.
Alan Flarry (former secretary & treasure of the NGLC) Now
Chaiman of NGLC
I have had German Lops from almost the start of their introduction in to the U.K. Firstly as a second string, then,
they began to take over, and now are the only breed in my shed.
I fell in love with them, after seeing a black butterfly, owned by Diane & Malcolm Powell, at the Essex Burns
Unit Show, who had just started to import them. And of course I bought one from them, a few months later, I also had stock
from Christine & Bill Brake. I then managed to import direct from Holland, a butterfly & a Black.
I started getting Steels, and black Butterfly’s, in the litters, with one litter I had four Black butterfly’s,
and I entered them into the u/5 1st National German Lop Club Show, to come to the Essex Championship Show, Neil
Honour Judging, I did quite well winning the class, then BiS, 4 rabbits entered 1st 2nd 3rd & 5th
in the challenge, and then got the rabbits on the front page of the Fur & Feather, now I really had the German Lop bug,
out went all the other breeds,
I managed to get some really good steels, and did some winning, making one of them A NGLC champion, I then managed
to have a contact in Holland, who managed to obtain, some very good stock for me including, 2 REW from Yugoslavia, and the
work really started, in the shed.
The NGLC had started to have a few problems internally. At the 1st ballot I stood as secretary, I lost
that one, after a while the secretary left and I was asked to take over, which I did, I was also the treasurer, although hard
work to get the German Lop Club accepted, by some hard liners. The breeders started to push their rabbits, at most show, the
German stood its ground and started to win, because of this, we had a lot more people breeding and showing The German Lops.
The entries started to go up, in the National with an average of 40 per show.
I was having a hard time getting out some decent stock to compete against Rick Colon Aubrey Williams, just to name
a few, then I got my self another good REW from Holland, and started to do well with the REW, so the Black Butterfly’s
fades, along with Steels into the background, out comes some good Agouti Butterfly’s, which I had been working on, and
the REW’s
And the REW’s now take up about 2 thirds of my shed, I have managed in the last few years to win the
points shield, the points Cup for the REW, and the Diane Powell memorial Cup, Best Lop & BiS’s at a lot of shows,
BoB at London 3 years running, Best Adult Lop & 4th Best Adult at London the following year, Best Adult
Lop 3rd in show.. I now have a lot of work on to stay at the top as I know, there is some really good stock out there.
The German Lop, is a great breed to have quite easy to maintain, (I never keep or breed from any nasty ones, they
go.) breed’s true, and a good appealing rabbit.
I have now given up the Secretary & Treasurers position in
the NGLC, and have been elected Chairman . I really enjoyed being part of the
of the team that built the club up from nothing. We now have over a 100 members, a new Secretary Lisa Germany who
can be contacted on 01614 199298.
If you want any help, you can contact me on alan@flarry.fsnet.co.uk
