Winning Koi - The Junior Koi Show 2025

World of Nishikigoi
8 hours ago
4 min read

Well, that’s it, the koi show season in the UK is now over for 2025! Luckily, the Birmingham & West Midlands Koi Society put on a great Junior Koi Show for enthusiasts to enjoy, and it served as a brilliant finale.

Since launching the Junior Koi Show last year, the BWMKS has worked hard to improve the show and increase attendance. Being at the end of the season means you have to fight for your audience. On the one hand, people are koi-showed out and short on cash after a busy summer of shows and spending. On the other hand, one wants to encourage people to indulge before we face the cold months of winter, whilst highlighting the bargains that koi dealers are prepared to offer at this time of the year. There’s more work to be done in that regard for the koi show season and how it ties into the koi industry and attendee numbers, but those are thoughts for another day.

The atmosphere at the show was excellent (as ever), and many new attendees I spoke to commented on what a lovely venue it is. The club have landed on their feet after a stroke of bad luck at their previous spot. The space is light, airy and totally undercover, which is perfect for October!

The standard of koi on display was high, and the consensus was that the exhibitors had upped the level from last year. The koi looked very well prepared for the show, and the vat water looked spot on with the cooler temps. Hats off to the exhibitors and the water team!

As I said last year, I'm thrilled to see this format return. I think it's a great addition to the UK show calendar, and exhibitors seem to mirror those feelings. I’m aware there will likely be a change of show chairman for 2026, but I hope the event goes from strength to strength. Look out for it next year and get behind it! But enough waffling, let’s look at some koi!

Congratulations to everyone involved - it was a brilliant weekend for the hobby.

Presenting...

The Major Awards for The BWMKS Junior Koi Show 2025

*Dealer and Breeder info to be added as it comes through to me

Junior Koi Show Winners 2025 — Major Winners Sponsored by FD Food and Kiyomizu

Grand Champion

Owner: Simon Ellis

Sanke // 58cm // Tamaura // Queni Koi

Size Five Champion - Junior Koi Show 2025 - kohaku

Size 5 Champion

Owner: Simon Ellis

Kohaku // 59cm // Momotaro // Satomi Nishikigoi

Size Four Champion - Junior Koi Show 2025 - Sanke

Size 4 Champion

Owner: Kierian & Laura Bird

Sanke // 49cm // Tamaura // Koi Water Barn

Size Three Champion - Junior Koi Show 2025 - Showa

Size 3 Champion

Owner: Ron Tyler

Showa // 45cm // Isa // West Midlands Koi

Size Two Champion - Junior Koi Show 2025 - Sanke

Size 2 Champion

Owner: Mark Lester

Ginrin Sanke // 35cm // Oya // Shosha Koi

Size One Champion - Junior Koi Show 2025 - Kohaku

Size 1 Champion

Owner: Mitch Pope

Kohaku // 22cm // Maruyama // Kaizoku Koi

Grand Champion B - Junior Koi Show 2025 - Shiro Utsuri

Best Non Gosanke

Owner: Mark Bottomer

Shiro Utsuri // 60cm // Ogata // Shosha Koi

Champion Koi - Junior Koi Show 2025 - Kohaku

Future Potential Award (Liam Bess)

Owner: Mark Bottomer

Kohaku // 54cm // Matsue // Shosha Koi

Note: To my surprise, I was asked by the show chairman (Mike Gould) if I would select the Future Potential Award. Mike explained the winner would receive an invite to the show in 2026, and should they return with the fish that won the award in 2025, they would have their vat fee waived as an extra prize. Mike finished the explanation with - "No pressure, Liam!"

I took the time to view all the vats, inspecting potential candidates, and after much faffing about, I landed on this Kohaku. I felt that if her body shape is controlled, the beni refines further (sashi & kiwa), and she appears in a similar show-ready condition next year, with another 10cm, she could be chasing GC. Simple but refined is always a lethal show combo! That was my thinking, but who knows what the future holds!

Champion Koi - Junior Koi Show 2025 - Kohaku sanke

Show Chairman's Best Vat (Vat 18)

Owner: Mark Bottomer

Champion Koi - Junior Koi Show 2025 - ginrin showa

Best Newcomer

Owner: John Williams

Ginrin Showa // 47cm // Sakuma // Shirley Aquatics

Note: While John was not awarded the prize for a specific koi, I thought it would be nice to ask him which was his favourite koi in the vat and feature that - this Showa was John's choice!

Champion Koi - Junior Koi Show 2025 - Tancho Kohaku

Best Tancho

Owner: Simon Ellis

Tancho Kohaku // 51cm // Dainichi Toyota // Shosha Koi

Champion Koi - Junior Koi Show 2025 - Shusui

Best Doitsu

Owner: Tony Morris

Shusui // 37cm // New Forest Koi

Champion Koi - Junior Koi Show 2025 - Sanke

FD Food Award (Mike Hughes)

Owner: Lee Hadfield

Sanke // 49cm // Sakai Fish Farm // Exclusively Koi

Champion Koi - Junior Koi Show 2025 - Asahi

Kiyomizu Food Award (Mike Hughes)

Owner: Kev Sayers

Asagi // 61cm // Yagenji // Shosha Koi

There's more: In addition to the Size Champions, the BWMKS decided to ask the Judges to award a runner-up in 2025. Of course, there is always a runner-up, the koi that just missed out on the Major Award, but this time, they have been named and acknowledged. The AEKS did the same at their Junior Koi Show in 2022, and I think it's a great touch.

The big bonus is that the koi were so well behaved at this show, I had time to shoot some extra photos, which never happens! Detailed below are the Runner-up awards for each size champion. Congratulations everyone!

Presenting...