In June this year the Annual BKKS East Pennine open koi show took place and Paul Wheeldon was there to give us an insight into all the action.

This year was going to be a very special show for all concerned as it was the East Pennines 25th open koi show held at its ever popular venue, Elsecar Heritage Centre in Barnsley, South Yorkshire.
The East Pennine koi show is now one of the not to be missed shows on the koi calander for exhibiter and hobbyists alike.
This year was made even more rewarding as we had a total new show chairperson in the form of Dave Andrews and a new show committee including Sandra Webster (show secretary) and Sarah Allison (show treasurer) who had spent numerous hours organizing this years show and they did a splendid job and we wish them all the best of luck in the future organization of our koi shows.
We started on Wednesday afternoon by getting all equipment out of the container, vigorously checking it all before finally starting to get down to cleaning and sterilizing the vats, sterilizing all the benching equipment, checking the airlines then getting the airlines and most of the lighting in place.
Then came the setting up of the vats in their dedicated places ready for the water.
This was Wednesday taken care of, and early Thursday morning we were back to finish of lighting, and get water in the vats ready for the exhibiters koi arriving on Friday afternoon.
Friday morning saw the final preparations to the show venue with the section stand being readied with the various array of trophies, also we saw the start of the dealers and craft stands coming together ready for the anticipated customers on Saturday morning.
With an ever increasing membership list there wasn’t a shortage of helpers willing to assist where required, a special thank you goes out to these helpers as, without them there would be no show possible.

Benching commences
The fish started arriving Friday evening from those exhibiter’s that wanted to give there koi more time to get settled in, Benching is always an important part of the show and the process could start to get underway by exhibiters checking in with the administration team who would then allocate them there vat so they could get there koi floated.
Upon release the benching team then could get down to inspecting the koi, measuring and putting them in their size and show class before finally photographing them.
Saturday morning saw the remaining exhibiter’s koi being benched ready for the judging to commence at midday.
The dedicated benching team consisted of Bill Ennis, chief benching officer, Paul Wheeldon, Vicky Glossop and administration team of Ann Birkett, Betty Koerner and Karen Riley, photographs were taken by Sue Ennis.
The BKKS judges for the day arrived during Saturday morning and after benching was complete they got down to work, there objective was 30 vats with a total of 152 fish.
The JSC provided 3 full time judges which on the day where Gary Pritchard, Alan Coogan, and Heather Payne, assisting them was trainees, Allan Tait, Dave Perry and John Anderson.
The judges split into their teams and being the high standards on show it was evident they had there work cut out.
Sunday morning was an early start again with plenty of jobs to be attending to such as uncovering the vats and the water team starting there essential role in looking after the koi by performing water changes and essential water tests as well as vat maintenance and koi security,
Special thanks go out to Karl, and the rest of the water team who where Mick, John, Malcolm, Barry, Alaric, Paul and Steve for all there dedicated hard work they had undertaken throughout the weekend.

Keeping safe
As you all are aware the animal welfare act came into force this year, to comply with this and keep the conditions as near to OATAS water quality parameters we had the BKKS Health Standards committee on hand all weekend.
The HSO officers where there to monitor the exhibiter’s fish monitor the water quality and bio security measures were implemented.
They were also on hand to answer any questions from the general public.
The East Pennine Koi Society is complying with any animal welfare act and by implementing them we are caring for any animal health issues and there can’t be anyone that would disagree with the new safety measures being put in place.

