Page 70 - Koi Net - On-Line Koi Magazine - Issue 5
P. 70
2018 ALL JAPAN GC pick as it was more of a fortunate coincidence than
concerted effort.
KOI SHOW In my search for suitable photos I wandered into the
area where the 90bu Koi were exhibited. But I only saw a
few as benching was still under way and most of it was
Bernie Woollands
happening in this area. The first Koi that took my eye
was a large Kohaku. It was the best large Koi that I had
seen so far and it was in near-perfect condition. I say
near-perfect because it showed small signs of stress.
My version of events will differ from Johan’s as I was The next time I saw it was the Saturday where all of
out there for additional reasons. The ZNA hold a series those signs had vanished. However, at the time it was
of meetings and seminars at the same premises as the still the best I’d seen and therefore my choice for GC.
All Japan Nishikigoi Koi Show (AJNPA) and I attended Having made the personal decision I then took great
several of those as well as socialising with fellow judges care in examining it for any flaws. I found none.
from around the globe. In addition I also met up with
some of my former colleagues from the Tokyo and Osaka Before I continue let me have a recap. Before I left for
offices, but I won’t bore you with that recollection. Japan Mark Gardner had published a list of all the 90bu
Koi destined for the show. By the time I’d arrived in
I arrived in Tokyo on Thursday 1st February. The original Japan he had reduced that to a shortlist of 11. My
plan was to meet up with Johan and Domi at the airport Kohaku was one of those. Of the rest I was only to see
as our flights arrived at approximately the same time. two more on the Thursday. Some were still being
However, I hadn’t taken into account that mine arrived benched and others were covered over. One of the
at a different terminal, so once we discovered that we At first everything looked remaining three was a 108cms Showa. What can I say?
right about this Sanke, the
agreed to meet at the hotel. Johan and Domi got there shape, the pattern and the It was massive and had good volume but the Sumi
about half an hour before me. After unpacking, colour which won Jumbo didn’t have that youthful appeal to it. Mark was around
showering and grabbing a few coffees I met up with (runner up). when I was looking at it and in the conversation that
Johan and we went down to the showground together. followed I learned that the Koi had been there for the
Johan stalks around the showground taking immense past two years. I then remembered it from 2016 where it
numbers of photographs. As he is known by most of the was 105cms long, and long was the term for it, it didn’t
staff working on the show he gets into places I can’t. have much in the way of volume, just length. As much
However, that isn’t a problem as I have a different as I admire the effort that has gone into putting volume
agenda to him. I walk the rows of show vats keeping out on such a large Koi it didn’t beat the Kohaku in my
of the way of the guys that are benching, photographing opinion.
Koi that stand out for three reasons. One, I photo any Closer examination of this
Sanke showed an area The other Koi I saw on Thursday was a Sanke that went
Koi that is either a good specimen of its variety. These lacking lustre where several on to win Jumbo (runner up). However, I barely gave it a
photos will probably be used at judging seminars in scales were missing. glance. That may sound disrespectful but I was in GC
the UK. Two, I do the same with any unusual variety for mode and having chosen the Kohaku it was now my
benching seminars, and finally I just photo Koi that I like. yardstick to measure all others against and I was looking
for something to beat it. The Sanke was in a vat quite
Some of the Koi I’d photo’d on the Thursday in 2016 &
close to the Kohaku and when I looked at it I was
2017 have ended up on Champions’ Row after judging
immediately impressed with everything about it. The
on the Friday. 2018 turned out to be no different. My
shape, colours, pattern, etc, but the skin had a flaw.
Thursday picks included the Young Champion and the
There was an area that lacked the lustre the rest of the
Grand Champion (GC). However, I have to qualify the
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