Highlights from the 2025 BKKS National Koi Show
In the UK, we’re fortunate to host some of the longest-running koi shows outside of Japan — and none more established than the BKKS National Koi Show.
It’s always an honour to support this fantastic event. This year, we took a large dealer stand and brought along a great selection of high-quality koi. A big thank you to everyone who stopped by! You kept us incredibly busy all weekend.
A Huge Thank You to the BKKS
Congratulations to the BKKS for putting on another superb show. Year after year, the event goes from strength to strength — both in terms of organisation and the quality of koi on display.
A top-quality show, great koi, and ice cream too? That’s a winning weekend in our books!
We are a family run business and we were flat out all weekend — answering questions, showing off our koi, and catching up with familiar faces. Thanks to everyone who stopped by!
Customer Success at the 2025 Show
For hobbyists, winning at the level at the BKKS National Koi Show is no easy feat, so it’s always a proud moment when koi from our farm help customers win. We have a great track record in that area - see these blogs for awards won with our koi at the previous 2 shows: 2024 BKKS National Koi Show Awards, 2023 BKKS National Koi Show Awards,
We’re delighted to share that three of our customers achieved fantastic results at this year’s event:
🥇 1st Place – Asagi/Shusui Size 6
Steve Williams
Steve purchased this Asagi from us as a nisai, and he’s grown it on exceptionally well. Now in Size 6, the koi impressed with its superb body shape and overall development.
🥇 1st Place – Koromo Size 6
Matt Savage
Matt’s Budo Goromo, bred by Tanaka Kazuo, was originally one of our own brood females. We’ve since stepped back from breeding Ai and Budo Goromo, which gave Matt the opportunity to acquire her. It’s fantastic to see her performing so well under Matt’s care.
🥇 1st Place – Asagi/Shusui Size 2
🥉 3rd Place – Kohaku Size 2
Mark Lester
Mark continues to impress with his koi keeping skills:
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His Asagi won 1st place in Size 1 at last year’s show, and has now taken 1st in Size 2 this year. This kind of progression is exactly what the old ‘Master Koi Keeper’ award used to recognise — showing that a koi can not only maintain, but improve in quality year-on-year. While the BKKS may no longer run that programme, we believe Mark has certainly earned that level of recognition.
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His Kohaku earned a 3rd place finish out of 23 entries in its category — a remarkable achievement, especially considering that in the smaller size classes (1–3), pattern is weighted heavily. This Kohaku won on the strength of its body shape, skin quality, and colour, with pattern being its weakest element. That speaks volumes about the koi’s underlying quality and Mark’s husbandry.
Mark originally purchased the Kohaku from us last year as a Marudo tosai, and while it didn’t place in shows back then, his development work over the past year has clearly paid off. With continued progress into Size 4 and beyond, this Kohaku may have even greater things ahead.
Final Thoughts
These successes are a testament not only to the quality of koi we supply, but more importantly, to the dedication and skill of our customers. Seeing them thrive at national-level shows is what makes our work so rewarding.
We’re already looking forward to next year’s event — and to seeing how these koi continue to grow and develop.
Congratulations again to Steve, Matt, and Mark — and thank you to everyone who visited our stand and supported us over the weekend.
