National Dahlia Society Northern trials 2004

National Dahlia Society Northern Trials at Golden Acre Park 2004

This month has gone through like an express train, know-sooner had we celebrated the New Year than we were looking February in the eye. Most of the month has been taken up trying to upload this website on to the Internet. S`funny but I had a similar experience when I learnt how to use the computer, and now I’m almost too quick for the technology it has in its little brain. (Who am I kidding?) Before I let you know the results of the Northern trials I must explain my problem with uploading, you know already, that’s if you’ve read earlier articles of mine, the written word has always been hard for me to digest. Well, when you upload you do need to be able to understand everything your server tells you, it’s know good imagining you know, it’s simple when you’ve grasp it of course, but until it dawns on you, your in for a right lark. Well pleased to say it has now dawned on me, and the `index.htm.html’ file, (That’s what you have to call your first page) I’ve manage to hide inside a folder I’ve called `index’ and the server can’t see it. So 75 MB of website has got to be taken out of this folder and re-uploaded. To anyone not conversant with the html files, this will all sound like another language, which of course it is. It’s simple really but not until it dawns on you. Cos’ as everybody knows, when you try and get help on the telephone, from your server, or any company come to that, not only do you encounter the numbers lark, but when you eventually get a real person, ten to one he speaks with a accent your not familiar with, and you’re forever asking him or her to repeat what they’ve just said, it can get a bit embarrassing. It’s almost easier phoning the Moon with two tins and a piece of string.

Okay enough said, hear are the results of the Bournemouth bi-elections, no seriously, here’s the results of the Northern Trials at Golden Acre Park as sent to me by Mr. Martin Turner, I’ve been told the trials were very colourful, and favourable comments were received by the general public. The Northern committee would also like to thank the Leeds Council Leisure Services for making the site available for the trials. This cuts both ways of course, because I expect Leeds Council are very grateful for such a colourful attraction in their area, don’t we wish we had one just like it in Bournemouth. Thanks must also be conveyed to the men who did the bulk of the work in the trials, namely Brian Owen, John Parkinson, and Ernie Cawkwell, a trial as good as Golden Acre Park needs a lot of looking after, especially if you’ve got a few plants yourself. One last comment before we begin the report, after twenty years of being Trials Co-ordinator Brian Owen is to retire from this post, all the members of the National Dahlia Society thank him for twenty years of hard work for our Society, we wish him all the best, and hope to see him at the shows. As Mr. Martin Turner is also retiring, the gentleman taking on the task of Trials Co-ordinator is Mr. Andy Jamieson, we wish him good luck. Now the trials.

The best variety in trial according to the judges and therefore gaining a Gold Certificate of Exhibition Merit and winner of the Harry Howarth Memorial Medal was:

Adam Clarkson: Small Semi-Cactus. Raised and sent by Mr. W. Marsden of Huddersfield.

What a little belter, it’s almost a cactus, probable would be down South, the colour is reminisce of Ruskin Myra in my garden, although a little warmer.

The following varieties were awarded Silver Certificates of Exhibition Merit:

Candlelight: Giant Decorative. Raised by Mr. I. Hill of Thirsk and sent by Halls of Heddon.

First saw this last year, and for a giant it has a wonderfully even petal placement. This is a charity dahlia all money after expenses goes to Ian’s designated charity, I did know the charity but at the moment I can’t find the file that I had that information on.

Rockcliffe Billy: Small Semi-Cactus. Raised and sent by Mr. T. E, Thompson of Flint North Yorkshire.

I was scanning the Internet for photographs of new varieties, like you do, and I come across a bloke in a America trying to find out who had this variety, I’m practically certain it was on Ivor Mace’s site, the one crafted by his daughter Sian Mace, least I think it was. Anyone I sent him an email telling him where to get it, but I didn’t get a reply and I forgot to tell the email to send me a receipt. The best place to go if you want to locate a variety is Dave Bates website, there is a link on my link page, the blokes a genius. Any way back to Rockcliffe Billy, I’d buy it, but not this year I’ve over spent already, and then there’s the question of space. It is a perfect Semi-cactus with a colour as they say, to die for.

Rockcliffe Belle: Medium Decorative. Raised and sent by Mr. T. E, Thompson of Flint North Yorkshire.


Rockcliffe Belle:		Argyle Strawberry:

Won Awards both North and South, and that says something about a dahlia, what a spectical five blooms in a vase would be. I know the bloom on the right has nothing to do with the Golden Acre trial report, but as it’s my site I can do what I like, well almost, and besides you could be interested. Look at the two photographs, and tell me what immediately comes to mind? That’s right, is it a sport? Can you see the resemblance between the two, okay Rockcliffe’s got the edge, but there is a definite likeness. Don’t laugh this was a cross between a couple of giants.
Rockcliffe Belle picked up a 1st in the Welsh trials, and a Silver Certificate of Exhibition Merit here.

The following varieties were awarded a Bronze Certificate of Exhibition Merit

Teesbrook Redeye: Collerette.