The purpose of koi shows

[kingkong]

I have been ready recently about koi show etiquette and the proper behavior a person should display at such event. I have a little different opinion. First of all, it takes a couple of swigs of rum just to get the nerve to go and see 50 koi that absolutely blow your, hard earned collection that you sacrificed everything for koi, out the window. Now your telling me not to feel resentment, just be happy for the owner that they have the resources to obtain such specimen. OK, I will try. I just got a fourth mortgage to keep my ranch and i am to be grateful the owners take a 'risk' to move a fish from point A to point B, OK, I will try. Shuddering along the blue tanks towards the GC area, I still have not found a koi that any of my fish could compete with. Then I notice some confident looking people with a cold steel glaze in their eyes that nearly drops me to my knees. I am pinching myself and repeating, "Gary, this is an educational experience dressed in a competition outfit to make it fun". I think any situation that invites comparisons, are more difficult for many people to handle. Please allow me the the courtesy to be jealouse and full of envy, it's only normal for me.
See you at the next show.

[keokoi]

I look at is as education and to mingle with others who enjoy the same thing that I do.. I have to say that every koi show I have been to I walked away with more knowledgement then when I walked in. It either confirms what I knew or didn't know.

In reality, its the same reason why I hang out at koi shops in my spare time. To be educated and to mingle amongst fellow hobbysits..

Joe

[Dan O]

I figure there are two major functions a koi show offers

(1) A celebration by a club or clubs or an establishment to offer koi hobbyists an opportunity to display their well earned efforts in keeping koi. Tied to this celebration is the oppportunity in learning more about the hobby through educational opportunities offered up by judges in attendance and an occasional seminar. Lastly, a fun competition to give those showing something for all their efforts.

(2) Finances; I know of many clubs that without a well run koi show the club could well dissolve for lack of funding. Auctions, admittance fees, sales items all add up to keeping a koi club or clubs in the black affording those clubs opportunities throughout the year to "spread the word" how cool this hobby is.

It is not the function of a koi show to win a competition but rather a goal of some hobbyists to win. It is not the function of a koi show to fatten the wallets of vendors, vendors are probably the greatest support mechanism for koi clubs and shows. The true and pure function of a koi show is to educate, excite and promote the hobby.

For all those clubs and establishments that put on koi shows, I take my hat off to you all for you are the basis of keeping the koi hobby alive and well!

[luke frisbee]

first off the title to this thread is way too confining...it should be the PURPOSES of koi shows.
To provide a stage for a Rich man to educate the masses (insert "Thank you my lord" here)
To provide a place to get some new gear and fish all at once
To see people we only know from the net
But MOSTLY it is to go and learn ...and most of us want to learn how to buy a fish that either is going to remain good or get better, and learn how to care for these fish. AND by having the Show Committee recognize the accomplishments of Hobbyists that have actually kept their fish at their houses the Show committee would help identify and encourage those that do a "bang up" job of what the vast majority of those that attend the show are trying to do.

FOR INSTANCE
The BKKS had Cliff Neale as a speaker at the National '05. While he just happen to take GC Honors, he was asked to speak because he had previously won GC two years before.
And he spoke on exactly the subject that was most hobbyist would give their eye teeth to hear...koi husbandry from a previous GC winner.
That talk in the US would go like this .... I went to japan and was lead around by the nose and shown the best koi in the world and picked one out and left it in Japan and had them bring it to the show....
or worse if you really don't have a clue about KOi..The horror story someone could tell...!


The thing is that more than one purpose can be achieved at ta show, and the Show Committee should strive to right the ship and invest some effort in trying to reward (and therefore encourage) Hobbyists that actually raise their koi to show them and perhaps share their knowledge.
It would do the normal hobbyist much more good to see Koi that were not only the Elite koi in the community, but to see and recognize the level of quality some hobbyists with less deep pockets were able to achieve.

[Bern]

Luke,

I think we sometimes get hung up on the GC. The actual amount of times that the GC is a recent import, brought in by big bucks and ends up walking off we the title is very rare.

Look at the BKKS National 04 results. The GC was a Hiroshima Sakai Kohaku that had been entered the previous year and won the Mature Champ.

