Part 2, Tuscon Koi Show

Following my October of 1998 business trip to the "Koi Mecca" of Southern California, my wife Cheryl and I finalized our plans to attend the Southern Arizona Koi Association Koi show in Tucson Arizona. Bill and Barbara Puckett were going to fly out there and back with us while we were to meet Chuck and Kimberli Downs in Tucson. Cheryl, the Pucketts and I left on a noon flight on Friday to Phoenix and were then going to drive down to Tucson.

The Tuesday before we left I called Henry Nakamura at Asahi Fancy Koi in Gardena California to arrange for him to ship my 5 new koi back to Oklahoma City. During the course of the conversation I learned that Henry and his darling wife were also going to Tucson for the S.A.K.A Koi show. Henry was gracious enough to offer to bring my 5 award winning Koi to Tucson for me. I was thrilled. Henry had helped me pick these fish out and the Kohaku that he recommended became "Best in Size" at the ZNA Orange County Show just 2 weeks earlier.

Friday finally came and Cheryl and I met the Pucketts at the airport. We were fortunately able to get another Oklahoma Koi Society member to baby sit our kids (Koi) and our 3 children as well. We found out that it was Barbara's first time to fly and we tried to comfort her throughout the flight with stories of bumpy flights and near crashed…I don't think she appreciated it either.

Upon arrival in Phoenix, I was disappointed to find that my cell phone was not in my suit case. We were delayed while I filed a report with the airline concerning the apparent theft of my cell phone from my suit case. (ed. note. He found it when he got home.) After picking up the rental car, we were off to Tucson. About two hours and a Burger King Whopper or 2 later we arrived in Tucson. I asked Bill Puckett for the directions to the show since I had given him the show packet 2 weeks earlier. Unfortunately, Bill had forgotten to bring the packet with him but assured me that he knew the way. You know what? We actually found the show without a single wrong turn. Way to go Bill!

After visiting the show site and learning where our hotel was at, we drove over to the hotel to freshen up. We found the Finnigans at the Hotel and I was excited to learn that Joan was to be the head judge with Bob being the assistant and Charlie Atwell as the candidate judge. Since I knew all of these judges and have always had the utmost respect for each, I knew that we were going to a great Koi show.

We went back to the show site and found Debbie Tibbets along with members of the Rocky Mountain Koi club from Denver. They graciously asked us to join them for dinner at a local Mexican Restaurant. A good time was had by all, especially those of us that had the margaritas. After dinner, it was back to the show site. By this time My fish had arrived from California and were in with the Asahi Fancy Koi. After visiting for a while, we retired back to the hotel and agreed to meet the Pucketts at 8:30 am the next morning.

Being that Phoenix is in a different time zone from Oklahoma City, both Cheryl and I were up with the first light. After watching the morning news, we decided that perhaps the Pucketts were already up also. So, at 7:15 am we went and knocked on there hotel room door. Oops, perhaps we were wrong. Bill was in the shower and Barbara was in curlers. Cheryl and I decide to go to MacDonlads for an egg MacMuffin while we waited to the appointed time, 8:30 am.

Upon arrival at the show site, Henry Nakamura and I got my fish bowled and entered into the show. While Cheryl and I were doing this, Barbara found a beautiful little Kujacku in Henry's vendor tank. For the next hour and a half Barbara tried to convince Bill to buy her that fish. If I had known that they wouldn't finally buy it, I would have. It was gorgeous! But alas, just before the show entry was closed, Jack Stone purchased this fish. Needless to say, Barbara Puckett was not happy. The judging started with the size 1 fish and the little Kujacku took 1st in its class, Barbara was practically in tears. Upon completion of all size one classes, the judges selected that same little Kujacku as "Best in Size". Now Barbara was really upset and Bill wasn't exactly happy either.

The size 2 fish were next and all of our size 2 fish took 1st place! I was ecstatic when the Judges picked our Shiro Utsuri as "Best in Size," even over our own Kuhaku that did so well at the ZNA Orange County show. Now it was time for the Judges to select the "Baby Champion" award. It was between the "Best in Size 1" Kujacku and our own "Best in Size 2" Shiro Utsuri. I almost wanted the Kuhaku to win, just so Cheryl, Barbara and I could give Bill Grief. But I was just as happy when our Shiro Utsuri won! I was hopeful that our Kuhaku would be "Bumped up" to Best in Size 2, but a beautiful Doitsu Showa won this award.

After the Grand Champion was selected, there were numerous other special awards. Our Kuhaku was is the running for the Judges' Choice, Male Champion and President's award but got edged out in each of these categories. It was selected as the Southern Arizona Koi Association's "Club Koi of the Year"! But after discussion were held and the rules reviewed, they were going to disqualify it since it wasn't a S.A.K.A. member's fish. Guess what? I am the newest member of the Southern Arizona Koi Association and a picture of our Kuhaku will be featured in the judging contest at the AKCA seminar in Costa Mesa CA this coming June. Bill started to tease me about buying an award. I reminded him that in fact he bought me the award since I had given all of my money to Cheryl just minutes earlier to go shopping and I had to borrow the membership dues from him.

Chuck and Kimberly Downs were also present during the judging and unfortunately had to return to Kimberli's parents house in Phoenix late on Saturday afternoon. At the awards banquet we found out that the little Kujacku won 4 major awards, and Bill looked a little green by the end of the evening.

Sunday was relaxing with a mini pond tour of 4 ponds located around the Tucson area. If you've never seen a pond in the desert, its worth the trip. I am happy to say that we only purchased 2 more fish in Tucson and they were much smaller (and less expensive) than the ones purchased in Southern California 2 weeks earlier.

Since my fish were at 2 shows in less than a month, Henry advised me that they needed time to recuperate. Henry Nakamura agreed to "board" my fish in Southern California for the winter. He also invited Cheryl and I to enter these fish into his private, by invitation only show in March of 1999. I guess Cheryl and I will be vacationing in sunny Southern California next spring!

Steve Childers