Great results from the South East Show.

On Bank Holiday weekend 24th/25th August a Koi UK bred kohaku shown by Stuart Toms won Baby Champion at the Show East International Koi Show, this is the 'second largest' koi show held in the UK.

Photo supplied by Bernie Woolands

Stuart purchased the koi in May and entered it in the National Koi Show in June, at the time it was 27cm and was overlooked by the judges, perhaps it was too small in size 2 at the time? Two months later Stuart took the kohaku along to the South East Show, it had then grown to 34cm, so this time was near the upper limit of size 2.

Baby Champion is judged from size 1 and 2, Stuarts koi was judged as best size 2 and the best size 1 koi was a kohaku shown by Sue and Mark Chetter, this koi was also bred by Koi UK! We had it in the bag!

The Kohaku was up against stiff opposition from koi bred in Japan and some which their owners had paid an awful lot of money. Although it is hard to judge from photos, Stuarts kohaku is a real gem, it is hard to find fault, in the flesh the sashi (front edge of the pattern) is so perfect, an equal width over it's entire length and with superb kiwa (back edge of the pattern), lovely skin quality and build for it's size, I couldn't ask for more. Stuarts koi won Baby Champion over 93 other koi which were eligible within the two  class sizes.

Here is a photo of the Baby Champion in it's special winners vat.