Winter Orchid Show Results

The Sapphire Coast Orchid Club presented its annual winter show at Twyford Hall, Merimbula, from the 17^th to 19th August. Visitors were treated to a colourful display featuring the ever popular cymbidiums, complemented by Australian native orchids and a variety of exotics such as Masdevallias, Oncidiums, Cattleyas and Vandaceous. A very good display of ferns and foliage plants added extra interest.

Vandaceous orchids are the specialty of John and Irene Stubbs from Brogo. Their beautifully flowered Rhynchostylis gigantea ‘Peach’, carrying an arching raceme of delicate cream flowers with a pink lip, caught the judges eye and was awarded Champion Vandaceous Orchid of the Show, Champion Species and Grand Champion Orchid of the Show. Rounding off a very successful show, John and Irene also won Champion Seedling other than Cymbidium with their gorgeous spotted Phalaenopsis Chan Xen Pearl Tinny White, and Champion Paphiopedilum with their large specimen of Paph insigne, carrying 8 glossy blooms all around the pot.

The Cymbidium classes were very well contested. Eden growers Bob and Muriel Bell had another very successful show. Their Cym Lancashire Khan ‘Debonair’, carrying 2 perfectly displayed racemes of pink flowers with a red lip, was awarded Champion Cymbidium 90mm and Over. Their aptly named Cym Golden Ransom Gold Princess, carrying 7 racemes of buttercup yellow flowers, won Champion Cymbidium 60mm – 90mm and Champion Specimen Orchid. Bobby and Muriel also won Champion Australian Native or Native Hybrid with their pink flowered Dendrobium Esme Poulton ‘Tinonee’.

Graham Gray from Eden grows his Masdevallias beautifully, and his striking Masd Midas Touch ‘Crown Vista’, carrying a single golden yellow flower with red striping, was awarded Champion Orchid Any Other Genera and Reserve Champion of the Show. Graham had more success with his pendulous, deep red Cym Fiery Tango ‘Latte’’ x Ruby Eyes ‘Red Baron’, winning Champion Cymbidium Under 60mm, and was the winner of the overall point score, receiving the AOC Trophy.

Jeffrey Knox from Merimbula was amongst the winners, being awarded Champion Cymbidium Seedling and the Phil Grech Cymbidium Seedling Medal for his shapely Cym Lunar High ‘Dural’x Lunar Blaze ‘Dural’. Ulli Cliff from Bega won Champion Laeliinae Alliance with her lovely Cattleya loddigesii ‘Solitary Island’.

Garry Evans and Vicki Douglas from Narooma won Champion Novice with their very well grown and presented white Cymbidium Dolly x Kulnura Snow X Summer Pearl Crystal.

Helen Fraser from Bega took out Champion Floral Art with her beautiful arrangement of Cymbidium flowers. David and Barbara Jones from Kalaru won Champion Fern or Foliage with their striking Epiphyllum Bits & Pieces.

Congratulations to all winners, exhibitors and helpers for putting on another great show.

Sapphire Coast Orchid Club would like to thank our major sponsors Robert Smith Complete Furnishers of Pambula, and The Little Bouquet for their very generous support of our show.