Come delight in beauty of koi fish at show

GEORGE NEWS - For the first time since 2019, a koi show will be held in George. The show will take place at the Garden Route Botanical Garden in Caledon Street on Saturday 23 April from 09:00 to 16:00 and Sunday 24 April from 09:00 to 13:00.

Access to the koi show area will be through the garden's aloe gate.

And, seeing that retired George Business Chamber CEO Ingrid Cronjé has been elected secretary of the Southern Cape Chapter of the Koi Society, a member-driven club, the show is sure to go swimmingly!

Cronjé says it is expected that more than 200 of these beautifully patterned, colourful koi fish will be exhibited.

"Fish sizes range from 10cm to 80cm and are divided into various sizes and varieties. This enables the judges to select the winners in the various categories. This year's judging is headed by Mike Harvey, one of a few "non-Japanese" judges to hold a position as a certified ZNA judge, an international qualification," says Cronjé.

"Koi fish and other koi-related products will be on sale, and, for the first time, this year's show will be introducing a gold fish show section which will be judged independently from the koi."

Various food and craft stalls will add to the show's enjoyment.

What makes a show fish?

Koi are shown throughout the world, but the most prestigious and major amateur koi show is held in Japan. The koi hobby has grown to such an extent in South Africa that koi shows are held in five of the nine provinces throughout the year.

Koi are judged by the balance of various qualities - body shape, skin quality, depth of colour, the hue of the colour, swim pattern and general balance of pattern. In comparing one koi with another, using these guidelines makes it easy to see the standard and select the one that complies best with the preferred standard.

Their swimming pattern is elegant and many an author has described koi as living works of art.

Cool koi

Koi shows in South Africa are generally held during the cooler months of the year, This enables the koi to show a more lustful and deeper colour and their bodies are closer to the desired shape, which is achieved during the growing months.

All show koi keepers have their own little secrets in producing the winners - be it a special diet or covering the pond during the last two months leading up to the show to enhance the colours, or housing their fish in green water.

The pattern must be typical of the variety that is being judged. Being a koi keeper is a rewarding and pleasurable hobby - be it for competitive reasons or for the pure pleasure of enjoying the beauty and tranquillity that koi lend to their environment.

Koi are renowned for their vibrant colours.

Disease warning

Cronjé warns that koi keepers and enthusiasts should be very careful when introducing new fish into their ponds. "There is a disease called KHV which will kill all of your fish once introduced. It is necessary to quarantine your new fish prior to releasing them into your pond."

Invite

The members of the Southern Cape Koi Chapter would like to invite the public and other koi enthusiasts to visit the show. For more information regarding the show or joining the society, please contact Tommy on 082 370 4588 or Phillip on 082 851 6404.

Koi are graceful creatures.