We had another great NBS South West Show in Bideford on 19th August.
With it being a week after the National Show and in view of the very hot
spell leading up to the shows I had doubts on the amount of entries but
we had reasonably good. The cut blooms were excellent with more than
ever staged. Pots were down on last year including the single stem
classes. The 3 pot class we added this year did not get the numbers and
the Don Dewey trophy class will revert back to the single pot for 2019.
Chad Stone staged plants that would have done well at the National. The
Bronze Medal for best pot went to Gary Dando with Begonia Rex Black
Lace. Superb growing from Chad, Lakin Earl and Gary Dando, as was Ian
Rhys Williams with Best Individual Cut Bloom winner of the Bronze Medal
with Lucy Allerly. David Heskins took the Novice Cut Bloom and 70th
Anniversary Rosette for best Novice with a very nice pink seedling. Gary
and Chad also received these special rosettes.
The benches looked great and there were some really good plants and
blooms from the South West and South Wales growers. With myself being at
Shrewsbury or working on the National Show for practically a week my own
plants had again suffered further than they already had with the weather
and it meant I couldn’t stage as many as hoped but still covered most of
the Tuberous classes, even if it was with plants brought back from the
national. We did have some notable exhibitors missing this year too, no
doubt their plants suffered with the very hot spell in June and July.
In 2017 for 1 pot of Double Tuberous Begonia, restricted with no side
shoots permitted, we had 9 entries for this class and added the 3 pot
class this year however it could be the weather situation but entries
were poor this year for the both classes. What was staged were very good
with Lakin winning the single pot with a superb Fantasia and Chad Stone
taking the 3 pot with Tahiti, Jennifer Wilson and Vera Coates. The
overall appearance was very much appreciated by the visitors with the
new display stand and video presentation drawing lots of enquiries and
comments.
Next year’s date is set for Sunday 18th August, just after
the National. Thanks to all exhibitors for your efforts and support.
Mike
Avis
