Our 16th Open Show and the third in our new and favoured venue of Swanley. We dedicated this show to the memory of one of our recently deceased members George 'Boo' Green, who was a staunch show supporter and valued worker. He was sadly missed and much remembered throughout the weekend.
Copying the ZNA Hobbyist show in Japan we began a trend to promote the less fashionable types of Koi. This year we chose the 'Doitsu' and introduced a separate award for the best one in the show. It was won by a Kikusui bred by Aoki, supplied by the Nishikigoi Centre and owned by the Husseys (see 1995).
Our Grand Champion was won by a newcomer to showing, Darren Metalli with an Ogawa Sanke (left). Darren also took Adult Champion with a Kohaku bred by Hiroshima Sakai, both fish were purchased from the Koi Water Barn.
Our Show Chairs, Lynne & Terry Wells took the other main prizes, with a size 6 Sanke from Torazo winning Mature Champion(right), and a Maruyama Kohaku picking up the Baby Champ. Both fish were obtained from Ultimate Koi. A worthy result for such a worthy pair (and I'm not just talking about the fish).
We are used to having fish coming from far afield at this show, but this year there was a new record set when two exhibitors brought their fish all the way from Wales. "Gweld ti blwyddyn nesaf".
Grand Champion : DARREN METALLI Sanke Size 6 Supreme Mature : LYNNE & TERRY WELLS Sanke Size 6 Supreme Adult : DARREN METALLI Kohaku Size 4 Supreme Baby : LYNNE & TERRY WELLS Kohaku Size 2 Best Doitsu : VI & TONY HUSSEY Hikarimoyo Size 4 Best Jumbo : DEE & REAY SQUIRES Sanke Size 6 Best in Size awards: Size 1 First : GEORGE ROONEY Hikarimoyo Second : TERESA & BERNIE WOOLLANDS Kohaku Third : DAVID SHOEBRIDGE Kohaku Size 2 First : LYNNE & TERRY WELLS Kohaku Second : JAY FEATHERSTONE Kohaku Third : CAROL & RAY MOORE Utsurimono Size 3 First : GLEN JONES Kohaku Second : VI & TONY HUSSEY Sanke Third : VI & TONY HUSSEY Ginrin Size 4 First : DARREN METALLI Kohaku Second : KEN GREEN Sanke Third : RON RANCE Kohaku Size 5 First : TONY SHAW Sanke Second : TERESA & BERNIE WOOLLANDS Kohaku Third : TERESA & BERNIE WOOLLANDS Sanke Size 6 First : LYNNE & TERRY WELLS Sanke Second : LYNNE & TERRY WELLS Utsurimono Third : MICHAEL BALL Hikarimoyo
The returning Welsh contingent took our Young Champion(right)award with a size 4 Kohaku. This year the selected variety award was the Yamabuki and it appears to have done its job, raising the profile of the Hikarimuji class from 10th position to 4th. We shall be continuing with this award next year to ensure that this years success was not a one-off. This was the first year for a number of years where there were no last-minute cancellations by exhibitors, which brought our numbers back above the 300 mark.
After the success of last years 'Selected Variety' award we tried the format again, this time with Asagi and witnessed it's Show Class jump from 13th place to 8th. Digital photography was the next innovation and the challenge was to integrate it into our well established Benching Admin processes without any hiccups which was eventually achieved. As an extra memento we sent every exhibitor home with a CD containing the photos of their fish. The last major changes was in the Vat booking policy. In the past we have allowed exhibitors to book more than one vat which has often led to people being disappointed. This year we pegged the bookings to 'one man - one vat' and embarked on a campaign to encourage new exhibitors. The policy worked, not only did we have all vats booked by the middle of July, our GC owner was a newcomer to showing.
Our Grand Champion (left) was a Sakuma Kohaku supplied by Ultimate Koi, and the Young Champ (right) a Hiroshima Sakai Sanke suppled by Connoissuer Koi.
Carrying on the experiment with the 'Selected Variety Award' we decided on an acid test and chose a variety from the consistently poor performing Hikari-Utsuri class. It succeeded in producing a 120% increase in this class over last year. We continued with our 'One man - one vat' policy and had all vats booked by mid-July. Unfortunately, one exhibitor failed to turn up without giving notice which prevented us from contacting someone on the waiting list in time. One man - one vat, was introuduced to encourage new exhibitors and we were pleased to record eight new exhibitors to our show.
Our Grand Champion (left) was a Kawakami Sanke supplied by Ultimate Koi, and the Young Champ for the 2nd year running (right) a Hiroshima Sakai Sanke suppled by Connoissuer Koi.
Our Grand Champion (left)this year was a Matsunosuke Sanke that had previously won the GC twice before at the Laguna 5 Section Show where it's owner had represented the South East Section. For our selected variety this year we chose the Kumonryu and the response from the exhibitors justifed the effort put into it. Several excellent examples from around the country arrived including that of Trevor Childs. Trevor was known to have one of the best in the country and we hoped that he would bring it. We weren't disappointed and neither was Trevor when his (right) took the 1st Prize. However, it was still a close run contest for the competition was fierce. Members of the internet forum set up a stand to provide our visitors with information about KHV and raise funds for the AKCA KHV project. Their efforts raised £1,022.66 for this valuable cause.