By a complete reversal of fortune the Mature Champ, a Momotaro Sanke, was the previous years GC, and as you say went on to win the 05 GC.

As in 05 there were several other large, expensive koi in competition with them that didn't pick up a major award. Big bucks is no guarantee.

The Adult Champ had previously won several Size awards in three previous years of showing at the National.

The Young Champ was a newcomer having been bought at the begining of the year from a dealer, who incidentally sold to the Baby Champ too to a friend of the Young Champ owner. These two guys are not large income koikeepers but the salt of the earth type. The owner of the Baby Champ was working alongside me at the BKKS Nationals in the early-mid nineties.

All of these koi demonstrate the owners skill in recognising potential, the top three illustrate their skill in keeping koi in top condition.

Why do I work at the National? - to share my skills/knowledge that I picked up at the Section Shows and to promote the hobby.

Why do I work at my Section Show? - because it's the best opportunity to meet and intergate the members, especially new ones. Other than that the only time we get are the monthly meetings - a few hours a month.

Why do I visit other shows? To learn, socialize, steal ideas for my show.

rgds BERN

[Nancy M.]

Excellent post Bern,
Kudo's to you for the best reply on this thread...

[luke frisbee]

Bern,
I made sure to give the British more credit for being able to actually raise GC's. And as I tried to make clear the Overall GC could also be designated the "Home Pet GC".

Not that I want it to be the ol can of worms AGAIN, but having a "hobbyist" buy a ringer and have it delivered to the Show, but not allowing dealers to slide fish into the event seems contrary. After all, in all but $$$ it is a dealer/breeder's fish we are looking at when a ringer is brought in...and not got a thing to do with the "BUYER."
Giving Hobbyists the recognition of having kept the fish they put in the show aids people in finding out who to talk to at a show concerning how to grow and what can be expected in terms of money, growth, development and also availability of resources.
Almost four years ago at the AFKAPS (now CFKS) I had what I thought was the good fortune to sit with the Owner of the GC for that show....how he got shoved into a corner with me I'll not venture to guess.
But I thought "WHAT LUCK! I'll pick his brain concerning how he raises koi." He was evassive. I thought it was because he was competitive and he was keeping his secrets. Truth is he bought the fish just for the show. he didn't bother to tell me. I found out later.
Shows should make an attempt at recognizing the skill and dedication of hobbyists that show their "pets". as well as the rich man showing his livestock.

[James P]

Luke , for a bright boy you really don't think outside a very narrow focus sometimes???

it is YOU that is fixed on ' large gosanke envy', not everyone at the koi show! The guy who enters a size 3 kohaku is looking at HIS fish's competition. In the aftermath, if he is a smart exhibitor, he looks to see who bested his kohaku and if he can see why? If not, the judges are there to go over the judging round, for his benefit.
Having done this judging thing for a while, I can tell you that exhibitors come up with some very thoughful and intelligent questions on that sunday morning after the show. It is usually a very small crowd that shows up for this session but they are the brightest of the bright and the heart and soul of the organized koi hobby.
The basic questions are usually about their koi's variety, its ranking in the show and also some questions and shared comments on the finer points regarding koi conditioning.
I always feel 'among my own' during these meetings and it is probably the one thing that keeps me judging, at this point.

[koiczar]

Also, there is a reason at shows that there are so many size/variety categories. So that the hobbyist(s) who don't have the big $$$ can compete at some level and still try to win a major award. In the case of size, I think the use of the word "champion" means just that - whether it's BABY, YOUNG, MATURE OR GRAND. It only has to do with the size category of the fish. I have never, and probably never will have, had a chance to win a GC. Doesn't mean I can't compete for a smaller size "champion". I have learned to find my "niche" and am completely satisfied to compete within the size level my parameters will allow. So far, the best I have achieved in koi shows is a "best in size" three times at a total of 5 shows. Yeah, it's my dream to have a fish that could compete for GC, but I guess it will more than likely remain a dream of mine. The rest is reality and as long as I don't let my dreams get in the way, I'll be satisfied with where I can go within my "niche"

[MikeM]

The purpose of koi shows is to have fun.