I guess the motto for this show should have been "If at first you don't succeed - try again". Carol Checkely winner of last years Adult and Mature Champion returned once more to take our Grand Champion with a beautiful size 5 Yamamatsu Shiro Utsuri (left) supplied by the Nishikigoi Centre. The returning Mature Champion was a Sanke also bred by Yamamatsu, looking even better than last year, if that were possible.
Wildlife artist Paul Apps provided the celebrity element by winning 2nd in Size one with a Yagenji Kohaku. Paul spent the majority of the show painting a superb picture that was won by a lucky winner of the competition staged by the Nishikigoi Centre.
Grand Champion : CAROL CHECKLEY Utsurimono Size 5
Supreme Mature : CAROL CHECKLEY Sanke Size 6
Supreme Adult : MARIO & PAULINE CAVOZZI Kohaku Size 3
Supreme Baby : REG & JILL COLEMAN Sanke Size 2
JSC Merit ward : CHRIS HAINES Kawarimono Size 3
Best Jumbo : JOHN PETERSON Kohaku Size 6
Best in size awards
Size 1 First : BRIAN & PAT KNOX Kohaku
Second : PAUL APPS Kohaku
Third : GRAHAM VINCENT Showa
Size 2 First : REG & JILL COLEMAN Sanke
Second : REG & JILL COLEMAN Kohaku
Third : CAROL CHECKLEY Ginrin
Size 3 First : MARIO & PAULINE CAVOZZI Kohaku
Second : MARIO & PAULINE CAVOZZI Sanke
Third : JOHN HANDLEY Ginrin
Size 4 First : JOHN HANDLEY Kohaku
Second : CHRIS HAINES Utsurimono
Third : MARIO & PAULINE CAVOZZI Ginrin
Size 5 First : CHRIS HAINES Sanke
Second : IAN HOLDEN Utsurimono
Third : CAROL CHECKLEY Ginrin
Size 6 First : CAROL CHECKLEY Sanke
Second : JOHN PETERSON Kohaku
Third : MARIO & PAULINE CAVOZZI Kawarimono
1998 nearly went down in our history as the MSB Show. If our Tony Whiting hadn't taken Grand Champion, all the major awards would have gone to members of the Middx & Surrey Borders section via Messrs Kenny, Giddens and Haines.
Our baby Champion this year was a size two Kohaku bred by Kondo. Kondo Kohakus were winning many of the major prizes for small fish that year.
1998 also saw the introduction of the first Section Show Badge (right) copying a tradition favoured in the USA by our previous sister club The Ventura County Koi Club of California.
We also went 'European' and put a multi-lingual message of welcome in our show programme, although apart from a Belgian Judge the only foreigners we attracted were a pair of Aussies from the Koi Society of Australia,(Tony Tate & Graham Warwick) but at least the bar profits went up.
Grand Champion : Viv & Tony Whiting Ginrin Size 6
Supreme Mature : Kevin Kenny Sanke Size 6
Supreme Adult : Suzanne & John Giddens Kohaku Size 4
Supreme Baby : Chris Haines Kohaku Size 2
Best Jumbo : Tony & Viv Whiting Showa Size 6
Best in size awards
Size 1 First : Piers Sugden Kohaku
Second : Christine & Ian Sparkes Hikarimoyo
Third : Pat & Brian Knox Tancho
Size 2 First : Chris Haines Kohaku
Second : Chris Haines Kohaku
Third : Bob Logan Sanke
Size 3 First : Suzanne & John Giddens Sanke
Second : Ian Dunlop Showa
Third : John Hanley Ginrin
Size 4 First : Suzanne & John Giddens Kohaku
Second : Dennis Roberts Sanke
Third : Kevin Kenny Showa
Size 5 First : Tony & Viv Whiting Kohaku
Second : Vi and Tony Hussey Utsurimono
Third : Pauline & Mario Cavozzi Sanke
Size 6 First : Kevin Kenny Sanke
Second : Tony & Viv Whiting Kohaku
Third : Tony & Viv Whiting Showa
"The John Pitham Memorial Show": The 1999 Show was dedicated to the memory of former section member and founder of the Koi Water Barn, John Pitham who passed away on the 25th November 1998. John had always been a supporter of the club and anything to do with our Koi Shows.
Our Grand Champion this year was a size 6 Sanke(left) exhibited by Pauline & Mario Cavozzi from the MSB section. Pauline and Mario have been exhibiting successfully at our show for many years. Many of us felt this award had been in the offing for a number of years.
This year also saw the first of our Continental Awards, when Louis Van Reusel brought a 'Friendship' trophy from the De Vlaamse-en Vijvervrienden (Flanders Koi and Pond Society) which was awarded to a size 5 Gin Rin Matsukawabake (right) in lieu of the JSC Merit award.
Grand Champion : Mario & Pauline Cavozzi Sanke Size 6
Supreme Mature : Keith Shakes Sanke Size 6
Supreme Adult : Jacky & Graham Bunyan Kohaku Size 4
Supreme Baby : Ross Nursey Kohaku Size 2
De Vlaamse Koi en-Vijvervrienden
Friendship Trophy: Teresa Lambert & Bernie Woollands Kawarimono Size 5
Best Jumbo : Ken Taylor Kawarimono Size 6
The Best in Size awards.
