Indisputable Oldenzaal victors
An overview of the major awards; the Major Awards European Koi Show 2025
Capturing the winners of the European Koi Show 2025 was no easy task. Not only was the weather not granting us any dry days, but the show coincided not only with the KoiCave show, but also with the PixelExperience, a photography event where my presence was also required – not to photograph fish but birds of prey – leaving us with the challenge of doing everything in 1 day. A difficult task when you know that traditionally it is always only at the end of Saturday before the stickers with the prize winners are announced.
Fortunately, my son Sem joined me this year and together we knew we would go far. The predicted came true; the prizes were not known until the end of the first day of the show. Still, we didn’t give in and since the other show didn’t start until 11:00 a.m. and I found others inclined to build the booth, I ventured the trip in the early morning with Sem once again. Getting there at nine o’clock gave us exactly one hour. Enough to get the Majors set up; that’ll have to do….
By 10:05 we had the best in avrieties and the best in sizes ticked off our list as well. It was exactly dry on arrival and everything was fine. Sometimes you have those days; it just adds up! Let’s start with the best fish at the European Koi Show; the Major Awards of the European Koi Show 2025.
Grand Champion A – European Koi Show 2025
Owner: Rob van Hulst Dealer: Interkoi Ameide
Only last year good for the Supreme Champion award at the same koi show, now after a super good development the Kohaku of Rob van der Hulst may take the Grand Champion title. Looking at this Kohaku from Matsue it is more than justified. By the way a great fact that not a Sakai Fish Farm Koi conquers the most important title as has been the norm at European Koi Shows for years. With 91cm and a body build to die for, Matsue has created something that – under the proper care of hobbyist Rob van der Hulst – has actually come true. Whether the fish has more in store – she is only in her seventh year of life – is almost a certainty with Rob. The hobbyist who views the Koi himself in Japan with Andre de Groot, who now heads Interkoi Ameide as dealer, also won the Grand Champion last year. The same fish was also present now, but thus swapped places with its consort.
________________________________________________
Grand Champion B – European Koi Show 2025
Owner: Interkoi Almeide Breeder: Izumiya Koi Farm
I also wrote extensively about this particular Yambuki from the same Andre de Groot that I also mentioned above in a previous article. it is an insane golden yellow rascal of size with a thunderous fukurin. Really smooth right! I haven’t talked much about the quality of the metallic, but this too is truly phenomenal and the scales run backwards in rows so satisfyingly. What is remarkable about this Yambuki is that for once she comes not from the breeder Izumiya, but from Momotaro who started a bloodline for Yamabuki 11 years ago by crossing it with a Karashigoi.
________________________________________________
Supreme Champion A – European Koi Show 2025
Owner: Rob van Hulst | Dealer: Interkoi Ameide | Grower: Sakai Fish Farm
There he is, last year’s champion; now good for second place and the Koi will not be ashamed of that. Anyway, it’s pennies from the left to the right pocket of the same owner Rob van der Hulst, but let’s face it; this Kohaku is still formidable, but the length growth in a single year from 8 centimeters to 91 centimeters and the accompanying proportional growth in body, just made the champion more imposing Beyond doubt.
I also saw it immediately when I looked in the barrel and I said almost immediately; “This year the tables have turned.” Still a truly beautiful fish to behold with especially so one perfect Odome; that last bit of white skin in front of the tail left behind by a good kiwa of the last pattern. Combined with the creative pattern that also makes it very difficult to show flawless Sashi and Kiwa, this Kohaku is a certain point-doubler in difficulty.
________________________________________________
Jumbo Champion – European Koi Show 2025
Owner: Raymond Woerts | Dealer: Mark’s Koi Feed
A mighty prize for a mighty fine hobbyist. I spoke to hobbyist Raymond Woerts and Mark Breedveld – dealer of koi under the banner of Mark’s Koi Feed’ – on the first day when the prizes were not yet known; or at least not all of them. It was very difficult to pass by this Mukashi Ogon and I am glad that it was our luck to get this Loch Ness monster in one photo. Indeed, it was still not easy for the huge animal to glide straight through the water without making a turn.
Raymond Woerts from Deventer is the happy owner of this Koi that Mark Breedveld purchased through Ryuki Narita. She was bred by Sakai Fish Farm and after purchase continued to grow at Narita Koi Farms for one more year. Last year this fish won the Grand Champion B. The Yamabuki had to forfeit that prize, but the Koi was praised for its quality. In pure length there was another bigger Koi, but the Jumbo Champion is not a benching prize, where the award automatically goes to the biggest Koi, but a jury prize, where it is actually the best biggest Koi that gets to pick up the award.
