First Place: A This Shusui is one of the finest examples of a Hi Shusui we have seen. The Koi has excellent conformation on a very formidable frame. The attractive row of deep blue dorsal scales compiments the homogenenous crisp hi. Even the uneven incursion of hi onto the head, although unbalanced, is nevertheless extremely attractive. The escape from critisism is further reinforced by creamy white skull and unstained face and mouth. The motoguro on the pectoral fins is also very attractive. Minor demerits include two pin head shimmis, hi incursion into the tail, slight discoloration of the hi close to the dorsal line and the fact that the delineation pastel blue line would have been better if it had stretched the entire length of the dorsal line. Also the scale line gets a bit messy in the ojime area and the koi also has hi on just one whisker (barble).
Second Place: C This Shusui is very attractive although in comparison with the first place winner, the placement and consistency of the dorsal scales and scale incursion into the hi on both sides, provides a decisive clue to their mertits. Conformation is OK but not great, and does not particularly enhance the overall package. The head of this koi is a little dingy and does nothing for the overall appearance of the koi. The hi is however pleasing, although the detail of individual merit characteristics such as the very attractive motoguro hi and clear unstained finnage, is not delivered in overall terms and the final impression although not specially lacking, does not, on close examination , inspire us.
Third Place: B The front dorsal line of scales look impressive but is detracted by hi incursion. The conformation is extremely disappointing, the pasty hi and messy head does little to inspire, the highlight is perhaps the motoguro hi. Even if this koi had been any better, we would still have placed it last by virtue of a deformed offside pectoral fin.