The BCSS National Show 2004 (2)

Jack Bramhill (J.B), Jeff Capel (J.C), Ian Priestley (I.P) and wife Julie (J.P), Barry Tibbetts (B.T), and Trevor Wray (T.W).

(TW) A few weeks before the show I received my entry form and official Show booklet. My goodness, this is a sumptuous production; glossy paper, the full schedule and loads of colour pictures of show winning plants. (What did it cost?) I was not sure what the wonderful picture of a forest of Oreocereus in habitat had to do with the show; though any one of them could have been dug up and won the class for the Cleistocactus Subgroup. The habitat Browningia had too many holes in it to be in ‘show condition’.

As I considered my entry there was a slight problem because part of the schedule was not in English. Later a friend explained that MM was an abbreviation for millimetres which is a new fangled measurement not found in Northants Country. A visit to the local Woolworths soon found a MM ruler and I could measure my flowerpots.

When selecting plants for the ‘National’ there are several considerations if you do not want to waste your time. That the plants have to be seriously old and in perfect condition would seem to be the most obvious. In the unrestricted classes they need to be pretty huge as well. Where there is a pot limit that must not be exceeded and there I had my first problem; one of my 110mm Euphorbia plants had somehow stretched and was in a 115mm. pot. Now 113mm might just be OK and in Northants Country, 115 might not be noticed. In the National there was not a chance. Should the Judge happen to miss it and it won, someone would be bound to notice and draw attention to the officials. An NAS at the National would be just too embarrassing. A search through the old pots was undertaken with the official Wray judging calipers and the perfect specimen was found and washed. The Euphorbia was eased out of its old pot and into the new, strangely it fitted perfectly and strangely I managed without damaging the plant; you just know how that ugly white sap leaks out of those. I thought I was going to have a similar problem with my Copiapoa where one offset (I swear it wasn’t there last week) had bulged the pot very slightly. Good news was the plant was in the unlimited class, bad news was that at seven old fashioned inches, it didn’t stand a chance!

Lithops were de-skinned and watered well. In an ideal world this is done some weeks before a show. As usual a few heads were pulled off, but luckily I have some spare plants. Cheats could glue them back on. Treated as cuttings, detached heads root quickly in autumn and in thirty years will make good show plants. The parent plant is spoiled for the present show year but will be as good as new, next. Show tip - a Lithops show plant can be dusted and given a slight sheen with a sweaty finger. Use of furniture polish would be excessive.

Then it’s pack the plants’ time, very carefully, befitting their National status, pack the camera gear and choose a route out of town that avoids the speed humps. It’s off to the National!

I set off at 7.30 on Saturday. We forget that willing helpers were there on Friday; read Jeff’s report…

(J.C) We arrived at Springfields, Spalding at 8.30am. on the day before the Show just as our friends, Pat and George of Spalding Branch, were arriving.

We helped set up 160 tables (Phew!) in the Show Hall along with members of the Spalding Branch, after which we covered them with black material. Whilst I was helping covering the tables Diana was helping to set out the Tombola prizes, of which there were lots and of good quality.

The tables were then set out into classes by Pat Mills, Spalding Branch Treasurer, and Tony Morris who had made all the dividing strips and class number flags.

At about 5.30pm. we prepared to leave for the day but as we were leaving it was decided to alter all the table coverings in the Sales Marquee and by this time a few of the nurseries had already arrived. We eventually left at about 6.30pm. Plenty of rain fell during the night and we just hoped that it would remain fine the next day.

(J.C) We had stayed at Pam and George’s for the night and at 5am. George knocked the bedroom door for us to get up. We had a cup of tea and then off to Springfield arriving just before 7am. The Sales Marquee at that time was surrounded by Nursery men (and ladies) and their vans. I got involved with helping some exhibitors with their large plants, some of which took three people to lift them. We then went and had a big cooked breakfast to keep us going during the day as we had anticipated it would be very busy and we would not have time to eat whilst the show was on. Thankfully the weather had improved overnight and remained dry for the day.

Diana and I assisted the judges in our allocated classes. After a number of place cards were delivered for the prize cards it was realised that the cards were not being written because, unfortunately, the computer was not working. Eventually a few prize cards were printed and placed out, but not all. As the time for the opening of the show had now passed it was decided as there were so many people queuing to let them in without all prize cards being placed.

