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The National Dahlia Society Trials at Golden Acre Park 2003
At the time of writing, I, like every other dahlia
enthusiast, am eagerly waiting for the National Dahlia Society’s Winter Bulletin
to drop on my doormat. To produce such a bulletin is a huge task for those
involved, it provides us, their members, with a full report of last season’s
dahlia news. The articles alone are worthy of the membership fee. We are lucky
in this country, the fact that we are a compact nation has its advantages, for
when it comes to growing, showing and breeding dahlias we haven’t so far to
travel to shows and trial grounds. Although I wish I had more confidence on the
motorways of Great Britain. My regular trips to Wisley takes a bit of doing, by
the time I get there, stage a seedling or two, look over the dahlia trials on
Portsmouth Field, have dinner in the restaurant and get back, although elated
with the experience, I’m exhausted. How those blokes from up North and Scotland
get to Shepton Mallet is a mystery, but get there they do and on many an
occasion, when they go back, they take half the silverware with them. As a
Southerner I know this report will be scrutinized by some of Britain’s finest
dahlia growers, and quite a few of them come from the North and Scotland. You
only have to surf the Internet to realise were the bulk of enthusiastic growers
come from, God’s there’s hundreds of them, the North West area alone is buzzing
with them. Sure we have some fantastic growers down South who are world-beaters
on their day, but up there they eat, sleep and breathe dahlias. Everyone I’ve
pestered for information from the North has been more than co-operative
especially Don Sutcliffe who is going to supply me with photographs which he
took from the Golden Acre Park dahlia trials. If it were possible I should love
to give them a visit, and every other trial ground in Britain as well, and to
get to Halls nursery at flowering time would be fantastic. However for now I
have to rely on various dahlia growers on the Internet, the “Garden News” email
friends throughout the world and of course my dahlia patch. So here goes, this
is only an opinion I have formed with the limited research I have at my
disposal.
Hang on the post has just arrived, and Don Sutcliffe has sent the Golden Acre
Park trial photo’s, time to get cracking.
Sascha: Small Water Lily raised by Cor Geerling of Holland and sent by Dave
Reid.
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This was the best variety at the trials this year, and therefore the winner of
the Harry Howarth Memorial Medal, and a Gold Certificate of Exhibition Merit.
What can you say; he’s done it again. The photo’s I’ve seen of this one are
wonderful, it reminds me of the great shots of Glorie Van Heemstede when it
first came out, only in lavender pink. That variety was raised by a firm called
Bakker in 1947 also from Holland. I wonder if Cor’s still using his same
breeding lines as all those years ago. That’s another place I’d love to go,
Geerlings Nursery. There’s a smashing shot of one of his dahlia fields on their
web site, depicting a vast array of dahlias, under a heavy sky, talk about a
Dutch master. I used it on my computer desk top for ages, until I got one of my
own. The five blooms of Sascha are courtesy of Dave Reid from the back of the
2003 Winter Bulletin, the single bloom, face on, is one of Don’s photographs
from the trial ground, you can see from this close up what a wonderful variety
Sascha is, last but not least is the photograph from Halls of Heddon web site.
Anyone who hasn’t visited this site yet, is in for a treat. They are, I think,
one of our leading nurseries and a very professional set up.
Barbarry Clipper: Small Decorative raised by Barry Davies sent by Frank Taylor.
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This was also awarded a Gold Certificate of Exhibition Merit and rightly so, it
was the best of the trio, I think, I’m already saying `I think’ and I’ve only
just started. Put it down to nerves, brought about by worrying what those
Northerners will be making of my assessments, but you can only give your own
opinion at the time, but I suppose if your willing to stick your head above the
parapet, you can’t grumble if you get shot at. Back to the variety in question,
beautiful colour and I hope it stays around for a long time, good reds are worth
their weight in gold. I must get a better picture of this one, the trouble was
it was before I had Jack Gott's assistance on how to make a photograph suitable
for the Internet.
