Shows to visit on 5th April 2014

[Maggi Young]

No SRGC Show on 5th April, but there's an AGS event in Chesterfield : North Midland AGS Show,  Saturday, 5 April 2014 - 12.00 noon to 4.00 pm  at Brookfiled School, Chatsworth Road, Chesterfield S40 3NS  and,  for our many friends in Ireland, the celebration that is the 75th Show of the Ulster AGS Group.

ULSTER 75th Anniversary SHOW will be  held at Greenmount Agricultural and Horticultural College, Muckamore, Co. Antrim, BT41 4PU  (A6 then A26. After 0.5 miles, turn right onto Tirgracy Rd. College is on right after 0.8 miles)
 I daresay that  Patricia Crossley and her team will have a grand day planned to make this show even more special than usual. 
The RHS joint rock committee will meet  at the show so there will be JRGPC members attending from across  the  Irish sea too.  I know Ian is sorry not to be attending - he's committed to attending  the wedding of one of our nieces, instead. He joins with me in sending very good wishes to the Ulster gang on their anniversary. 
 

[Maggi Young]

NEXT SRGC  EVENT! 12th  April75th EDINBURGH AND THE LOTHIANS SHOW 
Special Prizes best plants in classes 34, 75 and 81.
12th April 10.30 am to 4.00 pm (Doors and sales open 10.30,Show open 12.00 noon)
LOCATION: At City Bypass, Lothianburn Junction, A702; go into city. Turn right at first traffic lights (Fairmilehead) and church hall is first left.

[Maggi Young]

Not  much word from the SRGC folk across to the 75th Ulster show as yet, nor from the Irish - notoriously shy! 
But the Farrer Medal at this celebratory show has been won by  AGS/SRGC member Billy Moore with a fine yellow Trillium chloropetalum

- a photo has been 'tweeted' by Jim McGregor  https://twitter.com/JimMcGregorAGS/status/452387687564328961/photo/1

Billy is from Dublin and  often enjoys success at the shows with his fine plants. 

[Maggi Young]

Billy Moore is a frequent attendee at SRGD Discussion weekends, of course.

SRGC President Carole Bainbridge and husband Ian  were across for the celebrations and managed to  get some plants to the show as well. They've done rather well, winning an AGS medal for a 6 pan class.  Also a trophy  for a 3pan class- the Festival of Britain Trophy .
Harold MacBride also won a six pan class and AGS medal as well as other awards.

Other SRGC members  and/or   forumists winning prizes that will be known to folks here are Val Keegan -  and her sister is  actually  an Aberdeen Group Member; Susan Tindall, the nursery-woman who is always greeted so warmly when she comes across to this side of the Irish Sea; Ian Leslie from Wales ; Kay McDowell, who did well in the intermediate section; Gordon Toner from Limavady ; Mac Dunlop  and Paddy Smith- to  name but a few.

I think Sandy Leven was flying across, so no plants entered from him.

Jon Evans and Jean Morris won the major artistic awards.

Edit : Some more names you'll recognise from the exhibitors  - Tim Lever ; George Sevastopulo ; Joan & Liam McCaughey  and  Cilla Dodd .... congratulations to all taking part. 

Seems to have been a delightful affair altogether- Happy Anniversary to our Ulster  friends !