Roger & Heather's Pond	Roger at home with club member Nick	Roger & Heather, Worthing Show 2007	Roger & Heather Worthing Show 2008	A dream come true - harvesting koi in Japan (Photo by Mark Gardner)	Roger in Japan - Autumn harvest (Photo by Mark Gardner)	With children during koi harvest in Mushigame, Japan (Photo by Mark Gardner)

Posted 14th September 2011

Members Outing to Kennet Valley - NEW DATE

Seats still available on coach for Sunday 18th September 2011 leaving 8am from Tesco's Durrington.
Enquiries please phone our Treasurer Fred Brice on 01903 263211

or contact our Secretary Angie Watson on 01273 453771 (answer phone available).

Posted 22nd July 2011

Worthing Club Ambassadors Visit 'Up North' ! - (only as far as Cambridgeshire actually!)
 

Four intrepid members decided to spread the word to Koi dealers on a 'Boys day out' this week visiting four outlets including TC Koi, Koi Logic, Avenue Fisheries and The Japanese Koi Co. - Go to 'Photo's' Page to reveal who they were!

Posted 22nd July 2011

OCTOBER 2nd CLUB MEETING: CHANGE OF VENUE - New Worthing closed show

For the October meeting only, a members only Worthing closed show will be held alongside the normal meeting at Angie & Steve Watson's house. If you would like to show you will need to bring with you a Bowl &  Net Cover and you may enter up to 3 fish up to size of 12 inches or (30.05cms). The Classes will be Go-Sanke, Non Go-Sanke, & metallics. Oversize will be excluded.

The show will be judged by a BKKS Judge and the Trophies will be awarded on the day.

Clean water and oxygen will be supplied to take the fish home
Please would you let Angie or Maggie Lidbetter know if you will be taking part in the show.

THE CLUB MEETING WILL TAKE PART AS NORMAL AT ANGIE AND STEVE's 2.30pm

We look forward to seeing you on the day. Please come as this hopefully will be and annual event.

Further information contact Steve Watson on 07860824857

Sunday 25th September 2011 is our Autumn Auction. Koi & dry goods only - sorry no goldfish

East Preston Scout Hall, The Street, East Preston, West Sussex, BN16 1HY 

Arrivals 10am. Viewing from 11am

 Auction Start time is 12.00 noon.   Bidding tickets £2.
 

For further details contact Steve Watson on 01273 453771 (answer phone available)

Posted on http://www.niigata-nishikigoi.com on 17 Mar 2011 - 14:12 by Mark Gardner

Help the victims of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami

By keeping Nishikigoi every Koi keeper around the globe has an intrinsic connection with Japan.
Since the disaster began to unfold last Friday afternoon there have been assorted messages on bulletin boards around the world, ideas to raise money, etc, etc.

As a Koi community with many many direct links to Japan and Japanese people surely we can do more to help people as a matter of urgency.

I popped in to see Shintaro this afternoon to learn from Hiromi san that he had driven to the earthquake hit area to take blankets. As you may have seen snow has closed in on the affected area where 100's of thousands of people are homeless living in makeshift accomodation, living on the floors of school buildings, just as the victims of the Chuetsu earthquake did in 2004 as winter closed in.

Just 200km people are without basic provisions, water, food, and bedding. Shops here in Niigata are still full of such items.

As I wrote the other day, since the occurence of the disaster I've not really not what to do to help.

With your help I'm prepared to go and buy every blanket I can lay my hands on, every bottle of water, every cup noodle and get them to the people in the disaster zone.

Please post a link to this message everywhere you possibly can. http://www.niigata-nishikigoi.com/

We need to help these people in their grave hours, days and weeks of need ahead.
 

Posted 6th December 2010

AGM Meeting  December 2010

Election of Officers and Committee took place with a few changes. New details can be found on our 'Contacts' page.

There is no Shop/Store manager, Webmaster, or Social Secretary at the moment and Fred Brice will only hold the reins of Treasurer until April.

The club internal e-mail system is not operable at the moment.

Posted 12th October 2009

2009 FBAS Hayling Island Koi Show Results

 Congratulations again go to Mick Murray on winning Worthing Champion for a fourth time.   He won the other titles in 2004, 2006 & 2007.

