The Midlands Dahlia Society

56^th Annual Show 23^rd, 24^th August 14

The Midlands Dahlia Society Annual Show had almost the same number of exhibitors and exhibits as last year - we used all our staging benches. Again the warm weather encouraged exhibitors from far & wide as blooms were early. The honours were shared across many exhibitors.

Graham MacFarlane is Midlands Champion.

	The Midlands Championship for the Mawby Trophy was won by Graham MacFarlane, who comes down to exhibit every 3 or 4 years. He had a wonderful entry comprising: Val's Candy, Kiwi Gloria, Primrose Diane and Kenora Challenger, which also was awarded a NDS Bronze Medal. His vase of Val's Candy won the Cactus Cup.
	In the Special Classes the Elaine Fenton Trophy was won by Graham MacFarlane - there were 11 entries in this 3 blooms of 3 varieties class. His exhibit of Mary's Jomanda, Primrose Diane and Val's Candy won him an NDS Silver Medal for best exhibit in show. Elaine who visited the Midlands in August would have been truly impressed with the entries to this class. Dave Spencer's entry in the same class won him the Decorative Cup and the Violet Davies Premier Award for the best vase in show with Polventon Kristobel. Click on the photo to see the vase close up.
	Dave also won the Lady Godiva Trophy the entries are shown on the left; as well as winning the Irish Challenge Trophy, his Kenora Valentines getting him the George Woodfield Trophy for the best giant dec in show.
Frank Bolsover, short of flowers, came down from Doncaster to win the Styvechale Trophy with 2 vases of Trelyn Kiwi. He was lucky to win from Midlands chairman Rob Cheetham with good vases of Oakwood Goldcrest and Kiwi Gloria - above right. Right, Dick Vickers, a regular show exhibitor came second in the John Griffiths Senor Cup. He showed Jomands and Bylton Softer Gleam.

Novice Classes were well supported - 7 exhibitors staged a range of varieties in the 6 classes.
	The winner of the Don Brawn trophy for the best exhibit in the Novice classes was Kevin Hammond. Kevin showed a vase of Lemon Elegans - shown left, in class 40 for a vase of 3 small dahlias. Kevin also won classes 39 for a bloom of a medium dahlia and 41 for 3 blooms of miniature dahlias. Other winners were: M Workman showing a bloom of Sir Alf Ramsey in class 38, and T Cripps in class 42 for 3 Pompon dahlias.
In Class 42a - for 3 blooms any other classification Waterlilys won the day with Jane McClements and Dave Glasock sharing the 1st prize. Gavin Young took second and third prizes. All 3 exhibits can be seen in the photo on the right.

We must thank all members for assisting with setting up and closing down the show.  Special thanks to Angie and team for the bacon batches & hot drinks early Sat morning as well as the team for the lunches on Sat & Sun. 
Exhibitors look forward to the friendly reception they get at the Midlands and it is what keeps them coming year after year, so once again thank you.

	There were more visitors to our show this year - it is now being established at the Kenilworth School.