Grand, Supreme and Mature Champion Europese Koi Show 2024
A unique thing has unfolded in Oldenzaal where hobbyist Rob van der Hulst not only gets to take home the Grand Champion award, but also the runner-up prize with also a Kohaku from the same barrel. Yet it didn’t end there either as the vessel consisted of three living jewels; a third Kohaku graced the flanks of those other two red-and-whites. And this one did not underperform either and may have the Mature Champion noted in the prize list.
With this, the hobbyist manages to secure the three main gosanke awards with three fish in the same barrel. An unprecedented achievement. Qualitatively, I very much agree with the jury report. The Grand and Supreme were close together. The Beni of the Grand is strong, deep and red. The Supreme again has better shiroji and overall gloss but really has some beauty flaws. In that view, it will have been a jury consideration.
The choice for the Mature went between The Kohaku and a Sanke from barrel 50. There were some other koi that qualified, however, that were still a lot smaller and either had a flaw like secondary hi in the tail fin and another Kohaku had an inflamed anal fin, something that most visitors don’t see, but that still counts.
The fish come from Sakai Fish Farm and Matsue Koi Farm. Previously, Rob van der Hulst managed to win the same show once with a Kohaou by Yamatoya. We hope to speak to Aron today and learn more about the fish and his preparations.
The Trimurti can still be admired all day during the European Koi Show at the Oude Almeloseweg 11 in Oldenzaal.
