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Show Chairman's Update - May

So the National show is almost upon u, I think I will be glad when its all over and I can have a rest for a few months before we start working on next years show  [And a winter show in-between].

I went to the Koi Magazine forums open day at Cuttlebrook Koi farm a few weeks ago, and also attended the Koi UK open day, It was nice to hear so many people saying that they were looking forward to the New National show. One guy came up to me and asked maybe a cheeky question, ‘How much do you get paid for running the National, and what job did you do before doing it? I had to laugh and replied ‘I do it for free, and its all done in my spare time time’, he thought it was a full time job, sometimes I think it is !!!

 

But things are now almost complete and its time to start building up the show.

On the Monday before the show we have to get out all the equipment from the containers and start to clean the show vats, these have to be scrubbed and then rinsed off before assembling in their position forming the centre ring and then the large water holding vats are also built and filled.

This year we won’t be waiting for the marquee’s to be built, so things should run more quickly but we do have to do things a bit differently from Newark.  Running the electrics, and water feed pipes ‘above’ ground then building the lighting frame above the vats, doing this shouldn’t take too long, as it’s been done before at the ‘Winter show’ and it should be a lot quicker than at Newark were we had to dig a trench for these which took almost a day to do, using around 4 guys.

The water changed from the exhibition vats whilst the show is running, used to be pumped into holding large vats then pumped to drains on the outside of the show arena, but this year it will be simpler, with open drains within the centre ring, so no double pumping and no long lengths of pipe-work to contend with.

So now it really all begins !

The dealers and craft dealers will start to arrive on Friday morning along with the first of the exhibitors bringing their koi along.  I will go home Thursday evening [ I stop in the helpers hotel all week during the build] because I will have to get up at 6am to start bagging mine up, as I am showing my koi again this year, and I need to be back at the showground as soon as possible.

Warning !!!   I advise people coming from the South up the M6, to use the Toll road as the motorway becomes very busy on Fridays around Birmingham, not doing this could easily add an extra hour onto your journey so £3.50 well spent. Going home will not be a problem.

As exhibitors arrive, they will be directed to the hall, they will then register with the benching co-ordinator and be given their vat numbers. They will then drive into the hall and unload their vehicles as quickly as possible, before being asked to park up outside once this is done so as not to block the one way system around the exhibitor vats.

Benching of the koi will be done in order of arrival, with all exhibitors expected to be present when their koi are benched.  The Last koi accepted into the show will be at 8pm, this used to be 10pm but we then found that we weren't finishing completing all the benching and paper work till gone midnight to get things sorted for judging on Saturday morning.  Some of us do want to have a beer and a natter back at he hotel before the bar closes, well I do !!!

So by Saturday morning everything and everyone should be ready for the show to begin.

The dealers and manufacturers stands will be complete, the koi clubs who are having a stand will be sorted, all the koi in the show vats will be ready for judging.

I’m not sure how I will feel early Saturday morning, as the doors are about to open, maybe quite excited, but nervous with it.

I think Saturday will be a very busy time for those working at the show and I would like to thank everyone who has helped and supported this event.

Judging will take all day to complete as there are 8 size categories with 13 varieties of koi in each.

The lecture theatre will be running non-stop for both days, so listen to the announcements on the PA system or look for the Theatre notice board for the full line up of speakers.

Then Saturday evening we have the Dinner Dance to enjoy, and relax a little, this is held at the show ground in the magnificent ‘Ingestre suite’.

The Dinner Dance is always a fun evening, and this year, we will announce all the champions with the evening being a celebration of the magnificent koi on show at the National. If you aren’t coming along on Saturday evening, then you will be able to check out, for the first time, all the winning champion’s  by visiting the website at 10pm Saturday night.

Then Sunday will soon come around, some of us with thick heads, and all the results will be on the vat boards for everyone to see clearly [ I hope ]. Remember these boards will be at the front this year.

Hopefully we will have a massive attendance, as people will want to see what is so different this year at Stafford.  Quite a few new ideas will be put into action to entertain everyone.  Don’t forget to buy plenty of the Evolution Aqua Super Raffle tickets giving you a chance to win some massive prizes, look out for the girls selling these, or you can buy them from the EA stand.

Upstairs, the restaurant and bar will be open throughout the weekend offering quality food and plenty of drink, bet you see me there checking up on things quite regularly  lol

It would be nice to see you all there at some point over the weekend showing your support for the event, come and say ‘hello’ to me and tell me what you think of the New BKKS National Show.

Here’s a few pictures from last year to wet your appetite.

See ya there

Martin Barnett [Mushio]
National show chairman