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When I first started in koi a few years back, I always wanted to win a GC. I worked very hard to purchase the very best tosai money could buy and then put years into their growth. In the beginning they never turned out. later as i got more knowledge, I'd come a lot closer. In fact, one year in a very tough competition I captured the Tategoi award.
Later in a smaller show, I was able to get Reserve.
Finally after close to 20 years of trying , it became obvious that dispite my knowledge....I was not going to compete with those that could bankroll
a koi bred and raised for that purpose. So the last 5 years or so I have worked at the shows but not competed.
Don't get me worng. I love to see high quality koi. The urge to afford one is still there .the reality is I can't compete in that league. Would money prizes change anything? well not for me. i still couldn't afford to be competitive .
Do i want the rules changed. not really. As of late I have been breeding my own babies which have taken a few top in class prizes in our local show. will anything i breed ever compete for GC. I doubt it. What I have for breeders cost chicken feed compared with what seriouis breeding programs expend.
To me money motivates some people and to some other, money is not the object or goal. It's keeping koi to become the best they can be and learning how to care for them in all seasons. What i have shared is not to be interpreted by those climbing the ladder in competition as discouraging!
But rather an ENCOURAGEMENT to those who also can't afford to buy a GC potential koi. It's the satisfaction that your knowledge and hard work and study is first class.
Sorry so winded. I quess i should Have just said I wasn't in favor of money. I've never seen it ( in government or personal use) when it was just thrown at something where it ever did any good!
This is to say Aquitori, I don't see anything wrong with your asking this question it will be interesting to see others response. For me it's something I quess I was more passionate about than I realized! (lol)
I was a bit more passionate about than i realized
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