This time it was with a size 5 Yamamatsu sanke supplied by Gatwick Koi.

 Grand Champion award went to MSB Section member Carl Davison with a size 6 sanke.

 Worthing & District members Maz Blondini, George Loft, Glen & Heather Moore and Peter & Jenny Loft also did well.

 Full results can be seen on the South Hants Section web site at:

 http://www.southhantskoiclub.co.uk/

 Our section members once again were the water team and a great week end was enjoyed by all.

Posted 14th September 2009

Visit to Wessex & Southern Koi Club 13th September 2009

  For the last coach trip of the year, club members had a great day out visiting the very friendly Wessex & Southern Koi Club.

  The Wessex weather was sunny and the ponds & gardens were a joy to see.

  We visited six homes with the last being in the garden of Pat & Elwyn Greenland which contained  some 'Sheep' and a pond containing a show stopping Beni-kikokuryu .

  Here we were joined by other Wessex & Southern members for a very enjoyable BBQ and raffle. 

  The great 'prize' of a Koi Nobori was won by Ron Cox!

  A full report will be in our next newsletter.

Posted 23rd August 2009 (Revised 7th September 2009)

Our Speaker at our 6th September Meeting

We were pleased to welcome Akemi Solloway (née Tanaka) who teaches Japanese at Ardingly College, Sussex, as well as doing lectures, cultural demonstrations, exhibitions and workshops for schools, universities, museums and societies all over the UK and Japan.

Akemi gave us a wonderful introduction to Japanese culture and even dressed our Maggie in a Kimono.
Akemi is the eldest daughter of an old samurai family, descended from the Karo of Iwatsuki Castle in the time of Lord Ota Dokan (1432-1486). Because she has no brothers, Akemi has a special responsibility to keep alive the traditions of her ancestors. The kanji characters that are used to write her name mean, 'bright and beautiful'.
For further details go to her web site at www.solloway.org

Posted 3rd August 2009

August 2009 Newsletter

Members will have received their August Newsletter by e-mail or by post.  If not received, please contact either Editor Phil Watts or Secretary Angie Watson.

The newsletter contains the Committee Minutes of 10th July which includes the announcement that our web master Brian will be giving up the position at the end of this year.

Any member interested in taking on the position of web master should contact our Chairman Phil Lidbetter.

 Posted 10th July 2009 (Revised 16th July 2009)

Visit of Southern ZNA to Worthing District 12th July
 

 A big thank you to all our members who opened their ponds, particularly Bernard Howlett for the Breakfast stop and Lorna & Brian Whipp for the lunch stop. George Loft again organised a great Buffet for our visitors in our Club house.

We look forward to the return trip to visit the ZNA ponds on the 2nd of August.

Posted 19th June 2009 (Revised 23rd June)

Report of the 'South Coast Koi Classic' Annual Open Show 2009

Once again our Annual Koi show the 'South Coast koi Classic' was a great success.   
 

The weather was just right and the setting in the South Downs must be one of the best in the Country.
Again many members turned out on the previous days to set up the show which was again erected in plenty of time for the show.

Thank you one and all for all your efforts!    With new storage facilities our show goes from strength to strength.

All the members who helped over the two days of the show were provided with Navy Blue Polo shirts that were partly funded by donations kindly received from Steve Watson, Alan Scopes and Brian Whipp.
 

Along with the crafts in the main Hall we had for the first time a Koi painting competition for young children.

This was very popular and prizes of toys were given to the first four and were judged by Heather.

First prize went to Oliver Evans age 5. Second was Cameron Lanborne.  Third was Brandon Mason age 11. Fourth was Mia Smith age 4.

This year our sponsored charity was 'Canine Partners' for which two competitions  were held.
For £1 a go, one competition was to judge which Koi would become Grand Champion at our Show from the Judges six nominees.
The other was to judge the order of six fish from the 'Price was Right' photo's taken from an old koi magazine.

The correct answer's winners were picked at random by a child from the public.

