A week after Tottington, we had two shows in one weekend, one at Colne on the Saturday and one at Ramsbottom on the Sunday.
In the big class I staged mine (on the left here) a bit too high. The middle one of the back three did not not have a circular corona and the front right double was a bit bendy. The judge, Ian Tyler, advised me not just stick them in oasis as they tend to wang about a bit. He preferred the use of moss but of course one has to get hold of the stuff. I don't like using the real thing though there is some sort of dried alternative which I may experiment with a try dyeing it green as it's a straw colour when bought. So I didn't repeat my last year's entries where I won a lot. It was Andrew 'D'Artagnan' Clark who won the lion's share of the trophies thist time. Tom Alty, who had not been to Tottington, was a bit disappointed in the quality of his blooms, though he still won here and there. So in the first class it was Andre first, Porthos (myself) second and Dianne Mason third.
Class 2 calls for six stems shown in beer bottles. The three musketeers filled this class with D'Artagnan first, me second and Aramis (Tom) third.
Class 3 is for 5 blooms of one variety (cultivar) from any division. There were eight entries here. A bit disappointed that there weren't enough bases to go round. My Bell Rock (top left) won the day. This is a small but nicely formed Division 1 that Aramis had recommended to me. Dianne was second and D'Artagnan third.
Above is a better shot of the Bell Rock.
Class 4 is for three blooms from Divisions 1,2 and 3. I got a second here and I think Andrew was first.
Another shot of Class 4.
When it comes to the standard three bloom and one bloom classes there are always very good entries, though none of the big hitters had three Division 1s. These tend to flower earlier than the other divisions and there weren't many about this year by this time. In the three Div 2s above I managed a second in a big entry.
I was first in the three Division 3s. I have been very impressed with some of the Loch varieties and this was one that I did well with last year here as well, called Loch Assynt. I also like Loch Alsh. A similar spelling is one called Loth Lorian or Lorien which I find always has some sort of problem with 'mittens' or nicks on the edge of the petal.
Another shot of my three Loch Assynt.
In the three doubles or Division 4s I was third with Bala or maybe Seagrave. Crowndale won which was no surprise.
Here's the three winning Crowndale.
And my three.
In the three Division 5-12 the 11bs didn't win but what looked like a Division 7 did.
In the single bloom classes I didn't get anything except a third in the specimen class. I'd used up all my best stuff in the big classes.
Above is another single bloom class.
There's always a good orchids section in the show.
And some nice tulips,
Bonsai
and more orchids.
A good range of orchids in fact.
In a good range of colours.
Aramis and Porthos seated with the victorious D'Artagnan behind.
And here he is with the trophies that I had last year. Well done, Andrew!
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