Page 57 - Koi Net - On-Line Koi Magazine - Issue 5
P. 57
The rules of the ZNA clearly state that visible injuries or next morning at the coffee table with Mr. Pan and his
scars on the top of the Koi are a demerit and can in retinue. For almost an hour he talks and listens
some cases even lead to disqualification. Now a Koi passionately, via the necessary translations of course, to
whose scar is almost so large that a blind man could conclude with the question who my favourite is for the
see it won and yet she was chosen as the very best. All big title. I take my phone and show him the picture of
the more reason not to write off this Sanke for the most his Kohaku. He looks at the cell phone with a blissful,
important title, because a grower usually takes less almost endearing smile.
account of such negative elements, and looks at the
total picture. By the way, this Sanke can be found on A few hours later, the time had come. The jury, including
the cover of the previous KOI (KOI is the name of the one Belgian, namely Dirk Snauwaert of Elna Koi, had
NVN’s members’ magazine). received their judges briefing and were released in the
big hall. Each one looking for his Grand Champion.
And finally, there is a outsider in the shape of a Kohaku. There are 81 votes to collect in total. Of course you
No, not the Yohannes Jusuf Kohaku that I mentioned immediately see where the big contenders are
earlier. But a Kohaku that actually appeared out of swimming, because there is immediately a congestion.
nowhere. Actually ‘Out of nowhere’ is wrong, because Four vats attract the attention! The – as I call her –
this Kohaku won the Grand Champion at the Young Koi Yohannes Jusuf Kohaku and, my predicted trio Showa,
Show several years ago, a show that is limited to 63cm. Sanke and Kohaku that I had proposed a day earlier are
No one had followed the evolution of this Koi, because the favourites. At the first count, the Jusuf Kohaku also
it had been stored safely in the growth ponds of falls off. She only won 14 votes, while the competition
Odokan, so it was a complete surprise to find this finished on 26-19-22. ‘Three out of three’ for Bern and I.
Kohaku presented there having grown 30cm or more in Superior Champion. We were right with our prediction!
size and volume and in breathtaking condition. And with
Then the three candidates were set apart in three vats
one imaginary flaw to it: to date, a Koi has never
that were arranged next to each other. That way it is of
managed to win the most important Koi Show on earth
Candidate No. 3 course much easier for the judges to be able to
Over 93cm Kohaku owned after winning the Young Koi Show. And that is of course compare directly. Three gems within walking distance of
by Mr. Pan Zhi Cheng won easy to understand. Koi who peak when they are three,
Grand Champion at the maybe four years old are often in decline by the age of each other, the ‘blue shirts’ (Judges) could then make
Young Koi Show several seven or eight. Never before has a Koi at Sansai been comparisons! At the penultimate vote, the Showa had
years ago. meanwhile dropped out, it was now between the Sanke
good enough to be considered for the best in the world
and the Kohaku. The Kohaku gained the most extra
at this size as an adult. But beware: this Kohaku is still
votes and went from 26 to 47 votes, while the Sanke
not at the end of her development. There is still growth
went from 22 to 32 votes. 79? Do I hear you ask! Was it
and quality to come. Superb stuff, owned by the
not originally 81 votes that could be gathered? It was!.
Chinese exhibitor Mr. Pan Zhi Cheng!
Apparently, there were two judges who had cast a blank
You cannot tar all of the Chinese with the same brush. vote, because they both thought that no worthy
Of course there are Asians who buy Koi, only for the candidate for the Grand Champion title swam in either
status. But with Pan san, we are clearly on a different vats. Disappointment? Discontent? Or your guess is as
level. This man is really obsessed by Koi, just like you good as mine!
and me. Probably has more money than you and me
Or, could it be that they were registering a protest? At
together, but that does not mean that he did not end up
the very end of the room, in an area called the ‘Dream
in the hobby for the right reason. This man lives Koi,
Koi’ section, the Kohaku of Sakai Fish Farm (S.F.F.)
dreams Koi, sleeps Koi!
which was crowned Grand Champion last year was on
Tancho Showa Jumbo.
On Thursday evening I presented these three Koi as my display. In the interceding year, this Koi has grown to
three ultimate candidates and by chance I happen to sit 99cm and showed a quality that topped everything else.
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