Prize winners
The standard of koi improves every year and this year was no exception.
With the exhibiters heading for their prospective vats to see how their koi had faired in the competition, it was a jubilant Robert Robson that was smiling the most with his beautiful size 6 Takigawa Sanke taking the covereted Grand Champion award.
This year there was also a special friendship award being presented from our very good friends at the North East koi club and this went to a beautiful Hikari Muji owned by Sue Ennis, and presented by Robert Robson on behalf of the North East koi club.
Also grabbing top prizes and a friend of the East Pennine section was, Paul Williams taking Supreme Mature Champion with his size 6 kohaku and 1st size in variety 5 (Best in variety irrespective of size ) for his Tancho showa. Baby Champion went to Phil and Beryl Maxey with their stunning now size 2 showa for a second consecutive year running.
The Section would also like to thank all the sponsors, dealers, exhibiters and visitors who helped make it another successful East Pennine open koi show, We would also like to thank, Mark Gardner/ Nishikigoi TV for coming to cover the event for us on Sunday and presenting an award.

Bringing the curtain down on 2007
Soon it was time to bring the proceedings to a close as it was time for de-benching, dealers to start to pack there stalls up, and the dismantling of the show.
There were a small number of East Pennine members that stayed behind to empty the show vats and clear the whole area just as we previously found it.
Congratulations go to the show chairman and all his team for putting on an excellent show, with a really impressive display of top quality koi and I can honestly say that there where no poor koi on display or shouldn’t have been entered, and the weather holding out over the weekend was a bonus too.
I would like to take this opportunity to also thank all the previous show committees for their dedication and hard work that they have put in over the years which enabled us to get to 25 years of BKKS East Pennine shows. Here’s looking forward to our 30th anniversary.

For those of you that didn’t attend this year you missed an exceptional show so make a note for 2008 as its sure to be even better.

Thank you for all your support from the BKKS East Pennine koi section.

Show Results

Champions

Grand Champion Rob Robson - Sanke
Mature Champion Paul Williams - Kohaku
Adult Champion Barry Thompson - Sanke
Young Adult Champion Alf Pearson - Showa
Baby Champion Phil & Beryl Maxey - Showa
Jumbo Champion Dave Andrews - Kawarimono
Best Doitsu Martin Barnett - Sanke
Chairman’s Kujaku Alf Pearson - Hikarimoyo
New Award
North East Friendship Award  Sue Ennis - Hikari Muji

Size Within Variety

Kohaku
Size 1
1st Dave Pope
2nd Dave Pope
3rd Dave Pope

Size 2
1st  Barry Thompson
2nd Dave & Pam Thompson
3rd Dave Pope

Size 3
1st Dave Pope
2nd Barry Thompson
3rd Dave & Pam Thompson

Size 4
1st Alan Peppercorn
2nd Rob Robson
3rd Dave & Pam Thompson

Size 5
1st Paul Williams
2nd Dave Pope
3rd Dave Pope

Size 6
1st Paul Williams
2nd Dave Pope
3rd Dave & Pam Thompson

Sanke
Size 1
1st Steve Rowntree
2nd Steve Rowntree
3rd Toni Stuckley

Size 2
1st Dave & Pam Thompson
2nd Rob Robson
3rd Paul & Viv Horsecroft

Size 3
1st Dave & Pam Thompson
2nd Dave & Pam Thompson
3rd Debbie Clark & Paul Greenwood

Size 4
1st Phil & Beryl Maxey
2nd Martin Barnett
3rd Sue Ennis

Size 5
1st Barry Thompson
2nd Paul Williams
3rd Rob Robson

Size 6
1st Dave & Pam Thompson
2nd Alf Pearson
3rd Dave Marchbank

Size 7
1st Rob Robson

Showa
Size 2
1st Phil & Beryl Maxey
2nd John & Lorna Cooper
3rd Sue Ennis

Size 3
1st Dave & Pam Thompson
2nd John & Lorna Cooper
3rd Alan Peppercorn

Size 4
1st Alf Pearson
2nd Dave Pope
3rd John & Lorna Cooper

Size 5
1st Martin Barnett
2nd Paul Williams
3rd Dave & Pam Thompson

Utsurimono
Size 1
1st Paul & Katrina Wheeldon

Size 3
1st Dave & Pam Thompson
2nd John & Lorna Cooper
3rd Malcolm Sargent & Karen Riley

