ITFS May 2014 Table Show & club meeting

As a bit of an early post script to this news I thought it would be well worth adding a few bits of information I've gleaned from previous Shows and Table Shows the ITFS has run down the years.

Firstly, there is no 'us and them' attitude - everyone (and their fish) are always made extremely welcome, members or not.

So, a little bit of information about the actual 'physical' running of these Shows.

Basically you just need to bring your specimens in their bags (of water, of course) and you will be assigned a Show Tank for each exhibit.
However...it must be stressed that you will need to bring some extra water in case the bagful you bring your fish(es) in doesn't fill the Show Tanks and, believe me, apart from the stress caused to your specimens there's nothing more likely to cause a Fish Judge to deduct Show Points than a stressed fish in shallow water.

So, to your entry(ies) - a nice specimen (or more) with no damaged fins or scales should be selected (be as careful as you can to catch and transfer it/them with as little trauma to the fish as possible)
Once you get to the upstairs Show room you can retrieve your tank(s) from either John or Andrew whereupon you'll be able to (again, very carefully) transfer the entries to the allotted tanks and top them up with the extra water you have brought.

Then, your work is done, everything from here on becomes the job of the Organisers, they'll place them in their correct categories and after that the Judges will get on with their job - judging the fish, It's at this time that us contestants are generally handed out Quiz papers which we get to answering the questions thereon, never too hard - more a bit of fun really to while away the time while the Judges are still judging.

Eventually they make their decision and the winning fish are announced. There follows a bit of a discussion where the Judges tell us why, and for what reason, the decisions were made and why the winners were chosen - a sort of post mortem, really.
Then we all return our fish to their bags and poly boxes (in the case of those who have come a little way) and we all head home.

Every Table Show I have attended has always been an enjoyable experience and I cannot stress too firmly that everyone has been made welcome, members or not.

So, why not consider it? Rosie's is easily found (it must be - even I find it) and liquid refreshments (not only beer) are available at the bar downstairs.

Andrew will shortly invite applications from those competing which will allow him to delegate appropriate-sized Show Tanks to everyone.
The purpose of this post is to try to encourage entries from people who might otherwise think that the ITFS is a bit insular and doesn't welcome non-members - THIS REALLY ISN'T THE CASE. Do, please attend - you'll enjoy it, I guarantee.

Make a note in your diary - May 12 2014.

If you have any questions or would like any further information please don't hesitate to ask, anything which can be answered will be.

John

A small addition which I forgot to mention in the above diatribe of supposed advice was that it is not advisable to feed any potential exhibits for a day before the Table Show. As we all know - only too well - what goes in has to come out again, albeit in a slightly different form and nothing causes Judges to mark down potential prize-winners more than a pile of 'you-know-what' in the show tank. Added to which it isn't exactly conducive to the good health of your fish since this waste quickly starts to break down, forming unpleasant gases etc.potentially fouling the water.
So, the best advice is to not give any fish you plan to exhibit any food for 24 hours in advance of the Show - longer, if possible (I personally use 36 hours as the 'avoidance' time).

If anyone has any further suggestions or questions please don't hesitate to post them.

John

Well done for being the first one to spot that...

Obviously Andrew put the wrong date to see how quickly someone would spot it (I didn't )

John

Generally it's best - if you're planning to enter any fish - to get there around 8pm.

Rosie's is 282 Harolds Cross Road Dublin 6.

Rosie O'Gradys pub, I'm trying to find it on a map for you.

John

Edit,
Here it is:
www.google.ie/maps/place/Rosie+O%27Grady...5f0fd602cbf874?hl=en