| JG12
Unfortunately, as bad as you make it sound, it is something that is done consistently at all shows, especially the All Japan Combined. Some people don't have the space for a suitable pond to grow fish any larger. Instead, they buy high quality tosai to raise, or buy bonsai nisai which are much more finished. They then condition these fish and enter them in the competition for Baby Grand Champion. I've seen this done at every show I've ever been to (and that's quite a few). One of our club members raised a few fish in a 500 gallon Qtank. One of his ginrin showas was only 10-11" and was 5 years old. Won best GR in size 1 three years in a row. We finally told him he couldn't bring it again unless it was in a larger size category.
You don't really think all those 15-30cm fish you see in Nichirin or Koi Bito that have taken awards at the All Japan shows are tosai do you? Very rarely can a tosai compete at that level. Most of those fish are 2-5 years old,kept as bonsai koi and developed at that size. Every hobbyist has a niche at a show. Not everyone can compete for GC simply because they don't have the space in Japan for the ponds to keep them (unless they're kept by the breeder) but who can afford all of that? Not everyone, that's for sure!
Mike |