Local branch- brilliant night

[Ernie]

Last night the Teesside branch held a 'mini show' on a normal monthly branch meeting. It was well attended and all the show tables were filled with entries. The format was very interesting, members were invited to fill in a sheet for each class indicating which plants they thought should be 1st 2nd 3rd. Members held onto those sheets until Ian Armstrong a national judge decided on the winners in each class. After he had made his decision he asked a number of members which plant they had placed first in their selections. It was interesting to note how different Ians selections were from the members. He explained in detail why he chosen the plants he had and also pointed out why plants had not been considered. A very interesting evening and a much welcome alternative to the usual format of having a visiting speaker. Brilliant in fact! Well done to the organiser Mr Graham Walker and a big thanks to Ian for an informative evening.

[el48tel]

What an excellent idea for an instructive branch meeting

[Mike P]

That’s how we run our Autumn shows.

[cactusK]

I think it sounds like a great idea for a meeting and I'd like to see something similar too. How many and what classes did it have?

[ralphrmartin]

We've done the same format in the South Wales Branch on various occasions, and it was always a popular event.

But maybe we should turn it on its head - have a show where the public or "ordinary" members vote for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and then modify the judging criteria to ensure that the judges result ias in line with popular expectation?

Occasionally, when I give talks, I get asked to judge the table show, and I agree, but point out that I am not a qualified judge, and the criterion I will use is "1st = plant I would most like to take home with me", 2nd, the next one I'd like to take home, etc.

[Davey246]

Occasionally, when I give talks, I get asked to judge the table show, and I agree, but point out that I am not a qualified judge, and the criterion I will use is "1st = plant I would most like to take home with me", 2nd, the next one I'd like to take home, etc.

LLLOL - the very best criteria of all, IMO

It is an age ago, but the Leicester branch had a talk by (if memory serves) a husband and wife team of judges.
The main attraction was a collection of plants that the attendees were asked to critique.......

Educational and amusing, especially from my point of view as I have not a single competetive bone in my body and just like what I like. I do remember that one plant was, again, if memory serves, an Australian bottle tree (Brachy-something, if memory.................), which I like as (large) pot plants. At that time, if not now, it was a genus not regarded as covered under BCSS classifications.

[Pattock]

Occasionally, when I give talks, I get asked to judge the table show, and I agree, but point out that I am not a qualified judge, and the criterion I will use is "1st = plant I would most like to take home with me", 2nd, the next one I'd like to take home, etc.

I'll judge the most/prettiest purple section.