Dedicated to our deceased Membership Secretary Mick Wright, our 17th Open Show will go down in our history as "Our international show", where vistors from the Netherlands, Belgium, South Africa and Japan participated in the show in one capacity or another. An influx of additional awards from overseas and domestic Koi Clubs inspired us to set up a seperate team of judges to deal with them. In keeping with the event we set up a team representing the Netherlands, South Africa, Japan and the UK. This years Grand Champion (left) was a size 6 Omosako Shiro Utsuri supplied by the Koi Water Barn, so too was the Mature Champion, an equally impressive fish.
Two other 'Firsts' occured in addition to this.
1. The JSC chose to award two "JSC Merit Awards" at this show,
2. When fish number 291 was benched it became the 6,000th Fish entered in Open competition at the South East shows.
THE MAJOR AWARDS.
Grand Champion : Terry & Lynne Wells Utsurimono Size 6
Supreme Mature : Vi & Tony Hussey Utsurimono Size 6
Supreme Adult : Chris Ball Kohaku Size 5
Supreme Young : Angie & Ken Evans Kohaku Size 4
Supreme Baby : Keith & Barry Burkin Kohaku Size 2
JSC Merit Awards : Chris Ball Utsurimono Size 4
Neil Smith Koromo Size 4
Jumbo : Chris Ball Hikarimuji Size 6
THE SPECIAL AWARDS.
NVN Unique Koi : Neil Smith Koromo Size 4
SAKKS non GoSanke: Karl Davison Ginrin Size 3
ZNA Tategoi : Chris Ball Kohaku Size 5
OKWS Doitsu : Kensington & Chelsea Shusui Size 4
1st Yamabuki : Chris Ball Hikarimuji Size 6
2nd Yamabuki : Kensington & Chelsea Hikarimuji Size 3
3rd Yamabuki : Vi & Tony Hussey Hikarimuji Size 5
THE SIZE AWARDS
Size 1 First : Ray & Carol Moore Kohaku
Second : Ray & Carol Moore Kohaku
Third : Doug Holder Sanke
Size 2 First : Keith & Barry Burkin Kohaku
Second : Keith & Barry Burkin Showa
Third : Neil Smith Koromo
Size 3 First : David Shoebridge Kohaku
Second : Peter Graney Showa
Third : Jay Featherstone Sanke
Size 4 First : Angie & Ken Evans Kohaku
Second : David Shoebridge Kohaku
Third : Chris Ball Hikarimoyo
Size 5 First : Chris Ball Kohaku
Second : Karl Davison Kohaku
Third : Karl Davison Utsurimono
Size 6 First : Vi & Tony Hussey Utsurimono
Second : Chris Ball Hikarimuji
Third : Ron Rance Kawarimono
2004
Our 18th Open Show, where we carried on with the winning format of last year while introducing a few new innovations at the same time.
THE MAJOR AWARDS.
Grand Champion : MURRELL John Kohaku Size 6
Mature Champion : BURNS John Kohaku Size 6
Adult Champion : HUSSEY Vi & Tony Kohaku Size 5
Young Champion : HUSSEY Vi & Tony Sanke Size 4
Baby Champion: MOOORE Carol & Ray Kohaku Size 2
Best Jumbo : MURRELL John Kawarimono Size 6
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SPECIAL VARIETY AWARDS.
Best Asagi : SQUIRES Dee & Reay
2nd Asagi : VIEKINS Blair
3rd Asagi : MOORE Ray & Carol
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FRIENDSHIP AWARDS
SAKKS Best Non Go-Sanke : WATSON Angie & Steve - Kormomo
OKWS Best Doitsu : BURNS John - Kawarimono
ZNA Best Ginrin : SQUIRES Dee & Reay -
NVN Most Unique : BUNYAN Jacky & Graham - Hikarimoyo
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BEST IN SIZE AWARDS
Size 1 First : RAVENHILL Sue & Colin Kohaku
Second : BURKIN Barry & Keith Kawarimono
Third : MOORE Carol & Ray Showa
Size 2 First : MOORE Carol & Ray Kohaku
Second : HUSSEY Vi & Tony Sanke
Third : SHOEBRIDGE David Showa
Size 3 First : HUSSEY Vi & Tony Kohaku
Second : HUSSEY Vi & Tony Ginrin
Third : SUGDEN Roger Showa
Size 4 First : HUSSEY Vi & Tony Sanke
Second : BUNYAN Jacky & Graham Showa
Third : MURRELL John Sanke
Size 5 First : HUSSEY Vi & Tony Kohaku
Second : BUNYAN Jacky & Graham Sanke
Third : BUNYAN Jacky & Graham Showa
Size 6 First : BURNS John Kohaku
Second : HUSSEY Vi & Tony Utsurimono
Third : MURRELL John Kawarimono
2005
Our 19th Open Show. Dedicated to several 'absent friends' from the worldwide Koi fraternity; our own Mac Wilson and Gwen & Ernie Scutt, the BKKS' Andrew McGill, Vincent Chiu from Taiwan and Takeo Kuroki from the ZNA.
