Who has the most GC trophies?

[Russell Peters]

Quote: Originally Posted by lildude Maybe one day i will join this "show" club.

Only do it if it is what you want to do.

[koiczar]

To me, I have to somewhat agree with Aquitori. Joe Co and Duke Nguyen rise to the top for BEST HOBBYIST.

Mitch, if you're talking about BEST HOBBYIST then don't you think the HOBBYIST aspect needs to be considered. Or are you including those who can afford to simply spend the big bucks to bring in a ringer as a high quality hobbyist? Joe and Duke are pure hobbyists in the sense that they have the knowledge and capability of maintaining/improving the fish under their care and showing them on more than one occasion and still win GC. Duke's accomplishment at the ABAKS show is just one example of a true hobbyist maintaining and improving a jumbo fish, in his care, for several years and still coming out and STOMPING the competition. There wasn't anything close in quality and size that could even be considered as competition. To me, this is what the HOBBY is all about. I know, several of you will disagree with me as it is all about the fish. Well, to some extent it also has to be about the owner and caretaker of said fish. These two are probably the best HOBBYISTS, over a long period of years (say 10 years) that have come along in the last decade.

[dcny]

Quote: Originally Posted by koiczar .... Duke's accomplishment at the ABAKS show is just one example of a true hobbyist maintaining and improving a jumbo fish, in his care, for several years and still coming out and STOMPING the competition...

I am a koi show newbie but I have to agree. The level of competition at that show was incredible. Duke's kohaku beat out several gorgeous fish that Frank and Nancy brought and a 3x winner at the All Japan Combined Koi Show. I'd bet that any of those fish could easily take GC at some other smaller shows.

-Dan

[Nancy M.]

I talked to Jose today, asked him how many GC he had, well he had 1 at Nishiki show, 3 at San diego, 2 at ZNA Orange county, 4 ZNA Socal. As far as who is the best hobbiest around I would have to say Jose, (Joe Co) he quit competing 5 years ago due to politics, and Duke competed against him at those same 4 shows he won GC at ZNA. Duke won GC at ZNA the year after Jose retired. Jose husbandry skills are shown with the amount of fish he has owned, and the quality he has always maintained on all his fish, today you can see all those GC still swimming in his ponds.

[aquitori]

We also have to look at the time line in which the hobbyist were still showing strong:

Mid-80's to early 90's....Joe Co, Tom Lansing, Gene Ewy, Lembkes, Finnigans.

Early 90's to Mid 90's....Tom Lansing, Duke Nguyen, The Grundens, The Blackburns.

Late 90's to early 2000....The Morales, David Tran, The Jordans, Carolyn Swanson, Nathan Troung.

[Nancy M.]

Quote: Originally Posted by aquitori We also have to look at the time line in which the hobbyist were still showing strong: Mid-80's to early 90's....Joe Co, Tom Lansing, Gene Ewy, Lembkes, Finnigans. Early 90's to Mid 90's....Tom Lansing, Duke Nguyen, The Grundens, The Blackburns. Late 90's to early 2000....The Morales, David Tran, The Jordans, Carolyn Swanson, Nathan Troung.

Tonio that is soooo true, but I would add Joe Co into the early 90's to mid 90's also. And I would add Don Kobashigawa into the late 90's early 2000. Don has a few GC under his belt and was a major player till 3 years ago.

[schildkoi]

From East of the Rockies (you mentioned a few)
The Downs, Dan Charnes and Gene Smith, and Dr. Knox

Steve

[aquitori]

Quote: Originally Posted by Nancy M. Tonio that is soooo true, but I would add Joe Co into the early 90's to mid 90's also. And I would add Don Kobashigawa into the late 90's early 2000. Don has a few GC under his belt and was a major player till 3 years ago.

Completely forgot about Don....tell Don my bad....hahahaha

[aquitori]

Quote: Originally Posted by schildkoi From East of the Rockies (you mentioned a few) The Downs, Dan Charnes and Gene Smith, and Dr. Knox Steve

Some notiable names forgotten, need to add the Streets too...Thanks Steve...

[schildkoi]

Quote: Has anybody put together a list of who has the most Grand Champion trophies here in the US? In the absence of any recognized national competition, I guess the title of America's greatest hobbyist would fall to the one with the most wins. Anyone care to share their victory totals with us? Mitch

I got to thinking (never a good thing) about the original question/statement. Is the person with the most GCs really the mark of America's greatest hobbyist? What about those who have made significant other contributions both inside and/or outside of the show ring?

A few other names come to mind that could be added to the ones already mentioned (many of which also have significant contributions outside of just GCs:

The Finnegans
Burt Ballou
Galen Hanson
Spike Cover
JR
The Lembkes
Norm Meck
Joe (and Sherry) White

And the list goes on.


Steve