________________________________________________
Mature Champion – European Koi Show 2025
Owner: Raymond Woerts | Dealer: Interkoi
She flicks it! The Kohaku who already appeared in an article because in my opinion only because of a carp pox she had to pass up a major award in 2024, now makes good on her promise. On the Saturday I was already talking and we thought she had not won an award after all. When it turned out that she had won the title, euphoria was complete for both Raymond and Mark. A wonderful reward after one year of good care and proof that the Koi and also the hobbyist is not a one-day wonder!
________________________________________________
Adult Champion – European Koi Show 2025
Owner: Rob van Hulst | Dealer: Interkoi Ameide
The third grand prize for Rob van der Hulst is the Adult Champion. This Kohaku is a very traditional distinctive Kohaku, namely a sandan Kohaku or in other words a three-stapper. Important in the harmony of this fish is the shoehorn on the head. That drawing ideally rounds off just past the eyes as is the case with this Koi and the pattern runs smoothly over the shoulder to meet again in front of the dorsal fin.
Not bulk not blurry
The second pattern covers the entire area of the dorsal fin and the last covers the tail section. Ideally this one would have stopped a little earlier, but again there is nothing wrong with this. What else is important at a show and what becomes even more important in the Kohaku class where you observe such traditional patterns; is the Sashi and Kiwa. Small errors in these have an immediate effect on the balance of the fish.
You can see that the Sashi is very well cleared and also the Kiwa has a nice rounding in some places, but in other places it is still somewhat confused whether the Kiwa follows the debt line or cuts it. What it should not be in eider is blurry. The proportion of the body of this Kohaku play nicely, by the way. The fish is still young and not bulk, but excellently proportioned!
________________________________________________
Young Champion – European Koi Show 2025
Owner/Dealer: Interkoi Ameide
This photo really does not do the Koi justice; the Kinginrin Kohaku is both Kinginrin as well as Kohaku high quality. It has to be; otherwise you do not get a major award in the Kinginrin class. Like the Adult Champion, this Kohaku also has a very traditional sandal pattern. This Kohaku however, also has a very good odome. The red is deep and intense and even. Also this Koi comes from the box of the successful Interkoi group at this show which is putting down an insane performance. They are purveyors of no less than 7 Major Awards in Oldenzaal; an unprecedented achievement.
- Grand Champion A – supplied by Interkoi Ameide
- Supreme Champion – supplied by Interkoi Ameide
- Mature Champion – supplied by Interkoi Netherlands
- Adult Champion – supplied by Interkoi Ameide
- Young Champion – supplied by Interkoi Ameide
- Senior Champion – supplied by Intafuit
- Grand Champion B, private koi from Andre de Groot
________________________________________________
Baby Champion – European Koi Show 2025
Owner: 𝐓𝐨𝐫𝐛𝐞𝐧 𝐞𝐧 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞:
Hobbyists Torben and Brigitte did take a very shimmering specimen. Even taking a picture that displayed the detail well proved difficult, as this black and white gem has so one good ginrin that it even reflected all the light from the flash to glare. Fortunately, at a certain angle we did manage to get and ginrin clearly visible and the quality of this Shiro Utsuri, as the black and white and pattern and body are also there to be seen on this rather young fish. Good for the highest honor possible for this Koi at this show; the Baby Champion! you can not only express your respect for the quality of this fish at the moment, but may as well talk about the future of this fish that also seems to have a nice tenware in store for us.
________________________________________________
Senior Tategoi Champion – European Koi Show 2025
Owner/Dealer: Intakoi Fuit
A special mention was made at the show for Wiechert of Interkoi, who won a prestigious prize with an exceptional showa. Particularly noteworthy was his foresight: even before the jury had pronounced its verdict, Wiechert immediately designated the entered fish as a tategoi; a koi that has already developed to a high level, but still carries room for further refinement and growth. His keen assessment proved correct and underscores his years of experience and deep-rooted expertise within the koi world. This award not only recognizes his efforts, but also continues the rich awards history of Interkoi, which has won similar accolades many times before.
________________________________________________
Junior Tategoi Champion – European Koi Show 2025
Owner: 𝐑𝐨𝐞𝐥 𝐕𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐞𝐫
Stay tuned for more….
Thanks of KoiQuestion for the cooperation of this contemporary historiography and capturing these winners goes out to Patrick Beld and the organization as well as former KoiQuestionair Bas van der Hulst who was active as a volunteer. It was tof again nes to stand together at the barrel to photograph.
