The Greatest Show on Earth 
by Ivor Mace

The greatest show on earth was held at the County Showground Staffordshire on Saturday 12^th & Sunday 13^th September 2009.

To get the greatest show you have to have the greatest growers attending.  Who could be greater than the likes of Fed Waining, who along with his brother Les, they raised the bar on chrysanthemum exhibiting in the 70’s and 80’s.  He is a legend in his own lifetime.  Someone who is carving out his own legendary status is John Peace.  He has produced some of the most remarkable exhibits consistently over the last decade.  Another grower who has pushed the bar up in his classes is Vin Aldred.  His vases of sprays have reached the pinnacle of excellence.  There are many other growers I could mention who have consistently achieved excellence but none more that the 3 growers I have mentioned above.

The show caters for all growers big and small. It is set out in sections for Societies where growers can pool their blooms and exhibit together.  Classes for those people who like to grow large flowered blooms.  A section for those who prefer medium flowered blooms.  Also a section for those who want to grow both large and mediums. There’s a section for spray chrysanths.  There are classes for those dedicated people who raise new cultivars.  Classes range from 9 vases right down to single vases, so something everyone can participate in.

Classes for Affiliated Societies
At this years show The South Wiltshire Chrysanthemum & Dahlia Society excelled in the society classes taking four of the five trophy classes on offer with the remaining class going to Stoke on Trent Society.  Other Societies in the prizes in both Trophy classes and single vase classes were:-  High Wycombe Chrysanthemum Society, Park Hir Chrysanthemum Society, Cellerhead & District Society, Cheslyn Hay & Great Wyrley Chrysanthemum Society. Devon & Cornwall Chrysanthemum & Dahlia Society, Northwich & District Chrysanthemum Society, Doncaster Chrysanthemum Society,  and Sowerby Bridge & District Chrysanthemum Society.  Where else would you find competition of early flowering blooms amongst chrysanthemum societies to this standard?

In the raisers classes there were some promising new cultivars on display. The winner of the disbudded class was Frank Charlton with Savanna Charlton with Harry Lawson taking the second and third prizes with George Cannel & Anthony Peace.

The spray seedling class only had one entry but it was a good quality vase as we have come to expect from Vin Aldred.  The variety was Sarah Ann.

Large Flowered Section.
The Large Flowered Section was well supported with 3 entries in the 9 vases of large flowered.  John & Allyson Peace won the class with superb vases, two of which occupied the best vase niche. Their entry consisted of Billy Bell and its yellow sport, an improved stock of Primrose Chessington brought in from Scotland, Pearl Celebration, Dynasty, Allyson Peace, Golden and Apricot Courtier.  Graham Barclay was second with a very good entry and George Proverbs third, George’s entry was a very good entry and it just goes to show my title the Greatest Show on Earth owes it’s credibility just as much to the strength of the winners of the second and third places as it does to the winners themselves.

In the 6 vase class it was disappointing to find only two entries.  The winning entry was a cracking set of flowers grown by the legend Fred Waining. With Pearl Celebration and its White sport, Allyson Peace and Apricot, Golden and Yellow Courtier The second prize going to a very creditable set of blooms grown by Graham Braden.

The Three vase class was well contested with Fred Swabey in first place, Herbie McCauley, John & Allyson Peace and Paul Barlow took the other prizes.

Three single vase classes followed and these were won by Eddie Nolan, Herbie McCauley and Fred Swabey.

Medium Flowered Section.
The 9 vase class was won by Ian & Sheena Rankin from Lockerbie in Dumfrieshire. There were 5 vases of the John Wingfield family, Salmon, Peach, Pink, Cream and the White John Wingfield itself.  Chempak Rose and its Purple sport. Christopher Lawson and Claire Louise.  I must say there wasn’t much doubt in my mind when I saw their entry that it would win. When you have ten vases and you don’t know which one to leave out I think that is a good indication that you have a very good entry.  The other entries in this class were also of a very high standard and in the end Dave Halliday secured second spot with Frank Charlton third and Paul Barlow fourth.  This class was better than many shows in itself so again it reinforces my claim of the Greatest Show on Earth.

Like the Large section the 6 vase class had only 2 entries.  All be it two very good entries. Austin Allen won the class. His entry comprised of all John Wingfield family, Pink, Salmon, Peach, Cream, Honey and the White John Wingfield itself.  Barry Bickerdyke came second with another quality exhibit.

