Each exhibitor who places fish in a class (first, second, or third) and each exhibitor who places a fish as Best of Show or Reserve Best of Show at an International Show sanctioned by the International Betta Congress (IBC) is awarded points toward the IBC show year awards. Sometimes call the end of year awards, awards are given to the exhibitors with the ten highest point totals. The show year begins after the end of the IBC Convention (which for a number of years has been held in June) until the end of the next IBC Convention. Thus the show year is from June to June. The show year is divided into two seasons--the Fall season, which begins after the IBC Convention and lasts until November 15, and the Spring season, which begins on March 15 and lasts until the end of the IBC Convention in June. There are no shows between November 15 and March 15 due to adverse weather conditions for the shipping of fish. One of our members (Mike Wall) has tabulated an unofficial total of points accumulated by each exhibitor during the Fall 1998 show season. The official point standings are kept by the IBC Registrar, and only the official standings will control for the determination of IBC awards, which will, in any case, be based upon the total points accumulated during both the Fall 1998 season and the Spring 1999 season. However, since the Fall point totals have not yet been published by the IBC, we thought some IBC members, and others as well, might be interested in our unofficial tabulation of the current point totals, which is as follows:

Exhibitor Point Total

1. Mike Arsuaga 3110
2. Bonnie McKinley 2190
3. Three Judges (Mullers) 2090
4. Ernie Perez 1395
5. Jim Williams 940
6. Siegbert Illig 820
7. Nail Family 540
8. Laneda & Mike Wall 450
9. Chris Jensen 380
10. Paul Harter 355
11. Gary Cox (Cox Family) 270
12. Kelly and Mike Swafford 140
13. Thomas F. Aglione 130
14. Ray Torres 120
15. Kukulski 80
16. Glen Watcher 40
17. Kilgore/Chisum 20
18. Tyler & Sharlyn Ferris 10