Above - Members of Bangor Aquarist and Breeders Society at the Corydoras Convention in June 2017 Going back only a few decades, there were multiple fish clubs in Northern Ireland, the hobby was buzzing, with frequent competitions, table shows and meet-ups. I hear about it regularly from fellow club members that speak fondly about people they learned from in the hobby, characters that stood out from the crowd doing something they were enthusiastic about. The story is quite different now, and to my knowledge, there are only a few surviving clubs left in Northern Ireland. They include a Koi club, possibly a marine club, and my own club, Bangor Aquarist and Breeders Society - a club that caters to all things fish related, but especially tropical fish. Generally speaking, club memberships are small, and clubs struggle to encourage new people to join. As a club member that is part of a club tradition that goes back 65 years i would certainly like to see more people joining so that in the future others can benefit in the same way I have benefited. If it happens, it happens, if it doesn't it doesn't, I am content regardless enjoying the club with those who currently attend. I don't spend my time lamenting things were different. | Above - A new club t-shirt printed for BABS members in 2017. The first outing wash for the Coryvention in 2017. |
With the knowledge of the world wide web within the reach of every household these days and larger disposable incomes one thing is sure, the priorities of people lie in different places and the aquarium societies that thrived on face to face meet-ups are becoming antiquated, not extinct, but definitely antiquated. In certain senses these groups have molded into something different, with online groups and forums popping up all over catering to various different specialisms as well as local buy and sell forums. This can be a positive, and in fact I have made some fantastic contacts this way I would not otherwise have made - people from all over the world that have become friends. People from Scotland, England, Germany, Belgium, and all because of tropical fish! I'm not all down on the internet and I'm not saying it's ruined the hobby, but I have also seen online groups become major negatives. Some are filled with openly hostile or bad mannered members, whilst other groups are filled with 'plug and play' members who sell up everything about as quickly as they jump into the hobby. One thing is for sure though, the best contacts you meet are the ones you meet face to face, and as far as i'm concerned, you're way more likely to meet a genuinely enthusiastic hobbyist at a local club than you are online (and please, i'm not saying if you're online you're not an enthusiastic hobbyist). I think largely it's because there is more meaning to a relationship when you make the effort and commit to going to a local club. The relationship becomes less transactional and more about giving back. And I think the more you give back, the more you get out of it in return and the more enjoyable it becomes.
BABS members involve themselves in a number of social events throughout the year, including a Christmas dinner at Li Li's Chinese in Bangor (probably my favorite chinese in the country) where the pressure is on in terms of who wins the home aquarium competition. It's funny, you'd almost think people are trying not to win it, because if they do, they have to judge it the following year! We also have a summer BBQ and of recent the 'Great BABS Social Event of the Year.' It doesn't really have a name, but that's what i'm calling it. A couple of years back we went for a day trip to Scotland and enjoyed an escorted tour from Alex Carslaw around a number of local fish houses. Alex takes a keen interest in his own fish club and is a great ambassador for the hobby. He also takes the time to run an online forum (Rainbowfish UK) and a busy fish hoose (spelling intended) breeding all manner of rainbowfish, corydoras, barbs and many more. I think it's fair to say that we enjoyed a sense of camaraderie, normal people enjoying a hobby that we have in common. Alex has been a good friend to our club for the last few years, and keeps us in the know with regards worthwhile events going on at his own club and across the country. We also made some great contacts through Alex, friendships that we were able to pick up again when travelling to other meet ups such as the cory-vention. These conventions are no longer just about buying fish, they're about seeing old friends again too.
Last year we attended the Cory-vention in Wigan, England, organised by Ian Fuller, an expert corydoras keeper, breeder and author. An expert and a hobbyist - if you go to try and find out anything about Corydoras, his name will come up. i also briefly met Hans Evers (editor of Amazonas magazine) and listened to a couple of fantastic presentations given by him - Hans is probably the ultimate hobbyist. His hobby is his living after all! Eric Bodrock delivered probably my favorite presentation there 'be the fish.' I didn't immediately recognise him until I saw a youtube tour of his fish house online. A great experience and opportunity to meet some of the top hobbyists around, and all because I go to my local club. And whilst this was all fantastic, one of my favorite memories was running around Asda with a tape measure trying to find a big enough suitcase for a couple of club members that got carried away at Aqualife - all good times.
Readers, I've written this blog as much to shout out to those aquarists that have never thought about joining a club as much as I have to the members of my own club who work hard behind the scenes to keep things going. Your work is appreciated. We're far from perfect, we're just people, but being a member of this club has been an encouragement to me in my hobby and I like to think i've helped and encouraged people in theirs. I hope the local club tradition continues here in Northern Ireland for a few years to come!
Last year we attended the Cory-vention in Wigan, England, organised by Ian Fuller, an expert corydoras keeper, breeder and author. An expert and a hobbyist - if you go to try and find out anything about Corydoras, his name will come up. i also briefly met Hans Evers (editor of Amazonas magazine) and listened to a couple of fantastic presentations given by him - Hans is probably the ultimate hobbyist. His hobby is his living after all! Eric Bodrock delivered probably my favorite presentation there 'be the fish.' I didn't immediately recognise him until I saw a youtube tour of his fish house online. A great experience and opportunity to meet some of the top hobbyists around, and all because I go to my local club. And whilst this was all fantastic, one of my favorite memories was running around Asda with a tape measure trying to find a big enough suitcase for a couple of club members that got carried away at Aqualife - all good times.
Readers, I've written this blog as much to shout out to those aquarists that have never thought about joining a club as much as I have to the members of my own club who work hard behind the scenes to keep things going. Your work is appreciated. We're far from perfect, we're just people, but being a member of this club has been an encouragement to me in my hobby and I like to think i've helped and encouraged people in theirs. I hope the local club tradition continues here in Northern Ireland for a few years to come!
Above - BABS members and some family friends getting an all exclusive tour of a local fish shop! Top night!