Size 4
1st Wayne Taylor

Size 5
1st Phil & Beryl Maxey

Bekko
Size 1
1st Paul & Viv Horsecroft

Size 3
1st Phil & Beryl Maxey
2nd Phil & Beryl Maxey

Tancho
Size1
1st Dave Andrews
2nd Paul & Viv Horsecroft

Size2
1st Barry Thompson
2nd Paul & Viv Horsecroft

Size 3
1st Phil & Beryl Maxey

Size 4
1st Alf Pearson
2nd Wayne Taylor

Size 5
1st Paul Williams
2nd Paul & Katrina Wheeldon

Gin Rin
Size 1
1st Alan Peppercorn
2nd Paul & Viv Horsecroft

Size 2
1st Toni Stuckey
2nd Toni Stuckey

Size 3
1st Martin Barnett
2nd Malcolm Sargent & Karen Riley
3rd John & Lorna Cooper

Size 4
1st Sue Ennis

Size 5
1st Paul & Katrina Wheeldon

Koromo
Size 1
1st Steve Rowntree
2nd Toni Stuckley

Size 2
1st Sue Ennis

Size 3
1st Dave Marchbank
2nd Dave & Pam Thompson

Size 5
1st Dave & Pam Thompson
2nd Dave Marchbank

Asagi / Shusui
Size 1
1st Toni Stuckley

Size 2
1st Paul & Viv Horsecroft

Size 4
1st Paul & Viv Horsecroft
2nd Sue Ennis
3rd Alan Peppercorn

Hikari Utsuri
Size 1
1st Paul & Viv Horsecroft

Size2
1st Toni Stuckley
2nd Dave & Pam Thompson

Size 4
1st Barry Thompson
2nd Rob Robson

Hikari Muji
Size 1
1st Steve Rowntree

Size 2
1st Debbie Clark & Paul Greenwood

Size 4
1st Dave Marchbank

Size 5
1st Sue Ennis
2nd Wayne Taylor
3rd Dave Andrews

Hikari Moyo
Size 1
1st Dave Andrews

Size 2
1st Toni Stuckley
2nd Barry Thompson
3rd Debbie Clark & Paul Greenwood

Size 3
1st Barry Thompson

Size 4
1st Dave Andrews
2nd Wayne Taylor

Size 5
1st Rob Robson
2nd Alf Pearson

Kawari Mono
Size 1
1st Dave Andrews
2nd Toni Stuckley
3rd Toni Stuckley

Size 2
1st Debbie Clark & Paul Greenwood
2nd Barry Thompson

Size 5
1st Malcolm Sargent & Karen Riley

Size 6
1st Paul & Katrina Wheeldon
2nd Rob Robson

Size 7
1st Martin Barnett
2nd Dave Andrews

Best in Variety Irrespective of Size
Kohaku Paul Williams
Sanke Barry Thompson
Showa Martin Barnett
Utsuri Mono Wayne Taylor
Bekko Phil & Beryl Maxey
Tancho Paul Williams
Gin Rin Sue Ennis
Koromo Dave & Pam Thompson
Asagi / Shusui Phil & Viv Horsecroft
Hikari Utsuri Barry Thompson
Hikari Muji Sue Ennis
Hikari Moyo Rob Robson
Kawarimono Martin Barnett

Size Irrespective of Variety
Size 1
1st Dave Pope
2nd Alan Peppercorn
3rd Paul & Katrina Wheeldon

Size 2
1st Phil & Beryl Maxey
2nd Barry Thompson
3rd Toni Stuckley

Size 3
1st Dave Pope
2nd Dave & Pam Thompson
3rd Dave & Pam Thompson

Size 4
1st Alf Pearson
2nd Alan Peppercorn
3rd Phil & Beryl Maxey

Size 5
1st Barry Thompson
2nd Paul Williams
3rd Martin Barnett

Size 6
1st Paul Williams
2nd Dave & Pam Thompson
3rd Dave Pope

Size 7
1st Martin Barnett
2nd Dave Andrews