Winner of the small flat screen TV was Lorna Whipp. Second & Third with bags of koi food were Marion Blondini and Dave Harris respectfully.
 

This year a new Trophy was very kindly donated by member Sue Ravenhill who is also Secretary of the British Koi Keepers Society.  This award was presented to club member Gary Butterfield (pictured right) for having the 'Koi with the best potential'. Gary also won the Best Novice trophy.
 

This year the entire major Trophy's, apart from Baby Champion were awarded to non-Worthing & District members.
 

From 207 koi entered this year (34 up from last year) the Grand Champion award went to a stunning size 6 Sanke owned by Dave Pope (pictured left) a private entrant.

Dave is well known as active with the Cambridge BKKS Section.

His koi was up against a challenge from a wonderful size 7 Kohaku owned by Mick Preston member of the South East Section of the BKKS. After a long discussion by the judges the Kohaku was awarded Mature and Jumbo Champion.

Frank Chalke  a member of the Middlesex & Surrey Borders Section of the BKKS ran away with the most awards winning Adult, Young Adult, overall first in size 4 and 5 as well as second overall in the same sizes! Angie had to assist in holding the prizes for the photo!
 

Independent observers attending stated that the koi exhibited overall this year were the best ever seen at a Worthing & District show.
 

A certificate plus a pair of rubber gloves was awarded to Dianne Taylor for having the 'Randiest' vat.

There was no award for best Worthing member's Koi this year. But it would have been interesting to see who would have been 'Worthing Champion' between Chris Cooper  with his Baby Champion Kohaku (which unusually was a size 1) and Rod Taylor with a Kohaku which was best size 6 overall.
 

 Young Nick was also in the computer department this year helping his dad and Steve in overcoming the inevitable workload in collating all the details and getting results and koi photo's printed ready for the public.
 

Our grateful thanks go to Peter Robbins Chairman of the BKKS who presented the awards.

Show Secretary Steve Watson, Club Chairman Phil Lidbetter, Club Secretary Angie Watson and all the Show Committee deserve all our thanks for all the hard work in presenting once again a very memorable show.
 

Posted 16th June 2009

Worthing & District Koi keepers support the R.N.L.I.

  We are pleased to announce that at our Annual Koi Show on the 14th June held at Patching, Lou Purdy South East fund manager of the Royal National Lifeboat Institute accepted a cheque for £450 from our fund raising of 2008. 

  Club Chairman Phil Lidbetter and Secretary Angie Watson presented the cheque on behalf of our members.

  Lou was happy to accept the donation and thanked the club for all our efforts and assured us that it would go towards the building costs of the new Lifeboat Station under construction at Shoreham-by-Sea. She informed us that if all goes well, it should be completed by the spring of 2010

Posted 9th April 2009

Attention Club Members!
 

Would you like to take up a stall in our Crafts Section at our Annual show on 13/14th June? - If so, you can hire a space at the reduced rate of £10. For further details contact Steve on 01273 453771

Also, South Coast Koi Classic Trophies!

To those members who were presented with trophies last year, - you are asked to return them to Steve Watson as soon as possible for engraving so as to be ready for this year's show.

Posted 3rd February 2009

2009 All Japan Koi Show
 

   The 2009 All Japan Koi Show Grand Champion is a 92cm Showa owned by Mr Fujiki-San of Saitama and bred by Yamatoya.
     Shiraishi-san (Yamatoya president) sold this koi as Nisai and raised her to Rokusai (six years) in his mud ponds.
     After this, she went to the client's own pond. In 2007 she spent the summer in a breeder's mud pond in Niigata, and was one of the five

    nominated koi for GC at the All Japan Show last year (she was also in the running for GC in 2006).
     This koi was bred from a Takeda female, and Takeda males. This koi really is stunning!

 
     For full results go to  http://www.niigata-nishikigoi.com/blog. A free video of the Grand Champion can be seen by clicking Here

Posted 15th December 2008 (Revised 7th January)

Report of December 2008 AGM and Xmas Dinner Dance      Some small changes in Officers this year.  Brian Whipp was elected as Vice Chairman (position vacant) with Roger & Heather Payne being our new Public Relations Officers. Rod Taylor (who stood down as P.R.O.) has become a Committee member.  For a full list of the Committee go to the 'Contacts ' page.

