Success showing chrysanthemums
The entries were up and bloom quality was excellent at national event
The National Chrysanthemum Society held its National Championship Show at Bingley Hall in Stafford over the weekend of September 9 and 10. Growers transported their blooms from all corners of the British Isles to the event in hope of gaining a prestigious award at the show.
Despite the changeable weather this year, the bloom quality was top notch, with all classes being well supported and entries up this year in comparison to last year.
Here are a few results from the show:
In the Affiliated Societies Championship of Great Britain, Denton Society came out on top, exhibiting ‘Billy Bell’, ‘Susan Kate’, ‘John Wingfield’, ‘Allyson Peace’, ‘Cream John Wingfield’, ‘Lorna Wood’ and ‘Millennium’. In second place with a good exhibit was Stoke Society.
In the member class, the Bertram F Jones Perpetual Challenge Trophy, which calls for nine vases of large, early-flowering chrysanthemums, was won by Frank Charlton, from Sunderland. Frank’s exhibit was made up of ‘White Pearl Celebration’, two vases of ‘Allyson Peace’, ‘Yellow Courtier’, ‘Golden Courtier’, ‘Lynn Johnson’, ‘Joyce Fountain’, ‘Billy Bell’ and ‘Apricot Courtier’.
The Johnston Perpetual Challenge Trophy was awarded to the legendary Fred Waining with his six vases of large, early-flowering chrysanthemums, which consisted of ‘Golden Courtier’, ‘Yellow Courtier’, ‘Apricot Courtier’, ‘Malcolm Perkins’, ‘Billy Bell’ and a lovely vase of ‘Allyson Peace’, which was deemed as the best vase of large reflex in the show.
In the National Championship class for medium, early-flowering chrysanthemums, the Clay Perpetual Challenge Trophy, which calls for nine vases of five chrysanthemums was won for the fifth consecutive year by John and Allyson Peace. They showed all of the ‘John Wingfield’ family: ‘John Wingfield’, two ‘Salmon’, ‘Peach’, ‘Honey’, ‘Sunny’, ‘Pink’, ‘Cream’, and ‘Candy John Wingfield’. One of the vases of ‘Salmon’ was acclaimed the best vase of medium reflexes and the best vase overall in the show. To top off a successful weekend, the whole exhibit was awarded the coveted Bentley Trophy for the best exhibit in the whole show.
The Bob Dawsey Memorial Trophy for nine vases of early-flowering large and medium chrysanthemums, another championship class. was again won by John and Allyson Peace. This exhibit was made up of ‘Allyson Peace’, ‘Apricot Courtier’, ‘Golden Courtier’, ‘Dorridge Crystal’, ‘John Wingfield’, ‘Joyce Frieda’ and ‘Millennium’.
In the individual class, the Ken Cooper Memorial Trophy, which is quite a challenging task as it requires five incurves, five
intermediates, five reflexes and five stems of spray chrysanthemums, was won in fine style by Jim Fenion from Ashington, Northumberland. He presented ‘Salmon John Wingfield’, ‘Joyce Frieda’, ‘Yellow John Harrison’, and ‘Mary Aldred’. l In the spray chrysanthemum class and a National Championship for early-flowering sprays, the Harold Walker Memorial Trophy was won by Alan and Dorothy Nordstrom from Sunderland. It was a really colourful exhibit of ‘Salmon Talbot Parade’, ‘Bronze Talbot Parade’, ‘Pink Parade’, ‘Hoagy’, ‘Pennine Oriel’, ‘Ceresa’, ‘Mary Aldred’, ‘Southway Sheba’ and ‘Gold Southway Sheba’. l It was good to see new growers at the show. Karen Bell from Liverpool showed in the novice spray class and came second, a fantastic achievement for her first attempt at national standard. Another newcomer was Brian Nixon from Newcastle, who won the E. T. Thistlewaite Perpetual Trophy.