| Now I understand what you are saying. Article encourages some dramatic license I believe.
I went back and looked at the judges votes. In 2006 there were 93 judges and the GC was decided on the 2nd vote with a total of 51 votes. That means that 42 votes went to other koi. There is almost always contraversy at koi shows of one form or another. Doesn't mean the judges got together to fix the results. Just that judges have different opinions of ranking koi.
The 2005 winner was a famous Maruyama Showa. It had won it's way up the ladder at regional shows and also had been shown in the All Japan show a few years earlier. It doesn't hurt to be well known in the koi show world. I think this is also a point made in the article and one reason the other kohaku they owned (mauratan) they wanted it to be the one the showed as it had won Reserve Champion in 2005 and would be known by many of the judges. However, unknowns can also win the day as demonstrated by 2006 winner that was not well known and had not been shown before. |