Page 88 - Koi Net - On-Line Koi Magazine - Issue 36

PATTERN Koi B has excellent Tsubo Sumi and this reflects in the
points it received in relation to Pattern.
Any white (Shiroji) marking within a Hi marking of a Sanke
(or Kohaku) as appears on Koi C (called a ‘window’), is
undesirable and marked down by the judges.

FINISHING

A 15 B 18 C 14 D 16 E 10

When judging Pattern out of a possible 20 points we
first look at balance of the pattern along the length and
on both sides of the dorsal fin of the Koi. Koi B has a
very good balance of the Hi, Sumi and Shiroji in this
regard. Koi E has no Hi marking on its head which A 9 B 9 C 6 D 7 E 9
impacts the balance of the Pattern and is a serious
pattern demerit, resulting in it being heavily marked
down when judging it.
Judging the state of Finishing on graphics is
Koi A has a balanced Pattern apart from the Sumi
unfortunately a limited exercise as one cannot assess
marking on its head which is undesirable in a Sanke,
the lustre so the judges have had to rely on just two
but not a serious demerit if reasonably small. But it has
aspects – the submerged (or weak) Sumi on Koi C and
been marked down for this reason.
the Sashi on Koi D. Remember we are judging these
Koi C has submerged or weak Sumi on its left side Koi on the day and not for future potential. It is
resulting in the Pattern being indistinct and consequently assumed that the other aspects of Finishing are the
the balance is lost. Koi D has one Sumi marking on the same in all 5 of the Koi. The submerged (or weak) Sumi
right and 3 Sumi markings on its left, as well as Sashi in Koi C is assumed to be submerged Sumi for the
on the last Hi marking, which results in it being placed purposes of judging the state of Finish and marked
2nd on Pattern. down accordingly. If it was considered weak Sumi this
would be a quality issue. Koi D has Sashi on the 3rd Hi
Another aspect judges look at when judging Pattern is
marking which, on the day, results in marking it down
the placement of the Sumi. Sumi appearing in the
when assessing its state of Finishing.
Shiroji (Tsubo Sumi) is highly appreciated – more so
than Kasane Sumi (Sumi appearing in the Hi markings).
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