Hi,

I can't access the National thread on this forum so a preview of the National Koi Show at Cresta this year is posted under Gauteng.

There are 710 koi entered into this years National Koi Show. Plus 24 dealers have taken stands.

I had a quick visit early this morning and took these pictures. They were very busy preparing for the benching and the dealers were setting up their stands.

Enjoy.







Maria-Anna and Raj perparing the documentation before benching


Helping hands with the admin

Ek verneem die National GC en RGC kom beide vanaf Durban uit die dam van Dream Koi. Baie geluk Paul en Karl

Hi,
Some more pics from the show -




The Grand Champion - truly breathtaking .. one of the most beautiful Sankes I have seen


Reserve Grand Champion


Japanese Ambassador

Hi Chris
Just want to thank you for making the trouble to take pic of the nataional adn to share it with us. I appreciate it as I would of so much like to be there.

Roy

Hi Chris,

Thanks for the awesome photos, the show was very well put together. Should of got a shiro utsuri from knysna koi farm anyway

Got two very nice showas and one tancho showa How was the turn out on Saturday, I went quite early and the show seemed a bit quite.

The Sanke really deserved grand champion!! also loved the three stepped kohaku

Can't wait for the baby koi show in September!!!

Thanks again Chris

Hi Chris

The Tancho, is the owner Kevin Harrison?

Anyone with some pictures of the Supreme winners

Wow!!! What an experience!!

I am totally wiped out, but it was a really good show.

We wanted to break the record this year but unfortunately that did not happen and 596 fish where benched for entry by the close on friday.

Even though the numbers were down, the quality was Waaaaaayyyyy up and the competition was extremely tight.

Eventually Paul Coetzee(Sanke) won the Grand Champion prize and Carl Engelbrecht (Kohaku) won Reserve GC, Aggie Won Jumbo GC.

It seems that a great time was had by all and it was great catching up with old aquintances again, it was also awesome meeting some of the chaps from the forum. Alas due to my organising commitments i did not really have much talk time, but still its was really nice meeting you chaps.

It was also an honour for me to meet and spend time with the Japanese Judge Mr Hayashi, and was really interesting discusing Sanke and Sumi with him given the limited language we shared, his english is pretty good actually.

A signal honour was escorting and showing the japanese Minister (Minister, Deputy Head of Mission) Mr Sakamoto around on Sunday Morning before prize giving, i truly am hounured at being able to do this and learnt alot from it in the process!

Thatnks to everyone who put in such a huge effort to making this show the resounding success thatr it was.

Hi David

I am sure you all are very wiped out. I cannot name any one I can only say very well done to you all, You have made us proud.

Thank you

What a great show!



I arrived on Thursday evening late from the airport and David Coetzee (Treasurer of SAKKS) and Maria Anna (Secretary of SAKKS) were waiting for us to give access, and they gave us a very warm welcome.

Within about 10 minutes after arrival, my pond was setup by them in the dark and my fish were floating and after another 10 minutes they were swimming around.

By the time I unpacked the car, there were nothing else for me to do. Maria Anna can probably setup one of those show ponds in her sleep.

I was really impressed by the warm welcome and thanks to all, especially David, Maria Anna, Bruce from Loolilocks who helped us out with oxygen, Colin Nel from Orient koi who even offered to fly some of our koi back to Cape Town and Neville who was there for us all the time. There are really a lot of generous people up there and I will be back next year.

The koi was also of a very high standard.

Supreme Grand Champion: Sanke



Reserve Grand Champion: Kohaku

Chris Neaves wrote:

Hi,

I can't access the National thread on this forum

Hi Chris, I have fixed the problem and moved it to Nationals.

We can not allow Gauteng to get all the credit.

Well done to the winners!

The show was awesome. It was the first time I attended a national show and I must say it was well worth the visit. Dragged the wife along who really didn't want to go, but ended up enjoying it as much as I did.

Came home with 12 new babies as well.

Some more photos:

Two South African Judges, Rene Schoenmaker and Mike Harvey, with David Coetzee on the left taking photos.



The International Judge explaining why they have chosen the Sanke as Supreme Grand Champion.

Hi All

Japanese judge was explaining the reason why the Sanke was better
his comment was that the white on the kohaku was not good enough
I am on the photo (white cap)

The white cap on the first photo?????

hahahah Paul.....you pipped me to that one!!!!

Some more photos:

Costa Jackson from the forum and myself on the left and to the right Colin Hunt and his wife Alta with Neville at the back.


Jan Olivier, one of the contestants of the Sakai growing on from the forum with his wife.




Jumbo grand champion:


Neville enjoying the beer I promised him if he visit our stand. I am still waiting for my sandwiches he promised. LOL
Next to him, Collin's wife, Alta Hunt.

Hi David

how many koi were entered?

710 or 596 just was curious.
Thanks
Anver

Hi anver,

596 where entered.