The dahlia scene in Wales seems to go from strength to strength,
with many new exhibitors coming through, and establishing themselves
among not only the best in Wales, but also the best in the UK.
If we start at the Welsh National at Margam Country Park near
Port Talbot, which is about 10 miles West of Cardiff, and about
500m off the M4 motorway.
This venue attracts not only the Welsh exhibitors but also many
from the Midlands and the South West, the main Championship was
won by Fred Bishop of Bristol. Fred who is a member of the Welsh
dahlia society has won this championship many times before the
varieties Fred used were: Kenora Challenger, B. J. Beauty, Trelyn
Kiwi, Primrose Diane. Fred also took the best Exhibit in the
show with 3 vases of Kenora Challenger, which he grew, to perfection.
Fred Bishop 6 days latter won the Terry Clarke the individual
championship at the National Show at Shepton Mallet.
The medium championship at the Welsh national was won by one of
the up and coming young growers Malcolm Higgins from Six Bells
in Wales.
Welsh National Champions
Malcolm again later that week went on to National Success, in
winning the Clara Lawson Brown the medium semi cactus championship,
the varieties Malcolm used are as follows: 2 vases of Grenidor
Pastelle, Sunlight Pastelle, Eastwood Moonlight, Andrew Michell
and Nancy Margaret.
Malcolm also won the Alesworth Trophy again for medium semi-cactus
dahlias using the following varieties: Nancy Margaret, Eastwood
Moonlight, Kenora Canada, Andrew Michell, Grenidor Pastelle and
Gills Pastelle. Other Welsh Success at the Shepton Mallet National
Show was as follows: Grenville Davies from West Wales won the
Best Vase of poms in the show this vase was also judged to be
the Best Vase of dahlias in the show and won the prestigious Bikini
Vase the last one to be awarded at a national show. (Note the
very last Bikini vase will be awarded at the Welsh millennium
show at Pembroke in late August 2000).
The final Welsh exhibitors to gain awards at the National are
Richard & Leighton Evans from Swansea who won the Montague
Cup in the Novice section with a vase of Moorplace.
The Welsh dahlia Trials
We again held the Welsh dahlia trials at Pencoed College of Horticulture,
we have had many top varieties over the years at Pencoed, sent
by the top exhibitors in the Country, and many from overseas,
This years trials turned out to be the best for competition we
have ever held , with the winning variety not easy to pick out
with so many in contention. The results of the trials are as
follows: Gold Award Winner and the Jack Hart trophy winner together
with the Miners Lamp
went to White Pastelle raised by Graham Deacon, Kibworth, UK.
A very clear white sport of Gills Pastelle produced quality exhibition
blooms throughout the trial period will be much sort after be
exhibitors. Silver Award Taratahi Ruby raised by E & J Frater
New Zealand. This is an amazing variety producing top quality
blooms on every visit to the trial gardens and was many judges
top variety failed by only a few points to take top spot. Bronze
Award Amber Festival raised by David Boyd from Newcastle UK.
A Beautiful sport of Gateshead Festival this will be much sort
after by the exhibitor and will prove to be a worthy addition
to this strong section.
The Year 2000 In Wales
It is hoped the Welsh national show will again be at Margam country
park, this is an ideal venue being so close to the M4 motorway,
if it is held at Margam it will be as always on the August Bank
holiday 6 days before the National at Shepton Mallet. The Welsh
Millennium show will be on Saturday and Sunday 19th & 20th
of August at Pembroke (don’t forget that Bikini Vase), this
will be followed by the National Millennium show at Wisley on
the 22nd, 23rd and 24th of August, so you have plenty of reasons
to grow those early blooms.