The CIS International Aquatic Plants Layout Contest 2010
ADA Russian distributor, Neomarine, organized the first CIS International Aquatic Plants Layout Contest, and its prize awarding ceremony was conducted on May 22nd at auditorium of State Darwin Museum in Moscow, with a participation of 200 guests from all over CIS countries. Here we introduce the event report written by Mr. Alexander Tarasenko.
The idea of holding such a contest has been around among aquarists of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and other countries of former the USSR. And finally, the Russian company NEOMARIN with the support of the Ukrainian Association of aquarists have established such a contest which will annually.
A special section has been opened specifically for the coverage of this significant competition on the web site of the virtual magazine "AQUAJOURNAL.RU". This section became an official web resource of the Contest. The Organize Committee also publishes here the work of participants and highlights the solemn ceremony of awarding winners and laureates of the contest.
Prize fund in respect of the Contest high status. Four prize winners were awarded by cash prizes in sum of:
Grand Prize - $2000
Golden Prize - $1200
Silver Prize - $670
Bronze Prize - $500
Above all, the owner of the best work was awarded a certificate for a trip to Japan to participate in the 10-th anniversary ceremony of IAPLC 2010.
The first contest was attended by 76 works came from 8 countries. The international team of judges, consisting of 7 members, was chaired by eminent aquarium figure, the author of numerous works in aquarium keeping, Dr. Kochetov. Entries were judged by as such well-known and respected in aquascapers environment names as Jeff Senske (USA), Adam Pascszela (Poland), Norbert Sabat (Poland), Cliff Hui (Hong Kong), Davide Chiacchia (Italy), Vladimir Uzhik (Ukrain). Entries were evaluated on the same criteria on which judging takes place in IAPLC.
The works of Russian and Ukrainian aquarists dominated among all the entries - more than 60 applications came from these two countries.
The Contest Winner is Ukrainian aquarist - Grigory Polishchuk! Golden Prize went to Ukrainian aquarist as well – Alexander Grebenyuk. Russian aquascaper, Anatoly Chernyshev became a Silver Prize owner. Bronze Prize was presented to Dmitry Grishanov from Belarus. Thus, the prize podium only emphasized the international status of this contest.
Awarding of winners was held at a ceremony in Moscow, at the State Darwin Museum May 22, 2010. In the hall of the museum were about 200 guests. Among them were many prominent and popular people in Russia – leading TV channels guider, Tina Kandelaki, also worldwide known for his portraits of the most famous people artist, professor - Nikas Safronov. They personally awarded prizes and awards to the winners. There have also been awarded prizes in special categories: "Nature Aquarium" (from ADA and Neomarin), "For Creativity" (from General Sponsor – VERTO - Landscape Design Studio), "Style Poetry" (from National Russian Association of florists), "Slavic Style" (from sponsor company "Aquarium2U").
The colorful solemn ceremony was replaced by a festive buffet in which hosted the blitz competition of the arrangement of mini aquariums. Cliff Hui chose the most interesting mini layout, and the winner was awarded by ADA professional scissors.
String Quintet in Moscow Conservatory accompanied talk aquarium hobbyists, who got an excellent opportunity to get acquainted with each other, share experiences, findings in aquarium design.
Each participant of the Ceremony got a Booklet with all the works of the Contest which was specially launched for the Ceremony. Content of this important event was added by the presentation of newly launched DVD "Nature Aquarium of Takashi Amano: secrets of an underwater pictures creation".
The contest had a great success - all the speakers on the Ceremony unanimously expressed the hope that it will be a prelude to permanent Contest which will help in wide spreading of ideas of aquatic plants layouts around Russia and many other countries surrounding it.
