Evolution of the GAAS North American Goldfish Championship

by Rick & Debbie Graham
First published in "Tank Topics", Greater Akron Aquarium Society, Dec 2001/Jan 2002
Aquarticles

Many members of the GAAS, and goldfish hobbyists throughout America, take the North American Goldfish Championship for granted. Believe me it took a lot of work to have the class structure and championship we have today.

We're not sure if the goldfish fancier of today appreciates what an opportunity they have. In the early 1970's very few all species shows in North America had a class for goldfish. Even less goldfish specialty competition was available. We were usually laughed at when we brought up having a goldfish class during one of the show meetings. The fact was most aquarists thought we were a little crazy to raise goldfish. At this time in aquarium history the hot item was any rift lake cichlid.

So we knew we had to promote goldfish and the many varieties that existed. However in those earlier years finding fancy goldfish was next to impossible to do, let alone finding some good quality specimens. With the help of a few Northeast Ohio shop owners who we convinced to take a chance purchasing these strange looking fish, we were able to locate some pet quality goldfish. We then set up a large tank at these shops and rotated my goldfish display between them. The effort worked, more people started asking questions and wanted goldfish just like ours. About this time we became involved in the Goldfish Society of America (GFSA) and we learned that there were other fanciers just like us. And there were goldfish types we had never seen. With this in mind we tried to get a goldfish class for the GAAS Ultra Aqua All Species Show. In 1974 and before, goldfish were shown in the All Other Fish class, competing against all kinds of other odd-ball fish. Yes, goldfish were considered odd-ball fish.

In 1975 things changed and goldfish competition in North America would never be the same! We received our first goldfish class from the GAAS show board. It was an immediate success. In fact, goldfish were brought to the GAAS show by hobbyists from all over N.E. Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Canada.

Each year more classes were continually added and it eventually evolved into the GAAS North American Goldfish Championship in 1979. Goldfish fanciers now had a chance to become goldfish class champions and North American Grand Point Champion. But most of all win or lose, entrants could say they participated in America's premier goldfish competition. It had come a long way from its one class format. By this time goldfish retailers, wholesalers and hatchery owners were now joining together at the annual show. It also became known as the Great Goldfish Get Together. In fact it was now becoming international with entrants coming from Japan.

This year's championship (2001) showed a rebirth of involvement and support by goldfish retailers. We were supported by displays, class sponsors, goldfish for sale and auction by Rich Hess and the Goldfish Connection, Dandy Oranda Goldfish, Mt. Parnell Goldfish Hatchery and Tommy Hue of A's Aquarium. Tommy brought many goldfish for sale from Garland, Texas.

Over the years one question always seems to arise. Why the two size class structure? We didn't want to copy other countries on how they structured goldfish competition. We wanted something for American fanciers and their needs. The truth is we wanted to see people get involved in goldfish show competition at a moderate investment. As we know quality goldfish demand high prices. So now everyone can compete and be competitive with younger, smaller fish that will eventually grow and be entered in the large size classes. It also was a good place to show young home bred goldfish.

We believe in 1978 Gochi Kobayashi of Hawaii visited the GAAS Goldfish Championship for the first time. When he left he told us he wanted to do something special for the GAAS show. So he purchased a true goldfish award from Japan. He told us to do what we felt was the best way to use this award. Instead of using the award only one time, we developed an annual award held by the GAAS where each year's winner is added to the award. It is now known as the Kobayashi Award in memory of Harold "Mac" McClelland the late GFSA president and well known goldfish fancier. It has become the longest running and highest honor rewarded in North America for Goldfish fanciers.

We retired showing goldfish in 1980 after the GAAS Goldfish Championship. We still bred and raised Goldfish but stayed away from shows and the politics of national and local societies. In 1999 Bill and Cheryl Sanders of the GAAS asked if we'd be interested in judging the show that year. With our son Chris' encouragement Rick said he would, and was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the goldfish and the addition of even more goldfish classes. We hope anyone who has not experienced this event will plan to do so. We don't think the Great Goldfish Get Together portion of the weekend is as well supported as it once was. With the support of many of you it could become even greater than it was. Remember at the beginning of the article we said we were laughed at for raising goldfish in those early years. Well over the years the conversion to raising goldfish has happened to many so-called tropical fish hobbyists. If you don't believe me ask Bill Sanders. Many know Bill as Mr. Goldfish. We remember him when the only goldfish he had were feeders!

In closing we'd like to thank the GAAS members who have continued to keep this competition on the forefront of competition year after year. However we would like to see the promoting of the North American Goldfish Championship and the Great Goldfish Get Together ever greater in the future. Like we said before, some of you take this championship for granted. Hopefully with your support we will still have this competition fifty years from now.

See you next year in Akron!