Central Florida Koi Show 2007: Walking Around

[dick benbow]

thank-you Mike, looking forward to the next installment!

[HenryC]

Here is another shot of the RGC. I was also taken by her. A Koi I would truly love to have in my pond.

[MikeM]

Thanks for posting that photo, Henry. Folks: Check out the "edging" on the scales. See what seems a lighter edge around each scale? In person, it was like a golden irridescence... young Hi still to mature.

But now let's check out the GC...

[MikeM]

Could you ask for much more in such a large koi? The Emericks have great eyes, and Genki scored another GC at Orlando. Kevin has quite a few chalked up. This Sanke had mature Beni, beautifully finished and as intensely red as the photo shows. The Sumi was sharp, lacquer black and strategically placed. The body was full without being sloppy, and she moved easily in her 8' tank. As you can see, she and her Showa tankmate were inseparable partners. Sue's Sanke is one kichi dream of owning...like a picture out of Nichirin.

Notice how different she is from the Aronfeld Reserve GC? We are talking apples and oranges. Two very different sets of genes. Cherry red and orange as a persimmon. While the Torazo Kohaku had a lustrous sparkle in the scales, the Emericks' Sanke has Beni like thick velvet curtains. I usually think of Sanke Hi and Kohaku Hi as being alike, while Showa Hi is of a different sort. These two fish brought home to me how very different the types of Hi can be. They share being "red" in the Japanese sense of Hi, but virtually nothing else...except each is beautiful to behold.

[MikeM]

I had to work late to catch up at the office, so not much time to post this evening. But before heading off to bed, I gotta share this: Hundreds of visitors to the show went past Joe Pawlak's Blackwater Creek Koi Farm booth, which was decked out with palm fronds, a jungle of plants, Hyacinth Macaws and these friendly fellows.

[MikeM]

Joe kept his promise that they were not allowed off their leashes (or handlers' arms)... and it was a laugh to see the startled expressions of folks who suddenly realized there were gators about. LOL... it was a wild time.

Hopefully tomorrow night we can walk around a bunch of the show tanks.

[PapaBear]

Thanks Mike for the walkabout, and thanks to Henry C for posting that picture of the Kohaku. The very first thing I thought when I looked at that picture was "my GOD look at those beautiful scales".
Sue's Sanke is a beauty... One I wish I could have seen in person because your description says a picture just can't do her justice. (She is a BIG girl)

[dick benbow]

excited to see the baby grand i have heard so much about from Purdin koi farm...keep walkin' mike!

[RogerL]

Here's the baby grand from Purdin Dick.....

[MikeM]

I can't beat that shot of the little Kohaku. ...but how about all the ones in their sale tanks? Purdin brought more quality fish than anyone. And, they sold a bunch! Having Nigel Caddock in the booth added a bit of "star quality". Not often you get an international koidom figure to help settle in the inventory.