2016 Sarcanthinae Show
This year's annual Sarcanthinae Show was Sydney Group's 31st and was another very successful event. The number and quality of orchids benched was outstanding despite a declining number of members benching plants.
Congratulations to those members who won prizes: Peter Dowling, David Butler, Greg Steenbeeke, Mike Harrison, Yin and Sau-wan Chan, Clover and Bill Bradley, Bryan Spurrs and Simone Holland.
The Champion Sarcanthinae Species was awarded to Peter Dowling's Sarcochilus hartmannii 'Tristen', a beautiful example of the species, which had large, beautifully arranged and shaped flowers. The plant was superbly grown and flowered and also won Champion Sarcanthinae Specimen Species.
The Champion Sarcanthinae Hybrid was awarded to David Butler's Sarcochilis Galaxy 'Cream 2011'. This was a small plant that had 6 gently arching large inflorescences each containing up to 15 striking pale yellow flowers with a deep red centre and a prominent orange barred labellum. The arrangement and presentation of each flower and inflorescence resulted in each flower facing outwards and towards the viewer in a very desirable manner.
The Champion Sarcanthinae Specimen Hybrid was awarded to Peter Dowling's Sarchochilus Dove 'Good' while the Champion Non Sarcanthinae Orchid was awarded to Mike Harrison's Dockrillia x grimesii.
Three plants including the Champion Sarcanthinae Species and Hybrid were pointed up by the judges present with each gaining provisional quality awards - which will be confirmed by ANOS Inc in due course. This further demonstrates the exceptionally high quality of plants exhibited at the show.
A good selection of quality sarcs were available for sale, most of which were sold by the end of the day to members and the few but very interested visitors who attended.
Thanks to all members who participated in the show and especially those people who ensured the event ran smoothly. Special thanks to the following members: John Hurst for organising, opening up and closing the venue, and looking after the sales table and cash prizes; Peter Dowling for being Show Marshall and ensuring the benching and judging ran smoothly; and Sau-wan Chan for being Show Secretary and allocating members plant numbers, entering details of plants and their owners into the computer, printing out all the prize cards and documenting and sorting out all the prize winners.
The Committee hopes to investigate and organise another venue for next year's 32nd Sarcanthinae Show, which will give the Group and show greater exposure to the general community, while maintaining as much as possible the other aspects that make the show such an enjoyable and 'easy' one.
