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Written by Mike Snaden
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Wednesday, 07 October 2009 00:00 |
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Yes, it's that time of year! On Monday morning (12th October) I will be flying out to Japan, where I will reside until the 19th of November. The Autumn trip for Yume Koi is always a long one, because we don't just go out there in search of 'any old Koi', we go out in search of only the very finest, and from excellent Jumbo bloodlines. This means often having to go back to breeders repeatedly to see certain harvests, so that we can choose before anyone else even sees the Koi!
As you are no doubt aware, Yume Koi's reputation is built solely on selling Koi that can grow to Jumbo, and then making sure that the owner can achieve the Koi's full potential, with many of our customers Koi now having been grown in the UK from Tosai or Nisai, to 80+cm, and several to 90+cm. These achievements have earned us a fantastic reputation amongst breeders, and this is why we so frequently managed to obtain many breeders 'Kashira' (literally the absolute best single fish of the season). Such Koi as these are more often than not hidden away in secret fish houses, where they are offered to clients on an 'invitation only' basis.
The breeders who's Kashira we have sourced in the past, include...
Igarashi
Matsue
Momotaro
Okawa
Omosako
Takeda
Takigawa
Yamamatsu
Yamatoya
The breeders I will be visiting this Autumn, will include (Niigata area) Dainichi, Hoshikin, Igarashi, Murata, Yamamatsu. (Chugoku area) Matsue, Momotaro, Omosako, Takeda, Yamatoya. (Kyushu area) Okawa, Ueno.
On the 18th of November, I will also be attending Momotaro's auction. Having been buying from Momotaro since 2000, and having spent three consecutive Summers at Momotaro learning about breeding/culling, we are in an unrivaled position when it comes to understanding their bloodlines development traits and possible pitfalls. If you have any interest in any of the Koi previewed on Momotaro's website please don't hesitate to drop me a line.
We also have a new 'Videos' page, which can be found under the 'Media' menu. Please browse these at your pleasure.
If you would like to get additional news updates whilst I am in Japan, please subscribe to our Newsletter, which can be found under the 'Media' menu.
Best regards, and most importantly... Enjoy! Mike.
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Yume Koi Tategoi Challenge 2008/2009 |
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Written by Mike Snaden
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Thursday, 13 August 2009 00:00 |
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It's about time we released the outcome of our '2008 Tategoi Challenge'
Pictured above are the winning Koi, and the prizes taken. On the top row, the middle pic is the overall winner owned by John H, bred by Takigawa Koi Farm. To the left of this, was the second winner, owned by Tom C, bred by Matsue. On the right, is the 'Sub 700' winner, owner by Chris P, and bred by Yamatoya.
The second row of pics, is of the prize Koi that were chosen by the owners of each of the winning Koi above them. So, the prize Koi chosen by Tom C, was a 35cm Takeda Kohaku. This Koi was the absolute best that I could find (irrespective of price) from all of Takeda Koi Farm's best Tategoi. The Koi chosen by John H, was a 38cm Okawa Kohaku, of which both he, and us, have high hopes. Chris P chose another Yamatoya Kohaku as his prize.
Our Tategoi Challenge Gallery is still not complete, but if you wish to see the outcome, then subscribe to Koi Nations Magazine, and get the issue containing all of the results. The gallery will be updated over the next week or so.
In the Spirit of the 2008 Tategoi Challenge, we will be holding a 2009 Tategoi Challenge! If you have already bought a Tosai from us this Spring, don't worry, it already qualifies! But, this year there will be only two prizes... 1) Unlimited, and 2) Sub £700. The prize offered up next Spring is any one of our Tosai up to the price of the original purchase, and a maximum of £2000. Unfortunately, we have had a massive run on Tosai this Spring, so have very few Koi left for sale. The closing date for 2009 purchases/entries is 31st July. We hope that our Tategoi Challenge of last year, and this, will demonstrate both now (and over coming years as the Koi grow) how important the subtle difference of 'Yume' Koi makes when the Koi are grown up. In the future, we hope that you will realise that our 'expensive' Koi are in fact extremely good value for money.
Here at Yume Koi, we have been undergoing many changes. Some are very subtle, and some are relatively major. These changes are in order that our ponds run through this coming Summer with the optimum of performance, resulting in the best Koi we have raised to date. We are confident that these changes will make a huge difference to the reults this coming Autumn. Of course, time will tell.
Should you be interested in any Koi, please make the effort to come and visit, even if you have no intention of buying from us. We promise to make you feel welcome, and without any expectation of a purchase! We are confident that you will be impressed, and we have over 150 Koi here, many of which are not on our website. Such a collection of Koi cannot be found anywhere else in the UK.
Many thanks, and best regards,
Mike
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Yume Koi BKKS National 2009 |
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Written by Mike Snaden
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Monday, 06 July 2009 00:00 |
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We would like to congratulate John Hellens, for winning Jumbo Champion with a Yume Koi Momotaro Sanke that we purchased as Tosai, and sold to John as Yonsai. John has raised her to around 92cm at 7 years old, and we think that she has a chance to become the first 1 metre Go-Sanke in the UK in the future.
Secondly, we would like to Congratulate Dave Dallison for winning Young Champion with a lovely Kohaku that we sold to him when low price Tosai of 23cm. He has grown her to 55cm, and she still has a rosey future ahead of her.
We would also like to congratulate Rob Robson for winning Baby Champion with a low price Tosai Kohaku. We also hope that Rob's Kohaku will fair well over the coming year or so with his excellent keeping skills.
The downside for us... We missed Adult Champion with a 'once in a lifetime' Kohaku that won a second in size at the All Japan Show this year. The general consensus at the BKKS was that this Koi was 'unbeatable', and many described her as the one Koi in the Show that they would like to take home. But, alas, she only got a third in variety. Hey ho, we can't be too gready! ;-)
For us, the BKKS National was excellent! We met many happy clients there, and hopefully picked up some new ones. It was for us, one of the most 'fun' nationals we have ever had.
The water at the Show was up to its usual high standard, though I have heard comments that the pH was too high, and that surely water could have been 'tanked' to the Show in better spec. This kind of train of thought is ludicrous, as the pH 'out of the tap' is irrelevant, as it is the KH and sunshine that will dictate the pH once in the vats. Even shipping in softer water would have made no difference. To my mind, the water team did an excellent job, and deserve gratitude rather than criticism.
As for the picture at the top of our newsletter, from left to right 'Jumbo Champion' 92cm Momotaro Sanke, 'Young Champion' 55cm Yamatoya Kohaku, 'Baby Champion' 31cm Kohaku, and our contender for 'Adult Champion' which won 2nd Best In Size in AJS 2009
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Written by Mike Snaden
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Saturday, 09 May 2009 00:00 |
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The next bit of news, is in relation to the Momotaro auction on May 27th. I had a long sneak preview of these Koi last Saturday, and they really are wonderful, especially the Sanke. I have to say, that they look nothing like the photos that Momotaro have emailed. Some are far superior to these photos, and unfortunately, some are not as good. But, all in all, these, I think, are Momotaro's best auction Koi to date. If you have any interest in these Koi, please don't hesitate to drop me a line. Our extensive knowledge of their bloodline is second to none, having imported many of them since 2000, and watching them grow to up to 90cm+ in the UK. A nominal commission fee of 10% applies, but for this, you get extensive guidance of the Koi in question, and if we don't like the Koi in the flesh, we don't buy it just to get your commission!
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