My trip to the 4th International Discus Championship

After some years of wanting to go to Germany to Duisburg for the International Discus Championships, I decided that 2002 was the year to go. We started making plans to go then disaster struck; Bonnie our dog decided to go into season {that was the very day I met my good friend and webmaster Dougall – not that I am saying he had anything to do with it :-) ), and it meant the pups would be due during the Championship.

We looked up on the calendar to see when the pups would be born.......and it was the 27th of September, about a week before the show...............so that was the plans knackered to visit Duisberg.

But after a few weeks................Bonnie was well in welp....Jan said to me .if you want to go.......go .........I didn’t need to be asked twice.............so to set the ball rolling ........I arranged to go over with Tony Vaughan from Ireland.

The day arrived....................we flew out to Germany.

We got there in the afternoon of the first day of the show .........so we found the hotel ..........checked in ...........then jumped in a taxi...and went to the show.

10 euros later we were there.............and Tony and myself didn’t really know what to expect, so in we went.

Well it was a discus keepers dream come true.............wall to wall fish .tanks .trade stands, utter heaven.

We had a look around and just couldn’t believe our eyes...........it was great. Then we bumped in the Discus Page Holland crew...Walter.....Karsten Kress.......Cor Visser of Discus Centrum Amsterdam

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Tony and the Discusbrief Crew

This was the first time I had met these guys in person, but had regularly talked to them in the DPH chartroom for nearly 3 years............and when we started to talk - it was like we had new them for years.

They were staying in the same hotel as us, so they were our drinking and eating partners for the next 4 days [admin comment My empathy to Cor and Karsten ;)] and what a ball we had as the German beer is so good.

So the next day Walter being the kind guy that he is introduced us to the one and only Jack Wattley – now that was a great experience. A real nice guy. Then we met Bernd Degan is another gent and BIG guy. All were willing to talk and answer questions for us, which was great.

We also met Deiter Untergasser, the Author of Discus Health; Shafulliah Yeng of Penang Discus,.he is a real gentleman (spent quite a bit of time with him) talking about breeding and discus in general.

That evening the rest of the troops arrived and I finally got to meet my internet sweetheart Robin Futrell hehehehee and her other half Ron of Rare Breed discus.

Sid Adams and Robin Futrell
Sid Adam (Scottish Discus), Tony Vaughan (Discus Ireland) and Robin Futrell (Rarebreed Discus)	The Crew

Then came the funny part, we met the affable Discus Hans. Now he really is a funny guy and a nutcase behind a wheel of a car, just ask Bob and Ton lol aquaplaning seems to be Hans favourite pass time lol.

Others that I met include Paul and Ange Lucas of Discus South..........another great couple...............; Pete Daniels of Discus in Suffolk......the custom inspectors at the airports best friend (he knows what I mean poor bugger...suppose that’s what you get if ya look dodgy mate lol [admin comment – admin agrees that Pete should be stopped and searched at every major airport ;)]).

There is so much more I could write about but ...you really have to experience it for yourselves.

The Fish were great................the dry good were priced fabulous (why cant we get those prices in this country eh) the best part of the show for me was the company............finally getting to meet all my internet friends, and their friends.

Well what do you think?	Stendker Show Tank
Show tank	Show tank 2

 Also I seen the biggest pigeon blood discus I have ever seen .............he must have been around 10 inches ...and that is no exaggeration.

The amount of discus display tanks (planted) were amazing..stunning..never thought discus could really look that good............I was impressed to say the least....but toooo much work for a lazy homeboy like me ...........but is big in Europe.

We met Jorg Stendker also...........His fish were of top quality.........Mark Evenden of Devotedly Discus regulary stocks his fish,....but unfortunately Mark was due to fly out to met me .but he had to stay and fix his shop window ..what a bummer Mark .....we would have had a blast.

All that is left to say is that...........it is a must for any discus fancier to go and see the show..at least once you wont regret it ................but me personally...........I cant wait till 2004......................Let the good times roll.