I've just received the show report for this year's Ireland Koi Show which took place at the beginning of August. Seeing the report took me back a couple of years to the summer that I paid a visit over there to check out the hobbyist scene.

I had a fantastic time in the Emerald Isle, but I must say it was exhausting. Me and my workmate, Adam, left for Bristol airport at about 5am on the Friday before the Show. By the time we'd arrived, checked in, got on our flight, checked out and picked up our hire car in Belfast, it was about 10am. We drove straight down to visit a few dealers – CM Koi in County Armagh and Craigavon Aquatics just down the road. After a cup of tea and a visit to a newly built pond, we then headed down towards Templepatrick to meet Billy Cathcart from the Ireland Koi Section.

We then had a whirlwind tour of four different hobbyist ponds, all of which were fascinating. Although we managed to take a break for some food, it was pretty much non-stop all day until, finally, we arrived at our B&B at about 11.30pm. Talk about knackered! The rest of the weekend was filled with the Show, and with enjoying the company of this fantastic band of Koi kichis.

 I don't think I'm remembering it with rose-tinted glasses when I say that the hospitality was second-to-none. We were so well looked after by everyone that it was quite disappointing to have to go home! I'm really pleased to hear that this year's show went down so well, and am only sad that we couldn't be there...

Beckie Rodgers, Editor