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Noelanders Trophy XVIII

EBA & ESA Convention

2017

By Gudrun Benz, Germany

Photos by Willy Evenepoel, courtesy Bonsai Association Belgium

wo important international bonsai and suiseki events were
held in one place at the same time – Noelanders Trophy XVIII
and EBA & ESA Convention in Genk, Belgium from 3rd to
5th February 2017. The Bonsai Association Belgium (BAB)
Tinvited the European Bonsai Association and the European
Suiseki Association to hold their convention together with the Noelanders
Trophy, which is known as one of Europe’s biggest and most prestigious
event of its kind. The location, the Limburghal in the city centre of Genk,
offered enough space for the exhibition of all three organizations and a
large trader area. There were about 100 bonsai from 17 different European
countries at the Noelanders Trophy, and in addition about 100 bonsai of
15 member countries of EBA as well as 27 suiseki of ESA members on
exhibit. Most bonsai came from Spain, Belgium, France, Germany and
the Netherlands. As the previous years the bonsai were displayed in rows
with generous room between them, allowing visitors to move freely and
view the exhibits, even from a distance.
A catalogue of all exhibits will be published in April or May 2017. The
photographing and set up of the exhibits began on Thursday before the
event and ended at 17 h on Friday because the opening ceremony was
scheduled one hour later the same evening. Speeches of EBA president
Reginald Bolton, ESA Vice President Vito Di Venere, a representative of
the Japanese Embassy to the Kingdom of Belgium, and the new FBBC
(Federation of Belgium Bonsai Clubs) president Christian Vos, were sup-
ported by Taiko drummers and followed with a reception with champagne
and canapé. A preview of the exhibition was also possible at this time.

30 | BCI | April/May/June 2017