Size 1 First : Brian & Pat Knox Kohaku
Second : R. B. of Kensington & Chelsea Sanke
Third : Brian & Pat Knox Kohaku
Size 2 First : Ross Nursey Kohaku
Second : Teresa & Bernie Woollands Kohaku
Third : Jacky & Graham Bunyan Utsurimono
Size 3 First : John & Suzanne Giddens Kohaku
Second : Robert Allsop Sanke
Third : Jacky & Graham Bunyan Ginrin
Size 4 First : Jacky & Graham Bunyan Kohaku
Second : John & Suzanne Giddens Kohaku
Third : Jacky & Graham Bunyan Kohaku
Size 5 First : Geoffrey Barclay Kohaku
Second : Mario & Pauline Cavozzi Kohaku
Third : Tony & Vi Hussey Utsurimono
Size 6 First : Keith Shakes Sanke
Second : Ross Nursey Ginrin
Third : Stephen Waker Showa
The Adult Champion was a size 4 Ogawa Kohaku (left) purchased from the Koi Water Barn the previous year.
"The International Show" Dutch, Belgians, Germans, Japanese, Welsh, Cornishmen, plus the normal contingent from North of Watford all put in an appearance. Add to that a Millenium Show Badge designed by an American (Norman Call) - How much more international can you get?
Our Grand Champion this year was a Maruyama Sanke(see 2001) exhibited by Geoff Wilson who had travelled all the way from Lowestoft. This was no means the most travelled koi as Stan Moreing had brought his across from Torquay. In addition to these well travelled fish, the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea had honoured us again with exhibits from their collection.
Alternatively, this show is also known as the "Bunyan's Bar Show". Prizes this year were in the form of engraved beer tankards, which were awarded for any of the 'best in size awards'. Take a look at the results below. If you ever visit them there is no excuse for drinking out of the can.
This years show awards were presented by Mr Seigiyoshi Tanaka, heir apparent to the Marujyu Koi Farm in Mushigami village, Niigata. Assisting in the show ring were two representatives of the Nishikigoi Vereniging Nederland, Mr Toen Feyen and Jan De Kroon. ARIGATO one and all!
Grand Champion : GEOFFREY WILSON Sanke Size 6
Supreme Mature : JOHN PETERSON Sanke Size 6
Supreme Adult : TERESA & BERNIE WOOLLANDS Kohaku Size 4
Supreme Baby : GEOFFREY WILSON Sanke Size 2
Nishikigoi Vereniging Nederland
Friendship Trophy: TERESA & BERNIE WOOLLANDS Kawarimono Size 6
Best Jumbo : JOHN PETERSON Sanke Size 6
Best in Size Awards.
Size 1 First : GEORGE ROONEY Kohaku
Second : CAROL & RAY MOORE Kohaku
Third : PAT & BRIAN KNOX Ginrin
Size 2 First : GEOFFREY WILSON Sanke
Second : JACKY & GRAHAM BUNYAN Kohaku
Third : GEOFFREY WILSON Ginrin
Size 3 First : JACKY & GRAHAM BUNYAN Utsurimono
Second : LYNNE & TERRY WELLS Kohaku
Third : JACKY & GRAHAM BUNYAN Showa
Size 4 First : TERESA & BERNIE WOOLLANDS Kohaku
Second : JACKY & GRAHAM BUNYAN Kohaku
Third : JACKY & GRAHAM BUNYAN Showa
Size 5 First : STAN MOREING Showa
Second : STAN MOREING Kohaku
Third : JACKY & GRAHAM BUNYAN Kohaku
Size 6 First : JOHN PETERSON Sanke
Second : GEOFF WILSON Hikarimoyo
Third : JOHN PETERSON Kohaku
Return of the Grand Champion!. For the first time in our show's history a returning Grand Champion (left) retained its high status. Well done, Geoffrey Wilson, another tribute to the art of koi KEEPING. This wonderful Maruyama Sanke was just one of many fish brought to the show by the Wilsons as the Award details (below) will show.
Yet another year when the Bunyan's were at it. This year the kokugyo prizes were in the shape of crystal picture frames, and they went away with seven. Their greatest success was with their size two Marujyu Sanke which took Baby Champion. Graham had selected this fish as a yearling from the Nishikigoi Centre for the grand sum of £50.
Grand Champion : GEOFFREY WILSON Sanke Size 6
Supreme Mature : GEOFFREY WILSON Showa Size 5
Supreme Adult : DENNIS LOWE Sanke Size 4
Supreme Baby : GRAHAM & JACKIE BUNYAN Sanke Size 2
Best Jumbo : GEOFFREY WILSON Showa Size 6
Best in Size Awards.
Size 1 First : PETER GRANEY Showa
Second : DON & JUNE SHAW Sanke
Third : TERRY & YVONNE BELL Gin Rin
Size 2 First : GRAHAM & JACKIE BUNYAN Sanke
Second : PAT & BRIAN KNOX Kohaku
Third : GRAHAM & JACKIE BUNYAN Hikarimoyo
Size 3 First : DENNIS LOWE Gin Rin
Second : GRAHAM & JACKIE BUNYAN Gin Rin
Third : BERNIE & TERESA WOOLLANDS Tancho
Size 4 First : DENNIS LOWE Kohaku
Second : GRAHAM & JACKIE BUNYAN Utsurimono
Third : GRAHAM & JACKIE BUNYAN Showa
Size 5 First : GRAHAM & JACKIE BUNYAN Kohaku
Second : GRAHAM & JACKIE BUNYAN Sanke
Third : BERNIE & TERESA WOOLLANDS Kohaku
Size 6 First : GEOFFREY WILSON Sanke
Second : PAM & PETER BARNES Showa
Third : PAM & PETER BARNES Sanke