Over the past decade several clubs constructed especially designed koi ponds across the state and stage a series of roving agility matches. The championships are held at the premier koi facility of the North Florida Koi Club, outside Jacksonville.

Keepers from across the SouthEast bring koi of all sizes housed in large portable ponds to these matches. Once introduced to the agility pond the koi have 20 min. to accomplish several feats in order. Points are awarded for the number of feats done, how close they are done to the prescribed order and speed. As in horse or dog trials, time faults are awarded for missed stations or ones done out of order.

The tasks are: swimming through a 1 ft pipe with a right angle turn; ringing a bell by either pulling a rope dangling in the water or simply jumping up and hitting the bell; pushing a glass koi ball between two goals; negotiating several obstacles in a shallow section only inches deep and finally jumping through a hoop suspended above the pond.

Owners cannot enter the water, but can use floating or sinking food to encourage the desired behavior. Extremely pungent fish bait wrapped at the end of bamboo poles are also held out over the pond to help maneuver the fish.

Last year’s Grand Champion, Dicky Mobe a 22 inch Hi Shusui owned by Al G. & Hyacinth Ducwead set the all time

speed record with a perfect round in 6 min. 13 sec. She is currently ahead in points and is odds on favorite to repeat this year.

“The fish love doing their tricks and we love showing them off,” said Hyacinth. “You can tell they know when they’ve done well.”

“It’s not about the winning. It’s about the good people we meet and the competition. Our fish look better and take on a great sheen when they’re competing,” Al declared.