This year the South African National Show was held at the Gateway shopping centre, on the beautiful KWA Zulu Natal Coast just north of Durban. The venue is excellent,

affording easy access and excellent facilities, plus (most important) lots of curious visitors!

 On this occasion 510 superb Koi were presented in 

44 vats for judging on Saturday 25 July. Nine sizes are used in South Africa, the larger sizes incrementing as 7, rather than 10cm, with a top size of over 75cm. Best in each size awards are made, as well as Baby, Junior, Mature, Jumbo, Reserve and Supreme Grand Champions. There are also special awards for a Grand Champion and Jumbo  ‘B’, taken from non Go-Sanke varieties, five Best Potential or Tategoi awards and, finally, a Best in Special Variety, which changes each year. This year Shusui was named special variety.

Supreme Grand
Champion went to a magnificent 81cm Sakai Sanke

demonstrating outstanding skin quality, owned by Paul Coetsee, who also won Grand Champion B and Best in Special Variety with an exceptional Shusui. Reserve Grand Champion went to Roy Pillay, for a superb two-step (nidan) Kohaku.

It is always a great pleasure to judge this show, renowned for the excellence of it’s organisation and hospitality as well as the quality of the Koi. On behalf of all the judges, I would like to say a huge thank you to Mike Harvey and his willing team of volunteers for making our visit to Durban so special.

Kate McGill, Koi judge