2023 KOI SHOW INFO

meet the judging team

Mike Frady (Head judge)

I have been in the hobby since 1995 when we built our first pond. The first attempt was a pre-molded plastic pond which we put in as a water garden. This led to two subsequent versions, each gaining in size and complexity. The current pond has 10,000 gallons and the focus is solely Koi Keeping.

I am a member of the ZNA Potomac Chapter

I am a member of the ZNA Potomac Chapter (2002) and have served as Club President since 2006. I have served as Co or Show Chair of ZNA Potomac since 2007. I have written articles for newsletters, given presentations at community functions, helped at Koi Shows of other clubs, and coordinated numerous club events in the past. I coordinated the All ZNA Event at Quality Koi in New Jersey in April 2015.

I am a ZNA Local Certified Judge. I was approved for entry into the program in 2011 and was certified in 2013. I am currently a Certified Judge in the American Koi Judges of America group, where I serve on the Judging Committee that oversees the group. I have judged at shows all across the US.

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Jason Guevara MD

Mike Frady (Head judge)

I am originally from Hayward, CA where my Dad was an original member of the first koi club in America the Golden Gate Carp Society. I first attended the first koi show in 1972 and have been hooked on koi ever since. I am triple certified and formed the ZNA Carolina Koi Chapter. I have been fortunate to have won many awards including the last NC Koi and Watergarden Show where I had the Grand Champion, Reserve Champion, Mature Champion and Adult Champion. I am honored to be able to meet koi kichi from all over the world and love to teach about koi. The best part about keeping koi is the wonderful friends you meet. I am Married to the most wonderful woman Mary Ann who supports my koi hobby and my daughter Haley already has an excellent eye in selecting her koi.

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Gerald Ellison (Trainee judge)

Born in Japan and grew up in Taiwan; Gerald has always had an affinity towards Koi. When Gerald had an opportunity to finally build a pond 5 years ago, he seized the opportunity, and thus his Koi hobbyist journey began. Incorporating many learned lessons, Gerald has built his second pond leveraging modern mechanical filters with trickl

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Bill Story

Gerald Ellison (Trainee judge)

Announce coming events

We are so excited to provide the absolute BEST deals on Koi, Plants and Hardgoods!
We will have some great vendors including:
Food Trucks:
Oink & Moo, Nana's Pizza, and Q-Bros Ice Cream & Italian Ice
Vendors:
Evolution Aqua, Koi Trips, Techo Bloc, Hikari, Microbe Lift, Atlantic Oase & More!
Hourly Raffles with GREAT Prizes! Tosai Koi, Nisai, Koi, Sansai Koi
A KOI TRIP TO JAPAN
Special Guests from Japan!, Kids Activities, LIVE Music, Koi Auction
and so much more!

Judging Koi

What are the judges looking for at a koi show?

Each koi is judged on its merits the day of the competition and compared to the group of koi exhibited at that specific show. Judges review conformation, quality, pattern and overall impression. Koi appreciation takes into account all elements. It is important to know that judging criteria continues to evolve in the world of koi keeping.

Conformation is the shape or structure of something, particularly in reference to animals. Koi conformation evaluation includes:

the shape of the body,
the shape of the finnage,
the shape of the head,
relative proportions.

Quality is evident in the appearance and texture of the skin. The white areas (shiroji) exhibit no yellowing and have an appearance that can be describer as “lustrous”, “translucent”, “luminous”, “soft”, or “youthful”. Colored areas exhibit an even tone throughout the body. Forward pattern edges (sashi) demonstrate no more than two scales of blurred coloring. Trailing pattern edges (kiwa) should look sharply cut.

Pattern takes into the account of typical markings for a specific koi variety. The pattern should be pleasing and fit the koi based on its size and shape. Judges look for balance and refinement within koi patterns.

Overall impression includes the deportment of the koi. How is the koi behaving in the show tank – alert, swimming well, interest in surroundings.

Many koi shows will include a “judges tank walk” during the show where evaluation of koi appreciation points are discussed. You may also be able to ask judges some specific questions about your koi. Learning how koi are evaluated will enhance your abilities to appreciate koi beauty.