The Dinner Dance this year was held as usual at the 'De Brock Suite' in Lancing Leisure Centre and was again a great success.   Many thanks must once again go to our Social Secretary George Loft for the superb arrangements.  
 

Posted 15th December 2008

Cold Weather Problems

Rod & Gerry Isted have just posted some vital help for members who's Koi can't cope with this winter's cold pond water!

Go to 'Fish Health' page to view.
 

Posted 13th November 2008

New Peter Waddington Web Site

He's back! Yes Peter Waddington is back on the Koi scene by launching his own personal web site.

The importance of 'Waddy' to our Koki hobby is well known.  For new hobbyist's who may never have heard of 'Infiltration' - a visit to his new web site is a must.  Log on to Koi Kichi and enjoy!

Posted 27th October 2008

FBAS Festival of Fish Keeping 12th October

Congratulation go to Glen Moore on winning the Worthing Section Grand Champion Trophy at the Hayling Island Koi Show. Full result can be found on the South Hants Section web site.

Understanding Asagi   Posted by Jim Reilly on Nishikigoi International  9th Oct 2008,

 The Asagi form of nishikigoi is an acquired taste. And over time, many come to appreciate the subtle blues, hypnotic scale reticulation and clear clean head that make the Asagi a quite beauty within the koi pond. The koi student however, appreciates the importance and place Asagi holds in the evolution of many of the nishikigoi forms of today.

 For beyond the pretty look of the color blue is a genetic mutation that is of the utmost importance to all color in koi – and not just black colored koi. Asagi is a refined version of a natural mutation arising from Asagi magoi. And like all of nishikigoi, Asagi represents not only a wild mutation but thru selective breeding, a concentration of several mutations in one animal’s skin complexity.

 Hopefully the koi student reading this has followed the various posts and magazine articles I have written through the past few years on koi skin evolution. If not, I will touch on the key points and then return to a specific discussion of Asagi----
 

 All nishikigoi arise from one of two fundamental mutations. 1) a black base or melanistic genetic form - or- 2) from a white based or leucistic genetic form. The second form being broken into true leucistic, true albino and dilute forms of color. This concept has been taught by ZNA for many decades now and is slowly entering the consciousness of western judging organizations of today. So as we begin to see varieties for more than just their color and pattern hopefully we then begin to appreciation subtle varieties like Asagi.
 

 Yet Asagi skin and color runs deeper that just this level of base color genetic mutation. Asagi is important to all nishikigoi because it delivers something more that deep melanin content. Asagi also PLACES those color cells DEEP into the base of the dermis. This is very different from wild carp skin that is all about strength and support of skin connective skin layers and scale, or the need for camouflage.

 Asagi represents color at depth and a complexity of skin that is not seen in the typical natural form. In Asagi, the color cells are located deep in the dermis and muted in black color intensity by lighter white ground color of the upper dermis. This is what produces the ‘blue’ look to otherwise black color within the deep dermis layer.

 And the depth of that color, along with the size and density of the sumi cells, is what gives our eyes an impression of sky blue, robin egg blue, grey blue, grey or navy blue. And MOST IMPORTANTLY, it is this orientation or location of deep color cells that allows higher evolved forms of nishikigoi to carry color of great depth and dimension in other colors such as red or beni. In the very best formed individuals, these beni cells are intensified as layers of color cells occupy an expanded dermis and epidermis layer so that color exists three dimensionally within clear transparent skin layers.
 

 Hopefully, next time you observe a good representation of Asagi, you will look at that individual with a new curiosity as you see the simplistic coloration and then look deeper into the soft blue skin as a complex miracle of two basic mutations that man has refined and transformed to many other varieties of nishikigoi.

Thank you Miss Asagi , you subtle beauty, you! JR
 

Posted 14th September 2008

Visit of Tendring & District Koi Club 14th September 2008

 Just when we thought there was no more summer to come, the Tendring koi keepers bought a lovely hot sunny day from Essex to the Sussex coast on Sunday!