FINAL SHOW RESULTS
Grand Champion : WELLS Lynne & Terry Sanke Size 6
Mature Champion : BURNS John Kohaku Size 6
Adult Champion : SQUIRES Reay & Dee Kohaku Size 5
Young Champion : HUSSEY Vi & Tony Sanke Size 4
Baby Champion: RANCE Ron Kohaku Size 2
JSC Merit Award : VEAKINS Blair Asagi/Shusui Size 4
Best Jumbo : ARCHER Alan Kawarimono Size 6 (92cms)
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Special Variety Awards
First Kin Ki Utsuri : RICHARDS Krystel
Second Kin Ki Utsuri : VEAKINS Blair
Third Kin Ki Utsuri : BENSON Gordon
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Friendship Awards
SAKKS Best Non Go-Sanke : HUSSEY Vi & Tony - Hikarimoyo
OKWS Best Doitsu : PRESTON Michael - Hikarimoyo
ZNA Best Ginrin : HARRIS Gregg - Tancho
NVN Most Unique : WATSON Angie - Kawarimono
Banana-Bar Koi Society : ARCHER Alan - Kawarimono
Holland Koi Show : WATSON Angie - Koromo
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BEST IN SIZE AWARDS
Size 1 First : STREETER Val & Michael Kohaku
Second : RAVENHILL Sue & Colin Kohaku
Third : BENSON Gordon Koromo
Size 2 First : RANCE Ron Kohaku
Second : TAYLOR Diane & Rod Sanke
Third : PITTAS Tony Kohaku
Size 3 First : HUSSEY Vi & Tony Kohaku
Second : SHOEBRIDGE David Showa
Third : SHOEBRIDGE David Showa
Size 4 First : HUSSEY Vi & Tony Sanke
Second : WELLS Lynne & Terry Kohaku
Third : PITTAS Tony Showa
Size 5 First : SQUIRES Reay & Dee Kohaku
Second : SQUIRES Blake Kohaku
Third : SQUIRES Reay & Dee Showa
Size 6 First : BURNS John Kohaku
Second : SQUIRES Blake Kohaku
Third : HADLOW Frank Sanke
2006
Our 20th Open Show. This year's show got off the ground a bit late due to waiting for confirmed news of the Animal Welfare Act and then the Drought Orders being placed by the Water authorities. Nevertheless, once things were clear it all got back on track quickly and within weeks all dealer and arts & craft stands were booked.
FINAL SHOW RESULTS
Grand Champion: ARCHER Alan Sanke Size 6
Mature Champion: ARCHER Alan Kohaku Size 6
Adult Champion: RAVENHILL Sue & Colin Kohaku Size 5
Young Champion: POPE David Showa Size 4
Baby Champion : BURKIN Barrie & Keith Sanke Size 2
Jumbo : RICHARDS Suzanne & Gary Kawarimono Size 6
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Selected Variety Awards:
Best Kumonryu Childs Trevor size 4
2nd Kumonryu Constable David size 4
3rd Kumonryu Hussey Vi & Tony size 3
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Friendship Awards:
Best Doitsu (OKWS Award) Preston Michael Hikarimoyo size 5
ZNA best Ginrin Preston Michael Ginrin size 2
NVN Uniquie Koi award Archer Alan Hikariutsuri size 4
SAKKS Best Non Go-Sanke Hussey Vi & Tony Hikarimoyo size 5
ZNA UK Merit Award Pittas Tony Ginrin size 2
MAKC award Harris Greg Koromo size 1
Banana Bar Koi Society Hussey Vi & Tony Hikarimuji size 6
JSC Merit Award Hussey Vi & Tony Hikarimoyo size 5
Best in Size overall Awards:
Size 1 First : FISHER Tim Kohaku
Second : FISHER Tim Sanke
Third : CHALKE Frank Kohaku
Size 2 First : BURKIN Barrie & Keith Sanke
Second : FISHER Tim Kohaku
Third : RICHARDS Suzanne & Garry Kohaku
Size 3 First : PITTAS Tony Kohaku
Second : RAVENHILL Sue & Colin Sanke
Third : CHALKE Frank Showa
Size 4 First : POPE David Showa
Second : POPE David Kohaku
Third : MURRELL John Sanke
Size 5 First : RAVENHILL Sue & Colin Kohaku
Second : CONSTABLE David Sanke
Third : FISHER Tim Kohaku
Size 6 First : ARCHER alan Kohaku
Second : ARCHER alan Sanke
Third : CHALKE Frank Kohaku