Rob’s Symbol: Medium Semi-Cactus raised and sent by Robert Foster of Kesgrave
Ipswich Suffolk.
Awarded a Silver Certificate of Exhibition Merit so it’s got to be good. When
you consider Symbol is forty six years old, and the family are still throwing
sports, it was a phenomenal introduction. The photographs that arrived today,
confirm that this new Symbol sport, is as good, if not better than those we
already have. From the photo it looks to be maize yellow with a pinkish flush to
the tips of the petals. Sort of colour we got when we were kids, when we mixed
the rhubarb with the custard, I wonder if they still do that? It came from
Salmon Symbol which of course, was a sport. Very attractive, and will be an
asset, I suppose we can call it a new bi-colour, any way it won’t let the family
down.
Grace Kendall: Large Semi-Cactus raised and sent by Alf Rodgers of Keighley West
Yorkshire.
Awarded a Silver Certificate of Exhibition Merit. Before I start waffling on,
this is a belting bloom, comparable, I think, to Hamari Sunshine. Now I’ve got
it down, on a report that I received from the Trials Recorder, as a Large
Semi-Cactus, surely a typing error. I’ve just looked up photographs of Sir Alf
Ramsey and Wanda’s Capella on the monitor and this ones form is comparable,
although, dare I say, rather better. Let me hasten to add we are talking about
photographs and of course you can’t see the size from a photograph. Don has it
listed in his notes, Large or Giant Decorative, I’ll go along with Don.
Incidentally he informs me, any money this cultivar makes will go towards
fighting Leukaemia. Good on you Alf.
Barbarry Centrepoint: Small Decorative raised by Barry Davies and sent by Frank
Taylor.
Awarded a Silver Certificate of Exhibition Merit. Very neat indeed and pulls
right back to the stem.
Of the three submitted, of course the judges have it right with their first
choice. But this one is a little corker. These Barbarry varieties do have
terrific centres, bound to be seen in winning exhibits, the photo shows it to be
a deep red but in fact it’s cerise.
Andrea Clarkson: Small Semi-Cactus Raised and sent by W Marsden of Huddersfield.
Awarded a Bronze Certificate of Exhibition Merit. I really liked this one, again
brilliant form, perhaps an odd petal not quite lining up, but completely round,
will look out for it next year.
Barbarry Pointer: Small Decorative raised by Barry Davies and sent by Frank
Taylor.
Awarded a Bronze Certificate of Exhibition Merit. Inspiring name for this one,
suits it down to the ground, just about the neatest small decorative I’ve seen,
and like all the Barbarry varieties, we’re bound to see it on the exhibition
bench.
Lakeland Autumn: Medium Decorative raised and sent by Brian Warriner of
Barrow-in-Furness.
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Awarded a Bronze Certificate of Exhibition Merit. I must confess I don’t grow
medium decoratives so I shouldn’t really comment. But on photo evidence alone,
this is a perfect example of a medium decorative. The colours wonderful,
although a little faded on the single bloom, and it’s not lacking in form. From
the photograph on the left I would say this was one of the last Don Sutcliffe
took on that day, and he was facing North East when he took it. Three good `uns
in a vase such as the ones I copied from the NDS 2003 publication, would beat
anything in this class.
Ryecroft Jan: Miniature Decorative raised by P Godsmark and sent by Dave
Spencer.
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I’m confident we’ll see a lot of this one, I managed to get a nice close up from
the Wisley trials, and one from Ivor Mace’s site were the Welsh dahlia trial
photo’s are displayed. I wish they’d take spent blooms of from behind the flower
before they take a picture, but then I’m fussy. Did the Welsh trials suit it
better; was it situated on a draughty corner at Golden Acre Park? Does it grow
better in the South? Who knows, but that’s the way it goes, let’s wait till the
big guns grow this one, and next years shows, prove it’s a cracker. Don’s
photograph of five blooms below, show it a little creamier than it really is,
due to the lights in the hall, I think. I’ve tried my best to reduce the yellow
factor with the computer, it isn’t easy. But what else do we see in this
picture?