The 3 vase class was won by Fred Grimbley, he won it with Jonh Wingfield and it’s Yellow and Pink sports.  This was a well contested class and this was a very good exhibit, Terry Hubbard, Fred Waining and Kenneth Fowler took the other places. 

In this section there is a class for 3 vases of Intermediates and incurves, Ivor Trafford won this class with John William Stevenson in second followed by Eddie Nolan.

In the single vase section Ken McDean won two classes, Malcolm Simpson, Ivor Trafford and Martin Spratt won the other classes.

Large & Medium Flowered 
This section caters for growers who want to grow both large & mediums and I have seen this section flourish more and more in recent years.

The 9 vase class really does take some entering as it not only calls for both sections but also Reflexed, Intermediate and Incurved must be included.  This was won by Frank Charlton with a very classy entry of Large Flowered Dorridge Crystal, Allyson Peace, Pearl Celebration. And his mediums were Alex Young, John Wingfield and its Pink, Candy, Salmon, sports.  Frank has the incurved Joyce Frieda to complete his set.  Last years sensation Ian Martin was second.  Third went to Alan Gardner and fourth to Julie Ashley.

The 6 vase class had 3 very good entries with Ian Martin winning it. Angus McLean second and Frank Charlton third.

The 3 vase class was very well contested with some excellent entries.  Malcolm Simpson won the class with Billy Bell,   Millennium and Salmon John Wingfield,  Ian Martin came second and I came third with Terry Hubbard forth.  Why did I pick such a difficult class to enter, the truth is they were all difficult classes. My third prize entry would have taken the silver medal at most small shows in my area, Hey this is the National Show we are taking about here now!

This is a good section, there’s a 5 vase class with 3 blooms to a vase using separate colours.  Plenty of entries in it too.  Edward Waterson won the class with Brian Sidebottom second and Martin Spratt third, Tyfryn Pugh came forth.

The two vase class calls for one vase of large and one of medium.  This is a difficult class to win, no margin for error here.  John & Allyson Peace were the winners with Ian Martin Second and Ian & Sheena Rankin third, Jim Fenion was fourth.

The class for 3 vases of Incurves was won by Tony Walters with Keith Durrant in second place.

Individual Championship
This calls for four vases of different types. Les Hunter won with Joyce Frieda, Pearl Wingfield, Millennium and Southway Sheeba.  Second went to Ron & Margaret Jones, third to Kenneth Fowler and forth to Ian Richardson.

Restricted section for growers of less than 100 plants
The main class in this section calls for 3 vases of 3 blooms, Fred Grimbley won with all Wingfields.  I was second and Edward Price third with Brian Sidebottom fourth.

Section restricted to people who have never won a trophy at the National Show
The main class calls for 3 vases of 5 blooms, Raymond Evans won the class with Jim Fenion second, third prize went to Ivor Trafford and fourth to John & Christine Josefow.

Spray Section 
The top class calls for 9 vases, the winning entry was awarded the Bentley Trophy for the exhibit of most merit in show, a milestone in itself because this was the first time I can recall an exhibit of sprays taking the top award at the early national. Congratulations go to Vin & Joan Aldred on this magnificent achievement. Two of the three best vases of sprays came out of this exhibit Chestnut Talbot Parade & Rose Enbee Wedding. Second place went to Alan & Dorothy Nordstrom.

The 6 vase class again saw Vin & Joan Aldred come out on top with Mike Trott in second place

The 3 vase class attracted more entries and John White was the winner with Mike Trott second, Kevin Goodwin third and Geoff & Ann Allen third.

Charles Weller had the only entry in the 3 vases of double sprays and duly won the class.

The 3 vases of single sprays attracted 2 entries with Peter Gibbons the winner and Paul Charlish second.

Single vase classes were won by :- John Clarke, Alan & Dorothy Nordstrom, Martin Spratt, and Brian Smith

The recent introduction of 6 single blooms attracted quite a few entries with Jim Fenion winning the class, second to Malcolm Simpson, third to Martin Spratt and fourth to Brian Sidebottom.

