The purpose of koi shows

[luke frisbee]

Jr, It ain't me of which i speak.
I'm just asking that whoever throws these shindigs makes it easy for us dirt farmers to know which one grew the pumpkins, and which went by the church and bought theirs....BTW does anyone else have this weird clanking going on in their head when they see a church with a pumpkin patch sale for Halloween?

[aquitori]

Purpose of a show? Is meeting people as weird as you... But on the serious side a show is meant for Hobbyist to share their best fish. I am sure with any show there is the competitive side, but who doesn't? People who show should be praised not hated on...Anyways, I love to see a group of "KoiKichi" people come together and enjoy a weekend of koi..

[KoiCop]

Quote: Originally Posted by luke frisbee I'm just asking that whoever throws these shindigs makes it easy for us dirt farmers to know which one grew the pumpkins, and which went by the church and bought theirs?

Nope. ZNA & AKCA don't agree with you -- not now and never will -- 'cause it's all about the pumpkins and not about the farmers. You must have them confused with the FFA (Future Farmers of America). Don

[aquitori]

Quote: Originally Posted by KoiCop Nope. ZNA & AKCA don't agree with you -- not now and never will -- 'cause it's all about the pumpkins and not about the farmers. You must have them confused with the FFA (Future Farmers of America). Don

Don, when you said "pumpkins" are you talking about Dunkel? HAHAHAHA...just joking

[KoiCop]

Quote: Originally Posted by aquitori Don, when you said "pumpkins" are you talking about Dunkel? HAHAHAHA...just joking

and I'm wearing his long-sleeved orange t-shirt as I type this! Cold today. Don't think it hit but 67 degrees. Don

[junglegeorge12]

Quote: Originally Posted by luke frisbee Jr, It ain't me of which i speak. I'm just asking that whoever throws these shindigs makes it easy for us dirt farmers to know which one grew the pumpkins, and which went by the church and bought theirs....BTW does anyone else have this weird clanking going on in their head when they see a church with a pumpkin patch sale for Halloween?

'Clanking in your head'? You might want to see a doctor or excorcist about that one.....

[aquitori]

Quote: Originally Posted by KoiCop and I'm wearing his long-sleeved orange t-shirt as I type this! Cold today. Don't think it hit but 67 degrees. Don

Dunkel said any clients wearing an orange shirt gets 50% off spraying...

[Bern]

KoiCzar - I'm a niche shower too. I once aimed for the Baby Ch, and failed quite miserably. On the other hand I've picked up three Adult Ch's and each and every one was a surprise. These days I take the fish I reckon are worth the outing and leave the rest to fate.


Luke - The 'ringer' situation is rife throughout the shows and not just the exclusive realm of the GC. But it rarely pays off*. Newly imported fish, and fish from dealers premises (especially larger one) can't live with the condition of well kept hobbyists fish. In addition, over here the dealers capable of selecting a potential champs are few and far between.

The ringer situation used to irritate me but as it so rarely pays off,
I can now live with it. The odd time that it does has, the flipside of
meaning that there is a top class fish to see at the show, so I take the
opportunity of have a good look there and then, because if it is a 'ringer'
in the worse sense of the word the chances of seeing it again in such
good condition is very slim.

* A few years back we had somebody brought in a four-figure (pounds sterling) size one Kohaku. It won 2nd in its class. Moving on to the 2nd round (best in size) it didn't figure at all. However the 2nd Sanke, also took 2nd in size and that turned out to be a homebred.

We didn't know any of the background of these fish until afterwards especially when the owner remonstrated with the dealer that provided the fish. Obviously the judges came in for some criticism from this pair, but a visiting Japanese Judge uninvolved with the decisions of the following day came to the same conclusion as the original judges.

Over the 20 years (just) I've been working at shows I conclude its all about the fish. The owners come in two types, good folks and a**h*l*s and the latter generally move away from the hobby after a while.

My advice to you is forget the owners, concentrate on the Koi while they are there.

rgds Bern

[luke frisbee]

BErn,
it is good to hear that is the way in GB.
And I was there so I totally understand what you are saying.
But here in the good ol' USA we ain't got many Hobbyists that can raise koi to show quality (henryC can but he is going over to the darkside as we speak, and will probably become one of those keep em back at the house to be appreciated hobbyist).
And AFKAPS/CFKS has been won the last three times by a ringer, and maybe more, but those three I know about.
And at the last CFKS I watched some "high-end" hobbyists cruise the sale tanks and pic koi to be placed in the show because they knew what catgories were weak and they could buy a place for their name on the site of the "Winners".
So you can see where i am coming from.
But I am not asking to try and stop the lower segment of society from buying some "recognition". it is just that I want to know WHO is RAISING the winners. This will give a better understanding to all the observers as to what can be done with koi in the ponds of HOBBYISTS. And Those Hobbyists, many of which post on this and other boards would be recognized as being able to RAISE and MAINTAIN koi, and not just buy them.

LET'S START GIVING SOME ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO THE RAISER OF THE KOI AND NOT THE BUYER, With a PET GC Designation.

[MCA]

We do not have rules from ZNA or AKCA on this. So each local club can/will make their own decision on that show topic. It is a local issue.

Our club gave members the chance to purchase koi from the same spawn this spring. They can all compete for regular awards and one special (best of spawn) award at the show.

IMHO if you REALLY want to compare koi keeping skills, all the exhibitors would have fish from the same spawn, have the same pond/filter facilities, same water, same climate...etc. Ain't gonna happen. You will never remove all the variables.