 The warm day made for a very enjoyable visit with 25 or so club members following their coach in visiting 5 members ponds and gardens.

 It started with a breakfast stop at Steve & Angie Watson's in Shoreham where black pudding was served up together with the bacon sarnies!

 Second pond visited was in Shoreham at Brian & Lorna Whipp's and then on to Yapton for the lunch stop at Rod & Dianne Taylor's.

 It was then a drive back to Worthing to visit the home of Simon & Sandra who had completed their new 7,000 gallon koi pond after moving into their new home just five months ago!

 Final stop was at Heather & Glen Moore before returning to our club house for a very welcome tea.

 Many thanks are due to the members who welcomed us into their homes and to Angie & Dianne for the food preparation, also Jo, Lorna, Lyn and others members who attended in the club kitchen.

 We are keenly looking forward to our return visit to the Tendring koi club sometime next year!

 

Posted 9th September 2008

Visit to Heather & Roger Payne 31st August 2008

 Club members were invited to the home of Heather & Roger's Payne to view their koi ponds in Clanfield,Hampshire.

 We were given a lovely buffet lunch with the helping hand of Heather's mum who lives next door. both their homes are set back with wonderful gardens which they designed and planted themselves. The two koi ponds held some stunning show winning koi. Apart from a few light rain showers, the heavy rain held off for the concluding obligatory raffle.

 Thank you Heather and Roger for making us all very welcome.

Posted 12th August 2008

1st August 2008 Grow & Show Competition - Phase1

Members attended Steve & Angie Watson's home for the lucky draw and to take home to 'grow' and next year 'show' one of 25 tosai Shiro Utsuri's for a competition. The Japanese breeder of the koi was Masaki. They were supplied by Gary Smith of Gatwick Koi.

Posted 4th August 2008

Champagne Day out to the Chilterns

 We had a great welcome from the Chiltern Section on our visit to them on Sunday 3rd August. Five lovely ponds and gardens were open for us to see. At our lunch stop the owner first got us on a 'Treasure Hunt' around his spacious grounds. This included passing his birds of prey compound and statues of deer and a music playing Pan!

 The prize to the winner was a bottle of 'Lansen' Champagne!  Yours truly was the fortunate winner!

 'Worthing Coaches' driver 'Mitch' on his first trip with us drove through the narrow roads without mishap and joined in, even to the point of clearing up during the village Hall tea. He was rewarded by winning a cuddly toy for his daughter at the obligatory raffle.

 Chairman Phil Lidbetter thanked Bob Grinyer and his committee on behalf of our section.  

 Learning of the possible closure of the Chiltern Section, he thanked them for organising a wonderful day out and hoped that they can recruit more members to carry on the long tradition of 'Chiltern' hospitality!

Posted 24th July 2008

Club BBQ 18th July 2008

Member enjoyed a wonderful sunny evening club BBQ held at George & Olives home on Saturday 19th July. Many thanks go once again to George & Olive for their hospitality and thanks also to Ron & Phil in helping to cook & serve. It has to be said that the dessert's served up were out of this world and yours truly had to have seconds!

Posted 30th June 2008

Grand Champion for Bill Oakley at BKKS National 2008

Congratulations go once again to Bill Oakley for Winning Grand Champion at the BKKS National held at Newark Showground last week end.  The Koi, a stunning 12 year old Kohaku was also GC last year.

Bill also won Mature Champion and Adult Champion

This year for the first time size eight was introduced into the competition.

Full results will be posted shortly on the BKKS Web site.

Posted 10th June 2008 (Revised 30th June)

Worthing & District BKKS 'South Coast Koi Classic' 2008

A big thank you to all members in making our show this year a great success. Many member turned up to erect the show in glorious weather.

The competition in the larger Go Sanke classes was a highlight as well as the raising of much needed funds for the RNLI by way of a 'Guess the weight' competition of a prize winning Jumbo koi owned by Ron Cox.

Congratulations go to Trevor Childs of the South Hants Section in winning Grand Champion with a size 7 Kohaku bred by Takegawa.

Our section members Heather & Roger Payne won Mature Champion with Rod Taylor winning both Adult and Young Adult Champion.

