Those of you familiar with Crouch Valley Koi Section (CVKS) will know that for several years now we have run what we call a Garden Show – no flowers involved, just koi.

This closed show event (i.e. just for club members) was an evolution from our annual photographic show and is an opportunity for members to participate in a koi show without the hassle of taking their koi to a show ground. For many, this has been their stepping stone into showing their koi.

Why move from a photographic show? Well judging a koi in a photograph is no where near as effective as judging a koi in the flesh. A photo shows a single image from above and can be misleading, even with good shots. Is that a shimmie or a piece of dirt in the water? Is that a body shape issue or the way the fish is sat in the bowl? I cannot tell the skin quality from the pic – the comments from our judge went on… And hence the change.

For those unfamiliar with our format, it is very straightforward:

  • Each member can enter up to a maximum of 6 koi
  • For best in size, the competition is split into Go Sanke (which includes for this event, Tancho and Kin Gin Rin) and Non-Go Sanke with all sizes being judge up to size 7 (which would be size 7+). This gives us up to 14 first places awards but our judge also selects the 2nd and 3rd in each category.
  • The 6 Champion awards are chosen from the best in size winners (with GC and Best Non Go Sanke being excluded from all other awards)
  • There are also awards for the best in variety across all 13 of the BKKS show varieties and our judge, again, also selects the 2nd and 3rd.

This format provides good competition and an opportunity for all entrants to place.

This year, over two weekends in October, our two man team of judge and bencher (who also takes the photos and videos) set about vising all the ponds – no mean task with members spread far and wide across Essex and even into Kent. Unfortunately, we had a couple of late drop outs from our target of 20 members but across the 18 that did take part, we had 104 koi entered.

Although the koi are photographed and videod, it is important to note, the difference in this event is the koi are judge in the flesh on the day, as they would be in a koi show – the photos and videos are purely for his reference when Keith is checking his notes back home and, importantly, for the presentation night at our December meeting when the koi are critiqued and the results announced.

Once again this year, we had some new blood taking part and indeed, Dean, who has only been a member for a year took GC. A great achievement.

The format for the presentation follows a tried and tested format and a there was a very strong turnout for what has become one of our most popular meetings in the calendar. Each size is reviewed in sequence (Go Sanke and then Non-Go Sanke) with Keith providing a critique of the koi and answering questions before the first, second and third place fish are revealed. Having announced the main champion winners and the best in varieties, the moment everyone has been waiting for arrives – Best Non Go Sanke and Grand Champion.

A BIG shout out has to this year go to Dan and Stacey from Nutramare who really did us proud by providing food prizes to not only the Champions but to all the best in size and best in variety winners. Crouch is extremely grateful for this tremendous support and it was great to have Dan presenting these prizes to our winners alongside Keith who presented everyone with their certificates.

CVKS prides itself on being an active koi club and this was another great night in our calendar of events.