Over twenty years ago I was labelled “the casual Akers’ by the late David Lloyd when writing my first review of this show for the RHS Daffodil and Tulip Yearbook. My offence was failing to report a double flower (Dorchester?) winning Best Bloom for the first time; later reversed when Don Barnes located a previous occasion. Nevertheless it is a rare occasion but Len Olive’s ‘Goyt Valley’, raised by Clive Postles well deserved its honour.
Our northern supremo Ken Harrop won both of the 12 bloom collections, the Open and the Richardson Trophy for Amateurs. Although he failed to halt Richard Gillings’ fifth consecutive win of the Bowles Cup for 15 vases of 3 cultivars, it must have been close. There were three entries for The Engleheart Cup, won again by Brian Duncan with John Gibson second and first time entrant Carlos van der Veek third.
Brian was successful in all the bred and raised miniature classes, including the Alec Gray Trophy for six raisings. Paul Payne, who is building up a nice number of seedlings had the Best Seedling Bloom, and must be aiming for an Engleheart entry soon.
Several photos of good flowers follow. Click on them to expand.
James,
Just in case you had not noticed but the affiliated societies class was won by Wokingham Horticultural Association beating Denton Chrysanthemum & Dahlia Society in second place. Denton had won this class since 2008, a remarkable achievement, but to prove this was no fluke Wokingham H A of which I am the proud President repeated their success last weekend when winning the Daffodil Society Affiliated Societies 12 vase class. So let’s see more societies enter these classes as Wokingham have shown that Denton, though great exhibitors, can be beaten.
Richard Gillings
The omission wasn’t deliberate Richard, but trying to photograph as many winners as possible at shows, I always manage to miss a few. Congratulations to Wokingham. As you comment Denton have had a remarkable run of successes, but on Thursday they were again defeated at Harrogate Spring Flower Show by an entry from the National Chrysanthemum Society. No doubt they will bounce back. Other grumpy old men like me who are still around will remember the similar successes at Solihull and Harrogate of ‘the Norwich men’ of over 30 years ago, Dr Fisher, Geoff Bell, Paul Payne and Mike Brook.