Koi Show History(PDF)

Koi showsA BRIEF HISTORY OFKOI SHOWSWhere did the Koi showformat originate andhow far have we comesince the first show washeld in the UK in 1975?Bernie Woollandsanswers thesequestions and more inhis journey through Koishow history…Bernie WoollandsBernie Woollands haskept Koi since 1969 andjoined the BKKS in 1985.He became a member ofthe South East Section in1988 and has worked onvarious committees. He’sbeen a probationary judgesince January 2006.Above: The Dutch Koi Society held their firstshow in 1993 and it was judged and benchedby the BKKS Judging Standards CommitteeBelow: History was made in 2006 when two UKhobbyists, Martin Plows and Mark Crampton,won the AJNPA Koi showHISTORYJapanKoi shows originated in the 1900s inNiigata, Japan, when rice farmers met atthe harvest shows (Te-agari) and displayedtheir nishikigoi among all the other produceof the region. In 1912 they held the fi rst Koionlyshow which laid the foundation for thedevelopment of the now famous Niigata-Nogyosai Show, which was fi rst held underthat title in 1956.Some six years later, in 1962, Japanesehobbyists got in on the act and held thefi rst ‘hobbyist-only’ show in Oita. By 1968these hobbyists had united under thebanner of the Zen Nippon Airinkai (ZNA)and held the fi rst ever All Japan Show.The fi rst combined breeders and dealersshow (AJNPA) took place in Tokyo a yearlater. I wonder if the pioneers who put onthat fi rst show ever envisaged its GrandChampion prize being won by a pair ofBritish enthusiasts?AmericaThe fi rst overseas Koi show took place inHawaii in 1964, followed by the fi rst on theUS mainland, held by the SouthernCalifornian ZNA Chapter, in 1974. This showis still in existence and therefore has thehonour of being the oldest Koi showoutside Japan.A large expat Japanese community inBrazil has also been holding Koi showssince the mid 1980s – Koi are often passedon from one businessman to another asthey complete contracts.UKThe fi rst UK Koi show was held by theNorthern Section of the British Koi-Keeper’sSociety (BKKS) in the back garden of PeterWaddington’s home in 1975, one yearearlier than the fi rst ever BKKS BritishNational in 1976. Shortly afterwards BKKSSections started holding local showsthroughout the country. However, the BKKSdidn’t have it all their own way. Theindependent Yorkshire Koi Society followedsuit in 1977 and, like their counterparts inJapan, British dealers ran a series of showsunder the banner of the British Associationof Nishikigoi Dealers (BAND) from 1987 to1989. The only dealer-run show held today22 Koi June 2006Koi95_showbusiness_5sm.indd 211/4/06 1:51:47 pm

The largest Koi showoutside Japan is held bythe Dutch Koi SocietyTHE FIRST UK KOI SHOWis the International Show at BillingAquadrome, although the Professional KoiDealers Association (PKDA) managed tostage another a few years ago.At one point in the early 90s there were40 Koi shows in one year, the majority ofwhich were run under the auspices of theBKKS. In addition to the YKS, the North andSouth Chapters of the ZNA in the UK haveboth been running shows since 1995 andcontinue to do so today. However, for thelast few years there hasn’t been an instancewhere both Chapters have held a show inthe same year, although I am reliablyinformed that 2007 will be different.EuropeThe fi rst European Koi show was hosted bythe Dutch Koi Society (NVN) in 1993 andwas benched and judged by members ofthe BKKS Judging Standards Committee(JSC). This show continues to thrive andhas the reputation of being the largestnishikigoi show outside Japan; it is nowrightly referred to as the European National.The now defunct De Vlaamse Koi Society(from Belgium) held its fi rst show in 1995,along with the German Koi Society (KLAN)who continue to hold their show annually. In2004 a new club called Koi2000, coveringBelgium and the Netherlands, arrived onthe European scene and started holdingshows right away.ElsewhereThe South African show scene began in1990; the fi rst South African Koi KeepersSociety (SAKKS) National show was held inJohannesburg with just 11 exhibitors but amassive 290 Koi. The Western CapeChapter was the fi rst to stage their ownTHE ALL JAPAN SHOWThere is a lot of confusion regarding theAll Japan Show. In Japan that titleactually refers to the National ZNA Show,whereas here in the UK we use it to referto the AJNPA (Shinkokai) Show, whichthey call The Combined Show. Theconfusion comes from the term ZenNippon (or Zen Nihon) which literallymeans