Those of you familiar with the Crouch will know that two years ago, we switched from an annual pure photographic competition to a “Garden Show” – A Closed Show, members of the club can enter without the hassle of taking their koi to a show ground.

For those not familiar with the format, it is as follows:

  • 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+)
  • The Champions are chosen from the best in size winners (with GC being excluded from all other awards)
  • There are also awards for the best in variety across all 13 of the BKKS show varieties

Over two weekends in October, our judge, Keith, accompanied by a bencher, visited the 19 members who entered this year, benching, measuring, photographing and filming the 114 koi taking part.

Note, the koi are judge in the flesh on the day, as they would be in a koi show and the photos and videos are purely for his reference when checking his notes back home and, importantly, for the presentation night at our December meeting when the koi are critiqued and the results announced.

With members spread across Essex (and into Kent), visiting all the ponds in short order is no easy task, as is the subsequent collating of the koi, judging and preparation of the presentation.

A good spread of koi were entered but a few areas lacked competition this year.
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. Next up, first second and third in each class are revealed. Finally the champions are announced with GC being the final award.

A BIG shout out to Paul Allen and Burtons Aquatic Systems who provided food prizes for every major winner, Dave and Kate at Coastal Koi who provided koi mugs for the best in variety.with the club providing tubs of mealworm for all the best in size. The GC also received a set of 3 Go Sanke mugs from Coastal plus a Sake set from Japan – over 30 prizes! CVKS really appreciates the support.

A mention must go to several new members taking part for the first time and doing very well across the board and a very special mention to Gary for taking GC with his Sanke.

The images that follow show all the winning koi and images from the presentation evening.

Our Champions and Best in Size
The Best in the 13 BKKS Classes
Our Major winners collect their awards
All our other participants collect their prizes and certificates