PETERBOROUGH INTERNATIONAL ORCHID SHOW

* * * *  17th, 18th & 19th June 2011 * * * *

Please note the above date down in your diary!

The 2010 Show  was held on 18th – 20th June  at the East of England Showground, Peterborough as usual. It was, however, a show with a difference this year in that it involved the staging of the 24th BOC Congress.

Over 70 exhibitors and displays filled the huge marquee with spectacular displays and plants backed up by accessories, sundries and literature. The standard of display which has always been high was the best yet, particularly by Societies. This was quickly noted and remarked upon by the display judging team and reflected in the award of nine Gold Medals – five Amateur and four Trade. The award for the Best Display – Professional again went to Ryanne Orchidee – this year using a jungle house as the basis of the display. Possibly the most coveted award – Best Display – Amateur has in previous years been contested by either two or three exhibits. This year there were five genuine candidates with the award going ultimately to Hinckley and District O.S. Their corner display contrasted “Old Times” with “New Times”  using sections of greenhouses demonstrating the development of building materials.  

As the BOC Congress was taking place, a full BOC judging schedule of over 30 classes were judged.  A full complement of BOC judges supplemented by invited guest judges gathered bright and early on Saturday.  Again, the plant quality was very high making judging somewhat difficult but interesting. Whilst there would inevitably be disappointments that some plants were not awarded, no  serious criticism of any awards was heard – quite remarkable if not unique!  The ultimate award of Grand Champion Plant (Open) went to Bulbophyllum graveolens ‘Roger Lane’ exhibited of course by Sue Lane.  To commemorate the staging of the BOC Congress a new trophy had been donated and named the Peterborough Trophy, to be awarded for the Best Pleurothallidinae (Open). It was no surprise that the award went to the “semi-retired” Ellis Eyre for Dracula sergoii “Eva May”

A  fascinating display was staged of old/archive material featuring some of the famous nurseries of yesteryear such as Charlesworth, Veitch etc.  Charlesworth catalogues of 100 years ago were on display with examples of price lists of that time. One eye catching price was for a Cymbidium hybrid - £100 in 1911. A Bank of England inflation chart – also on display – showed that £1 in 1911 is now worth £88. – some price for a hybrid!!  I suspect that some of our trade exhibitors may have been tempted to go back and re-value their stock. Also on display were copies of the Orchid Review in book form for the years 1909 and 1910. The loan of this fascinating material by Brian Rittershausen and John Gay is gratefully acknowledged.

As part of the BOC Congress, there was a well attended Preview and Buffet on Friday evening. A comprehensive lecture programme took place with six lectures over two days given by a mixture of home and overseas speakers. Pleasingly, attendances ranged from “pretty good” to full houses on more than one occasion. The final social event  was the Congress Dinner held at the Marriott Hotel on Saturday evening. An excellent meal in a beautifully set up room was provided by the hotel.

The RHS Orchid Committee met as usual and once again had a substantial number of plants submitted.

Finally, we were pleased to welcome and provide facilities for representatives of the newly constituted European Orchid Council to hold their first meeting at Peterborough.

To conclude – despite the harsh climate (economic and bitterly cold wind on Saturday), another enjoyable and successful Congress and PIOS. Preparation for PIOS 2011 ( 17th – 19th June 2011 ) is already under way.

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the East of England Show  

BOC website:  www.british-orchid-council.info

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Chris Barker at cjbandjb@ntlworld.com

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