With around a month to go, preparations for the annual Festival of Fishkeeping event at

on 12-14th October 2007, are not only in full swing but gathering pace.

If you want to see the best of everything in the aquarium world, then this is the event for you. True aficionados book in for the whole weekend but those who can only manage a single day's visit (Saturday or Sunday) will not miss out either.

The competitive scene is jam-packed with various challenges –
Goldfish, Catfish, Killifish, Koi and Discus all have their own 'Specialist' Shows –
the two big events are the 'British Open' for all the 'Best in Show winners (and reserves) from 2006 and the FBAS Supreme Championship for the winners (and reserves) from the Championship Trophy Classes held at FBAS Open Shows during 2007.

The Festival A.S. Open Show on Sunday provides the opportunity for anybody (and everybody) to put their fish on the bench for judging – you don't have to be a member of any Fish Club to take part and you may well beat some of the established experts at their own game. A new Competition this year is a Furnished Aquarium Competition - If there's one thing that gets people interested in taking up fishkeeping it is the sight of a well-planted, attractively-furnished aquarium - a 'must have' for every home.

If it's information you're after, then a host of Guest Speakers are there to bring you the latest information; Bernd Degen and Charlie Grimes may be from different sides of the Atlantic but their fish knowledge on Discus and Livebearers respectively will share the same level of intensity. Completing the line-up, Dr Peter Burgess from Aquarian, Rupert Bridges from Tetra and Adrian Taylor talking on Hillstream Cats.

Add to this, the large number of Trade Stands that will be attending and you will realise that there won't be any area of the fishkeeping hobby not represented. The emphasis will be on information, education and keeping fish responsibly. If a visit to the Festival doesn't get you into fishkeeping, then nothing will!

It's not all competitions though. Each evening there will be plenty of 'social activity' to enjoy. Friday evening's 'Union Gap' (the original 60/70's group) and Saturday evening's 'Red Hot Flashback' in the Village's main theatre, not to mention the late night comedian Mike Jerome plus Disco attractions in the separate Hudson's Bar will provide more than adequate opportunities to escape from 'fish talk' - although you'll always find some people quietly revisiting the display areas just to have another look at all the attractions at a more leisurely pace. On the Sunday evening, for those who will be staying over until Monday, we have the Mill Rythe entertainment team.

Calendar of Competitive Events:

Saturday: British Open                    GSGB Goldfish Show
               Tetra Koi Festival             Catfish Show
               Killifish Open Show           UK Discus Association Discus Show
                         Society Furnished Aquarium Competition

Sunday:   Festival A.S. Open Show    FBAS Supreme Championship
                                        Discus Supreme Show
                         Society Furnished Aquarium Competition

RESERVATIONS: Grace Nethersell 020 8847 3586
                            email: grace@the-nethersells.fsnet.co.uk

                            or download a Booking Form HERE

TRADE STAND ENQUIRIES: Joe Nethersell 020 8847 3586
                            email: joe@the-nethersells.fsnet.co.uk

See you on the 12th October 2007!"

Click HERE to see some photographic highlights of the 2006 Festival

Click HERE to see The Prizewinners

Click HERE to see Laguna Koi Festival Results

Click HERE to see UK Discus Show Results