The dahlia revival continues around the Ayrshire circuit -
with new names among the exhibitors, increased competition, and
rising standards.
However, the freak weather spoiled the start of the show season.
Stopping dates were knocked stupid. It was the latest growing
season that most people could remember. This was reflected in
the poor entries at early shows - and this was particularly noticeable
by the gaps in the benches at Ayr.
This traditional three day event, the first major date on our
Scottish show calendar, was staged at its new racecourse location.
Dahlias were spotlighted as the 1998 “Blue Riband” sector
and a £55 prize plus a trophy was at stake.
It tempted Rab Ritchie to make the cross country haul from Kettlebridge
in Fife. He staged Wootton Impact, Pink Suffusion, Deborah’s
Kiwi and Loretta in the four-vase top class to win the Carlye
Salver. Eric Wilson from Dumfries, was runner up using Eastwood
Moonlight, Rossendale Luke, Cherwell Goldcrest and Loretta. W.
Murray, of Castle Douglas, took third place.
John Buchanan had scored this class and it was interesting to
note that both leading entries included, in their line up, the
new lilac-pink miniature dec. Loretta. But Rab‘s Loretta
was his highest scoring vase and, unfortunately for Eric, his
Loretta was his poorest scoring. This, really decided the contest.
Other major trophy winners were Jock Bayne from Polmont, Crosbie
Trophy and the Old Racecourse Trophy; J. Murray, Tarbolton Trophy;
Andy Allan from Chryston, the Paterson Trophy, and Eric Wilson,
the National Trust trophy for best exhibit in poms.
Among the red ticket winners were:- Wullie Mathieson, Glasgow;
McPherson, Turnberry; Pettigrew, Ayr; W. Craig, Kilwinning; Kernoghan,
Northern Ireland; and Ian Hill from Thirsk.
West Kilbride kicked off the local show fixtures with its 22nd
August date. That was the weekend before Ayr. Early in the best
of times, it suffered from the abnormal weather. Nevertheless
the local team scraped up entries and Kenny Milne won the Silver
for Best Exhibit with a vase of the small cactus Dana Iris. John
Stewart’s vase of the small dec. Hillcrest Ultra ran it close.
Two days later, the traditional holiday Monday show at Irvine
saw the Silver Medal go to W. Nairn, of Cumnock. He produced a
cracking vase of Karenglen, proving that some folks can get this
one early. James Barton, Kilmarnock, took the three vase class
with Raiser’s Pride (still a popular variety on the west
coast), Ruskin Diane and Mistill Beauty.
Plants were catching up. There were no fewer than 86 vases of
dahlias benched at Kilbirnie on the weekend before our Stirling
National. So much for the moans about a disastrous season. There
were four entries in the three vase class. Kenny Milne came tops
using Grenidor Pastelle, Dana Iris and Ruskin Diane. D. McCubbin
and W. Craig filled second and third.
There was a fair spread of winning names at this show. Among them
were J. Deans, who took the two vases of mediums with Grenidor
Pastelle and Eileen Denny. There were eight entries in one of
the single vase classes where John Stewart produced Deborah’s
Kiwi to take the red card.
The following week saw the first show held by the new Three Towns
Society. This was the successful re-launch of the annual Stevenston
event, now taking in the adjoining towns of Saltcoats and Ardrossan.
The enlarged committee are enthusiastic and optimistic about future
developments.
Here, more than 60 vases were lined up despite the event clashing
with Gateside, only a few miles inland. James Barton from Kilmarnock,
won the three vase class with old favourite Suffolk Spectacular,
plus Pink Pastelle and Tommy Doc. His Suffolk Spectacular, a variety
that seemed to thrive in this dismal summer, took the Silver Medal
for Best Vase. J. Stirrat won the bronze for second best vase
with Pink Jupiter in what is becoming a fast expanding giant section.
The annual Ayrshire Dahlia championship, a Sunday venue at Hurlford,
attracted some strong entries. Winner was W. B. Robertson, of
Eaglesham, whose four vases comprised Sunlight Pastelle (2) plus
Claire Diane and Deborah’s Kiwi. W. Smith, Johnstone, was
runner up using Suffolk Spectacular, Hillcrest Albino, Kiwi Gloria
and Tui Orange. In third place was W. Nairn putting up Charlie
Two, newcomer Chimacum Topaz, plus Ruskin Diane and Hillcrest
Ultra. The newcomer, a medium semi of orange and bronze blends,
caught the eye.
Bill Smith went on to capture the three vases of smalls from Alex
Robb, of Cumnock, in second slot. Best Vase went to an outstanding
set of three giant Wanda’s Capella put up by W. Nairn, who
was continuing his successful season.
Moving into Renfrewshire, it was Bill Matheson, from King’s
Park, who cleaned up the red tickets at the Busby & Clarkston
show. He took the Silver in the main class with Pink Jupiter,
Debra Ann Craven and Charlie Two. He also won three vase class
for smalls and his Deborah’s Kiwi was Best Vase of dahlias.
On the following week it was East Kilbride - and again the Matheson
man took the honours. In the three vase class he used Charlie
Two, Pristine and Pink Pastelle. W. B. Robertson filled second
spot. Third place went to local grower R. Loggie who staged Pink
Pastelle, the new release Wittleman’s Superba, and the oldie
Monk Marc.
To complete yet another successful weekend “double”,
Bill Matheson also collected the three vases of smalls, staging
Senzoe Ursula, Kiwi Gloria and Deborah’s Kiwi, the latter
variety again gaining the Best Vase title.
Entries were down at Renfrew where the mainstay support came from
our own society vice president Bill Smith. He took the trophy
and the main three vase class using Grenidor Pastelle, Ruskin
Diane and Tui Orange. He also won the three vases of small. Included
here was a vase of an interesting orange and bronze seedling with
a form not unlike that of Honeymoon Dress.
No two seasons are exactly alike and this one certainly hit a
low. Eaglesham lies about 600 feet above sea level and Bill Robertson
keeps a rain gauge in his back garden. In the three month spell
between 1st June and 1st September it measured over 17 inches
of rain!
In such extreme growing conditions, many growers complained of
“damping off” problems. It was also a difficult year
to attempt to assess new varieties grown or even seen on the show
circuit. Some of the bankers struggled while some second string
names cropped up among the winners. Certainly in the wet west,
there were very few vases of Moonlights on display. However, Suffolk
Spectacular, released back in 1975, was an established oldie that
seemed to thrive in the freak season.