Spider Odyssey 2001: Back to the Future
By Ray Hale
View the gallery from the show here
(names of prize winners will be added soon)

It’s been a bitter twelve months for the Exotic Pet Keeping fraternity.  Battle lines were drawn early with first blood going to the RSPCA and their initiative to stamp out the hobby.  Soon other anti organisations joined in and it seemed, for a while at least, that the whole hobby was on the verge of falling like the proverbial house of cards.

Many Reptile shoes went the way of all things and I admit that for a while I was even dubious as to whether or not our own exhibition would take place.  Now is not the time or place to express my own opinions on the subject. I have broached them often enough in the past but I would try to reassure our membership that should the cry come the BTS will be ready and able to fend of any attack.  The demise of many shows caused us concern and I made plans early to ensure our event would take place. The BTS has always strived toward educating the public and with out undue pomposity would stress that this has been one of my aims since taking over the helm of the Exhibition.  We have amongst our ranks some of the Worlds leading authorities on spiders and tarantulas and a wealth of experience that goes with that membership.

So onwards and upwards I went, determined that this exhibition would be our best and most successful ever.

The Show itself
It gets increasingly difficult to write new and exciting things about the BTS Exhibition. What can I say? If you were there you probably already know and if you couldn’t get to it you missed a hell of a day.  This year we saw considerably more European and Overseas members arrive. I personally spoke to visitors from Germany, France, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, the USA and a great lad from Hong Kong.  A strong Dutch contingent arrived early all packed into the back of Thomas Ezendam’s UNI-MOG (I think that’s correct).  Thanks go to these guys for helping us pack away at the end of a long day.  As per usual the exhibition was divided into two large halls with exhibitors stands in both. The BTS Exhibition as become more than a trade fair, it has become a meeting place for serious and amateur arachnologists alike. Here you can rub shoulders with taxonomists, academics and the professional keepers or merely wander around and take in the atmosphere. Or you can simply enjoy the day.  I have kept and bred tarantulas for more years than I care to remember but I am still as enthusiastic as the seven-year-old girl who proudly displayed her specially made “Spider Odyssey” T-shirt

or the young man from Denmark who had bought his Chile Rose skin along to show me.   I think it this insight into the future generations that keeps me keen.  Everyone behaved impeccably despite the introduction of very stringent rules and regulations on food and handling of tarantulas. Of course as you all know the BTS has a strict non-handling policy and I know that this is a topic on which there is much debate on our Web site.  The fact is whether we handle or not, be it in private or public, the Exhibition welcomes visitors from all walks of life. Some are the general public who may have a phobia and we aim to show them that we are responsible, serious people and not merely thrill seekers.  Everyone observed these rules to the letter and for that I thank you.  The competition, as usual was well supported but I would stress to all would be entrants that we do have to have a cut off time to allow the judging and writing of certificates to take place. Some fantastic spiders and scorpions were on show as was, unusually, some excellent artwork and photos.  Lets keep it up.

I admit that with all the difficulties encountered this year we have considered giving up organising the BTS Exhibition.  I often think that it would be nice for someone else to take it over and bring fresh and exciting ideas to the front but the letters and e-mails that we receive from yourselves always persuade me otherwise.  I am working on something special for next year and will be posting information on the site as soon as I can. So watch this space.

Finally it falls to me to thank all concerned for their help, encouragement and support on the day. Angela (my long suffering co-pilot), Lee (If your not on the list you’re not coming in) and Shelly (Nice boots!), Nigel (Is it that time already), Steve (That’s a hell of a drive), Simon (Good idea with the drill), Stormin’Norman (Better luck next year), Barry (Sorry I’m late), Stephen (New boy!) Carl and Su (AMBA Promotions) All of the BTS Committee, the PTA, Rammstein (For keeping me sane on the way up and awake on the way down) and of course, without whom this would not be possible, ……………YOU.

Keep on Rocking and remember:

Sunday May 19th 2002: Welcome Back My Friends To The Show That Never Ends