To conclude. 
There is no doubt The UK National Chrysanthemum Society early flowering show is certainly the greatest show of early flowering chrysanthemums in the English speaking world and probably in the whole world.  The standard of blooms from the top growers is better than it’s ever been.  A full and more comprehensive report of the show will appear in the Autumn Bulletin of the National Chrysanthemum Society.  If you are not already a member why not join. The publications are first rate and I’m sure you will enjoy reading them.

My Concerns for the future.
Interest in growing all specialist plants for showing has declined in the last 30 years as they come under pressure from newer pastimes that are either less demanding or at first appear more exciting to younger people. Therefore anything that can be done to safeguard the interesting and fascinating hobby of Chrysanthemum growing should be implemented.

We could restore prize money at the National Shows.
The society has had a recent legacy of around £90,000.  The society’s assets were around £300,000 before the legacy was received.  Membership figures are lower than they have been in the last 100 years.  Prize money was withdrawn when the society employed full time staff.  Prior to the year 2000, the society was losing money and under cash flow problems.  These problems have been overcome and I find the reasoning of the society’s officers little more than a stubborn excuse why prize money can not be restored.   Reasons given at the AGM were, the volunteers who erect the tables don’t get paid.  As far as I know volunteers never get paid. They volunteer.  Another reason put forward was Show organisers arrive at least a day before the exhibitors to help organise and erect the show, they don’t get paid.  Why not pay their expenses?  If it’s above board and transparent surely that’s got to be worth considering.

If we could bring back some prize money for the multi vase classes it would be a step in the right direction.  We have just put a clause in our constitution how our assets will be disposed of if the society folds.  Why not use some of the assets to help make the society last longer. I have exhibited in 10 of the UK’s top shows already this year driving almost 3,500 miles, The only two shows I haven’t received any prize money was the National Chrysanthemum Society shows.  If all shows implemented the same policy there would be no way I could support all those shows.

Audience Participation
Ask any performer if they like performing to an empty hall.  All singers will tell you it’s a full house that brings out the best in them.  The North of England Horticultural Society’s Autumn Show at Harrogate attracts around 50,000 people I believe, and a recent letter from Malvern Autumn Show stated they exceeded 65,000 people.  I know the trustees have looked at the possibility of incorporating the early national within another event; all sorts of reasons have made this difficult, the main ones being the date to suit the optimum flowering period to suit both northern and southern growers and a central venue to make it fairer for everyone.  

However it would really be worth looking at this again because The Greatest Show on Earth goes on behind closed doors in effect. Only exhibitors and committed members attend. Very few general public and more worrying not very many other people interested in horticulture attend, so the opportunity for them to become attracted to chrysanthemums is lost.  This is a problem not easily solved I know, I must admit I have heard all the reasons why it would be difficult to move the show to incorporate it within a bigger horticultural show and I can’t argue with them, it is difficult.  All I know is chrysanthemum growing would benefit from being exposed to a larger audience.

To illustrate my point we only have to look at the success of the Society Information Display at Tatton Park earlier this summer. The public really showed their interest in the display, the judges were likewise impressed and awarded a Silver Gilt medal, and not least, the Society recruited the largest number of new members ever for any Show where the Society was represented. It has to be the way forward!

Pictures are freely available
Finally, please feel free to download any pictures of yourself taken by me.  I hope you all enjoyed the show and please support the Late Flowering show on Friday 6^th & Saturday 7th November 2009.
With my best regards,
Ivor Mace

(published 14 October, 2009 )

Ivor's pictures
Ivor has provided a number of his photographs for you to copy and print at home, if you wish. The following are available:

Vin & Joan Aldred

South Wilts C&D Soc

Malcolm Simpson

Cultivar
'Savanna Charlton'

Cultivar
'Sarah Ann'

Les Hunter

John & Allyson Peace

Ian & Sheena Rankine

Fred Waining

Fred Grimbley

Frankie & Joyce Charlton

All of the above thumbnails will produce a larger than normal image which should give good reproduction when printed.
Consequently they may take a little longer than normal to appear on your screen.

Best Vases
Click thumbnail to view

Best Incurved and 
Best Vase in Show

Best Vase Sprays in Show

Medium Reflexed

Medium Intermediate

Double Spray

Large Intermediate

Anemone Spray

Large Reflexed

© Copyright 2009 Paul Barlow.