

[John_Nicholson]

Liz you know I love ya and I know we had discussed it at the show. I was posting because I wanted it clear for the people that were not at the show and who did not know about these talks. For people that were part of those discussions your post were perfectly clear but for those that were not there probably not. I was just trying to clear it up for them.

-john

[nc0gnet0]

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/11/27/238C06CA00000578-2851760-A_London_based_company_is_planning_to_build_transp arent_homes_Th-3_1417093108268.jpg

[LizStreithorst]

I wasn't throwing stones.

BTW, nice house.

[Bc chick]

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/11/27/238C06CA00000578-2851760-A_London_based_company_is_planning_to_build_transp arent_homes_Th-3_1417093108268.jpg

I want one

[Ardan]

I am starting to take an interest in, but barely scratching the surface, of how to judge a discus. I found Johns talk and Dick Au talk on this topic fascinating. I saw you Liz doing your judging, but didn't have time to pick your brain on how you do it (would have liked to learn from you).
So, do you, Liz, use the standard judging form? Or do you have your own method?
John, or one of the other judges, could you post a copy of that official judging form? I saw it at the presentation and took notes, but I am sure the form might help me make more sense of it all. Maybe it could or is a sticky somewhere on this forum?
Thanks!!
I think it would be a tough job judging, but I think all of you did a great job!

Ardan

[Larry Bugg]

I am starting to take an interest in, but barely scratching the surface, of how to judge a discus. I found Johns talk and Dick Au talk on this topic fascinating. I saw you Liz doing your judging, but didn't have time to pick your brain on how you do it (would have liked to learn from you).
So, do you, Liz, use the standard judging form? Or do you have your own method?
John, or one of the other judges, could you post a copy of that official judging form? I saw it at the presentation and took notes, but I am sure the form might help me make more sense of it all. Maybe it could or is a sticky somewhere on this forum?
Thanks!!
I think it would be a tough job judging, but I think all of you did a great job!

Ardan

You can find a copy of it here Ardan.
http://forum.discusnada.org/showthread.php?778-NADA-Judging-area!

[LizStreithorst]

I have had that form in my head since I took judges training. I could take my time when I did it for fun. I didn't use the point system but I pretty much am aware of it. I was indulging myself in a stress free past time that I get every two years. I just walked back and forth between the fish in each class that struck my fancy as many times as I wanted to...in no way a professional way of judging. I could never handle being a real judge. I would feel that the weight of the world was on my shoulders. It's a shame. I have a good eye.

Ardan, from what little I saw of you I think you have the right temperament. You have been in Discus long enough to be able to see faults and strong points. If you are interested, I think you should peruse it.

I"m sorry that we didn't get more time to chat, too. It's fun looking at fish with other people. I either teach or argue points of conformation with amateurs like me. I even get to grab Nicholson and ask what he thinks which is always a great help to me. Lets do it in 2018.:sun:

[Ardan]

I have had that form in my head since I took judges training. I could take my time when I did it for fun. I didn't use the point system but I pretty much am aware of it. I was indulging myself in a stress free past time that I get every two years. I just walked back and forth between the fish in each class that struck my fancy as many times as I wanted to...in no way a professional way of judging. I could never handle being a real judge. I would feel that the weight of the world was on my shoulders. It's a shame. I have a good eye.

Ardan, from what little I saw of you I think you have the right temperament. You have been in Discus long enough to be able to see faults and strong points. If you are interested, I think you should peruse it.

I"m sorry that we didn't get more time to chat, too. It's fun looking at fish with other people. I either teach or argue points of conformation with amateurs like me. I even get to grab Nicholson and ask what he thinks which is always a great help to me. Lets do it in 2018.:sun:
Sounds good Liz! I think I would enjoy trying to judge for fun and debating the fish.:):sun: 2018, Can't wait!

Ardan

[LizStreithorst]

I really enjoyed meeting you all!! I can't wait for 2018, I'm bringing fish this time! So tell me what's more fun, debating fish or baiting Liz??:evilgrin:

Debating fish is a joy... I'm an easy catch when it comes to being baited. Heck, I ask for it. I always get thrown back get just to get do it again when the mood strikes me. It is fun!

[Trier20]

Oh Liz I think we had a good time picking fish apart together :)