British Aquarist Festival 1976
by Ron Atherton (1976)   

Once again I made the annual pilgrimage to the British Aquarist Festival as I have done for the last seventeen years. It was a pleasant autumn day with a distant watery sun, which was a little unusual as it generally rains when I visit Manchester.
On entering the exhibition hall the first inspection was given to the entries in the Champion of Champions class, and the fish were below the usual high standard.
The bass that won the star award was of good size, but its body shape was far from being admirable as it did not possess a consistent good depth of body. Its colouration in the head region was good, but the colour was not so intense in body.
The fish that gained second prize was an Aulonocara nyassae. This specimen possessed beautiful colour and perfect finnage, as this fish was not at maximum size I considered it to be a young specimen of some considerable potential however on speaking to the proud owner, Mr. S. Wolsenholme I learned that the fish was three years old and he doubted whether it would ever achieve full size as during the last six months it had lost its large appetite.
Third prize in this class was awarded to a ‘real’ Red Devil after viewing this fish for some time you obtained the opinion that if you touched it you would get your fingers burnt as its colour was intense. This was without doubt the best coloured Cichlasoma citrinellum I have seen up to the present time. This fish was eight inches in length and was one of the smallest Cichlasoma citrinellum in the hall. The largest specimen was ten and a half in length and was also in the C. of C. competition, but its body shape was not correct. The finnage of the fish that won third, was good and with its powerful body shape you may wonder how it lost the supreme title unfortunately this fish was slightly marked on the left hand side of its flanks, probably a heater burn, and this undoubtedly cost it valuable points
early ten inches the bump on the forehead was really pronounced, but its colour could not be compared to the previous specimen, also the flnnage could have been better.
A 25 inch Murray eel was an eye catcher. The number of society stands this year was 26 two more than last year, standard was very high.
A Corydoras melanistus was awarded Best Fish in the Festival
There was only three trade stands selling fish. The most notable absence was the people. Has the B.A.F. lost some of its splendour, or has the cost of living finally taken its toll.