All Japan. This phrase is used inthe title of several Koi associations inJapan, both hobbyist and commercial.The show we refer to as The AllJapan Show is actually calledThe Combined ShowPeter Waddington has many notable fi rsts inthe UK Koi hobby; so many in fact thatpeople often overlook his fi rst signifi cantcontribution to the hobby – landlord of thefi rst ever UK Koi show.show in 1994 and by 1997 all four of theChapters that now comprise the SouthAfrican show circuit were in full swing.Despite a ban on Koi in most states,Australia has a thriving scene – threeseparate Koi Societies (KSA, AKA in NewSouth Wales and KSWA in WesternAustralia) have been holding shows sincetheir inception and continue to do so today.EVOLUTIONIn the beginning…When that very fi rst show was put on in theUK there were no guidelines to work fromand no expertise to impart – it was purely acase of necessity being the mother ofinvention. The early show vats wereconstructed from sheets of polythenesupported by wire garden fencing. I doubtthat there was more than 1ft of water inthem, however it has to be said that the Koion show were by no means large. Judgingwas in its infancy too, with the earlypioneers playing it strictly by ear.Looking back with today’s perspectivethat early show might seem laughable, butlessons were learnt from that very fi rstexperience and, within a few years, theBritish Koi scene took on an appearancethat isn’t too far removed from today.The blue show vats all Koiclubs use today were firstintroduced to the UK in 1985June 2006 Koi 23Koi95_showbusiness_5sm.indd 311/4/06 1:51:52 pm

Koi showsAbove: BKKS judges are in great demandand their rigorous judging programme isenvied the world overBelow: Biosecurity measures, such as footdips and hand sprays, are now commonplaceat UK Koi shows and help protect the Koi andthe people handling them in the centre ringIn 1985 Infi ltration bought some blue‘Airinkai’ vats in Japan and introduced themto the show scene; they used to loan thesevats out to Sections for their shows. Butbefore long British manufacturers got in onthe act and now many Koi keepers havetheir own in case of emergency.Incidentally, many of those original Airinkaivats are still in use at Koi shows today.Judging standardsJudging also came under scrutiny with theBKKS adopting the rules of the Federationof British Aquatics Societies (FBAS) for awhile. But those rules were moreappropriate for judging fi sh in aquariumsthan in show vats so the BKKS set out tointroduce and develop their own. However,the legacy of those FBAS rules still lingerswith the term ‘benching’.Two very prominent participants of thatfi rst show, Val Frost and Peter Waddington,were among those that produced the veryfi rst set of BKKS Show Rules andGuidelines that still govern the majority ofthe UK’s shows today. They also played asignifi cant part in setting up the JSCfollowing the example of the hobbyists ofJapan (ZNA) who were the fi rst to set downshow standards and rules. In theintervening years the BKKS have modifi edtheir rules in accordance with the trends ofthis country. With some very minorexceptions, the rules of the ZNA and BKKSremain primarily the same.Health precautionsAlong with judging standards and showrules the BKKS began to stipulatemeasures associated with the welfare of Koiat shows. Due to an outbreak of SVC in1987, the English style of showing Koibecame the norm. Often criticised in somequarters as being ineffective, the biosecurityprocedures associated with it have stoodthe test of time, not to mention KHV, to theextent that they have now been adopted byboth the hobbyist and dealer societies inJapan. The procedures defi ned in thosedays are still the mainstay of those in usetoday – the main difference is the productsthat are used for disinfecting, and someattention is now being focused on the needsof Koi handlers with the use of antibacterialscrubs and disposable paper towels.TechnologyAdvances were not only the prerogative ofthe visible aspects of the show. Behind thescenes the original paper-heavy, labourintensivebenching administrationprocesses were rationalised, improved andthen eventually automated. My own Sectiondeveloped the fi rst piece of software in1991 that went on to be used in the UK,USA and Australia. The BKKS’s late, greatAndrew McGill developed the secondgenerationprogram that is used today andwhich has also travelled the globe.ReputationTime, and the associated efforts, havebrought dividends. The BKKS is