The first Open show for our fledgeling section held at a different venue to all our preparatory closed shows; that of the Polhill Garden Centre almost opposite our headquarters at Bruce's Cafe in Badgers Mount.
Koi shows were very different in those days. Many of the vats were made from stiff corrugated plastic lined with polythene and were no more than 18 inches high (right). The award system was different too (see below)with just 3 sizes, but 17 Classes, which were Kohaku, Sanke, Showa, Tancho, Utsuri, Bekko, Ogon, GinRin, Koromo, Kujaku, Hikari-Showa, Hikarimono, Asagi, Hariwake, Shusui, Kawarimono, and Matsuba. The battle for the major prizes involved two former BKKS Chairmen, Tony West and Alan Rogers. The guest of honour at this show was the Mayor of Sevenoaks, and the judges were Joe Wilmington and Syd Canavan.
Ray Baker, destined to become our water quality overlord began his 'Open' show career here, as 'Officer in charge of the Donkey rides'. Well, we all had to start somewhere!
Best in show Kohaku A. Rogers
2nd Best in show Gin Rin Shiro Utsuri A. Rogers
3rd Best in show Taisho Sanke T. West
4th Best in show Showa A. Rogers
5th Best in show Kin Ki Utsuri D. Brown
6th Best in show Kin Showa C. Ball
SIZE 1 SIZE 2
1. Shusui R.Lennard GinRin A. Rogers
2. Kohaku S.Hickling Goshiki A. Rogers
3. Ogon M.Pinnock Ogon T. West
SIZE 3
1. Kohaku A. Rogers
2. Utsuri A. Rogers
3. Sanke T. West
Total Fish Entered = 155
1988
This years Jumbo(right) was a 29½ inch Sanke (Large by the standards of those days) owned by the renowned 'Godfather of Koi' Dob Holder.
We returned to our venue of Polhill Garden Centre and the section began to build up the Koi Show experience that stays with it to this day. Ray Baker oversaw the water management and Ray & Di Nugent took control of the benching administration, threads of continuity that still binds the club to the present day.
Benching was done by Bill McGurk and Glynn Evans, and the trophies were provided by Tony Dallas - there's an name to conjour with. Equally impressive were the judges - Nigel Caddock, Roy Winterbourne, Ian Birkenshaw and Joe Smartt to name just a few, names that continue to promote the hobby to this day.
Our Grand Champion was a size 6 (26") Kohaku(left) owned by Pop impressario Pete Waterman which also took the Mature Champion award. All the other major prizes went to section members including the Adult Champion, much to the embarrassment of husband Dave.
Grand Champion : Pete Waterman Kohaku Size 6
Supreme Mature : Pete Waterman Kohaku Size 6
Supreme Adult : Nigella Brown Showa Size 4
Supreme Baby : Dave Attwood Kohaku Size 2
Best Jumbo : Doug Holder Sanke Size 6
Best in Size awards:
Size 1 First : J. COLEMAN Hikariutsuri
Second : R. BAKER Bekko
Third : K. JACKSON Gin Rin
Size 2 First : D. ATTWOOD Sanke
Second : R. BAKER Kawarimono
Third : D. BROWN Hikarimoyo
Size 3 First : R. NUGENT Kohaku
Second : R. BIGGLES Gin Rin
Third : R. NUGENT Sanke
Size 4 First : N. BROWN Kawarimono
Second : P. WATERMAN Sanke
Third : P. WATERMAN Kohaku
Size 5 First : P. WATERMAN Sanke
Second : P. WATERMAN Utsurimono
Third : R. NUGENT Kawarimono
Size 6 First : P. WATERMAN Kohaku
Second : P. WATERMAN Kohaku
Third : P. WATERMAN Sanke
1989
Several other traditions were formed at this show. We brought in some proffesional advice in the form of Bernice Brewster Bsc, FLS, MIFM, CBiol, MIBiol (right) to advise (that also included working with) the water management team. Bernice continued in this role for another 11 years and much of our water handling methodology is based on her recommendations. It's amazing what you can get a girl to do for a bunch of flowers.
We also introduced an additional award into the show scenario that of Unique Koi. In those days Goshikis, Kage Showas etc were all benched under Kawarimono class making it difficult for the plainer varieties to obtain awards. At this show a unique Gin Rin Doitsu Ochiba Shigure(left) was exhibited which we considered deserving of some form of special mention, hence the Unique Koi award. This award was to continue at our shows until 1994 when it was discontinued in favour of the newly introduced JSC Special Merit Award, which we felt served the same purpose but gave more kudos to the exhibit.
Our Grand Champion was a size 6 Kohaku exhibited by Albert Hutton which started yet another tradition; - of members of the Middx & Surrey Borders (MSB) section winning GC at our show.
