Our first venture into international showing was back in 1993
when we showed Dahlias for our local Societies, Bristol &
District and North Somerset at the Canada World Championships
in Toronto.
At our first attempt the Societies won the Medium Cactus and small
decorative championships and were placed in several other classes,
our chrysanth exhibitors were second in the major three vase by
five bloom championship as well as winning other classes.
As these championships are held every five years we made plans
to exhibit once again in 1998.
Preparations got under way early in the year. We started by agreeing
that North Somerset would again organise the chrysanthemums and
I would handle the Dahlias for both Societies.
We had discussions on cultivars to be grown etc. Based on our
previous experiences, we would need at least four boxes for our
exhibits and with a Pompon Championship included for the first
time space would need to be made for them in the base of one of
the boxes.
Following a visit in March by Jim McWilliams the Canadian organiser,
we were talked into exhibiting for both Societies and were to
include spray chrysanthemums. So we then needed eight boxes to
enable us to enter all of the championship classes. Jim being
a canny Scot by birth is able to talk you into almost anything
it appears.
I started on box construction in April and eventually had them
all ready by late July but still had to paint and illustrate them,
it was then I realised the major task that was still to be undertaken.
With 8 boxes we had sixteen sides to adorn with pictures of local
scenes etc.
As each side would take about a days work to complete it would
mean a lot of evenings being spent on the project as well as keeping
all the Dahlia growing under control. It was the end of August
when eventually all was completed.
By then we were arranging Airport transport and delivery to packing
areas for all of the blooms. We pointed out that all blooms should
have standard 24 inch split canes attached to fit straight on
to the box frames. Although time would be at a premium we agreed
to cut as late as possible as the blooms would have to be boxed
for at least 24 hours and it would be some 43 hours before they
would be judged (allowing for the 5 hour time difference).
All of my blooms were caned on the plants during the day, it was
then easy to cut in the evening and attach to the box frames,
all of the other blooms were delivered by 10.00 pm.
The fun then commenced as we found that we had blooms delivered
with various length split canes, several of the water container
positions had to be altered to accommodate these short stems.
It was unfortunately developing into the usual “Brewery phenomenon”
which meant that it was 1.50 am before all of the blooms were
loaded.
Our North Somerset mates could not find the required three distinct
cultivars for the Spray chrysanthemums so we used the box for
spare Dahlia blooms. We had to load the van transport by 7.00
am to be at Heathrow Airport by 10.30 am so very little sleep
was possible, exhibitors can not expect any such luxury at these
times.
On arrival at Heathrow our next problem was customs, we had put
all of the usual instructions on the boxes, “This way Up”
etc. but had failed to marked the lid release points.
I noticed an Airline employee busy taking screws out of a box
so had to stop him and open all of the boxes for the customs inspection.
It was possible to have a discussion with the Airline loading
manager about the cargo hold temperature as in 1993 the boxes
were warm when unloaded in Toronto.
We were assured that the boxes would be kept at a cool temperature,
this proved to be so and all of the blooms travelled well. In
1993 “Kiwi Gloria” blooms were all spotted but this
time the cultivars were in excellent condition, however we did
not take any “Kiwi” due to our previous experience.
We did however do other exhibitors a favour by getting the cargo
hold to have cool conditions.
On arrival in Toronto we made the fatal mistake of going through
customs without our bloom boxes. As we could not see the boxes
we went out to meet the Canadian Society members and then had
an hour or more of discussion with customs before they would release
all of the boxes.
Eventually we arrived at the hotel and were eager to unload the
boxes and get the blooms into fresh water. We then discovered
that one of the boxes was damaged at one end and had obviously
been dropped.
On opening the box we found that two Medium Decorative blooms
had broken off their stems and dropped on to the pompon blooms
in the base of the box.
We had to rescue as many pompons as possible but eventually had
to put up a few slightly damaged blooms to find the necessary
three distinct cultivars required. We did have some spare “Hallmark”
blooms in another box which proved to be invaluable.
It was now 9.00 pm (plus 5 hours) so it was time to get some rest
before staging, it was agreed we should start at 3.00 am to meet
the 9.00 am judging deadline. We did make this early start and
the staging went very well so we were completed well before our
9.00 am deadline.
When judging was completed we discovered that the Society had
once again won the Medium Cactus and Small Decorative Championships
and been placed in the others. North Somerset Chrysanthemum team
were again 2nd to Denton C & D in the major championship,
they exhibited “John Wingfield” “Pink John Wingfield”
and “Dorridge Crystal” which was judged to be the Best
Vase of chrysanthemums.
The Best Vase of Dahlias was also awarded to Denton C & D
Society with “Gateshead Festival”. Bristol and District
Medium Cactus of “Sunlight Pastelle” and “Grenidor
Pastelle” was judged to be the Best Exhibit.
Our other main awards were Best Med. “B. J. Beauty”
Best Min. “Lemon Zing” (ball dec. or pompon) Best Vase
of Pompons “Hallmark”.
We had a very successful time which was reward for the hours of
work so many had undertaken on behalf of the Societies.
If anyone contemplates entering such International shows our advise
would be, start organising as early as possible, there is never
enough time. Agree to grow cultivars that are hard petalled and
travel well. Make sure everyone knows their responsibilities.
Get all the help you can, you will need it.
Best of good fortune and keep on exhibiting.
Future International Shows
Millennium Show:-
Washington, USA - late September 2000.
Toronto, Canada - mid September 2003