Phil Champion travelled over 400 miles from his home near
Reading to the Show.
He sent the
following report and pictures of the magnificent exhibits.
My trip to Ayr was organised early in the year, even before I was asked
to record my year for the
diary. At the time I would try to grow a few
blooms to take to Ayr, my thoughts were if I'm driving that far might as
well have a go. My objective was to gain more knowledge and to me the best
way to gain knowledge is early in the morning at a show. A good chat
whilst people are staging their exhibits & while waiting for the judges
decision. Its also a good time to watch how to put together & stage a
good board.
I was amazed how helpful everyone was to each other from
helping to carry boxes of blooms to even lifting & moving blooms around,
what would happen if someone dropped a bloom or even worse a box of
blooms I'd hate to think. Looking at this first picture
(A) you would believe this being Jim
Mihulka staging his booms assisted by Davy Nimmo and watched by Ian
Donaldson (calls himself a novice). You would be wrong this is in fact
Ian Donaldson's board. Kennedy McQuiston, Bert Nelson, Davy Nimmo & Jim
Mihulka their boards were already up and ready. Next to arrive was Drew Sommervile
& John Irvine, last to arrive was John Hamilton explaining to everyone
that he didn't have much to offer, the fact it was a bad growing year.
(how many times have we heard that one) .
Pictured are a selection of 12 boards ending with John Hamilton's winning board. (B,C,D,E
& F). My 6 board was up & ready (G),
again I felt my blooms were not out of place but at least I had staged
some blooms. The blooms of Tom Brownlee grown by Kennedy McQuiston were
exceptional (H). Jim Mihulka, hats
off to this man getting 15 big pots to the show winning both 9 & 6 pot
(I). Allan Walkinshaw
(J) was another pot plant grower who
must be given credit, I just hope the video is not on utube. This man
will not need an introduction on growing pots Bert Weir
(K & L) what a gent, this bloom of
Apricot Delight (M) on one of his
pots I drooled over.