Diana had agreed to help on the tombola and when the doors opened it was mobbed and I did not see her for people until late in the afternoon.

I did get a third in class 117 Cristate or Monstrous Succulent with my Aeonium arboreum rubrum cristate, which proves a small plant can beat a large one even in the National.

Although there were some superb plants on show I did feel that some classes were poorly supported and this gives me hope of entering more classes in the next National.

(BT) As a National Show `virgin`, the whole process was fairly painless, and when Pam and I arrived at about 8.00am, I was amazed how many plants were already on the show benches. Jeff Capel, who was helping out as a steward, told me that many people had brought their plants in late on Friday to avoid the rush, although at this point it was still quite quiet. I went to get my entry cards from Cath Darbon, and soon had my 10 entries set out in their appropriate classes, in some of which I immediately realised that a plant that was good enough to win the Zone show, was out of its depth here! Oh well, never mind.

I then had a chance to watch other people starting to offload their plants, and Pam pointed out some of the weird and wonderful contraptions they were using. There were all types of wheeled trolleys, most of which were absolutely hopeless over the gravel access area at the back of the hall. In the end, most people had to carry the plants to the concrete threshold just outside the door, and then use the trolleys in the hall. Other exhibitors had made special carrying frames so that two or more people could carry large and awkward plants with ease. And then there were the crates, of all different shapes, sizes and colours, more than you would see at the rear of a typical supermarket! And what about the transport? Apart from all the cars, there were vans, pick-ups, a lorry, two minibuses and even a camper van, out of which all types and shapes of plants were emerging. Mind you, I can hardly talk: by taking the back seat out of my estate car, I had a clearance of 37'' between floorpan and roof, into which I managed to squeeze a Pachycereus chichipe which was 36.5" tall! Was it worth it you may ask? Er,.... no! When I put it on the bench, I thought "that was a complete waste of time, how on earth did someone manage to bring a 6' long Machaerocereus eruca?"

All of my efforts were not in vain, however, as out of my 10 entries, I managed to get 5 cards: 1 x H.C.; 3 x Thirds, and 1 x FIRST (yippee!!!). So I am no longer a National Show virgin

(T.W) I arrived at 9.15 and the Show was in full swing. I unloaded my crates right at the warehouse door, cards from Cathy and my plants were quickly staged. At 10.45 there was a briefing for stewards and I reluctantly left the sales marquee. “Please do not be late!” Rodney had said. There was further evidence of the organised efficiency of this Show. Everyone had their allotted tasks to a timetable and computers and printers churned quietly in the background. Quietly, but not perfectly as we found. I was a steward for the official photographers and it was up and down ladders, “move that sign, reflector there, no tilt a bit more, click, click, right, next class”! I got some good tips (thanks Ray) and was able to snatch some hurried shots myself with less clutter. However my best photos were taken at ‘packing up’ time when exhibiters allowed me practically studio setups, thanks. As we followed the Judges I caught tantalising snatches of expert opinion. Was there really a Euphorbia species where you could tell the sex just by the spines?

As to my entries, I gained a second and three thirds and the prize money neatly paid for my expenses for the day, (though not the plants I bought). Thanks especially to Eddie Harris and the Sedum Soc who were particular sponsors of classes I won prizes in.

We were so thrilled that Barry got a first for his Sansevieria singularis, I have added a picture. Peter also gained a first for his Haworthia truncata but this was a previous National winner.

(I.P) There were some very nice plants on display, but sadly neither Julie nor I managed to get round all of the classes. In hindsight, I was disappointed that we had not exhibited; (the pressures of a recent house move meant our plants had not received the attention they deserved). Still, there’s ample time to start planning for 2008!

Above: Nurseryman Martin Walker from Auckland, New Zealand popped over for the Show. Was he our most travelled visitor?

I suspect we could have done well in the Stenocactus and Gymnocalycium classes particularly, which did not appear to be too popular this year. The Mammillaria classes were fiercely competitive however, but again some of the names of good growers who exhibited at the recent combined Oxford BCSS branch/ Mammillaria Society show at Witney, were absent.

At about 1.30pm, I returned to the Show hall, to check on the Mammillarias, Coryphanthae and Thelocacti offerings, and take some notes for a specialist report.