Posted 16th October 2007

FBAS Festival of Fishkeeping - Hayling Island 2007

Congratulations to Mick Murray once again for being Worthing Koi Champion at this year's Festival of Fishkeeping Show.

For details of the Grand Champion and other results go to the South Hants web site

A big thank you goes to all our club entrants and to those who gave of their time to help put up and run what was the best ever 'Four Section Koi Show'.

Posted 14th August 2007

Another Great Day out - this time to Lee Valley & Harlow

  The Lee Valley & Harlow Koi Club welcomed us as their guests on the 5th August following their visit to us in May. The coach was nearly full and the weather again was gloriously sunny. We were all made very welcome with a breakfast stop at John & Avril's serving lovely bacon and sausage rolls. 

     We visited four other ponds belonging to David & Brenda, Brian & Jean, Ray & Diana and John & June.  Our grateful thanks go to one and all for for showing us their ponds and gardens! To finish off the day we had a very enjoyable buffet and met up with more members of the Club at St John's Art & recreation centre in Old Harlow.

  The coach driver (Worthing Coaches) commented on the way home that he had never enjoyed an outing as much before.  The friendliness he received by the Lee Valley & Harlow members and by us had never been experienced before!

Posted 15th July 2007 (Additional photo's 14th August)

Great Day out in Essex

The Club was a guest of the Crouch Valley Section on the 8th July.  A coach full of Worthing members travelled to Essex in glorious weather and visited six ponds and gardens. It started with a breakfast stop serving lovely bacon &sausage rolls, lunch stop in a wonderful Japanese style garden and the last pond owner presenting lady members with courgettes!

 The day ended with a high tea at a local village Hall. The strawberries were very tasty!

Thank you Crouch Valley for a wonderfully friendly and welcoming visit.  We will see them again on their return to Sussex on the 16th September.

Posted 1st July 2007 (Revised 3rd Sept 2007)

Report of Ist July Meeting 2007

At the last minute we learned that Ryan Coogan of 'Virasure' was unable to attend as our guest speaker because of business commitments.

Show Secretary Steve Watson reported on our Koi Show in June - the best ever. He wished to thank all who help set up, run and clear up after the Show. He also thanked those who donated prizes for the raffle - including Gary Smith of 'Gatwick Koi' who donated dry goods to a very high value.

Graham Thorne moved a vote of thanks to all who helped make a very successful Show. The meeting agreed to donate £200 to 'Canine Partners' our sponsored charity this year.

Angie Watson reported that there were still some spare seats for our Coach trip to the Crouch Valley Section on Sunday 8th July.

A 'free' video of our Show can be downloaded from our 'Show News' page courtesy of 'NTV'.

Posted 5th June 2007

We are pleased to announce that the Club will be supporting the charity 'Canine Partners' This year.

We will be doing this by collecting donations and giving all proceeds from a competition to be run at our Annual Koi Show on the 9th/10th June.

Canine Partners assist disabled people  to enjoy greater independence and a greater quality of life through the help of specially trained dogs.  As a registered charity they do not receive any Government funding and are wholly dependant on public donations and legacies.

 January 2006 meeting 

             The first club meeting of 2006 saw a presentation of a carriage clock to Phil Watts in appreciation of his services to the club over many years as its Vice Chairman and Public Relations Officer.

This was our second presentation in recent weeks. At our Christmas Dinner Dance Fred Brice had been similarly presented with a carriage clock on his retirement as Club Secretary.

Gary Hillier BKKS Judge stepped in at short notice to give us a two part talk and slide show. The first part examined photos in detail of some of the super Koi at the 2005 National Show.  It was intriguing to learn how our BKKS Judges come to their decisions.

The second part of the slide show was slightly delayed when the bulb in Gary's projector decided to give up!  A replacement club projector however was quickly found and the talk continued. "Koromo's and Goshiki's" was a detailed examination of all the varieties in this class with some world famous fish on view.  A survey of club members on Koi popularity before the talk had shown that whilst Showa was seen to be the first choice of members, Koromo/Goshiki was however the variety overall most popular.

Well done Gary!  Will be looking forward to your talk in November.