When you’re setting up a vase of five, what ever you use, Oasis, moss or
newspaper, it isn’t easy to get a symmetrical grouping, or placement within the
vase. As this exhibit shows, they are wonderful blooms, and I’m not criticising
them or the staging of them, but there’s nothing like a photograph to show up
little faults. It is obvious also that this photograph was taken after judging,
and you know what judges are like, only kidding. When the Polaroid camera hit
the scene, the New Forest Exhibitors used them, to make sure that all vases
looked the same, regards height weight and grouping. A point lost here and there
could loose you a vital place, in stiff competition. I am using this photograph
to illustrate that point. Any way, you have to admit, this variety has form in
abundance, and whether it’s a miniature or a small, does it matter, as long as
they’re matching, it’s a beautiful variety, and the photo depicts a wonderful
vase of flowers.
That concludes my report on the National Dahlia Society Exhibition Trials 2003 at Golden Acre Park Leeds. As a bonus however Don Sutcliffe has sent an extra five for you to browse over. I’ll start with the biggest and work my way down. Oh by the way, I’ve also added a miniature decorative that I heard about through the grape vine, I was told it had fantastic form, can’t wait can you?
Candle Light: Giant Decorative. raised by Ian Hill of Cradock Row Sandhutton
Thirsk North Yorkshire. This is a well grown bloom, wonderful form for a big
flower. Dare I say the petal shape is reminiscent of Hamari Gold, with a similar
point to the end of each petal. A giant to watch, in canary yellow and one I
wished I raised.
Sorbet: Medium Semi-Cactus raised by the master Cor Geerling of Holland. Superb
bi-colour in pink and white. It will have Staleen Condesa to battle with in a
single vase class, but in a multi vase, it would be an added attraction, and
help to pile on the points.
Marissa:
Water Lily Flowered raised by Cor Geerling. I’m not sure if it’s small
or medium, Don didn’t say, but if it’s small it’s in the same Group as Charlie
Dimmock. It’s funny, but the last couple of years have brought about a spate of
bronze coloured beauties, all water lily flowered dahlias. There’s Taratahi
Sunrise, Lismore Willie, Charlie Dimmock and this one. To top it all when I
emailed Sion of Euro Dahlias to place an order, sorry that’s his Internet
handle. When I emailed Station House Nurseries, he told me he had another, in
bronze, that would be released in 2005, called Gwyneth, thought I’d share that
with you. Any way Marissa is a beautiful flower with that classic immaculate
shape. But I think Charlie will see them all off, God what am I saying, I’ll be
known as that cocky cockney from Essex.
Rossendale Joshua: Miniature Decorative. This is my dark horse, I’d read about
it in the 2003 winter bulletin and wondered what all the fuss was about, now I
know. Fantastic form and brilliant deep pink colour. Can be purchased via Jack Gott’s site where I lifted the photograph.
Now two very posh small semi-cactus in alphabetical order, and then we’re done.
Lakeland Sunset: Small Semi-Cactus raised by Brian Warriner 37 Beckermet Gardens
Barrow-in-Furness Cumbria. This almost made small cactus didn’t it. Sort of
colour I like, warm and cheerful. The front two blooms in particular are
perfection.
Ruskin Andrea: Small Semi-cactus. Raised by Stan Pennington. Very like Avoca
Comanche, but now I think about it, that variety is a small cactus. This will
not disgrace any exhibit, it looks to be of perfect form, but then most of
Stan’s Pennington’s are. It’s strange, but whether it’s five blooms in a vase or
three, the middle bloom always appears smaller, as both these vases show. A way
to correct it is by placing your largest bloom, centre back, if you haven’t got
a matching set.
That’s it, time to shut shop, I’ve enjoyed logging all this down, please contact
me if there is anything that offends or anything that you think is incorrect and
I’ll remove it, that is if I’m at fault, I’m only an email away. Grow `em as you
always do up there, with passion and commitment.
Ken Stock from way down South