(Tannoy announcement) “would the parents of Elanor please collect her from the Society table” Now who would they be?

(I.P) I did not think the crowd pressure was as bad as it was in 2000; was this due to less classes/entries or what? Do we know how the visitor numbers compare? I was thus able to get round relatively comfortably until the chief photographer (Julie) arrived, when I took over managing Elanor, whilst acting as photo co-ordinator/note taker. (J.P) Shame he managed to lose Elanor and she had to be rescued by the Shows committee!

(J.C) The taking down of tables and clearing up after the show was remarkably quick due to the number of people who helped.

(B.T) Overall I thought that the standard of the show was very high, with some absolutely stunning plants on show, but the one that stood out above all others for me was Gillian Evison's superb Pseudolithos cubiformis. (T.W) Yes, me too. I might even turn up the heating for that one!

The Sales’ Marquee

(I.P) The Priestley family were early arrivals on the Saturday morning, (8.35 a.m.) which meant that we were parked up in an ideal location, very close to the Sales’ tent!

It was already open for business and this enabled me to fill up my tray, then whip them back to the car without ‘her indoors’ noticing the number of new arrivals (- well I have my second greenhouse up now), or the associated costs!

My plan was a quick whiz around to get my bearings; this worked well until I got to the second bench, (I bypassed the first because it was the pot sales, which I thought I could return to later without missing anything).

Progress did slow considerably though, and the relatively free sales benches became busier and busier, as more people entered the fray. A quick stop and chat with John Henshaw, was followed by a longer halt at Stuart Riley’s stall, usually a good place for novelties. A number of nice acquisitions later, I had also picked up this year’s novelty class winner, a bright yellow Mammillaria marksiana, which looked very unusual, but not one, I would guess, for the purist? (T.W) And not one for this editor – it is horrible! Though for the sake of impartiality, and the fact I might want some cuttings from Ian at a future date, I have added a picture of the expletive deleted.

At about 10.00am, Julie and Elanor called me away, I had nearly completed the first round of the Sales tent anyway. A large breakfast was calling, and I really did it justice, especially the fried bread, plus part of Julie’s and Elanor’s as they disliked various elements of this mega feast.

11.00. Being well fed and topped up with tea, I popped back for the second Sales session, only to find the tent bulging to the extent that it was very difficult to get close to the plants. I was particularly chuffed however, to locate a nice Echeveria cante and Agave macroacantha, ex Birmingham branch?

At 11.30 we figured that the Show Hall would be very busy at the outset, so adjourned to the adjacent shops for some more retail therapy and then into the gardens. These are unfortunately much less extensive than previously, but we met up there with some other NMK members in like mode.

(B.T) The plant sales in the marquee were up to their usual standard, and by about 11.00 you could hardly move in there, especially after the fifth coach had arrived and disgorged its eager passengers straight into the marquee, all clutching their empty (soon to be full) boxes and trays. By midday it had become really humid in there, and Pam and I decided that was enough, and I came out with my treasured purchases, which may or may not be entered in the National in 2024. For some reason they seemed to consist mainly of Discocactus, Arrojadoa and Pierrebraunea, so there goes the winter heating bill again.

Both Pam and I were amazed at how many ordinary members of the public were buying plants, including one strangely dressed elderly gentleman who was rapidly filling a cardboard box, that could easily have contained a large domestic appliance, with a wide assortment of cacti and succulents!

In the afternoon, after a refreshing lunch, Pam hit the new Springfields Shopping Centre and spent nearly as much as I did on plants, while I contented myself taking photos of some of the choicer plants on show, and continually bumping into friends and exchanging views on some of the more peculiar judging decisions.

Trev's trophies from the show.

Much better than the silver ones!

(T.W) Yes, the sales marquee was worth the trip alone. There was something for everyone (and not just the rich!) Pots, books and pretty stones too. There were many plant novelties available as seedlings or grafts and I took plenty of photos. A large £7 white spined Discocactus nearly hit my tray; I looked at them several times, they were over the Wray budget but great value. Common sense prevailed - it would cost me far more than that to keep it warm. However if I did, there were pink Euphorbia abdelkuri to go with it! Oh dear.

(J.B) Oh, the plants I bought? I extended the collection of Mams - Agaves and Cristates - and purchased a 10" Mammillaria magnimma with three heads in flower - it looked fantastic - it will grace any show bench.

