Elite Koi Spring Photo Show 2025: Full Results & Highlights

Elite Koi Spring Photo Show 2025: Full Results & Highlights

The much-anticipated Elite Koi Spring Photo Show 2025 brought together koi enthusiasts from across the UK and beyond, each showcasing their finest specimens in an atmosphere full of passion, community, and artistic appreciation. Judged by an expert panel featuring Paul Mac (BKKS Yorkshire Section), Joe Mitchell (The Koi Perspective), Tiebo Jacobs (KoiQuestion), and Rob Rice (Elite Koi Group Expert), this year’s event was a true celebration of the hobby.

From striking Showa to rare Ki Bekko, this year’s competition was fierce, diverse, and packed with standouts. Below, we highlight the winners from each category along with some very special awards.

🏆 GoSanke Category

🥇 1st Place: Ben Stephenson – Kohaku
A masterfully balanced nidan pattern, praised by Tiebo Jacobs for its stunning odome and even beni. Though young, this koi shows compositional strength and serious potential for future growth.

🥈 2nd Place: Jim Richardson – Showa
With powerful motoguro and an expressive head pattern, this koi impressed for its strength and visual rhythm.

🥉 3rd Place: Maggie Whitman – Kohaku
An elegant example with sharp contrast and traditional beauty, earning it a solid place in the top tier.

🌟 Non-GoSanke Category

🥇 1st Place: Ben Strathon – Ki Bekko
Tiebo Jacobs described this koi as a "living Picasso." Rare, balanced, and with a calm aura, this standout Ki Bekko was the most decorated koi of the show.

🥈 2nd Place – Non-GoSanke

Exhibitor: Michael Knudsen
Variety: Goshiki

Judge’s Commentary (Tiebo Jacobs):

“Magnificent. Both the photo quality and the koi itself. Clearly a male—but that doesn’t make him any less valuable. You can tell by the pectoral fins, the intensity of the colors, and the overall body shape.

What a stunning Goshiki, with that fire-red beni and those dark ‘storm clouds’ gathering from the belly up to the dorsal line, giving the red areas the push they need to truly pop. The head is beautiful, with a black nose and a nice, long profile—excellent mehaba.

Yes, the body is a bit on the slender side, and that does weigh against you at shows. But outside of that, I genuinely see show-quality here. The fact that the pattern isn’t very prominent on the back half of the body? I’ll gladly accept that. Do you know how rare it is to see sumi show such restraint, letting the red remain untouched and clean?

I actually love the playful variation along the left side, where each scale starts with a black line, fades from deep blue to light blue, and sometimes even turns white before the next heavy line begins. Add in that beni as the fifth element and you’ve got the perfect representation of the word Goshiki—five colors.

The pectoral fins shine nicely; yes, there’s a bit of black in one and not the other. Sure, we prefer symmetry, but anyone who wants to nitpick about that will never get a discount from Elite Koi again. Deal, Chris Jubb?”

🥉 3rd Place: Tony Macadam – Beni Kumonryu
Dynamic sumi contrast and expressive coloration earned this entry well-deserved recognition.

🎨 Single Colour Category

🥇 1st Place: Ashley Rice – Ginrin Karashigoi
This koi shone with a radiant golden hue and Ginrin sparkle, creating an immediate visual impact.

🥈 2nd Place: Brian Sparks – Chagoi
Earthy tones and a calm, powerful body shape gave this koi classic appeal and strong pond presence.

🥉 3rd Place: Bek Macadam – Soragoi
Soothing and refined, this Soragoi exemplified balance and simplicity.

✨ Metallic Category

🥇 1st Place: Dek Webster – Beni Kikokuryu
A bold and brilliant koi with high contrast sumi and intense metallic luster.

🥈 2nd Place: Trevor Cleal – Mukashi Ogon
With its rich bronze tone and strong build, this koi impressed with old-school elegance.

🥉 3rd Place: Paul Whitman – Ginrin Purachina
Clean, crisp, and glowing with metallic brilliance, a true gem in the water.

🌟 Special Awards

🏆 Koi Perspective Award: Caroline Strathon – Matsukawabake ("Black Diamond")
Awarded by Joe Mitchell for its unpredictability, elegance, and monochrome artistry.

📏 KoiQuestion Award: Ben Strathon – Ki Bekko
Tiebo Jacobs praised this koi's noble proportions, clarity, and future potential—a double winner!

🌟 The Road to Grand Champion 2025

All award-winning koi from this show will now move forward to the Elite Grand Champion Event, where the Elite Koi Community will vote to select the overall winner from the Spring, Summer, and Autumn Photo Shows of 2025.

Stay tuned for updates and your chance to help choose this year’s ultimate champion!

Share the joy of koi. Join the conversation on social media using #EliteKoiEvent and #EliteKoiCommunity.

Let us know your favourite koi in the comments or tag us in your own koi appreciation posts!