AGS EAST LANCASHIRE SHOW 12th APRIL 2008

[ranunculus]

Just back from another superb AGS Show at Bacup in East Lancashire.  Snow greeted exhibitors, judges and nurserymen to this pleasant little town in the high Pennines of northern England and the day proceded to throw rain, hail, snow and sun at show people and visitors alike.  The weather conspired to keep visitor numbers lower than in 2007, but didn't discourage those hardy exhibitors who travelled from as far afield as Devon, Glasgow and numerous places in between.
Congratulations and thanks to Carol Kellett and her magnificent team on such a splendid event and it is very pleasing to announce that the Farrer Medal went to popular nursery owners; Keith and Rachel Lever from North Wales with their superb Sebaea thomasii.
I hope you enjoy this range of images from the show....slightly less numerous than usual because I was heavily involved in this our own Group show.
I will end with a caption competition shot that might tempt the wits out there?

KEITH LEVER WITH FARRER MEDAL WINNING EXHIBIT
 FARRER MEDAL PLANT
 A 'COVEN' OF JUDGES
 AGS MEDAL WINNING SIX PAN FOR IAN KIDMAN
 ANACAMPTIS LONGICORNUS
 ANDROSACE DELAVAYI
 ANDROSACE IDAHOENSIS x LAEVIGATA
 ANDROSACE VILLOSA var. TAURICA
 BENCH 2
 BENCH 3

[ranunculus]

East Lancashire Show - Batch two....

Clare Dower and Jill Saxton on the computer desk....



BRIAN AND SHELAGH SMETHURST'S GERANIUM
 BRIAN AND SHELAGH SMETHURST'S GERANIUM
 BRIAN AND SHELAGH SMETHURST AND FRANK TINDALL
 CASSIOPE 'RANDLE COOK'
 CLAIRE OATES SIX CUT FLOWERS
 COMPUTER DESK C.D. AND J.S
 CYCLAMEN ROHLFSIANUM
 CYMBIDIUM GOERINGII
 CYPRIPEDIUM DETAIL.
 DAPHNE PETRAEA 'LYDORA'.

[Maggi Young]

Many congratulations to all the East Lancs Group for such a super show. I hope everyone will be safely returned home through the bad weather.
 
Lovely to see Keith and Rachel Lever win  the Farrer with that lovely Sebaea thomasii..... just as well the Glenrothes Greenfinger doesn;get  down your way though... his are bigger and tighter with more flowers!

I'd like to meet the strong person who carried that Pulsatilla into the show hall in that ENORMOUS long tom pot, shown besdie the witchesjudges' coven  

[ranunculus]

East Lancashire Show. Batch three....

DIANTHUS FREYNII
 DIONYSIA CLOSE-UP.
 DON PEACE'S THREE PAN.
 DON PEACE AND FRANK TINDALL
 DRACUNCULUS VULGARIS.
 EAST LANCS TROPHIES.
 ERIGERON AUREUS CANARY BIRD
 ERYTHRONIUM REVOLUTUM DETAIL
 FRIT CLOSE-UP
 FRITILLARIA CONICA DETAIL

[Martinr]

Thanks Cliff, although it just makes we wish I'd been there. What trophy were Brain & Shelagh being presented with?

[Maggi Young]

Thanks Cliff, although it just makes we wish I'd been there. What trophy were Brain & Shelagh being presented with?

My guess is "Best dressed couple".... though I don't remember seeing that listed in the show schedule

[ranunculus]

Dave Charlton was the Hercules of Bacup.....in a number of ways....he enjoyed enormous success on the day...

Hi Martin....Brian and Shelagh got five firsts, a Certificate of Merit and won the Jeanne Finch Memorial Trophy.

No Maggi....that particular title went to Brian and Mavis Allanson.

Anyway...back to the postings....

Judges in last image on this posting are:- Brian Russ, John Forrest and Geoff Rollinson...


FRITLLARIA EXHIBITED BY GLASGOW'S JOHN LEE.
 IAN LESLIE'S SUPER THREE PAN
 IRIS BUCHARICA
 IRIS CLOSE-UP
 IRIS WILMOTTIANA
 IRIS CLOSE-UP 2
 JOHN SAXTON'S CERT. OF MERIT WINNING JEFFERSONIA DUBIA 'ALBA'
 JEFFERSONIA DUBIA 'ALBA' CLOSE-UP.
 JUDGES
 JUDGES B.R. AND J.F. AND G.R

[ranunculus]

Next posting...difficult to keep up when you are asking questions......

[ranunculus]

Next batch from East Lancashire AGS Show....

Judges Ian Leslie, Don Peace, John Saxton and Brian Burrow...

Judges John Forrest, Brian Russ and Geoff Rollinson...

Judges Lionel Clarkson, Frank Tindall and Ian Leslie...

 JUDGING THE FARRER MEDAL CONTENDERS
 MINI-GARDEN
 MINI-GARDEN 2.
 MUSCARI CLOSE-UP
 NARCISSUS
 NARCISSUS CLASS
 NARCISSUS HAWERA

[Maggi Young]

Exciting to see Scottish raised plants going south and doing well! Thanks to John Lee.... never knew he could cope with being that far south!

John Saxton's Jeffersonia dubia  is SUPERB ! Stunning!

[ranunculus]

....And the next batch from East Lancashire AGS Show...
 NARCISSUS x CAZORLENSIS DETAIL  edit ; N. cazorlanus
NARCISUS KOKOPELLII
 PRIMULA BRACTEATA.
 PULSATILLA VULGARIS EXHIBITED AS PULSATILLA HALLERI SLAVICA
 PULSATILLA CLOSE-UP.
 RHODODENDRON ANNA BALDSIEFEN
 SEDUM HUMIFUSUM.
 SHAKING IVOR BETTERIDGE
 SIX PAN
 SUNLIT BENCH

[ranunculus]

....And the final posting culminating in the caption competition.....

Over to you Diane....


SUPER PULSATILLA CLOSE-UP
 THREE FRITS
 THREE FRITS CLOSE-UP
 THREE PAN BULBOUS ENTRIES
 THREE PAN ENTRY
 THREE PAN ENTRY 2
 X PHYLLIOPSIS 'SUGAR PLUM'
 TOMMY ANDERSON'S SAXIFRAGA 'CHARLES CHAPLIN'
 JUDGES CAPTION COMPETITION

[Diane Clement]

Exciting to see Scottish raised plants going south and doing well! Thanks to John Lee.... never knew he could cope with being that far south!

Scottish bred and raised - Maggi - did you see it was Craigton Max?

[Maggi Young]

Scottish bred and raised - Maggi - did you see it was Craigton Max?

Couldn't be anything else really.... a parent knows their child!!

[Maggi Young]

Looks like a busy day was had by all.... did you manage out for lunch?



BTW,  hope there's a pic coming of Brian and Mavis Allanson..... they must be mart if they can beat the Smethursts.....