From 10 to 12 September 2021 our 33rd meeting of the IG Englische Widder, the international English Lop interest group, took place at the Lehmann family’s in Erding. Already at the social evening, the members and guests present were treated to hearty fare and, after their sometimes very long journeys from all over Germany and from Switzerland, were able to fortify themselves at a lavish buffet.
Despite the rainy weather on Saturday, the mood of our colourful group of breeders was once again very cheerful, and so after a short walk to the meeting point on the market square in Erding we were able to set off on our day trip.
A historic vintage bus took us to Stegen on Lake Ammersee, and from there we took a boat trip of about an hour from Stegen to Herrsching. The bus was already waiting for us at the landing stage, and so we moved swiftly on to the Klostergasthof Andechs for lunch together in the beer garden. On the way back there was a little “detour” past Munich’s Allianz Arena.
On Saturday evening the annual general meeting took place at the Gasthof Erdinger Weißbräu. A total of 16 members and 11 guests were present. The 1st spokesperson, Phillip Fritz, was unable to attend this year’s meeting for personal reasons. In agreement with all the spokespersons, the 3rd spokesperson, Franziska Sprenger, chaired the meeting.
Report of the 1st spokesperson: Phillip Fritz was very pleased that a meeting could be put together despite Covid and that the number of participants was so gratifying. A very special highlight of this year’s meeting: Hans Retzlaff and his wife Gisela attended an IG meeting for the 30th time. Flowers and a bottle of wine were happily presented.
These meetings are always a forum for exchange. Last year we saw what an important role our gatherings play in exchanging animals across national borders. This took quite a bit of personal commitment and coordination, but the heart of English Lop breeding kept beating, even without any shows taking place.
Hopefully this year, at a few shows such as the lop club comparison show or the German national show, as well as at various shows beforehand, we will have the opportunity to admire fine English Lops.
That the times have not left our breed unscathed is shown by the annual young stock tally, with almost 250 fewer youngsters reported than the previous year. But this also shows that endangered old domestic breeds are preserved partly by there still being opportunities to present them.
This was followed by the report of the 2nd spokesperson (Claudia Gerst) on the finances and that of the 3rd spokesperson (Franziska Sprenger, breeding and shows) on the annual young stock tally. René Karpf (4th spokesperson, international liaison) is saddened by the development of small livestock breeding in Switzerland. The veterinary office keeps issuing further regulations that breeders can hardly implement. On top of that, immense annual fees are charged – with nothing in return. But there is also some good news: Petra Bader (also a member of the IG) has taken over as chair of the Swiss club. She also attended this year’s meeting, as did our new member Reto Stucki (Switzerland).
The IG Englische Widder currently has 49 members.
On Sunday the stock assessment took place at the rabbitry of the small livestock breeders’ club B24 Erding. Franziska Sprenger led the presentation of fine English Lops of different colour varieties and age classes. First up were youngsters in the colour varieties black, blue, agouti and blue-grey. The animals already showed promising ear measurements and impressed with good body shapes. Despite their young age, the colours were already quite strong.
The next meeting will take place in September 2022 at fellow breeder Markus Tyborski’s in Bad Saulgau.
Franziska Sprenger
(3rd spokesperson, breeding and shows)
Photo credits: Rösli Karpf and Mike Schubert