respectedamong the rest of the world’s Koicommunity and every year the National,and even some of its Section shows, attractan increasing number of visitors fromoverseas. Our judges are in demand tooand its training programme is envied bymany whose show infrastructure cannotsupport such an intensive programme. Wemay have been overtaken abroad, whereshows attract more entrants, but we are stillkeeping ahead where quality is concerned.I don’t think it is a coincidence that the fi rstWesterners to win Grand Champion at theAJNPA Show were a pair of Brits whosefi rst successes were at UK shows.Hebetoo was bought withthe proviso that she wasshown at the UK National24 Koi June 2006Koi95_showbusiness_5sm.indd 411/4/06 1:51:55 pm

THE YORKSHIRE KOI SOCIETYThe Yorkshire Koi Society, although fi ercelyproud of their independent status, havenever baulked at combining with the BKKSwhen the hobby is under threat. Forexample, they have provided details of theirexperiences and fi ndings to the BKKS toassist in their negotiations with The PetLicensing Act, and they have also donatedmoney to the Ojiya museum appealfollowing the earthquake in October 2004.IMPACTJapanIf you have ever visited a Koi breeder closeto the time of a show you will be left in nodoubt that Koi shows are very important tothem. It’s a time to put their skills to the testand see how they compare with those oftheir counterparts. Obviously, the GrandChampion is the most prestigious award,but they are equally concerned over justabout every award in the show. In the lowerechelons breeders are seeing how their fi shof the future will fare, while also seeing whatother breeders are developing.Success at Koi shows drives thebreeders to improve the quality of their Koiand that applies to foreign shows too. It iswell documented that Cliff Neale, GrandChampion winner of the 2003 and 2005Nationals, was only allowed to buy Hebetooon the proviso that she was shown at theNational, and I have witnessed severalother Koi being sold in Japan under thesame terms and conditions. Showing is all(Zen) to the Japanese whether hobbyist,dealer or breeder.UKIn the UK, where serious breeding is onlyjust coming to fruition, Koi shows are moreabout promoting the hobby. Most Sectionshows hope to increase membership viatheir show and the members that man thestands will tell you that they spend most oftheir time answering queries about Koikeeping from the general public. I wasonce told that the ratio was 10 queries forevery member gained, which may not be aproductive ratio but any opportunity toeducate the public and promote good KoiAbove: The Japanese breeders see Koi shows as anopportunity to compare their Koi with othersBelow: Koi clubs will take every opportunity topromote their club to outsiders and will man standsto try and encourage new members to joinJARGON BUSTERAJNPA: ALL JAPAN NISHIKIGOIPROMOTION ASSOCIATIONAKA: AUSTRALIAN KOI ASSOCIATIONBAND: BRITISH ASSOCIATION OFNISHIKIGOI DEALERSBKKS: BRITISH KOI KEEPERS SOCIETYJSC: JUDGES STANDARDS COMMITTEEKHV: KOI HERPES VIRUSKSA: KOI SOCIETY OF AUSTRALIAKSWA: KOI SOCIETY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIANVN: NISHIKIGOI VERENIGING NEDERLAND (DUTCHKOI SOCIETY)PKDA: PROFESSIONAL KOI DEALERS ASSOCIATIONSAKKS: SOUTH AFRICAN KOI KEEPERS SOCIETYSHINKOKAI: JAPANESE WORD FOR AJNPASVC: SPRING VIRAEMIA OF CARPYKS: YORKSHIRE KOI SOCIETYZNA: ZEN NIPPON AIRINKAIA show is a great place to seehealthy, top-quality Koi ownedby Koi keepers like youkeeping practices can only be good for theKoi keeping hobby.A show itself can be equally educationalin terms of Koi appreciation and goodhusbandry. Only Koi in good health arepermitted in the show vats and anybodyinterested in showing Koi soon learns that‘benching begins at home’ and that it is intheir best interest to provide idealconditions for their Koi. Even those notinterested in showing get to see otherpeople’s Koi and get the chance to makecomparisons and observe how they do incompetition. Just like Japan, the UK showshave driven the hobby to the level it is.High-quality Koi at shows raise theexpectations of the hobbyist, which in turndrives dealers to supply the best and thebreeder to provide them. Keeping showqualityKoi drove the early Koi pioneers toinvestigate and develop methods andequipment to keep them in top condition –a very harmonious never-ending circle oflearning and progress; very eastern, veryZen, very Japanese.June 2006 Koi 25Koi95_showbusiness_5sm.indd 511/4/06 1:52:08 pm