East Cheshire, Wilmslow, 2011

[Palustris]

The Farrer Medal plant of Robin Pickering, Cypripedium Gisela. The plant had many many more flowers on it, but for once I thought a close up was in order.

[ranunculus]

Thanks Eric - you must have got home quicker than me (Sue's extended and expensive visit to the huge Marks and Spencers store delayed me by at least an hour).  Congratulations to Robin on his first Farrer Medal for his super plant of Cypripedium 'Gisela'.
Many thanks to Show Secretary; Jim Magnall and his team on another excellent show.

ROBIN PICKERING from GOOLE with Cypripedium 'Gisela'

[Maggi Young]

What a superb plant and a happy exhibitor!  Congratulations to Robin on his first but I'm sure not last, Farrer.

[ranunculus]

Naturally, Robin was delighted with his Farrer Medal success, but equally happy on the day was one Fermi de Sousa from Australia who scooped the highly prestigious Pudsey Pig award for 2011.  Beating off thirty three other ravenous contestants (including at least five past winners and several potential champions in the making) Mr de Sousa chomped his way through a sizeable starter, an enormous main course and a cholesterol rich dessert which would have been followed by three or four more courses if the pub hadn't run out of food.
Chief judge; John 'The Hulk' Dower selected efforts by Tony Lee and Peter Farkasch as worthy of Certificates of Merit (in the shape of perfectly formed fairy cakes made by the fair hands of Mandy McLoughlin), but there could only be one winner and the jubilant Fermi did a celebration lap of the pub before collapsing to his chair clutching the trophy to his beating chest.
I have images of all the contestants at their troughs (and their meal choices), but these may have to wait until the Settlers and Rennies have brought instant relief and the G & T's have been iced and lemoned.
For those of a nervous disposition please look away now ...

PUDSEY PIG WINNER 2011 - FERMI dE SOUSA RECEIVING HIS WELL-EARNED TROPHY FROM JOHN DOWER
RUNNER UP's TONY LEE AND PETER FARKASCH PRIOR TO THE NECESSITY FOR THE STOMACH PUMP.

[ranunculus]

I will intersperse Pudsey Pig contest images with shots from the East Cheshire Show ... it may prevent indigestion for some of you?   


ANDROSACE CYLINDRICA
EAST CHESHIRE SHOW BENCH
IRIS CLOSE-UP
LEWISIA 'GEORGE HENLEY'
OXALIS CLOSE-UP
PETUNIA PATAGONICA
PETUNIA PATAGONICA CLOSE-UP
SIX PAN CLASS
SUPERB THREE PAN CLASS
WINNING SIX PAN CLASS FROM ANNE VALE

[ranunculus]

WINNING THREE PAN FROM LIONEL CLARKSON
AQUILEGIA SCOPULORUM CLOSE-UP
CUT FLOWERS AND FLOWER ARRANGEMENT CLASSES

[Lesley Cox]

Well done Fermi. I'm thoroughly ashamed of you. And Otto will be even more worried than usual.

Anthony D will be missing his Cyps at this time of year.

[Anthony Darby]

I'm happy that they went to went to some good homes. I've already seen that Angie has done well with two of mine.

[ranunculus]

Pudsey Pig 2011 - Runners and Riders

Thirty four came under starter's orders ... more to follow as time and tide allow ...

PETER HOOD AND BARRY WINTER
BRIAN AND SHELAGH SMETHURST
JOHN SAVAGE AND HIS WIFE
MARTIN ROGERSON
ANNE VALE
HARRY ROBERTS
JOHN DOWER AND DAVID CHARLTON
MICK AND MANDY McLOUGHLIN
PETER FARKASCH AND CAROL KELLETT
HILARY AND RON PRICE

[alpines]

I see Ron hasn't lost his appetite!!!!
Where was the pub? As a past PP winner, those plates sure looked half empty to me but I must say Ann's plate looks VERY tempting at this time of the morning. And what about a photo of Fermi's plate.
Thanks for the pics Cliff...good to see so many 'old' friends

[David Nicholson]

I think they lack some good class competition, unless the plates we saw were only starters

[ranunculus]

Moderation in all things, folks - these are hard times!
Many had partaken of the bacon butties at the show and some consumed three courses at the event (held at a pub in the centre of Wilmslow).  Not the heady days of your impressive victory Alan or the gargantuan meals of the original Owl at Rodley, but at least we could walk to this venue from the show hall and crawl back!

[alpines]

No more PPs for me Cliff....if it ain't green and healthy Sherba won't let me eat it.....neither will my digestive system....but that gammon would have gone down nicely between two pieces of bread....unless of course it was chicken and you're still not seeing colors correctly

[ranunculus]

No more PPs for me Cliff....if it ain't green and healthy Sherba won't let me eat it.....neither will my digestive system....but that gammon would have gone down nicely between two pieces of bread....unless of course it was chicken and you're still not seeing colors correctly

I know purple when I see it Mr G.!!!   

The Pudsey Pig virus caught up with several competitors ...

Martin, Carol and Diane all afflicted.

[ranunculus]

Other tables showed a little more decorum ...