Who has the most GC trophies?

[Erns]

Comming back to the original question in the 1st post.

In Japan, most of the koi winning GC awards at the big shows are kept and refined by the breeders. So does that make the owner who then wins the award but never cared a day for the koi a good hobbiest or just some body with a healthy bank balance who can afford to buy and keep top quality koi with the breeders?

The same can apply to the US or infact any other country. a Hobbiest buy's a nissai. Leaves it in Japan for 3 years. Takes it home 3 months before a show as a finished koi and wins a major show. Is that person the best hobbiest or the guy who bought a tosai, raised it to 30" and on the day took Reserve Champ?

A bit of a ethical/moral issue? Or not?

[JasPR]

Not at all a problem either way. The FISH won the award, not the owner. And althought the owner is recognized for his/her ownership, the award is a thanks you for bringing the fish to the show and for a job well done. The 'job well done' can be personal husbandry or for being a 'patron' of that fish. An owner can not make a tateshita a Grand Champion, there is no amount of care that can change genetic potential. But an owner can certainly ruin a Grand Champion grade fish and we have all seen this many times. Sometimes winning a show comes down to things like luster and finish on the day. The fish that wins obviously has had good care to be able to break such a close competition. It is always impressive when we find out after the judging that a winning fish is 'home schooled'! And it adds something to the accomplishment. But background detail has nothing to do with the accomplishment on that day in terms of the judging. How would a judge even know? There simply is no rule that requires long term ownership involved in the judging. That is a layer of requirement that seems to be added on by folks very keenly interested in who owns the fish as opposed to the fish itself as a specimen. At the end of the day, an exhibitor aiming at GC must assume their fish will compete against 'fresh imports' and must be willing to take on the challenge. I've seen serious hibbyists overcome this challenge many times and the person working with a fresh import has a whole nother set of challenges helping a new fish adjust in new conditions. So---- No guts, no glory! JR

[MikeM]

If it was about who best cares for their fish, we would not have shows. We would have judged pond tours.

I love koi shows. Wish I could go to all of them. I get to see koi I'd not otherwise see. Whatever gets folks to bring great koi to a show, I'm in favor of it. ...maybe I'd draw the line at 8' tall trophies. Gotta have some limits on people acting like people.

[Jeff Speck]

Quote: Originally Posted by MikeM ...maybe I'd draw the line at 8' tall trophies.

Yes, 8' is awfully tall for a young lady... --Oh--wait, not the stock car forum, sorry.

The pond tour might be a good place for a husbandry award?