MS for Practical Fishkeeping by Dr David Ford,
Aquarian Advisory Service
News item
The
Red and the White Rose Aquarists
Geography and history has shaped the
social behaviour of people in the 'United Kingdom' since time began - and that
applies to aquarists too. The Federations of aquatic societies include USA (Union
of Scottish Aquarists) and FSAS (Federation of Scottish Aquarists Societies) who
are quite distinct in rules and regulations from the National Societies, AofA
(Association of Aquarists - English societies) or FBAS (Federation of British
Aquatic Societies). Northern aquarists separated from the British federations
via the FNAS (Federation of Northern Aquarium Societies) but (of course) the Yorkshire
clubs wanted independence and formed the YAAS (Yorkshire Association of Aquarist
Societies).
This created a division bounded by the Pennines with the FNAS
being mainly Lancashire Clubs and to the East of those mountains, the Yorkshire
clubs - the Red Rose and the White Rose rivalry lives on, long after the Wars
of the Roses ended.
Back in 1952, the year of the Festival of Britain, the
FNAS launched an annual Fish Show which, over the years, developed a supreme award
called the Champion of Champions (now divided into two - Tropical and Coldwater).
A few years later YAAS launched their YAF (Yorkshire Aquarists Festival) and developed
a similar supreme award called the Fish of Fishes (now, like the Red Rose aquarists,
divided into two: Fish of the Year and Best Exhibit of the Year).
Past years
saw these competing Shows attract many thousands of visitors over the two days
of a weekend. They had increasingly complex Tableaux displays by Clubs, dozens
of stands by national manufacturers, regional wholesalers and retailers, and several
magazines from the world of aquatics.
Each Federation had its own Judges who
pointed fish in 1st, 2nd or 3rd classes with certificates and prizes, special
awards being given via Trophies and Cups….and fame. Venues included Manchester's
Belle Vue and Trafford Park; YAF was staged for many years at the Doncaster Race
Course. Supreme award winners appeared in advertising by competing aquatic foods,
equipment and accessories manufacturers, hence the fame.
Attendance at these
Shows reached 10,000 over two days during the late 20th Century but entrance fees
increased over recent years as costs rose, especially renting such large, prestigious
venues. The costs of Health & Safety issues and the bureaucracy of showing
living animals all contributed to a dramatic drop in Show attendances. The attendance
numbers became 100s rather than 1,000s and the Shows are now run by a devoted
group of dedicated aquarists - but still Red and White Rose ones…..
This
year's Shows were the Yorkshire Federation's YAF (now called the YAAS Show) at
the Village Hall of Stockton on the Forest - a small village near York, and the
FNAS's BAF at the Working Men's Club in Darwen, a town in Blackburn in Darwen
just over the Pennines from West Yorkshire. Both are now one day Open Shows and
held on 6th July (YAF) and 24th August (BAF).
Both Shows still had many entries
(250 at YAF and 156 at BAF) in some 36 to 40 classes, now with free entrance for
visitors to view after the judging. The Yorkshire supreme awards, Fish of the
Year and Best Exhibit of the Year were both won by the same fish: an Akysis Catfish
Akysis prashadi by Roy Blackburn of Castleford Aquarist Society. Across the Pennines
the CofC Tropical was won by a Corydoras Catfish Scleromystax priontos by Bernard
O'Neil of Workington Aquarist Society and the CofC Coldwater winner was a Demekin
(this is a coloured Moor Goldfish) by Alan White of the Alden Show Team.
So
the Northern Aquarists are still active - whether you are a Red or a White Rose,
or just a British aquarist, give them your support by visiting their annual Shows
in 2009…you will see details in this magazine next year. Note that the Yorkshire
Federation will also be celebrating their 50th year too.
Photo 1 (below):
YAF's double winner Roy Blackburn collects his awards from Steve Jones President
of the YAAS
Photo 2 (below): BAF's Champion of Champions Coldwater the Demekin
Photo 3 (below): BAF's Champion of Champions Tropical Scleromystax priontos
|
Roy
Blackburn of Castleford AS collects two awards at YAF 2008 |
|
The
Champion of Champion Coldwater 2008 - A Demekin by Alan White
of Alden Show
Team |
|
The
Champion of Champions Tropical 2008 - A Corydoras Catfish by Bernard O'Neil
of
Worthington AS |