How does that saying go? If you buy just one plant make it a special one. Better still, make it two!

Finally

(B.T) I won't say too much about the lack of prize cards at the show (I am still waiting for most of mine), but if I can manage to write out over 250 at the Zone show in a couple of hours, I think the Shows Committee should have tried harder. It was very frustrating for most of the visitors to the show to continually have to turn over the entry cards to see who had won!

Finally it was time to pack up, try and squeeze the Pachycereus back in to the car, and remember not to brake too hard on the way home. A great Show!

(T.W) The end of the show was announced but there were still parts I had not seen at all. I continued to take photos though and thanks to the exhibiters for their patience. Finally organisers began to collapse and stack the tables in the main hall and I knew the Show had really finished. I gave a hand on the principle the task would soon be over. As we completed the job I felt the first pangs of hunger and imagined the FL’s famous fillet steak and brandy sauce, only a 90 minute drive away.

“Right, lads and lassies just the Sale’s tent to do now!” The next day my muscles suffered from the last ten tables I hauled out of that tent!

Summing up

(T.W) Another great Show! There were some terrific plants exhibited, an excellent selection of sales' plants and in general the Show ran smoothly as you would expect. If I had a complaint it was that I didn't have enough time to do everything I wanted. The two missing members of the Southampton coach party probably felt the same at the Tannoy announcement. I could easily have spent two days looking, studying, photographing and chatting at this Show. Two days in the sales' tent would probably have bankrupted me but there is no problem - it is only a one-day-show.

Thanks to the National shows committee who have been organising it for many months (years?), the members of the Spalding Branch and others who pitched in to give a hand. It is obvious that without these unpaid volunteers there would have been no show.

I have very fond memories and 400 pictures to remind me of the Show. Also a tray of little plants to grow on for future shows. Oh, and I won a few prizes cards but not a first, so I have something to aspire to. Well done Barry and Peter.

Will the 2008 Show be as good? I hope so and the date and venue has already been booked at Cambridge. We’ll be back!

On the best succulent, a vast Euphorbia in a one yard pot - "how do you repot it"?

On the cristate that came second in class 54 - "it is the ugliest thing I have ever seen".

At Class 58 (3 cacti) - the first entered by Bob Wilson? - "I wish I could grow plants like that!"

In the sales' tent. "What worries me is, if he dies, who's going to look after all those cacti?"

Fairly (very?) senior show person: "Cambridge next time? Yes, Spalding deserve a rest after four Nationals!"

After the Show; at the end of a long email from the Northants News Editor (Trev) to the National Show Secretary (Rodney Sims) to clarify a few points: "Is the next National Show really four years away?"

At the end of a long email from Rodney clarifying those few points: "YES!!! Thank goodness. But do you really want to see the same plants, only slightly bigger, winning the same classes next time? Will you and your branch pay for it by sponsoring classes, buying raffle tickets and attending?"

It is early days now, facts, figures and the dreaded finances have not been announced for the Show yet; but this is a profound and fundamental question about BIG shows. It WAS a great show but we know that there are many plants in the country which would have won prizes if they had only been entered. Will sponsorship (that means prize money here in Middle England) be the way forward? Will a few pounds more prize money mean that some two-foot Pseudolithos will grace the show bench? Personally I am pleased that my exhibits raised from seed and seedlings gained the odd prize card (and I don't even care if it is printed, though they have arrived, thank you). It is a measure of my (limited) skill - the prize money is a bonus. My personal opinion is that if I have show-worthy plants at branch, zone and national level and I have no dire personal crisis I will enter those shows. There will probably be much debate. Readers of this internet edition could email Northants News and we might print your comment. No matter - roll on the 2008 National Show!

And there you are, Rodney, I have quoted those lines, - there WILL be much debate.

(T,W) I typed the final words to this National Show report when I returned from our branch meeting. We were lucky that Brian Bates (fresh out of Bolivia) gave us a talk about his 'backyard' plants. There were books for sale and the branch library was open. There was a side table competition, a raffle with many plants, a slide show of the National on the laptop and some sales plants in the break. We welcomed new members Steve and his son Lawrence. Pretty good and we have similar every month.

The basis of the BCSS lies in each successful branch meeting but the epitome is the National Shows; as I wrote earlier - roll on the 2008 National Show!