GARDENING WITH THE EXPERTS
The world's finest share their tips for success
The National Late Flowering Chrysanthemum Show was held on November 4 and 5 at Bingley Hall, Stafford
Growers from across the UK put on a fantastic show with their blooms after braving the extreme weather conditions we’ve had this year. The Bentley Trophy for best exhibit in show and the Centenary Trophy for 18 large exhibition blooms went to Andy Whickham, for his tremendous display, including four yellow ‘Phil Houghton’, two ‘Phil Houghton’, two golden ‘Phil Houghton’, silver ‘Gigantic’, amber ‘Peggy Anne’, ‘Shirley Primrose’, ‘Jimmy Motram’, ‘Elizabeth Shoesmith’, ‘Pink Duke’ and ‘Fitton’s Reward’. This was the most competitive class in the show with five entries.
In the decorative class, the George Prickett Challenge Trophy was won for the first time by John Pattison from South Shields. John included in his entry ‘Woolman’s Venture’, red ‘Woolman’s Venture’ (which won best medium reflex in show), ‘Mancetta Symbol’ (which won best large intermediate in show), ‘Roy Copeland’ and cerise ‘Pat Miller’.
The National Individual Championship and the Harry Johnson Perpetual Trophy was won by Ron and Diane Benfield for the first time. This is always a popular class, with four entries this year. Ron and Diane had coral ‘Patricia Miller’ (reflex), ‘Clarksdale’ (intermediate), ‘Kay Woolman’ (incurve), ‘Lundy’ (medium exhibition) and ‘Zoe Russell’ (large single).
For the National Championship for late incurves and the Holmes Memorial Challenge Cup, I’m pleased to say I was the winner with ‘Kay Woolman’, two peach ‘Bryony Wade’, ‘Bryony Wade’ and white ‘Bryony Wade’. I topped off my show by winn
