The CDG held our late show on Friday ,4 October , in the Feilding Scout Hall .Feilding is the biggest Agricultural Center in the Southern North Island ; Friday is stock ( cattle , sheep , lambs ) market day , with a lot of country folk having a day in town .However , despite some good local advertising , we were not rushed of our feet ; perhaps the public were , like the growers , thinking spring is over .We had a good show , 14 exhibitors staged just under 300 stems , a good effort as the season was all but over .As expected , a shortage of trumpets ; a good muster of bright , fresh poets and all divisions between . A cool early start for some exhibitors ; a very unusual October frost in sheltered locations in our big region .
The Champion Bloom was , by almost unanimous decision , the best bloom seen all season .I think the best bloom I have seen for many years ; quite outstanding .Reg and Rita Cull arrived with their regular , small show flowerbox ( they don’t do the large numbers of decades past ) , moved to the table with vases ready for them , opened the jewel box and staged a very special gem ; a CRYSTAL GEM , 2W – W ,. We all knew , despite having some very nice blooms , we were playing for second . And the Reserve Champion was staged by Wayne Hughes ; we were delighted that Wayne and Sue could join us on the road , the first time for what as been a very difficult season for them . Reg had phoned the prospects of a super Gem to Wayne ; he was suitably impressed with this version of his best raising .He thought he had a good contender with a fine TRANQUIL IMAGE ; it was a very good Reserve but the Champ stood alone .
Champion Bloom , – 2W – W – CRYSTAL GEM , – Reg & Rita Cull . Pure White , very big , 128 mm , tall strong stem , great poise , looking at you and saying , ” pick me , – I am the Champ ” .
Reserve Champion , – 2W – P – TRANQUIL IMAGE , – Wayne Hughes Good size , round , good substance , good cup .
Premier 1Y – Y , – OMBERSLEY John McLennan
Premier 1Y – O , – OTAKI LIGHTS David Luty
Premier 1W – Y , – STORMY WEATHER John McLennan
Premier 1W – W , – WH 98 – 67 A Wayne Hughes .
This a sibling to Crystal Gem ; it measured trumpet by a few mms , – Crystal Gem is always just a few mm short of trumpet .It was also considerably larger than this nice trumpet.
Premier 2Y – O , – JAMAY Wayne Hughes
Premier 2Y – Y , WH 98 – 32 C Wayne Hughes .
Premier 2W – P , TRANQUIL IMAGE Wayne Hughes
Premier 2W – Y , BEACH BABE David Luty
Premier 2W – O , TANZEY GIRL John McLennan
Premier 2W – R , NEON BLAZE David Luty Also BEST BLOOM , – Movers and Shakers Section . in contention for Reserve .
Premier 2W – W , CRYSTAL GEM R & R Cull
Premier 3Y – O , ACHDUART John McLennan
Premier 3Y – Y , LEMON SPICE Andrew Jenkins
Premier 3W – Y , TOPAZ DAWN John McLennan
Premier 3W – R , FIRE ON ICE R & R Cull
Premier 3W – W , VALEDICTION Andrew Jenkins
Premier 4Y – O , CROWNDALE R & R Cull
Premier 4W – YP , COSMIC DAWN R & R Cull . Impressive big double .
Premier DIV 5 , RENWORTH Diane Irwin
Premier Div 6 , FOUNDLING Diane Irwin
Premier Div 7 , STRATOSPHERE Brian MacKenzie
Premier Div 8 , Harpswell Wilfred Hall Apologies to Wilfred , – somehow I missed this fine tazetta , raised and shown by Wilf . It was having a good season ; – prem at the South Island National last week , shown by Denise McQuarrie . HARPSWELL , A very good tazetta from Wilf .
Premier Div 9 , GLENSPEY Diana Loader
Premier Div 11 , JFM CHERRY PINK Sdlg , John McLennan Big , bright , round , – eyecatching .
Premier Seedling and Prem Intermediate , WH 2Y – YYO Wayne Hughes
Premier Miniature , FAIRY CHIMES Diane Irwin
Premier Historic , ROCKALL R & R Cull
Premier Beginners , LOYAL KNIGHT Zavier Jenkins A big bright flower , well grown by Andrews young son . An impressive recent Spud Brogden release .
Premier Vase 3 , TRIPLE CROWN Brian MacKenzie 3 very even , very bright blooms , a standout vase .
The last show for the season ; again a lot of Premiers as is our way ; but the standard was good for a late show and all will remember the Champion Bloom , many commenting that it was the most impressive winner they had seen . It capped a fine season for Reg and Rita who exhibited at four shows for four Champion blooms . Reg is now growing less daffs than at any time in the last 50 years , being very selective in his variety choices and giving them all special attention ; – with great results .