Grand Champion : Mr & Mrs A. Hutton Kohaku Size 6
Supreme Mature : Mr & Mrs A. Hutton Kohaku Size 6
Supreme Adult : Mr D. Keeling Kokaku Size 4
Supreme Baby : Miss K Jackson Kohaku Size 2
Unique Koi : Mr. M. Wilson Kawarimono Size 4
Best Jumbo : Mr & Mrs A. Hutton Kawarimono Size 6
Best in Size awards:
Size 1 First : D. KEELING Kohaku
Second : D. FINCKEN Hikarimoyo
Third : T. HOWARD Sanke
Size 2 First : K. JACKSON Kohaku
Second : R. DUDLEY Gin Rin
Third : T. HOWARD Sanke
Size 3 First : S. WILLIAMS Showa
Second : D. KEELING Kohaku
Third : D. ATTWOOD Sanke
Size 4 First : D. KEELING Kohaku
Second : D. KEELING Sanke
Third : P. HOFFARD Kohaku
Size 5 First : G. STEVENSON Kohaku
Second : M. WILSON Utsurimono
Third : M. CHAPEL Koromo
Size 6 First : Mr & Mrs A. Hutton Kohaku
Second : Mr & Mrs A. Hutton Utsurimono
Third : Mr & Mrs A. Hutton Tancho
1990
1990 and a return for our Unique Koi still looking good one year on, a testament to one of our founder members Mac Wilson's (right) Koi keeping abilities.
It was at this show that our in-vat zeolite filters were first introduced. Designed by Kevin Jackson and made by Ray Baker we continue to deploy them to this very day. We also gained the assistance of Keith Phipps for benching duties for the very first time, although it was only part-time on this occasion, we saw enough to consider that this should become a full time affair. .
The (MS)Border Raider (Albert Hutton) returned to steal yet another South East Grand Champion trophy, this time with a size 5 Showa(left)which was a popular choice amongst the membership
Stan Ranson, President of our sister club in the USA - The Ventura County Club of California, and one time editor of KOI USA magazine made the presentations to our worthy winners .
Grand Champion : Mr & Mrs A. Hutton Showa Size 5
Supreme Mature : Mr & Mrs A. Hutton Showa Size 5
Supreme Adult : Mr & Mrs Woodward Gin Rin Size 4
Supreme Baby : Mr. D. Rush Kohaku Size 1
Unique Koi : Mr. M. Wilson Kawarimono Size 4
Best Jumbo : Mr D. Rush Kawarimono Size 6
Best in Size awards:
Size 1 First : D. RUSH Kohaku
Second : M & J CARROLL Hikarimuji
Third : T. HOWARD Sanke
Size 2 First : D. KEELING Kohaku
Second : P. BRIGDEN Gin Rin
Third : P. ABBOTT Hikarimuji
Size 3 First : M. STAPELY Showa
Second : M. OVERTON Utsurimono
Third : A. TEDDER Kohaku
Size 4 First : Mr & Mrs Woodward Gin Rin
Second : A. TEDDER Kohaku
Third : P. HOFFARD Sanke
Size 5 First : Mr & Mrs A. Hutton Showa
Second : Mr & Mrs A. Hutton Kohaku
Third : R. ADAMS Utsurimono
Size 6 First : D.RUSH Kawarimono
Second : A. TEDDER Kawarimono
1991
1991 saw some more tradition in the making. Keith Phipps(right) did his first full-time stint at benching our show. His services had been generously loaned by his then employer John Pitham of the Koi Water Barn.
Ray Nugent, Chief Benching Administrator had the idea that benching admin should be automated and showed equal generousity by lending his wife Di(as the subject matter expert), to the development team.
Some older traditions prevailed - The MSB once again stole Grand Champion but this time it was the size 5 Sanke(left) of Graham Stevenson (now propriator of Maple Koi.)
This show also set a new record fish entry of 533 exhibits.
Grand Champion : Mr & Mrs G. Stevenson Sanke Size 5
Supreme Mature : Mr & Mrs G. Stevenson Sanke SIze 5
Supreme Adult : Mr & Mrs R. Norbury Kohaku Size 4
Supreme Baby : Mr. P. Hillam Kohaku Size 1
Unique Koi : Mr. C. Wyman Hikariutsuri Size 2
Best Jumbo : Mr & Mrs R. Norbury Kawarimono Size 6
Best in Size awards:
Size 1 First : P. HILLAM Kohaku
Second : T. RUBY Sanke
Third : P. HILLAM Kohaku
Size 2 First : R. RANCE Sanke
Second : K. NIND Gin Rin
Third : P. LUXFORD Sanke
Size 3 First : R & B. JOHNS Kohaku
Second : P. LIDBETTER Showa
Third : G. Brazier Kohaku
Size 4 First : Mr & Mrs Norbury Kohaku
Second : J. WOODWARD Gin Rin
Third : K. COLE Showa
Size 5 First : Mr & Mrs G. Stevenson Sanke
Second : Mr & Mrs G. Stevenson Kohaku
Third : P. JARRET Sanke
Size 6 First : P. JARRET Showa
Second : J. WOODWARD Hikarimuji
Third : Mr & Mrs Norbury Kawarimono